March 17th is the one day of the year when everyone in Central Oregon is Irish, and the Astro Lounge, Bend’s chic urban night spot rings in with a St. Patrick’s Day party and everything from shamrocks to leprechauns. Astro Lounge is renowned for a menu that includes more than 25 Specialty Martinis.  Specially priced menu items and custom drinks will be the highlight of the party.

Regulars swear the Lemon Drops are the best in town, and during happy hour are only three dollars, or a choice of three 5oz. martinis are five dollars.  The house-infused pineapple rum Mai-Tai is sweet, tropical and filling.  The bartenders aptly shake out a Key Lime Pie martini until it comes out smooth and frothy with the rim dipped in sweet/sour lime juice and a fine graham cracker crust. For an extra kick try the Anastasia martini which is laced with Raspberry Stoli. Many prefer combos like the Astrodisiac martini for two which comes with fish tacos, gouda cheese fondue and coconut prawns or Tahini chicken spears. Astro Lounge hand cut French fries or Stromboli appetizers are tasty with any martini. Onion rings are plump but never greasy. Those in the know advise ordering martinis with bleu cheese olives.

The Astro Lounge is romantic and perfect for meeting and greeting. The chic loft lounge is set off with plush leather or velvet sofas, mirrored candles, and oversized chairs and loveseats in the darkened corners. From seating on regular balcony tables people watching is a seemingly endless parade. The Astro Lounge address is 147 NW Minnesota in Bend. For more information check the internet or call 541-388-0116.

Green beer and plenty of Blarney will be flowing at JC’s Bar & Grill on St. Patrick’s Day Monday March 17. Live music from KC Flynn will begin around 8:00 PM. Flynn is widely recognized as the most accomplished acoustic guitarist in Central Oregon and he chose to return to a home in Bend after traveling and touring extensively.  JC’s Bar & Grill offers delicious dining, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere.  It’s a family operation with a loyal clientele. Most nights owners and twin brothers Jeremy and Chris sling drinks and serve up tasty pub grub. The salads are a garden harvest and the chicken strips and burgers are filling and economically priced. Veggie dishes are sumptuous. Locals store their own inscribed beer mugs and the vibe is always mellow. Drink specials are offered every night at the full bar or the wine and beer bar. KC Flynn plays guitar music live every Thursday night. Besides great music and food and a small dancing floor outside seating is available when the weather is nice. Both street and lot parking are available. The bar and grill open for lunches at 11:00 AM Monday through Sunday.  JC’s Bar & Grill is located at 642 NW Franklin Avenue in Bend. For more information call 541.383.3000 or check out the website.

The Bendistillery Martini Bar and Mazama Bistro is among the oldest small-batch distilleries. It has gained the stature of being the country’s most award winning distillery. Occasional live music, fashion shows, mood lighting and the historic location all make the bistro evocative of trendy Manhattan or San Francisco martini bars. Since 1996 they have been reviving the tradition of premium handcrafted American distilled spirits. Only the freshest natural ingredients and pure Cascade Mountain water to create custom gins and vodkas.  

Regulars say for swank and sophistication you can’t beat ending a long day (or night) with a martini. It has a romantic past and a long list of famous fans including James Bond, Cary Grant and Ernest Hemingway. All traveled around the world seeking their favorite “tini” served dry, dirty or shaken. Bendistillery’s menu is varied, and changes seasonally. There are many standards including fresh infused lemon drops. Shaken with ice and served in a sugar-rimmed glass, they compete with the Crater Lake Sunrise for popularity. The staff is efficient and helpful and if guests can’t make up their minds, there are friendly bartenders willing and able to help with details about each drink. Visitors can purchase a bottle of their favorite spirits to take home for a souveneir or a nightcap.

The spirits are distilled locally, but not on the premises. The smell of juniper attracts anyone who loves Central Oregon and the High Desert Juniper gin tastes and smells like the desert, with a rugged smoky taste. Other Gold Medal spirits are the Crater Lake Vodka, Double 100 Vodka (Double Gold winner), Crater Lake Hazelnut Espresso Vodka (Platinum and Best of Show winner) Mazama Infused Pepper Vodka. The Bendistillery Martini Bar and Sampling Room is its own cocktail laboratory. Bartenders consistently serve up seasonal creations that are tasty and innovative. They also offer a wide choice of boutique spirits from around the country.

The attractive Bendistillery recipe page includes nearly 100 recipes for cocktails, fruit infused vodka and gin cocktails, and hot drink cocktails. Customers often comment on the unique location in the heart of downtown Bend on the Brooks Street alley – just down from the historic Pine Tavern on the Mirror Pond Plaza overlooking Drake Park and the Deschutes River.

The martini bar is open 4:00 PM to closing Monday through Saturday. A patio with a scenic view of a classic High Desert sunset brings hip, young, urban life to downtown Bend weather permitting. Tuesday nights are Fashion Show nights. Each week a different local retailer takes over the Martini Bar to showcase their latest fashions. The show starts at 8:00 PM and always draws a large crowd so it’s advisable to arrive early for a table. Staff or management can explain the Parties To Go Bendistillery have hosted, such as the Pronghorn Golf Course Grand Opening. Other examples of parties and festivals they have catered and attended are available in the Bendistillery Photo Gallery page. For more information, pricing or schedules call 541-318-0200 or visit the Bendistillery web site.

Lovers of Mediterranean cuisine say the dining experience at Ariana restaurant in Bend is like taking a culinary journey to France, Spain or Italy. Whether it’s the Amalfi coast, the rolling Spanish countryside or the French Riviera, Ariana staff have only one goal: to transport guests using exquisite food, service and decor, creating another place and time. Ariana fans often comment that their dinner reminded them of a trip they had made to Europe. Ariana is partnering with Oregon’s Pepper Bridge Winery for a wine tasting celebration Sunday March 2, 2008 beginning at 6:00 PM. Pepper Bridge wines are ultra-premium world-class red wines with grapes sourced solely from the Walla Walla Valley. These are critically acclaimed for growing some of the highest quality red wine grapes, The winery’s estate vineyards, Pepper Bridge Vineyard and Seven Hills Vineyard are recognized as two of the best in the region. A specialty at Pepper Bridge are the ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Ariana staff suggest pre-registering for the wine tasking as soon as possible. Ariana treats guests to one of Central Oregon’s most extensive cocktail menu consists of more than 55 hot and cold drinks. The dinner menu changes seasonally, with special events regularly, such as this month’s gala Valentine dinner (sorry, sold out.) Lunches are served from 11:30 AM through 2:00 PM Tuesday through Friday. Dinners begin at 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Parties are welcome, with affordable group rates available. Business meetings, celebrations and receptions are expediently and professionally hosted. For reservations call 541-330-5539 or for questions contact the Ariana email address, arianarestaurant@bendbroadband.com.

Valentine’s night at Marz Bistro in downtown Bend promises to be full of love. Love of savory food, a cozy but eclectic atmosphere, and new creations from masterful chefs. Friends and fans of the ten-year-old restaurant call eating at Marz a “Best of Planet-class” experience.  The Source Weekly reports ”Marz still has it – trendiness (so important in the fickle eatery biz), great food, good prices and a staff that seems to have as much fun as their clientele.”  Intelligent menu choices include the Valentine’s Night Special, and a wide variety of well prepared starters, such as pine nuts spanikopita, scrumptious Thai seafood cakes, feta and spicy lettuce wraps. Owner Matt Davis recommends the red curry dish, and his house favorite, pork tenderloin. Another source of the chefs’ pride is the chicken korma, an Indian dish that pushes flavors to their limit, but never compromises taste and balance. The waiters are hip and can be entertaining. The booths are wavy and the table settings have the look of SoCal Beaterville. The wait for a table can be an hour but no one ever complains about it. Past patrons have said, “If there’s amore in your heart and you find yourself in Central Oregon, take your Valentine date to Marz.” Staff advises to make reservations early. Call 541-389-2025. Marz Bistro is open 5:00 pm to closing seven days per week.

Bend Scotch lovers will gather for Scotch Tasting Thursday at McMenamins Old St. Francis School on Jan. 24, 2008 starting at 7:00 PM. It’s a rare opportunity to sample six classic malts of Scotland. Admission is restricted to 21 and over; cost is $40.00. Reservations are required and should be made promptly. These spirited liquors go conspicuously well with cold, rainy and foggy weather. Old St. Francis School welcomes visitors and Bend regulars to warm up with a choice selection of scotches paired with a Scottish-themed menu of hearty appetizers. Scotches include: Glenkinchie, a Lowlands scotch with soft, sweetly aromatic malt from the “Garden of Scotland.” It has a fresh grassy sweetness balanced with a warming, dry finish. Dalwhinnie is a 15-year-old gentle, delicate malt from the wild and windswept Highlands. It is a subtle delicately smoky malt with a heathery honey finish. Cragganmore is a 12- year-old elegant Speyside with the most complex sweet and smoky aroma of any malt. Talisker is a 10-year-old and the only malt produced on the Isle of Skye. The taste of seaweed, smoke and sweet maltiness is complimented by its spicy, long finish. Lagavulin, from Islay, offers a 16-year-old, distinctive and powerful malt that is smoky with a velvety finish. Finally, there is Oban, a Coastal 14-year-old scotch combining the sophistication of the Highlands with a touch of the peaty style of the Islands. It has a mellow fruity finish and is the sweetest of the six scotches. Guests will enjoy munching from the Small Bites Menu, which includes Lobster bisque cappuccino, mini lamb burgers with honey-harissa sauce, smoked salmon cake with watercress crème fraiche, leek & oyster tarts, venison carpaccio with chocolate espresso sauce and ginger brioche bread pudding with butterscotch sauce. For reservations call 541-382-5174 or toll free 877-661-4228. For information visit the Old St. Francis School website.

Superbowl Sunday becomes a Super Bloody Mary Extravaganza at The Blacksmith Restaurant in Bend. On Sunday Feb. 3, 2008 Blacksmith will host a Bloody Mary Extravaganza. They invite customers to “build their own” Bloody Marys from a “super selection” of ingredients. The Blacksmith also sports a wide range of custom brews. Other specialties are dishes with a Wild West accent. Flavorful regional recipes and the blending of New World cuisines with Old World techniques has drawn praise from food critics nationwide.  Conde Nast Traveler rated The Blacksmith Restaurant “One of the best new restaurants in the world.” There’s a new bar and lounge with a 62-inch and 54-inch HiDef big screen TVs for Superbowl viewing, and a popular private dining room for parties of up to 45, also with big screen TV. The restaurant sits at the edge of downtown Bend in Oregon’s ranch country at 211 N.W. Greenwood Avenue in the Historic Pearson Blacksmith Shop. Special events are also planned for Valentine’s Day, 2008. For information or reservations call 541/318-0588 or check the Blacksmith Restaurant web site.

What could be more romantic than watching the sunset and enjoy an evening of comfortable waterfront dining? Many couples in Central Oregon choose Anthony’s at Bend for a Valentine’s Day date with romance and fine cuisine.  Located in the Old Mill District, Anthony’s overlooks the Deschutes River. Diners appreciate the breath taking scenery including a spectacular view of the river, Mt. Bachelor and the Three Sisters Mountains. The restaurant will extend the service hours on Thursday, Feb. 14th, Valentine’s Day, with seating until 10 PM. They strongly recommend reservations be made as soon as possible.
The menu features fresh “flown in” Northwest seafood, a house specialty. Perfectly cooked fresh fish, a fresh seafood dinner salad, a well-seasoned grilled steak or delicious pasta offers a treat for any taste. Sunday Brunch is a crowd pleaser, especially on holidays. Anthony’s provides groups of up to 50 a warm, friendly environment with excellent service and a variety of menu choices for any occasion including weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays retirement parties, holiday gatherings, business luncheons or special dinner functions. Whether permitting, they can accommodate groups of up to 250 on their lawns and decks. Anthony’s offers complimentary parking throughout the Shops at the Old Mill but the best area to park is located across the river. The additional parking area can be accessed off of Columbia hosts a footbridge to the restaurant. For more information call 541-389-8998 or visit the Anthony’s at Bend website.

Mrs. Bo Kline, owner of Typhoon! Bend Restaurant, brings to Bend fine Asian cuisine with her newest luxury restaurant, Bo Restobar, opening on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008. They are specialists at creating Pan Asian fusion foods with influences from Korea, China, Vietnam, and Thailand. These are Nouvelle dishes faithful to Asian flavors and balance. A wide range of menu choices includes traditional, seasonal, street (peasant food), palace dishes and historic recipes that were once popular but may have gotten lost in time — sometimes exotic but always affordable. Fans of Bo Restobar in Portland say they appreciate such a broad range of Asian dishes, most especially the Thai cuisine. Mrs. Bo has an exceptional range of appreciation for what constitutes Thai food. She says the major factors that distinguish her restaurants are the staff’s passion and pride. Plus, they are freaks for quality control. Mrs. Bo fans claim emphatically that she makes the best fried bananas in the universe. For pisang goreng fanatics, they say, Bo Restobar has a world class recipe. Loyal customers all say, “Be sure to start a meal with the miang kum.” For more information go to the Bo Restobar website.

Chef Jody Denton works the wood fire grill and rotisserie at Merenda, the restaurant known for its new twists on country French and Italian cuisine and recipient of a Best of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine in 2004. Merenda offers the choicest Happy Hour menu in town. Happy Hour is from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Bill Keal performs live on Sundays at 6:30 PM Jan. 29, Feb. 10, April 20, May 18 and June 9.  At Merenda all menu products are farmed from organic and sustainable resources in Oregon. Merenda specializes in catering for private parties, such as anniversaries, rehearsal dinners and weddings. A host of original wine dinners featuring wine selections matched to seven courses of regional cuisine inspirations featuring Leonetti Cellars, Ken Wright Cellars, Kermit Lynch Importers and Pepperbridge Winery. Merenda is open 7 days a week from 11:30 AM. Dinner is served from 5:00 PM nightly. For information or reservations call 541-330-2304 or click on the Merenda website.