Posts in category 'Bend 39 S Best Bites'

Yoli (Yo-Lee) simply translates to cuisine from Korean, but our experience was anything but simple. In our opinion this is the best Korean food in town. We went for lunch midweek and made a reservation in advance which is recommended especially once this place is found out!

The Bi Bim Bap bowl featuring Dakbulgogi (dock-bull-go-ghee) was our first entree which is a spiced Korean miso chicken. This bowl not only has the chicken but also rice, bean sprouts, mushrooms, kimchi, carrots, scallions, and is topped off with a perfect soft boiled egg. Each component had its own distinct flavor and texture which equally stood out and combined so well I couldn't stop eating! Word of warning - when they say spiced they mean spiced!

The Set Lunch was our second choice for entrees. We opted for the Bulgogi (bull-go-ghee) which is thin sliced marinated beef, on...

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This last week, we came across a small, local donut company that we absolutely had to try. Little Pine Donuts specializes in brioche donuts that are hand rolled and made fresh each morning using only the highest quality  ingredients. These delectable, filled donuts are light and fluffy and each flavor is unique and perfectly balanced. 

We decided to try one of each flavor of donut in our order today plus doubling up on the Nutella flavor. In addition to the Nutella, Little Pine offers Vanilla, Lemon, Strawberry Cream and Creme Brulee. Each flavor was just as delicious as the last, however, the Creme Brulee was our personal favorite with the donut topped w...

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The culinary experiences in Central Oregon never cease to amaze us. From the countless brew pubs to fine dining, there is an abundance of food options for all palates. On our most recent Bend, Oregon food experience, we ventured to the Westside to try the offerings of Nome Italiano. This new Italian restaurant did not disappoint on our ladies' night.

Shortly after being seated, we discovered that the front of house manager is from Tuscany, and he was more than happy to hear that we were interested in enjoying a bottle of the Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano, a varietal not as well known in Central Oregon. In fact, throughout the expansive wine list with over 100 different bottles to choose from, there was only 1 Montepulciano. Needless to say, this wine was absolutely divine and paired very nicely with the various food options we opted to share.

For the anitpasto options we selected the focaccia and meatballs. The focaccia was nicely crisped on the outside while still remaining soft and buttery on the inside. This was paired with a light, green goddess dip that was a wonderful accompaniment. The meatball plate offered two, wonderfully flavored, dense meatballs that opened up our taste buds for what the rest of the meal provided. 

For the main courses, we decided to split three different options so we could try a little bit of everything. The Elk Ragu was really the star of the show of our main courses. This dish was extremely flavorful without being gamey at all and not overly heavy with the sauce. This is a dish we will go back for again and again. We also tried the bucatini pasta which offered a little bit of spice and some nice balance with the basil and crema on top. To finish, we tried their main seafood dish with shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari all in a rich broth and served with a piece of focaccia. This dish was not overly fishy and the seafood was all cooked to perfection and the shrimp was absolutely exceptional. 

Of course, what would be a visit to an Italian restaurant without a piece of tiramisu? This desert was surprisingly light and not overly coffee forward. The waiter informed us that the dish was very lightly soaked in coffee so as to not overpower the other flavors. We appreciated every bite of this well balanced dessert. 

Overall impressions from our ladies' night out were so positive that we will be back to Nome in the near future. Be sure to book in advance, though, as they are starting to fill up especially at peak dining hours. Thank you Nome for the great dining experience! 

-The Bend Premier Foodies

When trying the food fare around Bend, Oregon, there are many unique options to choose from. Today's experience brought us to a cute spot just one block away from our office in the Franklin Crossing Building in downtown. We had such a great time that we had to learn a bit more about this culinary delight's head chefs. From being private chefs on 205' International Mega Yachts to settling back down in Bend, Oregon with a small, boutique brunch spot, Mac and Betsy have truly made culinary their passion;  we had the opportunity to experience a small taste of their years of expertise this morning at The Lemon Tree. 

We began with some wonderfully executed beverages from their coffee selection. The chai tea was expertly prepared with a thick layer of foam on top and the right level of sweet and spicy. We also tried the espresso... accompanied by one of their famous...

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Today's dining experience has taken us to a long standing café with great eats and great atmosphere. Café Sintra, named after the owner Manuel's hometown in Portugal near Lisbon, is always a great place to gather and today was no different. With a great soccer game on the TV and the hum of happy patrons chattering, you feel the warmth and excitement prior to even ordering your food.

We decided to begin our experience with their home brewed jasmine fruit ice tea. This tea is wonderful down to the very last sip with bold spices and a touch of sweetness. It paired perfectly with the rich flavors of our lunch today. 

To begin, we split a cup of the Portuguese Chicken Stew. Featuring shredded chicken, white beans and roasted chilies topped with mozzarella and sour cream, ...

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