Travel Oregon’s “Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast” runs through November 30th
Each fall, Travel Oregon puts out all of the stops for its “Oregon Bounty” statewide promotion, which highlights unique travel experiences, fall events and the state’s myriad culinary artisans. Last year, the promotion centered on “Cuisinternships,” allowing winners to spend a week shadowing an Oregon culinary expert.
This year, our friends at Travel Oregon have served up their latest creation, the “Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast.”
What on earth is an Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast? It’s a term the folks at Travel Oregon created to describe what it’s like to spend the harvest season following your tastebuds on a quest to procure the best of Oregon’s flavors at their peak. This 10-week promotion features Oregon’s finest epicurean products, from wine and cheese to spirits and nuts, and so many delicacies in between.
You, too, can join in the chase for 10 weeks of foodie bliss. Enter to win your very own Wanderfeast at TravelOregon.com/bounty. You and three friends could be sampling the bounty of Oregon in a four-day/three-night, all-inclusive culinary escape that explores Oregon’s many flavors of fall.
Beaverton, Ore.: Hundreds of visitors report sightings of a 12’ tall Sasquatch-like creature sporting a #16 baseball jersey, lurking by the doorway of Big Al’s, a newly-opened entertainment Shangri-La for all ages.
"Greetings and welcome!" said the friendly sasquatch to visitors.
Those same visitors also reported sightings of a 7,000 sq. ft. arcade, bowling alleys, a stadium-style sports bar & grill with 50” and 42” HD Plasma televisions, and a 14’ x 55’ jumbotron linked up to these premiere channels: DirectTV’s NFL Season Ticket, College Football Game Day, Big Ten Network, NBA League Pass, Mega March Madness, MLS Direct Kick, Fox Soccer Channel, and MLB Extra Innings.
Frankly, we’re just not sure we can believe them. Come on, a jumbotron in a sports bar? We wish! Who’s going to believe that?
Big Al’s is now open in Beaverton, at 14950 SW Barrows Road in Progress Ridge Town Square. For more information, visit their new Facebook page
On Thursday, June 3, I had the honor of being invited to Wong’s King Seafood Restaurants’ newest location, in Beaverton, for its grand opening celebration and banquet. What a wonderful experience. There was a ribbon-cutting with the owners, elected officials, the president of the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce and dozens of select guests. As part of the opening, the Portland Lee Association performed a traditional Lion Dance. You can see some of the video I shot with my phone on my YouTube Channel.
The restaurant was beautifully designed by Suenn Ho with Mulvanny G2 Architecture. Ms. Ho told the attendees that since the space is smaller than many of the Wong family’s restaurant locations, there was not room to put in a fish tank, so she designed fish on the ceiling with fabric. As I looked up I noticed the fabric is hung so it does look like gold fish (It’s the orange, red and white in the video).
Also in the video you can see some beautiful panels of hammered portraits in bronze. The bronze used for the artwork is from the same foundry in China that donated the life-sized, bronze elephant statue in the Park Blocks of downtown Portland.
Live from the seafood tank!
The banquet featured a special menu, but diners were able to look at the standard menu, which is similar to that of Wong’s King’s three other Oregon locations.
All in all, it was a fantastic evening, and a great new dining location has been added to Washington County, thanks to the Wong family.
The restaurant is located at 10743 Southwest Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway.
August is jam-packed with more unique events in Washington County than you can shake a stick at! Now, if you still insist on attempting to shake a stick just to prove us wrong, please wear eye protection. Remember, safety first! Speaking of safety, don’t forget your sunscreen before heading out to these can’t-miss events:
It's garlic on parade at the annual Garlic Festival!
North Plains Garlic Festival, North Plains, August 6-8. This 13th Annual Festival celebrates the pungent, tasty goodness known as “Elephant Garlic” with a variety of festivities and entertainment. Remember, “Fun Stinks.“
Tualatin Crawfish Festival, Tualatin, August 13-14. The nation’s oldest crawfish festival celebrates 60 years of the Cambaridae Camburus with a variety of food, entertainment and activities. More info
LPGA Safeway Classic Golf Tournament at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, August 16-22. The 39th annual tournament features 144 of the world’s top women golfers competing for a 1.5 million purse. Last year it drew a record crowd of 87,800 to Pumpkin Ridge(!). The Golf Channel will be there for TV coverage Friday – Sunday, so make sure they get your good side. More from organizers Tournament Golf Foundation
The Reserve in Aloha is the new home of this annual event!
Best of Oregon Food & Wine Festival at the Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club, August 14. You had us at “food.” The second annual festival showcases the best of Oregon’s culinary culture, world class wineries, and food artisans. This year’s program includes a golf tournament a few hours prior to the food and wine festival.
For tickets and information, go here
International Air Show at the Hillsboro Airport, August 20-22. Cue the “Top Gun” soundtrack! The 23rd Annual Air Show is proud to announce the return of the Marine Corp AV-8B Harrier II Demonstration Team, and America’s only civilian jet team, the U.S. Patriots. For tickets and information, gohere
Tractors lined-up. Photo courtesy of Shilo Inns.
Banks BBQ & Truck/Tractor Pull, Banks, August 20-22. The City of Banks cooks up its annual festival with down-home charm, featuring a grand parade, truck/tractor pull and demolition derby, drive-in car show, arts and crafts, games and its “famous” BBQ sandwiches.More info
For the June and July 2010 events in Washington County, click here
This year marks the 20th annual “Memorial Day Weekend in Wine Country” and Washington County has more than 20 wineries that will be welcoming visitors for tastings, entertainment and specials.
Visit Washington County’s wine country May 29, 30 and 31 and taste the revered Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris–and much more. This event offers tastings of new (aged) wine releases, as well as a chance to visit numerous wineries that are not regularly open to the public.
This weekend also marks the grand opening of the brand new tasting room at Árdíri Winery and Vineyards in Cornelius.
Most wineries are open these dates from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some charge tasting fees. Participating wineries include:
David Hill Vineyard & Winery photo by Matthew Mason
Want to map your route to the wineries? Start with the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route,
a 50-mile driving tour of Washington County’s agricultural – and viticultural – bounty.
Download the map and set out for a wine weekend adventure.
(Note: Because portions include narrow county roads, low bridge overpasses and winding roads, the route is not recommended for tour buses or bicyclists.)
Here are some great lodging packages to help you enjoy the holiday weekend.
This fall, as the leaves are turning, the grapes are gathered and farmers’ fields yield to the harvest, it’s time to discover Oregon Bounty. Come meet vintners, chefs, and farmers; travel down roads you’ve never driven; sample what these artisans make, grow and catch; and spend a night or two so you can discover more. There are myriad ways to get a taste of Oregon Bounty in Washington County:
VISIT A WINERY
Tour Washington County wineries— more than 20 in all—many of which are conveniently located along the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route. Follow the signs on this driving journey that winds through quaint towns in the county known for their ideal grape growing conditions and outstanding finished products: wines!
SEE WHAT CHEFS DO
Taste the autumn bounty that’s abundant in Pacific Northwest flavor palates. Visit our site for details about the restaurants in the county that specialize in regional cuisine.
BE TOUCHED BY SPRITS SakéOne, the world’s only American-owned saké brewery, produces Momokawa brand premium saké and Moonstone brand fruit-infused saké. These high quality Ginjo sakés are intended to be enjoyed cold on their own and with your favorite foods. Sakétini Saturday happens on the third Saturday of each month; the tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October 10:Great Onion Festival, Sherwood. This classic community event pays homage to the onion farmers of Sherwood, with a barbecue and assorted activities. Visit sherwoodchamber.org.
October 10:Oregon Heritage Farms hosts its annual Apple Fest. Enjoy the harvest of apple season with this festival–complete with country music, face painting, pony rides and hay rides. Plus, all proceeds benefit local students.
October 18:Heirloom Apple Festival, Hillsboro. Sample more than 20 varieties of heirloom and modern apples and pears fresh from the orchard. Enjoy freshly dipped caramel apples, hot apple cider and homemade apple pie made from an assortment of different apple varieties, all while enjoying live music. Kids’ activities will include a straw maze, face painting, petting goats and pumpkin gathering. Visit www.smithberrybarn.com.
October 31:West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, Tualatin. Come cheer on 1,000 lb. pumpkin boats as people paddle across the lake at Tualatin Commons in races that are often wet and always entertaining. Visit ci.tualatin.or.us.
For a comprehensive culinary planning resource, visit TravelOregon.com/bounty, where you’ll find all that there is to see, do and taste. Oregon Bounty is produced by the Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, in partnership with Oregon’s many destination marketing organizations and industry guilds. Discover Oregon’s Bounty with special fly/stay/drive packages from Horizon Air.
Saturday, Sept. 12: A demonstration of “Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest: A Discovery Guide” by Tami Parr. Parr’s Pacific Northwest Cheese Project blog has become the preeminent source for local cheese news, producer profiles, and cheese reviews. Her guide, Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest, was released this spring, and she will be signing copies.
Saturday, Sept. 19: The 52nd Annual Beaverton Celebration parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and can be viewed from the west end of the market.
Saturday, Sept. 26: The market transforms for “Medieval Market Day.” Enjoy medieval activities, games and demonstrations.
Saturday, Oct. 3: A demonstration of “Deep, Dark Chocolate” by Sara Perry, a food columnist for The Oregonian and author of 12 cookbooks, including the latest about chocolate–what she calls “one of the most important food groups.”
Over the weekend, my mother, daughter and I ventured to Tualatin, Ore., for the annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival, which is reportedly the oldest crawfish festival in the country. Not knowing what to expect – none of us has eaten a crawfish, let alone attended a festival in honor of this misunderstood crustacean – we were excited to experience what has become one of Tualatin’s largest events.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Payne.
Unfortunately, we arrived too late to see the “Atsa My Dog Show,” and we missed many of the morning events, but we arrived just in time to see the kids’ crawfish eating contest. When I saw kids posing for pictures with their yard-sized, green garbage bags, I knew I didn’t want to stick around for that contest, as things could get messy.
So, we walked through the exhibit area, which, oddly, did not have a crustacean theme. However, we did learn some interesting historical artifacts about Tualatin and perused the booths of beautiful handcrafted jewelry and wares.
But this festival is about the food. Crawfish skewers, bisque and other inspired dishes were the specials of the day, and we bought two dozen crawfish “to go.” My mother, always the inquiring mind, asked: “Where do these crawfish come from?” (The answer: Lake Chinook, Oregon!) She should have asked how to eat a whole crawfish; watching her try one for the first time would have been great fodder for a bloopers show on the Food Network.
Photo courtesy of Daniel J. Payne
As for my daughter, appeasing a 14-year-old isn’t always easy, especially one who finds food festivals as interesting as, well, crawfish. When she spied a bunch of teenage boys showing off their skateboarding skills in the EXIT Real World Skate Trick Competition, one of the festival’s official events, she declared the Tualatin Crawfish Festival to be “the best festival ever.”
That’s when I knew that this festival, indeed, did have something for everyone.
Don your cowboy boots and hats and head over to the Washington County Fair Complex, July 30 – August 2, for the annual Washington County Fair. Of course, the fair has all of the attractions you expect to see at a county fair: farm animals, arts and crafts, baked goods, carnival rides, monster truck and tractor/truck pulls and live entertainment.
However, this year, Bag&Baggage Productionswill be bringing live theater for the entire family into the mix with productions of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Pecos Bill and Sluefoot Sue.” Also returning to the fair this year after an eight-year hiatus are “Cook’s Famous Racing Pigs.”
Some of Mexico’s hottest bands, including headliners Tierra Cali, Larry Hernandez and La Autoridad de la Sierra, will be performing at the ”Reventon de Verano Latino,” which takes place at the Demar Batchelor Amphitheater. Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up, and the event will also feature food and games.
As always, entrance into the Washington County fair and to many of the attractions is free (excluding carnival rides, motor sports demonstrations and Reventon de Verano Latino). Parking is $5.
Forgot where you put your cowboy hat? No fear, you can buy one at the fair!
Here is a little post from one of our stakeholders. Summer eves + wine + outdoor lounge + movie??!! I don’t drink much wine personally (I know, it’s a shame), but I’d go just for the outdoor lounge. It’s gorgeous!
Hi Friends, Thanks to everybody who made it out last Friday. It was a really nice evening of wine, garden time and one of our favorite movies, Cinema Paradiso. This week we are going to be open on both Friday and Saturday. Friday’s movie, ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’, is fun and represents a solid departure from most of our other selections. For those who haven’t seen Saturday’s movie, ‘Jean de’Florette’, you should, it’s beautiful and a great story.
officials, the president of the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce and dozens of select guests. As part of the opening, the Portland Lee Association performed a traditional Lion Dance. You can see some of the video I shot with my phone on my YouTube Channel.
October 31: 
