Sara Roth

Bend's varied and expanding restaurant scene is commendable for the size and age of our little city. Still, it's hard not to look to Portland, whose food scene is setting the standard for Oregon and the nation. This past weekend, I rang in 2011 by spending 48 hours in the Rose City, eating my way through various neighborhoods and cuisines and at the same time proving that it's possible to indulge in our neighboring city's cuisine without going broke. From street carts to champagne bars, here's how I stuffed myself silly on a shoestring budget.

This past summer, I began writing dining stories for the Source. While I was an avid restaurant-goer before, this gave me an excuse (although not exactly the inflated bank account) to dine out all the time, searching Bend and beyond for the most delicious and creative dishes. A warning: if you're a vegetarian and/or hate bacon, this list may not be for you.
1. SPORK POP-UP SUPPER CLUB'S APPLES WITH KIMCHI PUREE
Everything from Spork's two-day pop-up supper club this past December could be on this list. But for my money, the best dish was the first course: organic honeycrisp apples with kimchi puree. The best foods, in my mind, combine ingredients that you wouldn't think would work together, yet when mixed skillfully can elevate each other. A lovely blend of savory and sweet, the perfectly ripe apples were tossed in a kimchi puree and served with applewood-smoked bacon and miso cream cheese. In my mind, this dish was the definition of perfection.

Holiday meals can be the most exciting time of the year – for some reason, gathering everyone from your sister's Duggar-like brood to your pull-my-finger uncle Ted in the same place can make for some interesting moments. But they're also a time for families to share meals, recipes and traditions. In this spirit, we've asked a few of Central Oregon's best chefs to share their favorite holiday recipes. From dishes passed down through generations to new classics, these are show-stoppers we can guarantee will keep everyone happy – well, at least until uncle Ted gets into the spiced eggnog.

Last Thursday evening, I walked down the frosted sidewalk of Bond Street. The day’s rain had made the air bone-chillingly cold and if it had been any other night, I would have probably stayed in with a cup of tea and a Mad Men marathon. But for this night, I would have trekked three miles in the snow uphill both ways, because it was the first night of the iconic food cart Spork’s pop-up restaurant, the “Spork Supper Club.”