(Photos courtesy of Bistro Collette and One Stop Writing Shop) I’ve hungered for a French bistro to hit Bend for the 20 years I’ve lived here. That’s what happens when you grow up in Paris. So, I was downright ecstatic to hear that Jeremy Buck, Salute Restaurant and Bar’s co-owner and chef, and his co-owner…
(Photos courtesy of One Stop Writing Shop) “Oh no! We’re in trouble,” my friend and trusty restaurant review companion exclaimed after her first bite of The Hudson’s smoked pork belly appetizer. Think melt-in-your-mouth fatty goodness balanced with frisée, compressed persimmon and, as the menu says, “crunchy things.” We had started the meal with an amuse…
“That’s delicious,” my two friends and I announced almost simultaneously as we sipped on Campfire Cucina’s maple old fashioneds, made with Buffalo Trace, fresh orange juice, maple syrup, bitters, and soda. That d-word would get repeated again and again during the meal that followed, starting with the new Sunriver restaurant’s special salad – romaine, strawberries…
(Photos courtesy of One Stop Writing Shop) What do you do when you’ve owned and run some of the most renowned eateries in Central Oregon, including Bend’s The Victorian Café, Camp Sherman’s The Kokanee Café, Sunriver’s The Trout House, and Redmond’s The Pig and Pound? If you’re local restaurateur Paul Mercer, you open The McArthur…
(Photos courtesy of One Stop Writing Shop) After years of people begging Brasada Ranch, the stunning resort east of Bend, to keep their fine dining open during the winter, you can now head to Wild Rye four days a week. You owe it to yourself to go. Executive chef and culinary director Karl Holl, a…
(Photos courtesy of One Stop Writing Shop) If you haven’t experienced the magic of Joe Kim’s culinary talents, you’re missing out. After years of spearheading the 5 Fusion kitchen, he and his wife, Laura, opened Yoli. There, Joe, a three-time James Beard Foundation nominee for Best Chef Northwest, honors the flavors from his childhood in…
(Photos courtesy of One Stop Writing Shop) If you have a list of favorite Bend restaurants, make room for one more, ‘cause you’re going to fall in love. I’d been hearing about Salute for a while. Some friends raved about the $42, three-course special (just mention that to your server if interested). Another couple touted…
(Photos by Linden Gross) Kusshi first developed an almost cult-like following as a pop-up. In December 2024, seven years after initially making its mark on the local food scene, Kusshi finally opened the doors of its own small establishment to rave reviews. Bend foodies couldn’t seem to say enough about its Nikkei cuisine, a fusion…
(Photos by Linden Gross) I don’t get surprised that often when I go out to eat. Pleased? Yes. Excited? Yes. Disappointed? Sure. But surprised? In a good way? That just doesn’t happen all that often. Then, I dined at Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club, where surprise seems to be their word of choice. I had…
(Photos by Rebecca Zook) If you hunger for top-notch Mexican food, the Oxford Hotel’s Roam has you covered this Cinco de Mayo. From Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5, once the restaurant’s daily brunch is over at 2pm, the fiesta is on. Two friends and I got to sample the elevated Mexican food and…
