Oregon Culinary

Social media.  One either likes it or they don't.  We of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild actually love it.  Today's travelers' are web savvy travelers' who use many different social media sites to make wise travel choices.  Social media listings direct you to us and then our innkeepers take over to make your lodging choice the perfect choice for your Oregon vacation.

The Oregon B&B Guild website ~ new and improved with loads of information, serving as a 'one stop shopping' website:  

• Visit the Target Market page to begin your search for an inn that will fulfill your interests, birding, hiking, biking, wine tasting, historic destinations, etc.
• Weddings and Retreats - many of our innkeepers will host weddings and retreats
• Culinary Tourism - for our food loving guests, that would be all of you! 
• Browse by region, specials, amenities
• Each inn has direct links to their personal on-line reservation systems.  There is also an availability calendar for all regions
• Purchase Lodging Gift Vouchers which are redeemable at all our member inns
• Each inn has a direct link to their on-line reviews.  TripAdvisor, Yelp, BedandBreakfast.com and iLoveInns.  Review before you reserve.

This Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Blog.  An amazing social media tool.  We post about happenings and events all across Oregon and the lodging options close by.  Search the blog for posts on winery events, bird watching sites, farmers markets and oh, so much more!

facebook - join almost 2000 fans that 'like' the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  You'll get live updates on specials, events, and state wide happenings. 

twitter - follow us on twitter @oregonbbguild and @ORinnquire for short timely Q&A with innkeepers.  We live here.  We know Oregon like the back of our hands and would love to help you create a memorable visit at our inns and in our regions

Flickr - where our innkeepers have uploaded photos of their inns, events, and scenic shots of Oregon

Pinterest - photos and more photos!  Of our inns, our innkeepers, our food, and of course our Oregon.

There are over 400 bed and breakfasts in Oregon but only ours are inspected and approved by the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, making them a exceptional lodging choice for your perfect vacation.  Thank you for choosing one, or more, of our member inns as a lodging option on your next Oregon vacation.  You'll be glad you did.

In the Hood River Valley 15,000+ acres pears, apples, cherries and other fruit, will burst into blossom this month.  It is a true sign of sping as we dust the snow off our back steps. 

Blossom Festival celebrates the arrival of spring with a full plate of events from BBQs, to arts and craft shows, to antique sales. 

You won't want to miss the Blossom Fest Quilt Show with some 80-100 beautiful handmade quilts will be on display, many for sale.  Another can't miss event is the Dessert Party at the Apple Valley Country Store.  A variety of desserts, jams and jellies, all made with fresh local fruit, will be available.

Start your day at one of the many Oregon Bed and Breakfasts near Mt. Hood and the Columbia Gorge with a breakfast prepared from fresh local products.  Ginger baked pears, fresh Blueberry Scones, Apple Quiche, we're talking Northwest Culinary breakfasts!

With Nine Unique Inns in OBBG's Mt Hood Region to choose from this will only be one of the hard choices you'll face on a weekend of events for all the senses.

Take the scenic 35 mile Fruit Loop through the valley's orchards, forests, farmlands, and friendly communities.

Just want to sit back and relax?  The Mt Hood Railroad travels through thousands of acres of orchards in blossom and has a layover in Parkdale and the Art and Music Festival.  Enjoy live music and art in the park while taking in stunning views of Mt. Hood.

Visit us in the Hood River Valley at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn and prove to yourself that spring has definitely arrived!!

Here's a special you won't want to miss in the Oregon Wine Country!  

Roselyn, innkeeper of the R. R. Thompson House in Carlton, invites you to enjoy a Spring Break Special.  For the rest of March 2013 and through the month of April 2013 only, you can:

• book one night and get the second night half off;
• book two nights and get the third night free! 

Please call the inn directly to reserve this special rate: (503) 852-6236  

Spring is a special time to visit the Willamette Valley.  The daffodils are in bloom and soon many flowering trees will be at the peak of beauty. 

The R. R. Thompson House is walking distance to nearly 20 wine tasting rooms and a short driving distance to many world-class wineries found in the Oregon Wine Country.  Located only 40 miles from Portland, Oregon, and 60 miles from the Oregon Coast, this inn makes a perfect central location for your Spring Break getaway.

And you'll stay in luxury.  Although the house was originally constructed in 1936, today this authentic Oregon home boasts two spacious suites and three intimate guestrooms, each appointed with marble tiled baths and jetted tubs and either a king or queen-sized pillow top mattress and crisp, luxury linens.

Hungry yet?  Make your Spring Break a culinary vacation too.  The R. R. Thompson House features a bountiful breakfast with specialties like Brie omlettes and house-baked pastries.  You can read more about this wonderful inn from a previous blog post here.

Visit the R. R. Thompson House soon and "like" them on Facebook too!

A blog written a couple years back,  StillTasty: Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide, is still relevant today and full of information about food safety.  And with the leftovers associated with the holiday meals following these tips is so very important.

This website, LoveFoodHateWaste.com, is full of great ideas for storing food and cutting down on your waste.  Meal and portion planning, food storage, and using up those leftovers will not only save you dollars on your weekly shopping bill it is also the environmentally friendly thing to do.  A side note: consider Pre-Cycling.  Join a CSA, community supported agriculture, shop local at the farmers market and buy products packaged in recyclable packaging.

The innkeepers prepare culinary delights for their guests and are sharing their recipes on the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Website.  Check back often as we are adding more all the time.

Trust me.  We innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild will not be serving you leftovers!  Only the freshest and best for our guests!  But we are really people, just like you, with real leftovers from the gatherings with our families and friends.  Always great aromas coming from the kitchens in the bed and breakfasts of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

We always like it when venerable travel writer Gerry Frank picks an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member to include in his articles.  On November 18, 2012, Gerry picked the Oval Door Bed & Breakfast in Eugene as one of his favorites.  You can read the full article from the Oregonian here.

"Mornings start out right with locally roasted coffee delivered to the guest rooms. Follow the aroma of just-out-of-the-oven baked goods to the dining room for a full gourmet breakfast. Main dishes feature a choice of two entrees made with seasonal ingredients (including a healthier option) such as corn fritters, eggnog French toast and Dungeness crab hash. Fruit and breakfast meats complement the superb main dishes."

Nothing like adding a little culinary tourism to your Eugene Oregon stay!  If you're a business traveler, thinking about relocating to Eugene, or parents of a University of Oregon college student looking for a more home-like environment for your time in Eugene, the Oval Door Bed and Breakfast could be your pick too.

Call Melissa or Nicole at 541-683-3160 or visit their comprehensive website to review their rooms and make your reservation.  Lodging in downtown Eugene Oregon can't be more complete than a stay at the Oval Door.  

And thanks, Gerry Frank, for picking an Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member!

We have three plum trees in the gardens of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast, an alternative to a Hood River Oregon hotel.  The harvest has been Oregon Bounty style and the trees are loaded with fruit.  We've been making cakes and pastries as they come off the tree for the couple of weeks.  This Upside Down Cake has been well received by our guests at the breakfast table of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast, a member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

Old Parkdale Inn Plum Upside Down Buttermilk Cake

Place 1/4 cup butter in 8" round baking pan and place in an oven preheating to 400º until melted.  While it heats prepare about 10 plums by slicing them into wedges, getting about 8-10 wedges per plum.  When the butter has melted swirl it around the pan.  I use a pastry brush to make sure the sides are buttered too.  Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, mix it well into the butter then arrange the plum wedges in rays around the pan.

Buttermilk Cake Batter:
1 cup flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ stick of butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
½ cup buttermilk
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and set aside.  In another bowl, cream the butter and ¾ cup of sugar together, then add the vanilla extract, egg and buttermilk and whisk till smooth.  Add to flour mixture.  Stir until just combined.  Scrape the buttermilk cake batter onto the plum slices and smooth.  Bake for around 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes, then carefully invert onto serving platter.  We've been serving this Oregon Culinary Delight slightly warm with a dab of Greek yogurt and some sliced fresh plums as garnish

The Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast is mid way between Hood River, the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood and is a unique inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  The inn, with Pacific Northwest decor, is at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood in the bountiful Hood River Valley, Parkdale, Oregon.  The perfect base for outdoor adventure or a quiet retreat.

The 16th Annual Nez Perce Art in the Wallowa is coming up very quickly--Saturday of the first weekend in October 2012 to be exact.  If you like contemporary Native American art then you don't want to miss this opportunity.  Nez Perce Indian and nearly Columbia River Tribal Plateau artists will once again display and offer their work for sale at the historic Wallowa Lake Lodge in Northeastern Oregon.

Live and silent auctions take place in the afternoon of Saturday, October 4, 2012, from noon to 4 pm.  Every year's different so it's worth to see what the artists are offering this year.  Many of the artists are in attendance too.

In the evening at 6 pm, there'll be a dinner by reservation only in the dining room of the Wallowa Lake Lodge.  Tickets for this dinner sell out quickly as fewer than 100 people can attend.  The scrumptious dinner includes fresh salmon, local buffalo, local salad and vegetables, and cheesecake with huckleberry topping.  A culinary tourism or locavore delight!

The afternoon reception, live & silent auction is free admission.  Dinner tickets are $45 in advance and can be reserved through the Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center at 541-886-3101 or purchased through local vendors listed here

Entertainment during the dinner features Nez Perce storyteller Carlotta Kauffman who will perform  "According to Coyote" a collection of Coyote stories collected and produced by her brother John Kauffman.  This show was recently performed Dakota State University (see photo).

You can stay at the Wallowa Lake Lodge for this event, but we'd like to recommend that you check into one of three Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild members located nearby in Joseph, Oregon (10 minutes away) or Enterprise, Oregon (20 minutes away). All three of these Oregon bed and breakfasts are equipped with only private bathrooms that are either attached directly to your guestroom or are nearby.  And by staying in Joseph or Enterprise you'll be able to enjoy more of the sights and sounds of this vibrant Pacific Northwest artistic community.  

Make your reservations soon!

See you at this northwest culinary and artistic event!

It is spring in the Pacific Northwest.  The rhubarb in the gardens of our inn, the Old Parkdale Inn, is just about ready to harvest and the Oregon strawberries should begin to come on soon.  Put the two together and we get a favorite of our guests, Strawberry-Rhubarb Coffee Cake.

3 c fresh rhubarb, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 c fresh strawberries
sweeten with agave nectar (or one c sugar)
1/3 c cornstarch

Cook the strawberries and rhubarb for about 5 minutes.  Combine the sweetener of your choice with the cornstarch and add to fruit.  Cook until bubbly and thick.  Set aside to cool


3 c flour
1 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 c butter

1 c buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp almond extract

Combine dry ingredients.  Cut in butter until the mixture resembles fine  crumbs.  Beat wet ingredients together and add to flour mix, stirring just to moisten.  Spread half the batter in a greased 9x13x2 inch baking pan.  Spread the cooled rhubarb filling over this and spoon the remaining batter in small portions on top of the filling.

Make a topping by combining

3/4 c sugar, 2 cup flour, cut in 1/4 cup butter and then add 1/4 cup flaked coconut

Sprinkle over the coffee cake batter, bake at 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.  The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild truely enjoy turning your vacation into a culinary vacation.  Coffee anyone?

It's that time of year again.  A time when the Farmer's Markets in Oregon open and the Oregon Bounty begins to flows.  Found some fresh organic strawberries at ours this week and it just gets better from here out!

What do you see in this photo?  If you answered apples, mushrooms, potatoes, bread and greens, you would be right.  I see a savory Italian Fritatta with Argula and mushrooms, herbed roasted potatoes, a rich and flavorful banana French Toast and Old Parkdale Inn’s famous Baked Fuji Apples.

Once a week we receive our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box delivered to our door by Hood River Organics.  It's like Christmas every time, not knowing what gifts we will receive.  Depends on what is being harvested on the organic family farms in the Hood River Valley and Columbia Gorge.  This is exceptional Oregon Slow Food.

Some of the innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild belong to their local CSA and they also, along with most of our innkeepers, visit the farmers markets regularly, selecting the perfect ingredient to create a true Northwest Culinary experience for our guests. Many of us have gardens producing fresh herbs, vegies, and more.

As spring turns into summer the box gets heavier and the market stands overflow with more and more of the bounty our farms have to offer.  Won’t be long before the berries and fresh herbs start arriving.  Can’t you just taste them?

Guest Blogger: Cindy Weeldryer
for Apple Inn Bed and Breakfast
Cottage Grove, Oregon

Whether it’s time to take your relationship to the next level or to celebrate an important milestone in your journey together, the Apple Inn Bed and Breakfast  is an ideal place to romance your sweetheart with a romantic weekend getaway in the woods.

A member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, the Apple Inn Bed and Breakfast will help you plan a customized romantic weekend get-away to Cottage Grove, the Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon.

On Friday night, select one of Cottage Grove’s many restaurants that offer both casual and fine culinary experiences. Local eateries include Mexican, Thai, Indian, Chinese, and American cuisine.  Then head up to The Apple Inn Bed and Breakfast for hours of pampering and relaxation in one of our cozy rooms. For your enjoyment we offer an evening snack tray and a soak in our steamy spa tub under the stars.

On Saturday morning choose among our signature breakfast menu items to energize you for whatever plans you’ve made to.  And you are sure to experience true Oregon Geotourism should you plan to:

• Explore The Apple Inn’s 270+ acre tree farm and learn how one family sustainably manages its timber trust from one generation to the next.
• Explore Cottage Grove’s National Historic District. Visit its local bookstores, pubs and cafes, antique and collectible shops, gold mining museum, art galleries, tea house and bakeries.
• Explore the trails and beautiful waterfalls in the Cottage Grove District of the Umpqua National Forest.
• Explore the many murals in the downtown area.
• Explore the area’s charming covered bridges.
• Explore local wineries in the area and splurge on a romantic limo to fully enjoy the experience.

On Saturday evening, your options include attending a play at our award-winning community theatre, enjoying a variety of live music at local venues, or simply relax and cuddle together in front of a fire and remind each other why your love is a forever-kind of love.

Contact us today so we can help you plan a special unforgettable romantic get-away weekend with your beloved!

FARM to FORK is a "traveling farm-to-table restaurant, local food fundraiser, and community celebration rolled into one! Our unique FARM to FORK dinners are designed to reconnect people to the source of their food, and to honor the talented farmers, food artisans, winemakers, and chefs that contribute to the growing culinary reputation and local food community of Southern Oregon"

Scheduling for the 2012 FARM to FORK events scheduled have begun and the promoters of this event invite you to "meet the farmers, tour the farms, and experience a remarkable artisan meal in the company of friends, neighbors, and fellow supporters of our local food and wine community. Proceeds from the dinners will be contributed directly to local farmers, wineries and organizations that support small farms, food security, and greater accessibility to healthy, local food."

We hope you can make one or more of the FARM to FORK dinners and we encourage you to make your reserve your seat early as these events will surely sell out as will most events happening in Ashland, Oregon.  And the beds of Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns fill up even quicker!

Long Hollow Ranch, a unique ranch stay in of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, offers an at home atmosphere perfect for every season of the year. Join us for Bed & Breakfast during fall, winter or spring.  Off season weather can be unpredictable and capricious, so outdoor activities may be limited, but the ranch houses are quiet and comfortable - A Perfect Getaway!

Whether you are planning a simple birthday dinner for a family member or a week long retreat for the team, small groups and events are always welcome.

Your day starts with a delicious and satisfying hot Oregon slow food style breakfast, a culinary treat.  Hot and cold beverages are available and guests have access to a refrigerator and microwave.

Most Long Hollow Ranch buildings date back to the early twentieth century. During their stay at this historic Ranch guests can enjoy the outdoor hot tub, sit in the shade on the wrap around porch, enjoy drinks on the patio or play a variety of yard games. Inside the Ranch House, guests enjoy table games, reading, playing the piano or just having good conversation in the public living and dining room areas.

Plan a romantic weekend getaway or a spectacular Oregon Bed and Breakfast Ranch vacation experience in Oregon's Central High Desert.

Get to know our State like a local.  Select a Bed and Breakfast from where to start and end your trip.  Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats. Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Culinary Tourists, listen up.  You'd travel miles for the best Street-Food.  Even plan whole culinary vacations around Street-Food.  Well, you need only travel to Portland, Oregon for the very best in Street Food.  #1 in the World in fact according to Budget Travel and US News Travel

"With more than 400 carts selling everything from Korean tacos to Carolina-style barbecue, Food Carts Portland is a microcosm of mobile meals, " according to Marisa Robertson-Textor.

Lunchtime crowds gather near SW 10th Avenue and SW Alder Street; later on, night owls head across the river to SE 12th Avenue and SE Hawthorne Boulevard for deep-fried cherry pies and savory crepes, served until 2 a.m.

Food Carts Portland has a list of cuisine categories, locations and maps.  From Baked Potatoes to Vietnamese to Turkish to Sicilian, you'll find more than 50 different carts.  "Like" Food Carts Portland on Facebook.

Start your Culinary Vacation at a Portland Bed and Breakfast where we serve up the very best in Oregon Slow Food, right from the Farmers Market to you.  Then "graze" through Portland and see what we already knew, Portland has the "World's Best Street Food".

Eat Mobile, Portland’s Food Cart Festival, will be held at OMSI this year on Saturday April 28. Fifty different street food vendors will serve up samples of their creations to the throngs of fans who will eat it up while enjoying an adult beverages and some live music. All proceeds from the event go to Mercy Corp Northwest’s local economic development program which assists entrepreneurs in securing funds for small businesses, including food carts.

Just another reason to visit Portland, Oregon and regional member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  Get to know our State like a local.  Select a Bed and Breakfast from where to start and end your trip.  Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats. Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Like running shoes?  Like Southern Oregon?  The innkeepers of Bybee's Historic Inn just outside of Jacksonville, OR, would love to see you in April for the Pear Blossom Run!

Who:  Anyone who wants to enter and support Jackson County High Schools, local school programs & the YMCA Annual Strong Communities Fundraising Campaign.

What:  36th Annual Pear Blossom Run

When:  Saturday, April 14, 2012

Where:  Medford, Oregon (not too far from Jacksonville, OR)

Why:  Rogue Valley's #1 athletic event.  Founded in 1977.

Details:  Entry deadline is April 1, 2012.  Register at the website, www.pearblossomrun.com or by calling (541) 324-8348

Bybee's Historic Inn near Jacksonville, OR, is also a perfect Oregon wedding location.  They also hold Pacific Northwest Culinary events featuring local chefs from the Jacksonville, OR, area.  Give them a call at 541-899-0106 and book your group in for the Pear Blossom Run!

Enjoy local historic characters that 'come alive' sharing their lives as it was in the 1800's while being captivated by a demonstration of how whiskey was made in a log still.

 When:     Monday January 16th  

                 6:30 - 10:00 pm

 Cost:        $55.00 per person for dinner and wine

                 $45.00 per person for dinner and Dry Soda

 How:       541-899-0106

LODGING & DINNER:      Luxurious room, dinner and gourmet breakfast for two.  $210.00 - 235.00 (depending on room choice).  To help us preserve the integrity of our vintage wood floors we ask that you please do not wear "high heels"on the porches or inside the home. Thank You!  

 Please check our website for more information. www.bybeeshistoricinn.com

2010 Food & Wine Classic, Ashland Oregon from Dana Welsh on Vimeo.

There's a quirky little town on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, a half-hour drive north of Portland, that is trying to discover itself. St Helens Oregon has already been discovered by Hollywood, for one.  Recently numerous scenes from "Twilight" were filmed here and each October Olde Towne recreated in the manner of the popular 1998 Disney movie, "Halloweentown".

Dozens of fishing boats might be waiting in the harbor for the tide to turn and the salmon to run.  The local brewery, "Captured by Porches" is lodged behind the Plantation House and Captain Jack's karaoke bar in the heart of Olde Town, along with shops and restaurants and the Columbia Theatre.  Sailors and kayakers with rentals from Scappoose Bay Kayaking, enjoy the calm waters of the narrow channel and farther out, oceangoing freighters and container ships traveled the main Columbia channel.  The front steps of the 1905 Columbia County Courthouse — located immediately north of Columbia View Park — look out upon Plaza Square, which extends between Strand and First streets.



A delightful Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn, The Nob Hill Riverview B&B, sits on a hilltop overlooking Olde Town and features a wonderful view of Mount St. Helen.  The perfect place to relax and unwind.  From the moment you step inside you will find that the Inn is elegantly appointed and restored for your comfort. You will feel pampered after a restful night's sleep and awake to the inviting aroma of homemade organic food being prepared for your breakfast.  A true Northwest Culinary treat for that romantic getaway and a unique inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.