Wandering through the back roads off the I-5 corridor, Oregon’s Willamette Valley offers a jewel that has been gaining international recognition – its wine country. Vintner Phil Kramer of AlexEli Vineyard in Molalla has produced Oregon’s first kosher pinot noir. Phil and his mother, Anita, purchased the 18-acre estate four years ago. He has been…
The region’s exquisite wines call for cheeses with complementary flavors and fragrances. You don’t have to be a connoisseur to choose a good cheese, but an awareness of local offerings can help you create an unforgettable plate. Take the advice of Lindsey Walton, artisane du fromage at Urban Farmer, a restaurant with a farm-to-table theme,…
Summer has arrived and for many gardeners that means heat, drought and watering bans. This can be hard on gardeners as well as their landscapes. The good news is that there are ways to help plants thrive despite these seasonal challenges. Adjusting landscape care accordingly during the summer months can provide relief not only for…
Philip and Sheryl Jones have been producing wine in New Zealand for more than 20 years. Originally from San Francisco and Minnesota, respectively, they wanted to spend time in the Pacific Northwest and decided to buy 95 acres in the Columbia Gorge in 2006. They planted grapes on 25 acres of what is now Evan’s…
Voted the top street-food city in the world by CNN, Portland maintains a glorious diversity of food carts. Hand-painted trucks with quirky decorations announce a profusion of delicacies from all culinary corners of the globe. With such a variety of carts, it’s not surprising that among the offerings are Jewish, Israeli and deli favorites. Some…
Oregon has gained quite a reputation for producing great wine. I remember being on my honeymoon in Hawaii almost 20 years ago and seeing an Oregon pinot noir on the wine list. What I thought was a novelty in 1994 is a common sight on wine lists in fine restaurants across the country. The production…
While many grocery stores regularly offer wine tastings, the New Seasons Progress Ridge Market takes that up several notches. Its customers can relax over a glass of wine or beer at the cozy wine bar in the heart of the store. “The wine bar is an innovative concept in the grocery world,” says bartender Kandie…
Do you want to know how to build a romantic campfire inside your sweetheart’s heart? It all begins with what you wear. Let’s at least pretend dressing up for a summer date can increase the odds that love will blossom. When we combine the thought of a hot summer date with how we look, we…
Rabbi Tzvi Fischer, Portland Kollel “Why is kashrut relevant today?” To eat kosher is to eat more spiritual. The Torah repeatedly reminds us that its precepts are timeless and eternal. That makes kashrut as relevant as it ever was. The ideas of kashrut – referred to in the Torah as issues of Kedushah (holiness) and…
At 58, the president of Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby is still in love with the science and serendipity of plants. Terra Nova (www.terranovanurseries.com) is one of the most prolific plant-breeding operations in the world and has introduced more than 700 plant varieties since 1990. Dan started his scientific journey early, participating in OMSI programs,…
