Food & Drink

The much-awaited new La Rosa in Northwest Crossing has finally opened.
Located within walking distance from most the Northwest Crossing homes means a built-in clientele. We sauntered in on a Tuesday night at 7:30 expecting to have no problem getting a table. The place was packed, but as luck would have it, there was one little table, recently vacated, next to the kitchen.
The new menu has been streamlined into a less overwhelming format. Although there are actually more items on each page, the way it's arranged is more user-friendly. Dishes are separated into categories such as appertivos, burros and mariscos and the signature "rose" still denotes a house specialty.
When we sat down in our chairs, the newly polished floor felt like an ice skating rink as we skidded around in our seats. Chips and house salsa arrived almost immediately as did water and a server to take our drink order.

What's the ideal menu for a seven-year-old's birthday? How about hush
puppies and pigs in blankets? Pizza and chips and dip? Sounds perfect,
though when the party's for the seventh anniversary of Astro
Lounge-Bend's one-shop answer to Northwest Portland or Williamsburg,
Brooklyn-you can bet that those old favorites come with an attitude and
a formidable playlist. Astro Lounge, once largely a waiting room for
its neighboring restaurant Marz, is all grown up, independent, and
serving one of the best happy hour deals in town.

What’s the ideal menu for a seven-year-old’s birthday? How about hush
puppies and pigs in blankets? Pizza and chips and dip? Sounds perfect,
though when the party’s for the seventh anniversary of Astro
Lounge-Bend’s one-shop answer to Northwest Portland or Williamsburg,
Brooklyn-you can bet that those old favorites come with an attitude and
a formidable playlist. Astro Lounge, once largely a waiting room for
its neighboring restaurant Marz, is all grown up, independent, and
serving one of the best happy hour deals in town.

The full meal deal at Aloha.There may not be enough inexpensive meals downtown for some people's
taste, but that’s not a problem in eastside "Costco Hub." The corner of
Hwy 20 and 27th Street has a bevy of low-priced options, some worth
checking out and some worth skipping. Since February one of those
worthy spots has been Aloha Café.

Sandwiched between Super Cuts and
China Doll in the Crossroads Plaza strip mall, Aloha Café greets you
with neon hula girls and surfboards hanging from the wall. The menu is
posted overhead and the ordering is done at the counter. The food comes
up almost instantly and is brought out to your table. This is no-frills
eats that will fill you up and not break the bank.
The choices
are beef, chicken and pork with sides of white or brown rice, yakisoba
noodles, coleslaw, chips and potato-macaroni salad. There are a variety
of "mix-plates" with a number of meats and sides and even Da Big Kahuna
($11.75), a sample of everything that’s enough to share.

The full meal deal at Aloha.There may not be enough inexpensive meals downtown for some people’s
taste, but that’s not a problem in eastside “Costco Hub.” The corner of
Hwy 20 and 27th Street has a bevy of low-priced options, some worth
checking out and some worth skipping. Since February one of those
worthy spots has been Aloha Café.

Sandwiched between Super Cuts and
China Doll in the Crossroads Plaza strip mall, Aloha Café greets you
with neon hula girls and surfboards hanging from the wall. The menu is
posted overhead and the ordering is done at the counter. The food comes
up almost instantly and is brought out to your table. This is no-frills
eats that will fill you up and not break the bank.
The choices
are beef, chicken and pork with sides of white or brown rice, yakisoba
noodles, coleslaw, chips and potato-macaroni salad. There are a variety
of “mix-plates” with a number of meats and sides and even Da Big Kahuna
($11.75), a sample of everything that’s enough to share.

Pouring a little out for a cause. One event that helped put Bend on the culinary map is the annual
Sagebrush Classic, a golf tournament that hosts a lavish feast
featuring famous chefs from around the country. With no shortage of
golf courses, or those who love to golf, other such events have
sprouted up in Central Oregon such as the Ghost Tree Classic. This year
the prominent wine tasting fundraiser, formerly known as Wine by the
River, paired up with the Ghost Tree Classic and changed its name to
Promenade du Vin. Organized before the Friday dinner that commanded
$300 per seat, the Promenade du Vin was casual, affordable and
benefited a great cause: the Hospice Center of Bend and La Pine.
Stretching
out over the lush lawn in front of Pronghorn's grand clubhouse,
wineries hosted tastings under white tents. Over 25 wineries displayed
their wares, offered tastes and gave event goers a chance to talk with
wine makers. There were seminars on chocolate and wine and a Master
Wine Competition. Along with wine makers there were also a few artisan
cheese makers, including Tumalo Farms, which sampled its fabulous
Remembrance and Classico, and an Irish dairy called Kerry Gold.
Moonstruck Chocolates added some sweetness to the mix, as did Extreme
Chocolate and Meeteetse Chocolatier.

Pouring a little out for a cause. One event that helped put Bend on the culinary map is the annual
Sagebrush Classic, a golf tournament that hosts a lavish feast
featuring famous chefs from around the country. With no shortage of
golf courses, or those who love to golf, other such events have
sprouted up in Central Oregon such as the Ghost Tree Classic. This year
the prominent wine tasting fundraiser, formerly known as Wine by the
River, paired up with the Ghost Tree Classic and changed its name to
Promenade du Vin. Organized before the Friday dinner that commanded
$300 per seat, the Promenade du Vin was casual, affordable and
benefited a great cause: the Hospice Center of Bend and La Pine.
Stretching
out over the lush lawn in front of Pronghorn’s grand clubhouse,
wineries hosted tastings under white tents. Over 25 wineries displayed
their wares, offered tastes and gave event goers a chance to talk with
wine makers. There were seminars on chocolate and wine and a Master
Wine Competition. Along with wine makers there were also a few artisan
cheese makers, including Tumalo Farms, which sampled its fabulous
Remembrance and Classico, and an Irish dairy called Kerry Gold.
Moonstruck Chocolates added some sweetness to the mix, as did Extreme
Chocolate and Meeteetse Chocolatier.

Mama Mio, affordable sushi in Bend? Bonzai!When someone mentions sushi as an option, the dollar signs often start
flashing in diners' minds. That's because the commonly held notion is
that this Japanese culinary treat is expensive and not really that
filling. Mio Sushi is trying to put an end to that perception and is
doing so not with mini boats, conveyor belts or pre-made rolls, but
with freshly made dishes ranging from traditional nigiri sushi to
Americanized house rolls.

A welcome addition to Cascade Village Mall,
Mio Sushi is located across from The Bungalow Tropical Bar and Grille
and is the first of the Portland-based chain to open outside the
Portland area. The interiors are very similar to the Portland
locations-clean, cool colors, modern fixtures, an ample sushi bar and
LOTS of staff yelling "irasshaimase" (please come in!) when you walk in
the door.
We started out our meal with the kid-pleasing miso
soup ($1.50) and edemame ($2.94). Slurping savory soup right out of the
bowl and popping salt beans from the pod kept our two kindergarteners
happy while we filled out our sushi order.

Mama Mio, affordable sushi in Bend? Bonzai!When someone mentions sushi as an option, the dollar signs often start
flashing in diners’ minds. That’s because the commonly held notion is
that this Japanese culinary treat is expensive and not really that
filling. Mio Sushi is trying to put an end to that perception and is
doing so not with mini boats, conveyor belts or pre-made rolls, but
with freshly made dishes ranging from traditional nigiri sushi to
Americanized house rolls.

A welcome addition to Cascade Village Mall,
Mio Sushi is located across from The Bungalow Tropical Bar and Grille
and is the first of the Portland-based chain to open outside the
Portland area. The interiors are very similar to the Portland
locations-clean, cool colors, modern fixtures, an ample sushi bar and
LOTS of staff yelling “irasshaimase” (please come in!) when you walk in
the door.
We started out our meal with the kid-pleasing miso
soup ($1.50) and edemame ($2.94). Slurping savory soup right out of the
bowl and popping salt beans from the pod kept our two kindergarteners
happy while we filled out our sushi order.

Leaves are already falling and our two-month summer seems to be coming to an end and with it goes Bluefish Bistro. Chef Matt Mulder's popular downtown fine dining spot has closed it doors for good.