Final Days

The last days of the trip were so jammed packed with fun that it was impossible to update the blog. Susan and Sam left on August 9, and my friend Barb arrived that afternoon. August 10 we dined at the Pacific Seafood Company in Bay City with the Davis family taking advantage of the all you can eat grilled or fried oysters. Barb and I opted for a few oysters on the half shell followed by three of their baked oyster dishes. All were delicious!

Thursday Barb and I took a road trip to Lincoln City and Depot Bay. We lunched at Kyllo's in Lincoln City ordering two appetizers and a beer each. We had their bucket of clams cooked in butter, beer and garlic and crab and shrimp stuffed won-tons. Both were excellent!

After lunch we drove to Depot Bay, walked the town, visited the Yaquina Head lighthouse, and flew my kite on a wonderfully windy beach! The most interesting shop in Depot Bay & a must visit is Things Rich and Strange. The shop features custom jewelry, crystal and art and other "objects of wonder and imagination for your magical life".

Dinner was at a new to us restaurant, Tidal Raves in Depot Bay. This is a "must do" restaurant and reservations are required or you will have an hour wait. I ordered the Rave Pasta, linguine pasta with clams, shrimp, crab and fin fish with your choice of sauce. I went with creamy pesto. Barb ordered the Crab Casserole, crab with penne pasta, Alfredo sauce and white cheddar cheese. We both sampled each others' plate and thought both were outstanding with a slight edge to the casserole. The crab cake appetizers were also killer. The Tidal Raves was voted best seafood restaurant on the Oregon coast by the UrbanSpoon readers, and I certainly understand why!

So, the final trip to the coast for 2011 is concluded. I will have new adventures on the central Oregon coast in 2012. Stay tuned!

Lincoln City on Dwellable

Depoe Bay on Dwellable

Bumming Around the Central Coast

Susan, Sam & I bummed around Pacific City and Lincoln City today. We did breakfast in the condo then hit BJ's Burgers and Tacos in Pacific City for fish tacos (Sam had the chicken and thought it was great). Susan ordered the grilled fish tacos, and I had the Baja fish tacos. You get 2 per order, and Susan and I split our orders so we could each try both types. We agreed that while the grilled fish tacos were good, the Baja fish tacos were more flavorful. Either way, I think you will be pleased!

After an afternoon exploring Lincoln City, we were off to the Sportsman's Pub and Grub in Pacific City for the freshest fish and chips in Oregon. The fish was fresh off the Dory Boats this morning. And, it was the best fish and chips I have had anywhere. Plus, you get to soak up the local flavor at the only tavern in Pacific City. It is a must do!

Worship in Pacific City

When I was here in May, I visited the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church and found it a very welcoming congregation. Thus, I went back today. They had a visiting pastor who did an excellent job and gave a very thought provoking sermon which I enjoyed. It will be my "home church" in Pacific City.

Art in Pacific City & Riverhouse Review

Randall Koch (husband of Lainie who works at the Concierge desk at the Cottages) opened a new one man show at the Row Boat Gallery last night, and we stopped by on the way to dinner. His theme is "Encountering Life in Inanimate Objects". His are is quite compelling, and we enjoyed his talk about his influences.

Susan, Sam & I had dinner at the Riverhouse Restaurant after the exhibit. I had not been there since 2008 as they were closed at Christmas in 2009, and the restaurant had a fire in 2010 and was remodeling that year when Irene & I were here.

Riverhouse is a quaint little restaurant located in the second story of a building on the Nestarts River. There are only 11 tables and windows on both sides for a view of either the river or town. Everything is fresh and to order, and the staff beyond friendly!

Sam ordered The Works, a loaded burger. Susan had their crab sandwich, and I ordered one of their seafood specialties, the Coquille St. Jacques, scallops and mushrooms in a lightly spiced cream sauce with Parmesan cheese which is baked. The scallops were every bit as good as I remembered, and Susan loved the crab sandwich. Of course, it is hard for a good restaurant to screw up a burger. Both Susan & Sam had potato salad for sides. Susan said it was on the mild side and very good.

Another great restaurant to explore when you visit The Best Little Beach Town!

A Bit of Shopping

Susan & Sam enjoyed the Grateful Bread, and we visited the Village Merchant afterward. Next door to the Merchant is a very unique store containing treasures that will make you smile, the Dapper Frog. It is an art store with unique art glass, paintings, sculpture and much more and certainly worth a stop!

Back to Pacific City!

My permanent week at the Cottages began yesterday. I arrived mid-afternoon before my unit was ready which was fine. I had time to visit Deja Vu and see the girls and drop in at the front desk at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda to say hi to those friends as well.

My sister Susan and her hubby Sam arrived as I was finishing unpacking the truck. We attended the reception at the Concierge desk. I left early to prepare my nearly world famous :) seafood stew. Susan thought it was great, and Sam (the meat & potatoes kind of guy) said it was OK which I thought was a high compliment.

Shortly it will be off to the Grateful Bread for a Hang Town Fry. Stay tuned for new adventures at The Best Little Beach Town in Oregon!

Saturday, May 28, 2011 (Postscript)

Throughout the week I was on the coast enjoying seafood, I was concerned that I would come home and weigh myself and discover I'd gained ten pounds!

I was pleasantly pleased this morning to discover I had actually lost two pounds! A modest breakfast and lunch with a bit of exercise added to the mix was the key!

So, one can tour Pacific City and the central Oregon coast, enjoy all the coastal seafood and not have to worry about taking off added pounds when returning home if one is simply sensible about what is consumed!

Friday, May 27, 2011

It was a bitter sweet day as I had to leave Cape Kiwanda and return home. However, I had to have one last seafood fix before departing. The Pelican Pub & Brewery had two breakfast specials, a bay shrimp frittata and smoked salmon Benedict. I elected to go for the Benedict. King salmon cured in Kiwanda cream ale brine and slowly smoked over hickory wood chips sounded too good to pass up. I must confess to not having eggs Benedict with anything other than Canadian bacon; so, this was a new experience.

I was not disappointed. The salmon had a delicate flavor that married well with the hollandaise sauce. It was a filling feast that kept me through the four and one-half hour drive home.

I am looking forward to August and my return to Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda. Until then, travel safely and eat well!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Today was blustery again with frequent storm showers, but it is Oregon and May storms are not unusual. We know how to deal with it. The rain did stop long enough this afternoon for a walk on the beach. I took the opportunity to explore the tidal pools that are on the beach just outside the condo. I had been there before, but did not really know what I was looking for and felt disappointed. As luck would have it, I met a young family from New Mexico that was vacationing here. The husband was raised in Pacific City and knew his tidal pools! He was kind enough to show me the various types of life in the pools, and it was quite thrilling to see ochre starfish, blue mussels, barnacles, and anemones. I did not take my camera due to the weather conditions. Next time, I will bring both my pocket digital camera as well as the SLR digital!

After returning to the condo from the tidal pool lesson, I wanted to learn more. I drove into town and stopped by the Village Merchant, a rather eclectic store that carries everything from clothing to books, lotions, soaps, and many decorative items. I always like to visit at least once while here to see what is new. I was not disappointed and found a National Audubon Society Field Guide to Seashore Creatures. Now I'm equipped for my next visit in August.

The big foodie event of the week was the introduction of the Pelican Pub & Brewery's summer ales - Winema Wit, Surfer's Summer Ale, and Ankle-Buster Ale. I absolutely was not going to miss that event! The Wit is fermented with Belgian yeast and seasoned with orange peel, coriander and cardamom. The flavors mix well for a snappy, refreshing and fruity-spicy character. It pairs well with seafood as I discovered. Surfer's is a much lighter beer but still full bodied with a rounded malt aspect finishing smooth and clean. It is a wise choice for a light summer lunch or soup and salad dinner. Ankle-Buster is the darkest of the three with color much like an IPA. With an herbal hop character and Belgian yeast aromas, and a toasty and caramel-like flavor yet a clean dry finish it is an excellent choice for a burger or steak.

The meal specials change every Thursday. I started with a side Caesar salad. I was drawn to the Mediterranean style grilled tuna. The yellowfin was grilled medium rare and served over a bed of Winema Wit couscous and sauteed spinach, topped with Mediterranean style salsa with tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives, fresh oregano, lemon juice, and garlic. I chose a 20 ounce Wit to accompany the meal. The kalamata olives added a rich, oily, salty flavor to the tuna, and the whole meal was a delight to the palate.

Hopefully, the summer ales will still be available if you decide to have your own adventure in Pacific City!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The weather had been perfect since my arrival last Friday, but that changed today as was predicted. It was blustery and raining when I woke and continued for most of the day. I did get out for a short walk in the early afternoon, but spent the morning creating this blog.

Randy Davis had told me about a restaurant that I did not know while at dinner with his family last night, the Pacific Oyster Company in Bay City, OR. Bay City is a few miles north of Tillamook, and Irene and I had not ever explored that far up the coast. Randy said that they had all you can eat oysters on Wednesday nights for $10.95. That sounded like an adventure I was up for!

The weather cleared around 3:30 this afternoon, and I set out for Bay City, stopping in Tillamook for gas and a couple of necessities at the local Fred Meyer store. I arrived at the Pacific Oyster Company just before 5PM. (Without the stop at Freddy's, it is a leisurely 45 minute drive from the Cottages at Cape Kiwanda.)

What I did not realize was that the unlimited oysters was offered many ways. I sampled oyster shooters, pan fried oysters, grilled oysters and three true delicacies, Oysters Wilson (baked with panko breading and blue cheese), Oysters Kilchis (baked with pesto and parmesan cheese), and Oysters Tillamook (baked with bacon, red onion, and Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese). The oyster shooters were perfectly spiced with a delightful cocktail sauce, and the grilled oysters were seasoned with a spice blend that was out of this world! I will be returning to the Pacific Oyster Company on Wednesday when I am back in Pacific City this August. I rate it as the best oyster bar I have eaten at in Oregon! Not only are the oysters killer, but the staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Melissa and the rest of the crew will soon have you feeling like you're a part of the family! Just be aware that a visit to this restaurant on Wednesday night is a diet buster! Arrive early as they close at 6PM.

Bay City on Dwellable

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Housekeeping at the Cottages did a refresher cleaning of my unit this morning; so, I needed to vacate the unit. I took my kite to the beach for a good hour and had a relaxing time and met some beach walkers. Also, Shae was kind enough to take some pictures of my kite from the balcony of the Concierge office.

I still had some gastronomic delights to experience before it was time to return home; so, I stopped in to the market at the Cape Kiwanda RV Park for an oyster shooter.

The afternoon was spent taking more photographs and loading them to my Picasa web album.

The evening meal was a very special family time with the Davis family. Randy barbecued freshly caught Chinook salmon and shrimp while Kathy prepared rice and fresh broccoli. My contribution was a couple of bottles of wine. Three hours of food and conversation passed quickly. I am blessed with the addition of new friends in my life.

Monday, May 23, 2011

It was a nice morning, and I borrowed a beach cruiser bicycle from the Cottages and rode to town and back, an enjoyable 2 plus mile run. While in town, I visited a few of the local shops which offer an eclectic shopping experience.

One of the new shops in Pacific City is a satellite store of the Lincoln City kite shop, Catch the Wind. It is located directly behind the Inn. I had not flown a kite in over 50 years and decided it was time to recapture a bit of my youth. Steve, the owner, showed me several kites, and I decided to start with a simple one string delta kite which had a striking multi-colored design and two twelve foot tails. I was out the door for $20 with a complete kite kit with string and string handle and on the beach having fun in no time!

Another of my "to do" items was the Baja fish tacos with a cold Corona at Ben and Jeff's Burgers and Tacos next to Moment Surf Shop next to the Pelican Pub & Brewery. Again, I was not disappointed.

I got a surprise phone call in the afternoon from Randy Davis, father of Jocelyn and Janae, the owners of deja-vu studios, inviting me to dinner Tuesday night. I was happy to accept!

I learned that the Pelican was having a rockfish dinner special through Thursday and decided that tonight was a good time to try it. It was an Oregon Hazelnut crusted rockfish served over steamed rice, seasonal vegetables and Kiwanda Cream Ale tomato marmalade, topped with sauteed Dungeness crab and fresh basil. It was a gastronomic delight!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Sunday morning I attended church services at the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church. The congregation was very friendly and laid back, and Pastor Ben Dake delivered a sermon that spoke to me in several ways. It was an enjoyable, enriching service, and the church will be my new worship home when returning in August.

One advantage of the Cottages is that I have the flexibility to cook meals or dine out. I enjoy making a seafood stew from a recipe given me by a friend, and there is no better place to get fresh seafood than the Oregon coast. As the recipe makes more than I could eat in several sittings, I promised the ladies at the Concierge desk at the Cottages that I would cook them Sunday dinner. Thus, I needed to shop for ingredients, and I drove to Lincoln City and the local Safeway store for provisions.

Most of the afternoon was spent cooking the stew, making a salad, and other sundry host responsibilities. Amy and Jerri invited their husbands to join us, and we had an excellent meal. There was even enough leftover to give Shae a nice lunch the next day!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Upon my arrival last night I learned that over 3,000 bicycle riders and their support teams would be arriving at the Pelican Pub and Brewery this afternoon as Pacific City is the destination for the annual American Lung Fundraiser, Reach the Beach. The ride begins in Portland, 100 miles from here. Riders can join the ride at various stops along the route. I also learned that a new art gallery, deja-vu studios, had opened up in the street level shops at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda, another "must do".

But, first on my list was breakfast at the Grateful Bread, a local bakery/restaurant that is a favorite local gathering place. My favorite is their Hangtown Fry, a scramble of oysters, spinach, eggs, and cheese!

After breakfast and a walk around, I stopped in at deja-vu studios. It is owned by two sisters, Joycelyn and Janae Davis. Joycelyn works primarily in acrylics, and Janae is a quite talented digital photographer. In addition to selling their paintings and photography, they offer custom purses made by their sister Jessica who lives in California and note cards and a few other artsy offerings. I purchased one of Joycelyn's paintings that just spoke to me. The girls are up and coming new artists and stopping in at deja-vu should be on your list of places to visit!

The local newspaper, the Pacific City Sun, recently ran an article on the gallery. Quoting the article, "Though a big focus on the gallery is to capture unique Pacific City highlights from the Cape to Haystack Rock so visitors can take a slice of paradise home, that is by no means where the creative juices of these two sisters end."

The bikers began to arrive in earnest around 2PM. I had set up my camera & tripod in front of the market by the Inn. Since I would be close to the arrivals, I used my 18-55mm lens. That was amistake; I should have used the 55-250mm. Hopefully, I can return for next year's ride and correct that mistake!

Dinner was at the Delicate Palate, one of the finest restaurants I have frequented in Oregon. I had the halibut and was not disappointed. The Palate is a "must do" when at PC.

It was a fun day exploring new haunts and frequenting old ones.

Friday, May 20, 2011

I arrived after an uneventful journey from home. After unpacking the truck and enjoying a beer at the weekend reception at the Cottages at Cape Kiwanda, I went back to town to the Sportsman's Pub and Grub for their special of pan fried oysters. Six oysters were almost equal to a 12 ounce Porterhouse steak! I will certainly return to enjoy the local flavor of a true hometown pub where the banter is just as flavorful as the food!

Blog Purpose

Irene and I discovered Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda in August 2008 thanks to our friends Russ & Wendy. We were so enthralled with the area that we bought a fractional interest in the Cottages at Cape Kiwanda that year and have returned many times. Pacific City and the Central Oregon Coast offer the best in vacationing from surfing to photography, bicycling, shopping, and fine dining.

This blog will chronicle my explorations and adventures in the area. As I am in Pacific City just a few weeks a year, the blog will not be very active. But, hopefully it will encourage you to visit Pacific City and its environs and discover the area as I continue to do. If you take the opportunity to explore the area I believe you will come to the same conclusion we have - Pacific City and the surrounding area is the perfect vacation spot in Oregon!