Central Oregon has a lot going for it: unparalleled beauty, fresh air, lakes, desserts, mountains, endless outdoor activities, and really good food. I’m talking stellar stuff, folks.
Cascade Mountains west of Powell Butte
Because of its population (80,000 +/-) the city of Bend is where a lot of good nosh is found but there are several small, unheralded joints that need mentioning, like Sisters Bakery in the quaint town of Sisters, and Giovanni’s Mountain Pizza located near Mill City on Highway 22.
Detroit Lake State Park, 3 miles east of Mill City, OR
Bend has the type of culinary culture where supporting local producers and designing menus based on seasonal produce is the norm. Processed food of any sort (in restaurants or grocery stores) is a term hardly mentioned, or said with a snort and furrowed brow if it is. This seems to be the case in many parts of Oregon. A good example was the fruit stand we stopped at near Brightwood on our way to Bend.
The vendor’s carts were overflowing with gorgeous fruits and vegetables. Being naive as to the pride Oregonians take in their local bounty, we asked the old vendor if the fruit was local. He sighed and said, “No. It’s from Boring.”
Boring is a town 18 miles up the road.
In Bend we were steered toward a very organically designed eatery called Chow. Everything about this place makes you feel like you’re having lunch in someone’s back yard eating foods sourced right from property. Very casual. A couple of musicians played and sang while everyone milled about or enjoyed their lunches.
Chow Restaurant in Bend, OR
Lunch at Chow
Chow is also right beside Devores, an independent food store, housed in an historic building. They’ve been in business for 35 years selling organic, local and home made food products.
Right across the street from Devores and Chow is the Newport Avenue Market, an incredible food, wine and kitchen store also specializing in local, sustainable foods. The store is a work of art – items displayed so beautifully and enticingly, that you can’t help but spend a good hour just browsing at the bounty. You will walk out of that store with much more than you intended to buy.
When you’re in Bend, seek out Jackson’s Corner, a big ol’ sunshiney-yellow building just around the corner from Drake Park. At Jackson’s they source local and organic ingredients when possible to use in their home-made pastas, pizzas, burgers, salads, etc. The restaurant was named “Restaurant of the Year 2010” in The Source Weekly‘s Dining Guide. Guaranteed you’ll go more than once.
And where do these Facebook employees and wandering tourists mosey on down for grub in the oldest community in Central Oregon’s Crook County? At Barney Prine’s Steakhouse & Saloon, of course.
It’s sad to say goodbye to a loved one, but we couldn’t stay in Central Oregon forever, although I did make a pitch for that option. We loaded up the SUV and pointed it towards Portland, from whence we came – this time taking a slower, more scenic route through Sisters, Mill City, past beautiful Detroit State Park, and Salem.
Sisters is a quaint little western town: clapboard buildings, boardwalks, statues of horses, and home to the largest outdoor quilt show in the world. You either want to avoid the second Saturday of every July, or book your hotel room a year beforehand. From what I hear, the town is overrun by crafty quilters. We visited in June; the only quilters around were the ones we ran into outside The Stitchin’ Post, just down the street from Bronco Billy’s Saloon. You get the idea.
We passed up Bronco Billy’s for Sisters Bakery where the fresh aroma of baked pies and bread had our nostrils flaring from a block away.
Lattes and muffins fuelled us until Mill City, home to Giovanni’s Mountain Pizza and some of the finest pizza that’s every graced this palate. Don’t pass by this place, it’s definitely worth the stop.
We ate every last crumb and left our calling cards (cartoons written on paper napkins and placemats) beneath the clear plastic table protectors like the thousands who had dined before us.
Curious about where we stayed in Central Oregon? You can find my post on Brasada Ranch here.