There are meals you eat and then there are meals that eat you. Welcome to loco moco, Hawai‘i’s ultimate comfort food. Born in Hilo in the late 1940s and beloved across the islands ever since, loco moco is more than just a dish; it’s a cure-all, a reminder of home and sometimes the fast track […]
Megan Baker
Megan Baker is a Bend-based photographer. Find her work on Instagram at @mbphotographybend or on the web at www.mbphotographybend.com.
Posted inChow
The Hole Story on 5th Street Bagels
The garlic cream cheese is worth the trip too!
Tucked into Ponch’s Place in NE Bend, 5th Street Bagels is more than a food truck — it’s a full-on family operation rolling out small-batch sourdough bagels with intention, heart and a “hole” lotta time and hustle. In a world drowning in sourdough starters, if yours pays the bills, it’s not just bread—it’s gold. Owner […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Roadhouse Vibes
No Swayze, but all the smoke
You’ll catch the smell of brisket in the air before you even step out. That’s the smoker—tucked off the lot like a wood-fired sidecar to the kitchen inside Cross-Eyed Cricket. Formerly known as Mavericks, the space was purchased by owners Mike Moor and Luke Mason in 2020. They preserved the dance floor, ditched the shortcuts […]
Posted inFood & Drink
This Isn’t Nanna’s Bolognese
A recipe for those on the go
This wasn’t supposed to be a story. It was supposed to be dinner. But like most of my meals, this one came together somewhat haphazardly between photo editing, metal design, a dog walk and the “Oh crap, it’s already 12 pm.” I didn’t set out to reinvent Bolognese, I was just trying to avoid making […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Sourdough, Chocolate and a Cookie That Doesn’t Quit
These chewy, gooey chocolate chip cookies use sourdough discard for moisture, structure and deep flavor — with zero tang and maximum melt.
There’s a moment — right as you break one open — when time stops. Warm chocolate oozes from the center like lava. The golden edges crackle. The aroma of brown butter and vanilla fills the air like a spell and suddenly… nothing else matters. That’s the power of these sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies. And […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Orange Glazed and Fully Baked
Just in time for 4/20, a chicken recipe that blazes it and glazes it
If you’re lighting up this 4/20 (or even if you’re not), Snoop’s got your back — straight from the Doggfather’s kitchen. I originally found this recipe in “From Crook to Cook,” the cookbook my youngest gave me for Christmas last year (he knows his audience). I was flipping through it on my eldest son’s birthday […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Kitchen Sink Chicken Soup
A magic cure for “fowl” moods
Some recipes are handed down on tattered index cards, smudged with sauce and written in practically illegible cursive, while others evolve from pure necessity — using what you have to make something greater than the sum of its parts. Kitchen Sink Chicken Soup is a little bit of both. It’s old-school comfort meets modern-day resourcefulness […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Brewing Equality
The women at Spider City Brewing are fermenting
change in the craft beer industry
In 2021, the Brewers Association, a craft brewing industry group, released the results of a demographic audit of U.S. breweries, revealing that almost a quarter of brewery owners were women, yet less than 3% of breweries were fully woman-owned. Here in Central Oregon, there is one fully woman-owned brewery: Spider City Brewing. The Bend operation […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Elevate These Classic Comfort Dishes
This recipe for tri-tip fried rice works because steak makes everything better, plus a one-dish wonder
Both of these recipies previously appeared in our Cascades Eats E-Newsletter. If you want to get more exclusive foodie content, subscribe at bendsource.com/bend/Newsletters/Page Tri-Tip Fried Rice Some might raise an eyebrow at using tri-tip in fried rice, which is traditionally made with cheaper cuts or leftover meats. Being from Maui, it’s a go-to for using […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Local Brew: Behind the Counter at Bellatazza Caffé
A conversation with Stewart Fritchman, one of Bend's original craft coffee pioneers
Step into Bellatazza and let the symphony of coffee culture envelop you: the methodical whir of grinders preparing the day’s beans, the rhythmic tamp of espresso, the gentle hiss of steam transforming local milk into frothy goodness. Beyond the familiar cafe percussion, there’s the warm hum of conversation and the rustle of newspapers – a […]