"oregon" news and stories

Seattle is giving Portland, Ore., a run for its money when it comes to being the most eco-forward city in the Pacific Northwest.

With a ban on Styrofoam in restaurants and grocery stores going into effect on July 1, the city's Metropolitan Market chain and other businesses have come up with a clever packaging solution -- compostable meat trays made of corn, KPLU reported.

Made by Illinois-based Pactiv, the tan trays can be used for meat, fish and poultry and then tossed into the compost pile along with other food waste, the radio station reported.

Pactiv also makes Hefty products. The company launched its EarthChoice brand of nearly 80 sustainable packaging products including cups, hinged-lid containers, plates, and straws in May.

With the rise of artisan American cheesemakers, it shouldn't be a surprise that some of them, like Rogue Creamery and Uplands Cheese Company, are exporting their cheeses to markets abroad. Tasting even a small bite of the lusciously creamy Rogue River Blue (now, imported to England by Neal's Yard Dairy) makes it clear that stateside cheesemakers mean business when it comes to quality.

Hand wrapped in grape leaves, Rogue River Blue has a smooth complex flavor that ranges from sweet and fruity to nutty. Its texture is intensely rich, reminiscent of a Roquefort Baragnaudes. However, unlike Roquefort -- which is produced from raw sheep's milk -- this blue is made from raw cow's milk. And in contrast to many blues, like Gorgonzola Piccante, this one is more sweet than spicy. So, for those of you whose palates have been traumatized by overly-pungent blues, this one is sure to win you over.

Like most delicious artisanal cheeses, the craftsmanship (and local collaboration) involved in producing Rogue River Blue is directly responsible for its brilliant taste and consistency. The cheese comes from Rogue Creamery in Central Point, Ore. There, in the Rogue River Valley, the wheels are covered in grape leaves that are harvested from nearby Carpenter Hill Vineyard. But these aren't just any grape leaves: They're all macerated in Clear Creek's Pear Brandy and then tied to the cheese with strands of raffia.

The Green Dragon in Portland, Oregon. Photo: mrzarquon/Flickr

A weekly look at the draft selection in beer-friendly bars across the country.

According to the past two weeks' worth of WOT, Portland, Ore., might be the most neglected What's On Tap city. And what neglect! Portland has regularly been regarded as one of America's top beer towns, snagging top honors in a recent online poll that beer legend Charlie Papazian put together.

This week, Portland's Green Dragon gets some much deserved attention. It was named after Boston's original Green Dragon Tavern, which was dubbed "the headquarters of the Revolution" due to the proclivity of many rabble-rousing Colonial American groups to congregate there. Proprietors of this modern Oregonian iteration promote relaxation, not rebellion, with a great draft selection that includes a number of hard to find brews, a chill atmosphere and a large selection of bar games.

Last year, the Green Dragon was purchased by Rogue Ales, but that hasn't changed its commitment to offering a unique range of beers. Assistant Manager Samantha Sugar (who calls herself the "Beer Gazelle") tells us the Dragon still aims for that "neighborhood bar appeal" with an always rotating selection of beers.

A number of news sources are reporting this morning that five Oregon state lawmakers have proposed a 1,900% increase in the state's tax on beer -- an increase that opponents are calling the single largest beer tax hike in the nation's history.

The numbers speak for themselves: Currently, the excise tax on beer in Oregon is $2.60 per barrel. If these legislators have their way, that tax would be raised to $49.61 per barrel. In a CNN video, Kurt Widmer of Portland, Oregon's nationally recognized craft brewer, Widmer Brothers Brewery, says that could amount to an increase of $2 - $4 per six pack.

Oregon ranks next to last among states in its malt beverage taxation rate which hasn't been raised since the 1970s -- probably one of the many reasons why Oregon has such a healthy number of breweries to begin with, featuring award-winning and highly recognizable names such as Rogue Ales, Hair of the Dog and Full Sail (among a laundry list of others). So yes, though a tax hike might bring in more revenue to a state that desperately needs to close a budget gap during these tough economic times, such a price increase could also reduce sales, raising the possibility of lost jobs, which certainly wouldn't help the Oregon economy.

It's the kind of economic riddle being debated all across the country as America tries to dig itself out of its economic crisis. If you happen to have such a conversation over a beer brewed in Oregon, it's one more reminder that no one is immune from the hardship.

[via kgw.com and CNN.com]

Source

The first time I encountered latte art in person was at Jim and Patty's in Portland, OR. It was December 2004 and I was out in my hometown, visiting my parents. When I visit them, I make a point of slurping down as much good Portland coffee as possible and Jim and Patty's is always one of my favorite stops. I walked up to the counter, ordered a latte and was totally mesmerized as the guy running the espresso machine made the foam resemble a fallen leaf with a couple flicks of his wrist.

These days, there are many people who spend their days elevating the combination of coffee and milk into the highest form of impermanent loveliness. Check out the video above for some amazing work. For more, check out this amazing Flickr set.

[via Food for Thought]