The southern Oregon coast is filled with a unique blend of flavors from the sea. In this spectacular area, you’ll find a variety of food, drinks, and restaurants that define and make Oregon a truly special place.
Cranberries
Cranberries are one of the most popular kinds of berry fruit on the Oregon Coast. Oregon’s cranberry industry began when Charles McFarlin came to the Beaver State looking for gold. Instead, he discovered the native cranberries in Oregon and saw their potential for commercialization. Now, Oregon is one of the top producers of cranberries in the United States, making up to 7% of the country’s cranberry production.
The deep red color of the Oregon cranberries can be attributed to the southern coast’s mild climate. In the southern Oregon coast, there are six counties that grow and produce cranberries, with the Coos and Curry counties being the top producers.
Oysters
It’s no surprise that the southern Oregon coast serves the freshest oysters in the area. Their salty flavor, silky texture, and large sizes are what keep ostreaphiles (oyster lovers) coming back for more. Most of these oysters are caught in Yaquina Bay, Netarts Bay, and Winchester Bay.
A multitude of restaurants along the coast like the Hilltop House offers these large, local shellfish in a variety of ways: raw, stewed, or pan-fried. You’ll also find a number of oyster farms such as the Umpqua Aquaculture Triangle Oyster Farm, Clausen Oysters, and the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery where you can purchase freshly-caught oysters.
Craft beer
Craft beer is a staple in Southern Oregon’s food and drink scene. While the breweries here are not as popular as their Portland counterparts, they most certainly can compete with or even surpass these Portland breweries. Majority of the local breweries in the southern Oregon coast started with home brewers who eventually grew their business and put up their own shops. Some of the best southern Oregon coast breweries are:
- 7 Devils Brewing Co.
- Bandon Brewing Company
- Arch Rock Brewing Company
- Defeats River Brewery
- Chetco Brewing Company
Tillamook Cheese Factory
While the Tillamook Cheese Factory is not located in the southern Oregon coast, it is still a signature flavor of the region. This award-winning farmer-owned cooperative works hand in hand with dairy farms in order to produce the highest quality dairy products such as cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, and butter. Visitors are welcome to tour the site and grab a bite (or an ice cream) to eat at the Tillamook Creamery Food Hall.
Other Oregon flavors
Oregon is also home to a number of culinary destinations around some of the most famous monuments, tourist areas, and rarely-visited spots in Oregon. On the way to the Painted Hills in Eastern Oregon, you’ll find family-friendly restaurants such as the Great Earth Natural Foods Café and Market. If you’re heading to Smith Rock for a climb, be sure to stop by the Sisters Bakery for breakfast and the Terrebonne Depot for lunch.
Other must-visit establishments that you’ll find in Oregon are the WildCraft Cider Works in Willamette Valley, the Jacobsen Salt Co. and Bee Local Honey in Portland, and the Rogue Creamery Cheese Shop in Central Point.
Nothing beats the unique flavors of the southern Oregon coast. If you want to find out more about what makes this coastal community and its surrounding areas so extraordinary, don’t hesitate to give me a call at 541.661.3056. You can also send me an email at realtormcurtis(at)gmail(dotted)com.