I Take My Hat off to Chef Chris of Baked Alaska Fine Dining & Public House

On our trip to Astoria, Oregon my wife Shirley de Rose ran across an article in an Oregon Coast magazine on Chef Christopher Holen of Baked Alaska. So we decided we had to visit Chris and his restaurant.

What an enjoyable dining experience. I would recommend Baked Alaska to anyone looking for some great atmosphere and better food on the Northern Oregon Coast.

Baked Alaska was born in the spring of 2000 and was originally the concept of Chef Christopher Holen, used in mock culinary school projects such as Menus, Business Plans etc. In June of 2000 the ideas spawned a real business plan and school externship.

The Baked Alaska Fine Dining & Public House story.

Tough Decisions

Lunch was exquisite.
I chose the Broiled Pacific Sea Scallops over fresh black pepper linguini. Tossed with Fuji apples, fennel and ginger in a light champagne sauce.

Shirley decided on the Crab and Mushrooms Sambuca Carbonara. Crimini and oyster mushrooms sauteed with sweet onions, bacon, garlic, parsley, and crab meat. In a light Sambucca cream sauce over fresh fettucini in a light saffron

Baked Alaska?

Yes, for desert we did choose the Half Baked Alaska.
The Half Baked Alaska is their signature dessert featuring a double chocolate chip cookie baked fresh in a cast iron skillet and topped with vanilla ice cream, walnuts, and chocolate sauce. It arrived at our table flaming with brandy. And as billed this wonderful desert was really perfect for sharing!

We had a very enjoyable lunch and plan on returning to Baked Alaska on our next visit to Astoria.

I am talking about this restaurant not only for their great atmosphere and food but we can all learn a lesson or two from their marketing.

I just love their tag line “Baked Alaska, where the only thing we overlook is the Columbia River!“. And they deliver on their promises. A catchy tag line is only as good as what you do with it. If your tag line makes promises you had better deliver or all you will have is a catchy phrase and disappointed clientele.

Chris offers catering, cooking classes, and even has a kitchen supply store in the front of the building stuffed with everything you will need for your own dish creations.

Late,
Gary Pool

Baked Alaska in Astoria Oregon is a post stolen from the Search Engine Optimizician

The day began in Petaluma, CA.

We headed to Santa Barbara with a stop at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. We visited pier 39 and ate lunch at the end of the pier at a place called Neptune’s Palace. Great place for seafood by the way.

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We had another fantastic day the Lord is definitely taking care of us. We had no rain until we were through playing tourists for the day. It rained all the way from San Jose to Santa Barbara.

Thursday night we should be in San Diego.

late,
gary pool

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I found a great Restaurant!

When I moved to Portland. Oregon from San Diego, California eight years ago I thought I would have to give up Real Mexican Food. I looked for years. Then I found Tacho’s, a Mexican Restaurant in Oregon City.

I was used to the real Mexican food that was served in Tijuana. At least twice a month we would cross the border and sample the Mexican cuisine in that little border town. You could also bring back two bottles of liquor when you returned to the US. You can actually get the stuff they don’t export to the United States.

I grew up in San Diego and spent quite a bit of time in Mexico after I turned sixteen (drivers licensee age). I have fond memories of sitting down for a traditional Mexican meal at one of the many excellent restaurants in down town Tijuana.

When we moved to Oregon we couldn’t find any real mexican food, there were some reasonable facsimiles. That is until we found real Mexican Food in Oregon, that’s right we found the authentic gem and it was right here all along. Tacho’s Mexican Restaurant right here in Oregon City, Oregon.

Tacho’s has a great menu and a fantastic atmosphere. They have lunch specials all week long. The food! Wow the food is great, I am back in Mexico again. A little older and a little wiser, but I cant find the local Mexican Liquor store when I head home. So I just spend a little time in Tacho’s authentic Mexican Cantina and it solves that quest.

Tacho’s is one of the top restaurants in Oregon regardless of the nationality of the menu. If you are in Oregon and are looking to experience a little bit of Mexico I must recommend Tacho”s Mexican Restaurant for the best Mexican food in the North West. Tacho’s is located at 515 Molalla Ave, Oregon City, Oregon.

late,
Gary

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