MT HOOD DINING
Delicious Holiday
Celebrations Abound
throughout the Villages of Mt Hood
Special foods and feasts are a big part of the holiday season for everyone. Sharing a meal with good company has always brought great cheer to cold winter days and nights. Cooking for family and friends at the holidays is fun and rewarding, but it’s good to take time to savor the company of loved ones, too – or even have a cozy holiday celebration with a special person. Many of the excellent dining establishments in The Villages of Mt. Hood offer tasty seasonal events planned to help you do that.
The Resort at the Mountain’s Highlands Restaurant is serving its Oregon Bounty menu during the Wine and Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday November 10th and 11th. The Resort is also taking reservations now for their Thanksgiving dinners, Wednesday and Thursday November 21 and 22. Packages including meals and lodging for two start at $149. That includes two turkey sandwiches to go for a midnight snack! If you’re thinking of a Christmas getaway, The Highlands is also featuring their Christmas Eve Dinner from 5-9 PM and their Christmas Day Buffet with all the traditional favorites and a mountain of desserts. Plans for the New Year’s Eve ballroom party are afoot too. Call 800.669.7666 to get the latest updates and make your reservations.
For those who hope to see St. Nick again this year at Mt. Hood Roasters, they’re planning to bring Santa back to share dinner with you and your child on Thursday and Friday, December 20 and 21. Call 503.622.1389 for times and other details.
Though the Still Creek Inn in Rhododendron is closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, they’re planning to offer elegant dining for New Year’s Eve. The prix fixe menu gives you a choice of four entrees: scallops, roast duck, crab-stuffed chicken breast, or rosemary crusted prime rib. Each is accompanied by lobster bisque, huckleberry sorbet, and your choice from a tray of desserts. All this is available for $45 per person, reservations recommended. Call 503.622.4618 to reserve your place, or to hear about their New Year’s Day brunch menu.
The Rendezvous Grill in Welches is a happening place for the holidays! Saturday November 10th they’re hosting the “Hip Sips and Holiday Appetizer Class” with Rendezvous chef Kathryn Bliss and guest Lucy Brennan, owner of the popular cocktail spots Mint and 820 in Portland. Lucy will be signing her book “Hip Sips” and doing some cocktail tasting and demonstrations. Kathryn will provide recipes and preparation demonstrations of holiday appetizers. Tickets are $40.00, so call now to reserve your spot.
They’re also bringing back their popular Caroling Dinners at the Rendezvous. This dining event offers a full dinner from appetizer and one non-alcoholic beverage to dessert and coffee while enjoying live music provided by a pianist and vocalists. Later, join in as everyone sings carols together! Tickets are $40, and the Caroling Dinners are scheduled for two Mondays in December, the 3rd and the 10th. Call for reservations and times.
If you’d like a taste right now of what the Rendezvous Grill has to offer, chef Kathryn shares this recipe from their kitchen:
Mussels with Sake-Ginger Butter
2 # mussels
½ cup sake
¼ cup peeled and minced ginger
2 dried red chilies
½ cup julienne green onions
¾ stick unsalted butter
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Scrub and debeard the mussels. Heat a wok or large sauté pan over high heat. Add the mussels, sake, ginger, and chilies, cover with a lid and cook over high heat until the mussel open. Toss the green onions with the mussels and remove the mussels from the wok and keep in warm place.
Add the butter and lime juice to the liquid and season with salt and pepper; be cautious with the salt, since the mussels may be salty. Continue to cook the sauce until slightly reduced and butter is melted.
Plate the mussels and pour sauce over and enjoy!
Come Back Soon!
New festivities are being added daily, so call for the latest holiday feasts to be had in the Villages of Mt. Hood!
The Highlands Restaurant at
The Resort at the Mountain
68010 E Fairway Ave
Welches, Oregon
503-622-3101
www.theresort.com
Mt. Hood Roasters
67441 E. Hwy 26
Welches, Oregon
503-622-1389
www.mthoodroasters.com
The Rendezvous Grill & Tap Room
Arrah Wanna Rendezvous Center
67149 E Hw7 26 at Mile Post 40
Welches, Oregon
503-622-6837
www.rendezvousgrill.net
Still Creek Inn
Fresh Northwest Produce and Flavors
73365 E Highway 26
Rhododendron, Oregon
503.622.4618
www.StillCreekInn.com
November/December 2007