Warm days, cool evenings and clear blue skies: Summer in Oregon is a magical time. With a break in the “classic” rainy Oregon wet weather, many are getting outdoors and enjoying the sunshine. Businesses are accommodating the sunshine with opportunities to bring your pet, to sit outdoors and by switching up their menus to reflect summertime appetites.
Blue Valley Bistro at 116 Melton Road in Creswell offers outdoor seating for 18 on their pet-friendly patio. Summer drinks include hibiscus sweet tea with muddled raspberries and coconut milk, iced matcha lattes and sparkling lavender lemonade. For a light and healthy summer meal, the Bistro offers quinoa breakfast bowls with organic fruit and local organic hazelnuts.
July marks the season for tomatoes and the comeback of Creswell Bakery BLTs, which are only available when local heirloom tomatoes are in season. In the summer, the Bakery, located at 182 S. 2nd St. in Creswell, offers iced coffee from Stumptown Coffee. There is picnic-table seating available out front and garden dining on the side. Fresh herbs in that garden are plucked and used in a variety of Bakery meals. Creswell Bakery is also a Certified Bike-Friendly business.
In May of this year, Cornbread Cafe opened a second location at 338 Main St. in Springfield. Catering to vegans and vegetarians, the Cafe’s employees say their most popular summer menu items are their Chik’n and Dumplins, bourbon bread pudding and beignets. Summer drinks include ice cream shakes, local beer, cider and kombucha floats.
The Cafe’s pet-friendly outdoor seating can accommodate up to 14 people. Like Creswell Bakery, Cornbread Cafe is a Certified Bike-Friendly business and offers amenities to cyclists, such as a water bottle refill station.
King Estate Winery at 80854 Territorial Highway recently welcomed a new chef, Sascha Lyon, who uses ingredients from the Estate’s 5.5 acre-garden in his kitchen. Some summer entrees include wild-caught salmon, braised short ribs and the local favorite, the King Estate Burger with truffle fries.
King Estate can seat up to 85 people on their outdoor patio and terrace. Service animals are welcome in the restaurant, and leashed dogs are welcome in the picnic area on the east side of the winery.
