Posted By admin on March 16, 2010

Go Appetizer Hopping in the Villages

Step 1: Wrangle Your Gal Pals
Step 2: Pick a Mt Hood Condo or Cabin
Step 3: Take an Appetizer Adventure
Step 4: Catch the Shooting Stars in the Hot Tub

We all need some time to relax and wind down with our friends. And what better way to do that than to visit one of the great restaurants that the Villages at Mt Hood are so well known for? Perhaps it’s a “Ladies Night Out” or “Game Night with the guys”. Nice relaxing get-togethers that include visiting, laughing and catching up, but not necessarily a full and formal meal. The best formula for such an event is typically a cold beverage and an appetizer or two… maybe three.

The restaurants in our Villages are varied in their styles and ambience, and so are their appetizers. The most popular appetizers from the restaurants are included but are really only a part of what one will find on their snack night out in the Villages.

Tenders in Brightwood

The Brightwood Tavern is first up the mountain. Their house favorite appetizer is their Chicken Tenders, most popular due to the portion as well as their great flavor.

Wings are Just the Beginning in Welches

The Barlow Trail Roadhouse is getting a reputation for their Honey Wings. Honey stung chicken wings with honey sauce. Not your traditional chicken wings, most agree that they’re better.
The Whistle Stop and their Deep Fried Mushrooms set apart from the rest mostly due to their own homemade ranch dressing that accompanies them.

The Rendezvous Bar and Grill is another example of world class food offerings and their appetizers are out of this world. Their most popular may be their tender Calamari in light lemon and ginger sauce. You have never tried calamari until you’ve tried it at “The ‘Vous”.

The El Burro Loco offers fine Mexican style food, including their popular Alamo Bowl, which is they’re Chile Verde –a spicy pork simmered in a Blend of tomatillos, Serrano, Poblano and Jalapeno Chiles topped with Cheese, Onions and Lots of Chips.

The Inn Between Steakhouse, known for their cook your own steak, has their own style of Jalapeno Poppers. Non battered, they are handmade and stuffed with cream cheese, garlic and horseradish sauce. They are then wrapped in bacon and deep fried.

The Resort at The Mountain Altitude Restaurant offers a Harvest Mushroom Crostini which is a ragu of wild seasonal mushrooms sautéed with chalets, garlic, rosemary and red wine. They are then sprinkled with Oregon bleu cheese and then topped with a fig molasses, proving that you can indeed enjoy world class cuisine in the Villages at Mt Hood.

Now Mac & Cheese it in Zigzag

The Zigzag Inn is synonymous with pizza and so it goes that they will also be known far and wide for their Garlic Bread Sticks. They use fresh dough and lightly seasoned it before baking. They are served with the Zigzag Inn’s famous marinara sauce.

The Skyway has a dish that, as a side, is the perfect appetizer. Their Mac & Cheese is amazing. Made with a blend of special cheeses and baked with bread crumbs makes this rich and gooey house favorite is actually a meal in itself.

Finish with a Trio in Rhododendron

The Still Creek Inn in Rhododendron has just introduced a great new appetizer menu that includes Bruschetta, Calamari and Shrimp Cocktail. The jury is still out to which will be their most popular.

When you’re all as full as can be, wander back to your lodging and unwind. There is a pretty great shooting star season coming and it will look awesome from a hot tub. There’s really nothing better than spending some quality time with friends – and if the night includes the best darned appetizers on the mountain, well — that’s even better.

As one can see, the Villages at Mt Hood have much to offer for your night out. Appetizers certainly can offer an alternative to a full meal, but as the name implies, they may just do their job and make you want more.

Written by Gary Randall.

Visit our DINING section for locations and hours.

Categories: Mt Hood Dining
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