Food & Drink

A spot of milk with your tea at Townshend’s, Bend’s new downtown teahouse.As the menu at Townshend’s Tea Company states, tea has been relegated
second-class status in the States. Ever since rogue colonists tossed
their British rulers’ supply overboard into Boston harbor, tea has
taken a back seat to the more pungent, and stimulating, coffee bean.
The new downtown teashop, Townshend’s, embraces that underdog
reputation, offering an unabashed sanctuary for tea leaves and tea
lovers.
The location that housed Pfundementals for as many years as I
can remember has been cleaned up, buffed out and infused with a
tea-worthy atmosphere. Retro, antique and modern furniture blend with
the polished concrete floors, pillowed benches and brick walls to lend
a tranquil, but energetic, climate that is imbued with alternative
atmospheric music. The menu is extensive and slightly intimidating for
the tea neophyte. To alleviate some of the possible stress of deciding
from more than 100 teas and infusions, owner Matt Thomas has divided
the selections into types of teas such as white, rooibos and oolong;
rare and top-grade teas like matcha, bao zhong and pu-erh wang; as well
as separating out the infusions which are listed under “Apothecary”.

I hate to call on a cliché (as well as date myself) but my recent visit to The Decoy Bar and Grill reminded me of a real-life version of “Cheers.” You know, the 80’s show that made Ted Danson, Shelly Long, Woody Harrelson and Kristie Alley famous and where everyone yelled “Norm!” when George Wendt came through the door. It was that mix of neighborhood, preppy, blue-collar, college, yuppie, sporty and regulars that only few places can pull off. The Decoy, at least in its initial impressions, seems to have succeeded in that welcoming atmosphere. It’s “Cheers” with a good menu.

I hate to call on a cliché (as well as date myself) but my recent visit to The Decoy Bar and Grill reminded me of a real-life version of "Cheers." You know, the 80's show that made Ted Danson, Shelly Long, Woody Harrelson and Kristie Alley famous and where everyone yelled "Norm!" when George Wendt came through the door. It was that mix of neighborhood, preppy, blue-collar, college, yuppie, sporty and regulars that only few places can pull off. The Decoy, at least in its initial impressions, seems to have succeeded in that welcoming atmosphere. It's "Cheers" with a good menu.

Café Yumm! has it down. Once a typical college town eatery, it has now turned into a viable franchise supporting six thriving locations with a business plan to include 50 more in the next five years. Founders Mary Ann and Mark Beauchamp have been able to blend their crunchy aesthetic of serving rice and beans in a variety of combinations with a modern, PC atmosphere appealing to everyone from the latent hippy to the blatant yuppie.
From its user-friendly, aesthetically-pleasing website, to underwriting Eugene’s public radio station, to creating food that infuses the Deep South with the Far East, Café Yumm’s concept comes close to what most say is impossible – pleasing all of the people all of the time. It’s the Starbucks of beans and rice.

Café Yumm! has it down. Once a typical college town eatery, it has now turned into a viable franchise supporting six thriving locations with a business plan to include 50 more in the next five years. Founders Mary Ann and Mark Beauchamp have been able to blend their crunchy aesthetic of serving rice and beans in a variety of combinations with a modern, PC atmosphere appealing to everyone from the latent hippy to the blatant yuppie.
From its user-friendly, aesthetically-pleasing website, to underwriting Eugene's public radio station, to creating food that infuses the Deep South with the Far East, Café Yumm's concept comes close to what most say is impossible - pleasing all of the people all of the time. It's the Starbucks of beans and rice.

The Cyrus family is trying to do something a little bit different with its resort restaurant. This Central Oregon ranching family has taken some of its land and created a first-class golf community and, more recently, a fine dining establishment. Located outside Sisters, Aspen Lakes is a golf-centric, high-end housing development that has recently completed a majestic lodge with a formal dining room, bar and café.
The architecture is reminiscent of Mount Hood’s Timberline Lodge, but with modern touches. Huge timbers and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Cascades give this large-scale lodge a homey, country feel. There are spots for private parties, a conference room as well as a sport shop. But it’s the menu at “Brand 33” that sets Aspen Lakes apart from other golf resorts.

The Cyrus family is trying to do something a little bit different with its resort restaurant. This Central Oregon ranching family has taken some of its land and created a first-class golf community and, more recently, a fine dining establishment. Located outside Sisters, Aspen Lakes is a golf-centric, high-end housing development that has recently completed a majestic lodge with a formal dining room, bar and café.
The architecture is reminiscent of Mount Hood's Timberline Lodge, but with modern touches. Huge timbers and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Cascades give this large-scale lodge a homey, country feel. There are spots for private parties, a conference room as well as a sport shop. But it's the menu at "Brand 33" that sets Aspen Lakes apart from other golf resorts.

Poor Redmond. With every trendy, urban-esque eatery that opens up in Bend, the gap in dining options between the two cities only seems to widen. Between the Super Wal-Mart and the new Lowe’s, it’s hard to see the charm of Redmond’s historic downtown without looking really hard. If you do make the effort, you’ll come across some gems that are attracting the growing populace of Redmond that craves quality and originality. One of those gems is the newly opened Avery’s Wine Bar.

Poor Redmond. With every trendy, urban-esque eatery that opens up in Bend, the gap in dining options between the two cities only seems to widen. Between the Super Wal-Mart and the new Lowe's, it's hard to see the charm of Redmond's historic downtown without looking really hard. If you do make the effort, you'll come across some gems that are attracting the growing populace of Redmond that craves quality and originality. One of those gems is the newly opened Avery's Wine Bar.

Bend offers so many ways to indulge your culinary senses, paring down a list of the most special delicacies in these parts was no easy feat. Here are our favorite, and priciest, ways to live the good life through food in Central Oregon. Leonardi Balsamic Vinegar, Newport Market: For deglazing, for dipping or for drizzling, […]