Page 294 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

292  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

The Pacific Northwest is known for its large and adding depth to the choices. Visitors
number of coffee bars as well as the vast can often find a terrific French bistro
range of fresh local seafood it has to offer, neighbored by an affordable Thai noodle
from wild salmon to oysters, clams, and crab. house and a mid-range Mediterranean
Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver have all seafood restaurant. Farm-fresh, local flavors
experienced a culinary revolution – small mark the ingenious creations of the region’s
neighborhood, chef-owned restaurants finest restaurants, while numerous less
have popped up on seemingly every expensive eateries boast down-to-earth
block, showcasing a broad array of cuisines fare with the same freshness.

Pacific Northwest Cuisine
making a meal of several types Alcohol is available only in
Increasingly, Pacific Northwest of oysters on the half-shell while licensed establishments. Dining
restaurants offer menus that sipping a local beer at one of in taverns or certain parts of
highlight local produce, of the many oyster bars is a restaurants may be restricted.
which there is a wide variety. popular pastime of locals and Diners who plan to order alcohol
Oregon’s climate is particularly visitors alike. in any establishment should
conducive to growing wild Eating healthily in the region’s always bring a valid form of
mushrooms. Washington is restaurants is easy. Low-fat dishes picture identification, such as a
perhaps best known for its are staples on most menus, as driver’s license or passport, as
apples, though it also grows are vegetarian options, ranging waiting staff are required by law
many types of berries. In British from salads and wraps to to check the age of patrons who
Columbia, tree fruits, including Mongolian grills and Buddhist order alcohol. The legal drinking
apples, pears, peaches, cherries, banquets. Native cuisine, using age in Washington and Oregon
and plums, often feature in local ingredients such is 21; in British Columbia, 19.
its cuisine. Pacific Northwest as seaweed, fern shoots, wild
grapes and wineries are berries, oolichan (a small silvery
celebrated as some of the best fish), and caribou, can also Hours
in the world, so it is no surprise be enjoyed, and is sometimes Coffee shops and cafés serving
that there are many wine bars combined with traditional full breakfasts open at 6 or 7am.
throughout the region. Seafood Native song and dance perform- With one on just about every
is very much the focus of Pacific ances in an authentic setting. downtown street corner, coffee
Northwest cuisine. On just shops are the best bet for a
about every menu and in just Alcohol and Smoking toasted bagel or pastry and
about every type of restaurant, a cup of coffee. Breakfast,
salmon, halibut, crab, mussels, Smoking is banned in all which generally consists of
clams, and oysters are on offer, indoor public places in British some combination of pancakes,
whether in the form of cakes, Columbia. Washington has toast, eggs, omelets, sausages,
chowder, or fish and chips. banned smoking statewide and bacon, is typically served
Smoked salmon, which has in all public places and in until 11am. On Sundays, brunch
its origins in Native customs, is places of employment. In is served between 8am and
ubiquitous. Oysters are gaining Oregon it has similarly been 2pm at many restaurants that
in popularity, and, with so many banned in workplaces, bars, are not open for breakfast
varieties to choose from, and restaurants. during the week.
Lunch hours are usually
between 11:30am and 3pm.
In the cities, many of the
more upscale restaurants
offer lunches that mirror the
dinner menu in every aspect
but price, making the midday
meal a smart choice for travelers
who want to dine at the best
restaurants while on a budget.
Dinner hours generally run
from 5pm to 9 or 10pm, later in
busier areas and on weekends.
Some exclusive restaurants
open for dinner only. Almost all
View over the vines at Old Vines Restaurant, Kelowna, BC (see p304) restaurants are open on Fridays

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