Bend Premier Real Estate Blog

Cascade Lakes Brewing Produces a Meal to Remember

Bend Oregon has become a beer hot spot for any hop connoisseur. With over 27 breweries to choose from, there seems to be a flavor and experience for any palate. Last week, we were able to have a fun and unique dining experience at one of our favorite brew stops, Cascade Lakes. 

Founded in 1994, Cascade Lakes Brewing has its origins in Redmond, Oregon. Over 25 years later, the brewery has greatly expanded its brewing system and also has added "The Lodge,",our go-to weekend stop in Bend, Oregon on the way to Mt. Bachelor. On our most recent visit, Cascade Lakes offered an exclusive, 30 ticket only event for a 5 course beer pairing which was called "Beer and Bites." Based on teaser photos leaked on social media, this looked as though it promised to be a cornucopia of flavors. 

The event was held in the upstairs space at Cascade Lakes. Normally adorned with dart boards and a pool table, the upstairs was instead set up with several communal tables covered with black table clothes and fun hops decor. We were greeted with a great menu, allowing us to see the wonderful food and beer we had in store, and got to try an IPA which was exclusively brewed for the event while munching down on some smoked nuts. This IPA featured a much lighter hop than typically used in Pacific NW IPAs and was a great starting beer for this event. We think this beer should be on the full time beer list!

Once all the guests had arrived, we were greeted by the brew master and head chef for a few words and finally got to begin on our outstanding starter, some fried goat cheese balls atop fresh greens and hazelnut pesto. The balance of the fried goat cheese and greens was absolute perfection and the touch of hazelnut pesto beneath it all had our taste buds singing. This starter was paired with the Elk Camp IPA and it was a perfect pairing in our books.

Just when we thought things could not get any better, we were graced with a marinated wagyu sirloin rolled in some super flaky puff pastry and pairs with two outstanding sauces. The only complaint about this dish is we were all itching for more! Pairing this with the tried and true Hopsmack IPA made this appetizer a perfect second course.

Thankfully these dishes were on the smaller side because we still had three courses to go! Next we had the most lovely looking salad placed in front of us along with a nitro red ale that was as smooth as it sounds. A grilled radicchio had a wonderful bitter flavor that paired very well with the richness of grilled avocado and the sweetness of the honey balsamic glaze and brandy craisins. Although not as exciting as the wagyu, this dish was a nice break from the heavy prior course and helped to prepare us for the outstanding main course!

Our main course for the evening was a beer braised rib with a fried polenta cake and demi-glace. Although we were getting full by this point, not a bite of this entree was left uneaten. The ribs were perfectly cooked and literally fell right off the bone. The side polenta cake was a wonderful pairing to the rich rib and to add to the flavor waterfall we were experiencing with every bite we took, we also got to have a cask conditioned ale that was not yet officially finished so only was titled "Barrel #10". This beer absolutely gave us the flavors of the barrel it came from and we hope to see some small batches of this beer in the future at the pubs. 

Just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite, out came a lovely Salter Caramel Porter whipped mousse topped with raspberries and mint. This delectable dish was so mouth watering that we need the recipe! Perfectly paired with the coffee notes of the Secret Weapon Stout, this was a match made in Heaven! 

We couldn't believe that such a wonderful dinner came from the kitchen of a brew pub, but we are so glad it did. We can't wait for the next one!

-The Foodies of Bend Premier

Bend Home Sales Surging

The Bend real estate market has been strong since coming out of the recession.  However, the figures from January 2019 were beyond expectations with the number of new ratified sales contracts hitting new highs.

When January 2019 is compared with January 2018, the following trends can be noted for Bend single family residences on less than an acre of land:

• Homes for sale were down 29.6% to 269*
• Homes sold up 3.1% to 131
• Homes pended up 24.6% to 177
• The average price per square foot on sold home was up 6.1% to $259
• The days on market were up 1.6% to 130
• The sold/original listing price difference was up 1.1% to 96%
• The average active price was up 5.8% to $752,000
• The average sold price was up 6.7% to $525,000
• The months of inventory based on closed sales was down...

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Bend Premier Real Estate Announces 2020 Top Producers

At a recent luncheon, all Bend Premier Real Estate brokers were honored with additional acknowledgment provided to those who stood out with their real estate sales in 2019:

• #1 Top Producer - Dana Furlan
• #1 Top Team - Rachel Greenwald Rhoads and Kacey Taylor
• #1 Individual Sale - Laura Curry
• #1 Rising Star - Denny Osborn

The Pattie & Megan Serbus team was also acknowledged as a top producer.

Recognition was also given to the top 10 in total sales in 2020:

• Sherry Ortega
• Cate Cushman
• Danielle Gates
• Eric Andrews
• Tina Roberts
• Laura Curry
• Stephanie Edgerly
• Kathy Hovermale
• Rob Lindberg & Jacque Martini Roberts (tie)

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CHI is One of Bend's Best Asian Restaurants

When it comes to Asian cuisine, there are so many outstanding options to choose from in Central Oregon. However, there is one stop that we keep going back to time and time again. CHI Chinese & Sushi Bar in Downtown Bend is a "must try" restaurant for every Central Oregon foodie. This location was once upon a time the old Boondocks location and then Liquid Lounge. Unfortunately neither bar was successful, but after a nice remodel, CHI opened and we are so glad they did. 

On this particular visit, we decided to lean more on the sushi side, but threw in a bit of Chinese cuisine as well. Our appetizers consisted of the dumpling tower and pan seared potstickers. Both were outstanding in their own right. The dumpling tower was a perfect appetizer to share with two pillowy soft dumplings per bamboo steamer, each layer a different fla...

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New Italian Restaurant a Great Addition to Downtown Bend

Being a restaurant owner in Bend is not easy. From tight food margins to difficult customers, building a new business to a place people talk about and come back to is no easy task. Bend's newest restaurant is on track to follow that challenging path. Salute' Bend is an Italian restaurant in Bend worth remembering. 

This cozy restaurant is located in the old High Tides location, or more recently the old Citizen location on Bond in Downtown Bend across from Deschutes Brewery. This space has a strange hallway entrance that looks more like the beginning of a bad horror movie with unique lighting and a sterile feel than the entrance to a wonderful Italian eating establishment. Make your way past the elevator to a glass doorway on your right and you will find the entrance to Salute' Bend. 

The ambiance in Salute' Bend was exactly what we were looking for in fine dining. Cool mood lighting set the scen...

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