Food+Drink

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Over the Moon in Oregon Wine Country

Say “Be Mine” with Wine 
Long cold winter days practically beg for cozy romantic getaways to warm both your heart and soul. But you don’t need to head to a tropical location to turn up the heat in your love life; this Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s pointing his arrow straight at Oregon Wine Country. Rediscover the romance in your relationship and watch the sparks fly when you plan a romantic getaway for you and your special sweetheart to any of the following wine country inns.

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Big Woody Recap

Fans of barrel aged beer and small-batch whiskey braved the winter chill January 17 and 18, 2014 at the perfectly suited Leftbank Annex in Portland to celebrate the inaugural Big Woody Festival. Inspired by the five-year running Little Woody Beer Festival in Bend, Oregon, the Big Woody Festival celebrates the historical relevance of barrel aged beers, featuring a wide range of beer styles. 

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Pour on the Cheer: What to do in Wine Country This Winter

The whirlwind of the holiday season has passed, but winter is just beginning. With the holiday season behind you, you might find yourself looking for wine-related things to do; for your amusement, to entertain visiting guests, or just to escape the blustery weather. Good news, you’ve come to right place. I’ve compiled a list just for you that is chalk full of activities to bring you cheer in the New Year. Though there might not be any grapes left on the vines to see, and the Valley views could be obscured by a thick layer of clouds, a visit to a local winery this time of year is still a good idea. Many of them are open year-round (call to ensure the one you want to visit is open). Rest assured, you’ll be warmed by a delicious glass of wine and a dose of friendly hospitality when you arrive. Dundee…

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Pork Recipes

Koho Bistro Eugene | kohobistro.net Chef Jeff Strom Braised Berkshire Pork Coppa with House Made Spiced Apple Butter Makes 8 servings | total cook time: 5 hours 1 large pork coppa (Ask your butcher for the large loin from a fresh pork neck, used mainly for the Italian cured specialty meat of the same name, roughly 3-4 pounds. Ask the butcher to truss the coppa for you as well. This keeps it in a nice cylindrical shape through brine and cooking process.) 1/2 gallon water 1/2 cup pink peppercorns 1/4 cup whole mace (or whole nutmeg) 1/2 cup fennel seed, toasted 6 cinnamon sticks, toasted 1/2 cup juniper berries, toasted and crushed 1 tablespoon vanilla paste (or vanilla extract) 1/4 cup dried lemon thyme 1/2 cup fresh ginger, peeled and crushed Zest strips from 2 oranges 1 cup kosher salt 2 cups dark brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon pink curing salt 1/2 gallon…

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Oregon Cideries

It’s as American as apple pie. Hard cider was the beverage of choice in early New England, and a renaissance is now sweeping the nation. What does the iconic apple mean to our local agricultural and beverage industries in the Pacific Northwest? Consumed with all meals by people of varying age and socioeconomic status across Colonial America, cider was the safe alternative to unreliable drinking water. By the 19th century, hard cider consumption had reached 32 gallons per person annually. Despite the utilitarian and life-sustaining history of cider, its popularity began to wane at the turn of the 20th century, and brought to its knees due to Prohibition. Lorin Gelfand of Square Mile Cider Company elaborates: “Our forefathers drank cider on a daily basis. In fact, some early presidential candidates handed out cider at their campaign rallies. There really is a rich cider history in the United States that most…

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Porklandia: Life on a heritage farm

Get a glimpse of life on a family farm, raising heritage breeds of pigs, through this engaging gallery of photographs.

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Homegrown Chef: Cranberry Crostini with Sautéed Mushrooms and Shallots

PERHAPS NO FRUIT HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE A PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR more than cranberries. Cranberries are virtually synonymous with the holidays. November and December wouldn’t be the same without my mom’s cranberry apple gelatin salad, or my aunt’s cranberry bread, or my mother-in-law’s cranberry orange sauce, as well as the canned version tipped onto a plate.

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Into the Bogs: Vincent Family Cranberries

LONG BEFORE CRANBERRY JUICE became a staple on supermarket shelves, cranberry farming was a part-time job that Oregon Coast families took up to supplement their incomes.

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A Gift for Every Wine Lover | Part I

Don’t panic this holiday season; the perfect gift is actually out there. For oenophiles who want to take their grape love to the gifting level, here’s a list of carefully chosen wine-related gifts. Each item is crafted with wine in mind by Oregon artisans. A bottle, gift pack or gift certificate for a tasting from any of the region’s finest wineries is surely appreciated, but a creative wine gift might just put you down in history as the best gift giver ever. Be forewarned, you’ll forever be expected to gift über cool presents. Are you ready for the challenge?