SCA Adds Four

Congratulations to the following four restaurants added to the select list of 2012 Superior Cellar Award winners. Oregon Wine Press and the Oregon Wine Board commend these establishments for supporting Oregon wine.

THE BLUE GOAT

Building a restaurant concept around goat is out of the ordinary, to say the least. How many restaurants even serve goat, much less feature it?

But Dave and Cassie VanDomelen, owners of The Blue Goat in Amity, are far from ordinary folks. And the considerable talents they bring to the table make their restaurant a welcome addition to the historic little farming town in the middle of the Willamette Valley.

Since opening in late November 2010, The Blue Goat has satisfied customers hungry for a rustic menu of wood-fired fare. A casual yet classy atmosphere and friendly staff add to the dining experience.

The food is fresh — the VanDomelens grow what they can and raise a herd of goats in the nearby Eola Hills — and the wine list small but 100-percent local, making The Blue Goat a definite Superior Cellar Award winner.

506 S. Trade Street, Amity
503-835-5170
Wine Buyer: Dave VanDomelen 
www.amitybluegoat.com

CAFÉ UNCORKED

If you are headed west on Highway 18, chances are you’re driving to the Oregon Coast. Or perhaps you are simply craving great food and wine? If that’s the case, you are pointed in the right direction. Just remember to slow down just outside McMinnville and stop when you see a sign for Café Uncorked.

Outside the restaurant, you can stroll sculpture gardens and take in the beauty of the surrounding vineyards; matching the exterior, the inside vibe is serene with an artistic flair — a perfect complement to Café Uncorked’s inventive menu.

Since 1993, owner/chef Virginia Murphy has prided herself on locally sourced ingredients as well as a small but thoughtful collection of Oregon-made wines. The combination of the restaurant’s mouthwatering food, tasteful presentation, professional service and advocacy of Oregon earns this quaint café accolades from us.

19690 S.W. Highway 18, McMinnville
503-843-4401
Wine Buyer: Virginia Murphy
www.cafeuncorked.com  

THE RENDEVOUS GRILL

Opened in 1995, The Rendezvous is a partnership between chef Kathryn Bliss and hosts Tom and Susie Anderson. All longtime Mt. Hood-area residents, the trio recognized the need for a quality restaurant in the growing but largely rural area.

Well-known chef Lisa Lanxon (formerly of Cana’s Feast Cucina in Carlton) joins Bliss as a sous chef to create innovative food at reasonable prices. Together, the two talents design innovative, seasonal menus, using many local products. The wine list celebrates Oregon, too.

More than just a good selection, Rendezvous’ wine program includes retail as well as regular wine events, featuring former neighbor Andrea Galusha — she once owned a wine shop next door. John Adam, previously employed by Portland’s Cafe des Ami and Genoa, helps with creation of the restaurant’s ever-changing list. 

67149 E. Highway 26, Welches
503-622-6837
Wine Buyers: Tom Anderson/John Adam
www.rendezvousgrill.net  

TOULOUSE PETIT KITCHEN & LOUNGE

Centered on the cuisine, décor and atmosphere of the French Quarter and New Orleans, Toulouse Petit has an impressive, texturally rich interior and exterior design, perfect for Seattle’s hip Queen Anne neighborhood.

The food menu is expansive, offering culinary diversity, from classic Creole cuisine to traditional Parisian and French countryside creations to innovative items found only at Toulouse. Equally comprehensive is the restaurant’s wine list.

Primarily focused on Washington and France, Toulouse’s wine selection, crafted by wine director Jason Crume, numbers more than 500. Add Italy, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile and Oregon to the mix, and the list satisfies both Old and New World palates. Oregon’s representation is found throughout most of the American sections, and most impressively in the Pinot Noir, counting 25 of the 35 offerings.

Of course, most Seattle restaurants celebrate nearby wineries, but Toulouse’s recognition of Oregon wine is impressive; and its happy hour is also a winner. Diners can choose from more than 50 dishes ($4 to $8), giving Queen Anne residents even more reason to come in and try an Oregon pour.

601 Queen Anne Avenue N., Seattle, WA
206-432-9069
Wine Buyer: Jason Crume
www.toulousepetit.com  

For a complete list of 2012 Superior Cellar Award winners, visit www.oregonwinepress.com/cellars or download the new mobile app created by the Oregon Wine Board, which can be found at  www.oregonwinemap.org.