Fabulous Friends and Food in Oregon

July 21, 2021

Oregon grows, catches, and brews incredible edibles, from black truffles and filberts (aka hazelnuts. 95% of the nation’s commercial crop is harvested there), to sustainably-caught tuna, salmon, and crab. With its evergreen forests, arid deserts, snowy peaks, grassy prairies, rocky coastlines, and almost every ecosystem in between, this state is a wonderland of potential ingredients. Oregon’s natural resources provide an amazing dining scene.

When My Girlfriendships® saw pictures of the plates Oregon’s award-winning chefs prepared, and how they were paired with one of their thousands of handcrafted beers and wines, it gave us reason enough to plan our next girl’s getaway to this Pacific Northwest state. We think you should join us!

Let’s Eat…in!

The small creek near Bonneville dam is often choked with Chinook and Coho salmon and is a prime site to watch the fish. So, with the abundance of salmon (no wonder it’s the official state fish), here is our favorite salmon recipe: quick, easy, and delicious.

Seared Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce

Ingredients for 4 | Multiply by degree of hunger, divide by number of girlfriends!

Prep time	5 mns
Cook time	15 mns
Total time	20 mns

4 boneless salmon filets

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

Sauce

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

2 teaspoons prepared or grated horseradish

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Fresh dill sprigs for garnish

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450° F.

Step 2
Season filets on both sides with salt and pepper.

Step 3

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat until hot (not brown or smoking)

Step 4

Add the filets to the skillet. If your filets are skin-on, place the filets skin side up, meat side down.

Step 5

Sear on one side for 20 minutes until a gold brown crust forms on the meat.

Step 6

Without flipping the salmon, transfer the skillet to the oven and let it cook for 7-10 more minutes until desired doneness. Thicker filets will take longer.

Step 7

While salmon is cooking, mix sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl until well blended. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 8

Remove salmon from the oven. (Use an oven mitt—skillet handle will be hot!)

Step 9

Serve cooked salmon filets topped with sauce and garnish with a sprig of fresh dill.

Let’s Eat…out!

Looking for a place to gather with girlfriends when visiting Portland or Bend? Here are a couple of great options:

EEM | Eem is one of Portland's trendiest restaurants, with a delicious fusion of Thai food and American barbecue. They expertly combine smokiness and long-cooked meats with Thai flavors and cooking traditions to add an intensity to the food. They also have lots of really fun drinks served in tiki vessels or bowls, with or without alcohol. EEM has a very celebratory atmosphere.

The menu is loaded with delicious-sounding offerings, but our choice is the Papaya Salad: shaved papaya, dried shrimp, and peanuts. Paired with one of those “party in a glass” cocktails is our idea of a fun meal.

Ariana Restaurant | Located on the westside of Bend, in the heart of Oregon, is Ariana. This restaurant is known for its fresh perspective on classic dishes, using ingredients available in the Northwest as well as from central Oregon farmers. The wine list includes selections from both Oregon and Washington. From all the great reviews, we’re going to put ourselves in the chef’s hands and choose the Chef’s Tasting Menu—a six course tour of seasonally-inspired dishes.