Vegetarian burgers, while still deemed oxymoronic by the meat-loving masses, have come a long way since the patties first found their way to commercial markets about two decades ago, when what had previously been “hippie food” sidestepped into the mainstream. And yet, most sit-down burger joints have just one version (if any) available, and only […]
Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
Cherries and Beer
How much more “Northwest” can it get?
Some say Bing and others claim Rainier, but 10 Barrel added a third option to cherry season: Beer No. 1. As the first of a new series, Beer No. 1 is a sour brown ale aged with cherries, and it’s a winner. No style-based theme has been announced, but if Beer No. 2 and beyond […]
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The restaurant formerly known as Angel Thai
Meet the new Thai place, Orchid Thai, pretty much the same as the old Thai place
The name change for Orchid Thai along the outer reaches of downtown Bend does not seem to mean a décor change—it is still paper umbrellas, fake flowers, and delicate Asian artwork. Nor has the menu seemed to change much—which isn’t really good or bad; just something in-between. The menu seems to be essentially the same […]
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Cascade Lakes Roundup
How is Bend’s second oldest brewery stacking up?
Named after the collective bodies of stunning and cold water in our mountains, Cascade Lakes Brewery is celebrating 20 years. With few things as beautiful as a mountain lake and few drinks as enjoyable as fantastic beer, how good is the Cascade Lakes lineup after two decades of business? Currently, Cascade Lakes is brewing about […]
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Parked Between Rich and Spicy
There’s a new barbecue sheriff in town
Broken Top BBQ has ruined my summer. Or, more precisely: The addition of the food cart, Broken Top BBQ along NW Colorado, threatens to ruin my perfect bikini body. I mean, true story, eating a strawberry and spinach salad for a lunch simply is not as satisfying when I know that mounds of brisket and […]
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When Life Gives You Lemons
Mash them into a beer
Here’s a statistic that may not sit well: Of the next eight women you see, chances are one of them either has or will get breast cancer. Of the first seven men, one of them either has or will get prostate cancer. But why talk about cancer in a beer column? If the beer you’re […]
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The Charge of the Bite Brigade
A Bite of Bend postmortem
What is wonderful about Bite of Bend, which came and went like a circus train this past weekend, is that it is a preview to an entire summer worth of eating. This is not some strange festival that pops up, teases you with an idea that life could be all about Ferris wheels and whirly-jigs, […]
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‘Merican Beer-B-Q
How to choose the best beer for your 4th of July cookout
Beer’s favorite holiday is upon us. Nothing says “America” like grilled meat and pyrotechnics, especially when accompanied by good ol’ American craft beer. Rather than buying 18-packs of cheap beer, find more pleasure with the purchase of 6-packs or singles of great local brew (just like Benjamin Franklin would do). The difference between cheap and […]
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Cabin Fever
Dogwood Cocktail Cabin elevates downtown drinking
Bend is a beer town through and through (see this week’s feature). The downtown drinking and dining scene is awash in tap handles and IBU scales. So when Dogwood Cocktail Cabin hit the scene last month with a distinct lack of beer selection and an emphasis on craft cocktail creation, we had a moment of […]
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Sharing is Caring
How to taste amazing and expensive beers, without breaking the bank
Last Saturday Ale Apothecary Club Members from all over the state met in a beautiful home at the base of Aubrey Butte for the 2nd annual members-only party. Chef Katrina Spatrisano of Deschutes Brewery provided a spread of appetizers with salami, cheeses, and desserts. Ale Apothecary’s founder and brewer, Paul Arney, and his wife mingled […]
