Little Bites

The Bite of Bend had something for every appetite – $1 bites of food from restaurants across Central Oregon, desserts ranging from cake to frozen yogurt, massive quantities of beer (more than 50 kegs were consumed during the weekend) and a mixology tent where, according to my red-faced friend, “They let everyone drink all weekend for only $10! Five dollars a day! It's like stealing!”
But for me, the Top Chef stage was the biggest draw and somehow I weaseled my way into landing a judging spot for the competition on Saturday. Now, it's one thing to watch Top Chef on TV where careful editing and “1812 Overture”-style music results in chefs magically whipping up dishes in minutes. But at the Bite of Bend's Top Chef stage, one thing was apparent: this shit is hard work.

The Pilot Butte Drive-In has been serving enormous burgers and other items of similar proportion along Greenwood Avenue for more than a quarter century and is as ingrained in Bend culture as any other business in town. Their midtown location draws a varied cross-section of the Bend population through its doors, making for an often-crowded (but nevertheless eat-your-brains-out) experience, that even with a bit of a wait is totally worth it.
Now, PBDI, as the hardcore fans call it, is thinning some of the crowding – well, hopefully – with the addition of a westside Bend location that opened last week in the Century Plaza between Safeway and Starbucks in the space once occupied by the delicious but short-lived Tony's Delicatessen. I went in there wondering if PBDI could possibly transfer the downhome service, old-school atmosphere and, of course, juice-dripping burgers on which it has made its reputation over to a westside shopping center environment.

Meat Comes to Galveston
We've spent plenty of our precious ink writing about the increasingly cool developments on Galveston Avenue on the westside of Bend. Things started with the opening of Brother Jon's back in 2009, then there was 10 Barrel and more recently the new location for Spork's food cart. So yeah, it's been cool.
But recently, the north side of the street has featured three shuttered buildings in close proximity, including the bright-green former location of a dry cleaning business, where last week a sign was erected reading “Primal Cuts Meat Market” accompanied by a big (and cute) woodgrain image of a pig. Primal Cuts is a sign of the times, of sorts, as an increasing number of consumers (but still a drop in the bucket in terms of the general population) move toward the purchase of specialty meat cuts, as well as more locally produced meats.

In our rush to finish the Dining Guide, we mistakenly omitted some of our favorite restaurants. And we wouldn't feel right unless we provided our readers with this important addendum to the Dining Guide. We encourage you to cut the following listings out of the paper and paste, staple, or tape them into the 2011 Dining Guide because it isn't complete without them. – the editor.
10 Below
Northwest Eclectic
10 NW Minnesota Ave. 541-382-8436. www.oxfordhotelbend.com $$-$$$. New American. If you're looking to get off the beaten path, look no father than this subterranean enclave of modern fine dining. The restaurant recently hired chef Brad Wood, formerly of the Bend Athletic Club, to lead its kitchen. Wood's experience and familiarity with the Bend dining scene should pay dividends for 10 Below, which is blessed with a great downtown location and ultra urban chic design aesthetic that's a welcome contrast to the myriad of steak houses and brewpubs that often define the local restaurant scene. While changes are no doubt afoot for the restaurant's menu under Wood's guidance, the menu currently leans on a combination of Northwest staples served with a local touch, such as the grass-fed Borlen beef filet with red wine demi glace and blue cheese crema. But don't skip over the appetizers, which include bacon-topped scallops with mushroom pancakes or the spicy seared ahi tuna with pickled ginger and cucumbers and wasabi. The Dish: Breakfast and lunch daily. Happy Hour 2-6 pm, 9pm-close. Dinner 5pm-close.

The Source staff christened Chan's grand reopening on Third Street this week with a quadruple helping of Chan's heaping lunch specials, including the $2.25 pepper chicken lunch plate teaser that the restaurant put out to promote its culinary resurrection. A favorite among Bend locals, Chan's had been closed for the better part of a year after a fire nearly destroyed the restaurant. However, the bustling lunch hour indicated that despite its extended absence, Chan's hasn't missed a beat. Customers literally lined up on Tuesday during the lunch hour for a chance to see the revamped restaurant, which spent handsomely on a full makeover. The result is a dining room that feels familiar to longtime customers, but is essentially an entirely new eatery.

It may be a few weeks before patio dining season truly begins in earnest, but Bend restaurants are already busy this spring with menu changes and expanded hours. Downtown, the popular Mexican bistro El Jimador has reopened with a totally revamped menu after a prolonged, if temporary closure. The new menu was developed by co-owner Baltazar Chavez who partenered up with owner Roberto Anaya to reinvigorate the restaurant, which like many others has struggled to stay viable in Bend's fragile economy. However, Chavez, who still owns his namesake restaurant on Bend's westside, said he is confident that customers will embrace the new menu, which leans heavily toward more seafood and authentic preparations.

Los Agaves
A new amigo on the block, Los Agaves Mexican Grill in downtown Sisters has ignited the area's restaurant scene with an inventive take on familiar, south-of-the-border fare. Sporting the flowering green agave plant on their signs and menus, the famous herb from which tequila is derived, owner and head chef Jimmy Fernandez welcomes old friends and customers with his trademark grin and hospitality.
A quick glance at the lunch menu showed ten items priced between $6 and $7 and choices from Carnitas De Puerco, Chorizo Con Huevos, Quesadillas De Pollo or Tacos De Pescado with fresh Mahi fish. All lunches include two side orders and homemade chips with family recipe salsa.
Agaves also offers a daily happy hour, Mon – Fri, that runs from 2-6pm with small plates, including Jimmy's special nachos for just $4.

Bend's king of burgers, Pilot Butte Drive-In, which also happens to feature a mean breakfast menu, is tentatively planning to open a new location on Bend's westside. Owner Bill Falconer told The Bulletin that the eastside dining stalwart is in the process of negotiating a lease somewhere near South Century Drive and could have a deal in hand soon that would allow Pilot Butte to begin serving its popular burgers, fries and shakes soon on the westside.

The cycle of life continues even in the world of restaurants and retail shops. The fall of one business allows another to open, and while we mourn previous enterprises, we also rejoice in new ventures.
At the end of 2010, the Pure Skate Shop next to the Taco Stand shut its doors and local skaters of the neighborhoods around Hill Street hung their heads. But others, including myself, have been eagerly waiting to see what the recent construction would yield and delighted when kitchen items began to be trucked in. And recently, a sign went up – Gotta B Gluten Free.

On the heels of Spork's pop-up restaurant at Café Sintra comes spin on sit-down dining, this time from 5 Fusion and Sushi Bar. On Thursday, Feb. 3, 5 Fusion will kick off its monthly supper club with a Chinese New Year celebration. This particular dinner will be a little spendy – $100 – but it's fully inclusive and the proceeds go to charity, in this case the Kid's Center. Judging from the success of Spork's pop-up, 5 Fusion shouldn't have a hard time filling the place. Diners will be treated to a traditional eight-course Chinese New Year dinner, including cocktail pairings from Oregon Spirit Distillers spirits. According to owner Lilian Chu, eight is a universally lucky number in Chinese culture, hence the eight courses. We're pretty sure we'll be feeling lucky too after putting down eight courses and cocktail pairings. Seating is limited to 30 people and tickets can be bought through the Kid's Center by calling Joni at 541-383-5958.