Another Columbia Gorge tidbit from the Team at http://www.travelthegorge.com/
At 1082 Tucker RD (a continuation of 12th street if you're coming from the north) - on the heights in Hood River - between a small apartment building and a garden center- hides a very special recreation destination for the crafty among us. Ken and Verna, lord and lady of this quiet little kingdom, greet each visitor by name. If they knew you were coming, your customary chair is ready and your personal treasures are set out ready for your continued attention. A supply of cold sodas (diet Coke, a must) are in the frig.
It feels like home, if your home is warm, friendly, and your tables are surrounded by shelves and shelves of paints, glazes, greenware, bisque and wonderfully created ceramic and glass decor. Everything is here for the amateur or crafting pro to make personalized gifts for friends and self, spend a few rainy hours keeping kids busy and quiet, or throw a party where everyone makes the same thing differently. The possibilities are delightful.
Last Saturday the Team spent two noisy hours creating our own personal versions of ceramic travel mugs. We had seen the mug at the KV Ceramics booth at the Hood River Blossom Festival and decided we just had to do this. There was another table full when we arrived with 3 generations of the same family each painting merrily away at their own levels of ability. (We also had very diverse levels of competence - which doesn't matter a bit.)
While at the studio, take a break to look at the truly lovely selection of handcrafted gifts at their adjoining Gorge-Us Gift Shop. Ken creates some very unique glazed ceramics and pottery and their daughters have obvious talent with fused and etched glass. You can call ahead (541-386-4664) to reserve a table or a whole party, but just dropping by is also totally acceptable.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Good River is Good Food
When a Team member needs you, you drop everything and go. So Sunday, when our Team member in The Dalles called to say she needed us to help her celebrate a friend's birthday, we gathered ourselves together and sped to her assistance. We are nothing if not self-sacrificing.
Mosier is the perfect setting for the Good River Restaurant. The natural wood structure sits on a small rise just off the main road through town, surrounded by a naturalized garden, big trees and shaded patios. The restaurant isn't big, seating maybe 25-30 people in a sunny room with large windows and hardwood floors. A full-service bar occupies one corner of the room providing intimacy to its customers without impacting the experience of the dining guests. Then there's the food...
Every group has one. You know, Mr. Excitement - the guy who always orders the same thing? Here, it's the Mosier Pizza. Pears, bacon and bleu cheese with tomato sauce and a crisp, crisp crust. We tease him for it, but everyone has a bite and we strongly recommend it. Then there's the fries. Hand cut and cooked just right. A large order comes with their battered fish (Haddock). While the fish is good, we do think the serving could be larger, but we have yet to leave hungry so we forgive them.
Sunday Brunch sounds a bit daunting, but their Sunday Brunch menu is acutally a combination of choices from breakfast and lunch, so you can have as large or small a meal as you like. And since the words "Sunday Brunch" and "champagne" are almost synonymous, there are good champagne options. We had (several) Mimosas. We especially enjoyed their Spinach and Mushroom omelette with a slightly spicy chipotle hollandaise sauce. Just enough egg to wrap up the goodies, tender and flavoful. The Heuvos Rancheros is hearty and robust with enough guacamole to keep it moist.
In an effort to say something less flattering to keep things authentic, we would suggest that the server remove used utensils and replace them with new ones for the different courses. Currently guests are asked to "hold onto" their dirty silverware which they then have to set on the bare tabletop. The restaurant certainly seems successful enough to afford sufficient flatware to save their guests this rather embarrassing and uncomfortable process.
All-in-all, what more could you ask for? A good river, a good restaurant, good friends and a good day!!
For more great dining options in the Columbia Gorge see www.TravelTheGorge.com/where_to_eat.asp
Mosier is the perfect setting for the Good River Restaurant. The natural wood structure sits on a small rise just off the main road through town, surrounded by a naturalized garden, big trees and shaded patios. The restaurant isn't big, seating maybe 25-30 people in a sunny room with large windows and hardwood floors. A full-service bar occupies one corner of the room providing intimacy to its customers without impacting the experience of the dining guests. Then there's the food...
Every group has one. You know, Mr. Excitement - the guy who always orders the same thing? Here, it's the Mosier Pizza. Pears, bacon and bleu cheese with tomato sauce and a crisp, crisp crust. We tease him for it, but everyone has a bite and we strongly recommend it. Then there's the fries. Hand cut and cooked just right. A large order comes with their battered fish (Haddock). While the fish is good, we do think the serving could be larger, but we have yet to leave hungry so we forgive them.
Sunday Brunch sounds a bit daunting, but their Sunday Brunch menu is acutally a combination of choices from breakfast and lunch, so you can have as large or small a meal as you like. And since the words "Sunday Brunch" and "champagne" are almost synonymous, there are good champagne options. We had (several) Mimosas. We especially enjoyed their Spinach and Mushroom omelette with a slightly spicy chipotle hollandaise sauce. Just enough egg to wrap up the goodies, tender and flavoful. The Heuvos Rancheros is hearty and robust with enough guacamole to keep it moist.
In an effort to say something less flattering to keep things authentic, we would suggest that the server remove used utensils and replace them with new ones for the different courses. Currently guests are asked to "hold onto" their dirty silverware which they then have to set on the bare tabletop. The restaurant certainly seems successful enough to afford sufficient flatware to save their guests this rather embarrassing and uncomfortable process.
All-in-all, what more could you ask for? A good river, a good restaurant, good friends and a good day!!
For more great dining options in the Columbia Gorge see www.TravelTheGorge.com/where_to_eat.asp
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