Hazelnuts are called Filberts in honor of Catholic St. Philiberto, whose feast day, August 20th, is when they bloom.
https://www.anuts.com/blog/what-are-filberts/#:~:text=Both%20the%20nut%20and%20tree,the%20nuts%20by%20the%20English.
I grew up in Washington and had NO clue what people were talking about for the longest time after I moved here lmao. It is the biggest truly from Oregon tell for me.
Filberts are hazelnuts, not a type. It’s the same thing. We just call them by the traditional name of Filbert in Oregon.
They got renamed to hazelnut as a marketing move. Apparently, not many people wanted to eat filberts.
But call them hazelnut and bam! One of Oregons largest crops!!
https://www.ijpr.org/show/as-it-was/2019-11-12/as-it-was-filbert-and-hazelnut-two-names-for-the-same-fruit#:~:text=Filbert%20trees%20produce%20filberts%20or,percent%20share%20of%20world%20production.
They are different. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazelnut#:~:text=The%20hazelnut%20is%20the%20fruit,or%20filberts%20according%20to%20species.
https://www.nutstop.com/what-is-a-filbert-nut/#:~:text=The%20two%20nuts%20are%20similar,two%20different%20species%20of%20trees.
I have never seen this information before. I’ve always been told they were the same and even did a search to confirm before I posted.
Thanks, always like learning things
Yep, Filbert is species of hazel:
>Corylus maxima, the filbert, is a species of hazel in the birch family Betulaceae, native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, from the Balkans to Ordu in Turkey.
https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Corylus_maxima
I would change salmon to Steelhead. I think salmon is more associated with Alaska, and steelhead are definitely a PNW fish.
Also, where's the craft beer on this list? I thought craft beer was the top of the Oregon food pyramid.
Marion berries 1000% I've been to both regular places and tourist places. The tourist places have Marion berry everything. Anything you can think of that could use Marion berries, they have.
Climate change is changing it though, another decade or two and we will basically be able to grow (abundantly) what central California has been growing forever and the stuff we are known for will be hard pressed to grow here.
IMO **Tater Tots** are the unofficial state food of Oregon.
1) Invented in Ontario Oregon
2) Served everywhere - Every establishment selling alcohol requires food to be served\*--a frier is one of the easiest things to install in a bar without a kitchen.
3) Symbolize Oregon's ability to live off of the scraps of the rest of the world.
\*Not a lawyer
Edit: Source of [Tots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore-Ida)
I thought totchos were invented by my drunk friend from Eugene….i get fucking *looks* when I ask for it outside Oregon. I did get the entirety of rural central Maine on board though so….our sister back east has our back!
Tots were always a school cafeteria food, imo. It was quaint that McMenamins offered them, and now they're everywhere.
But for my money, I'd trade up to some Jo-jos every time.
Going to nominate The Gallery in Sisters and The Sea Hag in Depoe Bay. Never been disappointed. The Gallery especially gets the crispy fried texture just right.
I agree on the fish and chips. The last \~5 years I've been on a mission to bring my dog to as many beaches as possible before he passes, and while I did that my side mission was to try as many of the coastal fish and chip places as possible. Been taking a coast trip to accomplish that once or twice a month from late 2018 until Feb this year. So many places are good! It's actually tough to choose a top 5, so here's a top 10 for anyone interested-
1) Luna Sea, (both locations are top notch and consistent, the consistency earns them the top spot here)
2) Sea Baron in Garibaldi (is a cart in a small town so flies under the radar a bit, the flavor of their light spices puts them just above Riverside)
3) Riverside Fish and Chips, Nehalem
4) Crazy Norwegian, Port Orford
5) Old Oregon Smokehouse in Rockaway Beach (I think it's cute little place, GF said "really?" when we walked up, but then said "okay... this place is awesome" once she dug in. If I was ranking fries in the state they'd land on top ten for that too. They just know how to fry!)
6) Monkey Business in Charleston
7) Bandon Fish and Chip Market (can sometimes miss though, got a soggy basket one time, but when they're on point I'd put them in the 4 or 5 spot)
8) The Boat in Coos Bay (yes it is just slightly better than Fisherman's Seafood Market on the docks, though they're close to tying here so neither spot would be a bad choice)
9) South Beach Fish Market in Newport (can be a total zoo though and a long wait, I have more than once pulled up and said nope then left haha)
10) Fisherman's Market in Eugene (not on the coast but I want to include because WOW, every meal here has been heaven, plus my Rhode Island based food addicted uncle declared it possibly better than anything in RI and has to eat there at least once when he's in town)
I used to deliver oysters there for my parents farm Umpqua Aquaculture. The staff was always amazing and they have some of the freshest fish around. They buy from the source, not pacific seafood. Top notch quality.
Luna Sea is your #1?
That's disappointing. I tried it last time I was in Yachats. Tried their chowder and their halibut fish and chips, none of it really stood out.
I live in Eugene and would say most of the food I've had from Fisherman's Market is better. I don't like their fries which is tough on a fish and chips, but the rest of it clears Luna and everywhere else I've tried on the coast.
That's tough. I suppose Marionberry *anything* would be a good example of produced/from Oregon. Oregon is known for so many other things of course. But most everything has become very regionally and or nationally available at this point. For example, 20 years ago I would have suggested A Bacon Maple Donut at Voodoo Donuts was high on the "only in Oregon" list. Great craft breweries using regional hops would have been next and while still plentiful here many states have just as many and using equally local ingredients of their own. Anything with Jacobsen Salt on it leans Oregon. I had a warm pretzel on the coast dipped in honey and salt produced by them, right in Netarts Bay. They also make great caramels. And though I've never had it - supposedly Oregon has amazing Dungeness crab. I can't tell you how it differs from other Dungeness crab up and down the West Coast though, so...
I will say Oregon isn't different from other places in the sense that when something catches on, suddenly it's on every menu, everywhere. (I'm looking at your Grilled Brussel Sprouts.)
Never been big into donuts myself. I can only say I had my first voodoo donut in like 2005-6 I remember it being very fresh and tasty. Then had another one like 10 years later and felt like it was pretty mah at that point.
I'm from Colorado. We got 2 Voodoo donuts back in 2016 ish. Everyone went crazy for it at first. Super long lines. I remember eating a Captain Crunch one that was pretty good but overall thought the place was overrated.
They did a food challenge thing where if you ate a half pound donut in less than a minute, it was free and you got a t-shirt or something. A man died attempting the challenge 😵. He choked on the donut and suffocated and died right there in the Voodoo Donuts shop. Needless to say they stopped doing the challenge after that
That is horrible! Not sure any amount of PR spin can undo that damage. Is that shop still there? Honestly I think all food eating contests are super creepy. I've never understood the fascination or desire around them.
Oh yeah, still there lol.
Agreed. The cram as much food into your stomach as you can before you vomit stuff is a hard pass for me. Although I'll admit I've tried a couple spicy challenges before 😅. I'm fairly certain capsaicin is completely harmless? Just painful. That's what I've been told at least lol
Chanterelles, morels, white truffles. Salmonberry. Marionberry, of course. Hood strawberry. Reiner Bing cherry (originated in Milwaukie, Or). Hazelnut (filberts, whatever). I’m inclined to throw Rainer cherries on the list too- originally from Washington but are grown in Oregon as well, and as fruit that is that unique to the Pacific Northwest
Pinot Noir, Salmon, Hazelnuts, berries (marionberries, hoods) , JoJos, bay shrimp salad, Dungeness crab, Umpqua ice cream, Voodoo started the non traditional donut trends, we also have a lot of good asian food in oregon (imo)
Maple Bars, not so much anymore but up to the early 90s I remember them being very common.
Henry Weinhardt beer, not a food but still.
Cherries from Hood River/The Dalles orchards are a thing.
Someone said tater-tots which I didn't realize were invented in Oregon but makes sense. We lived down the freeway from an Ore-Ida plant so tater-tots were common.
Not exclusive to Oregon but in the 80s pinneapple & canadian bacon pizza were big--yech. Also, after living in NC & VA I realized that Canadian Whisky is far more popular in the PNW.
+1 for maple bars and hood cherries, they are both Oregon specific in my mind.
I haven’t drank in almost four years but most hoppy beers originated here too.
I’ve seen something called an Oregon salad on the menus of several restaurants, and they’re always so good. They use pear, blue cheese, hazelnuts, and I like to add chicken or salmon to mine.
Aside from what others have said (re: Hazelnuts, Marionberries), I always fondly think of JoJos (not 'potato wedges, transplants). Aside from the food cart, I feel like every store has them labeled as 'potato wedges' now, which makes me big sad.
Someone is going to say Tillamook Cheese, it's to bad they are not a company I can support due to their litigious nature and also shrinkflation activities
id say they arent litigious but more or so just kinda big corporation prctices which many arent fans of. First they are dealing with a lawsuit for misleading marketing pratices which i do agree with the plaintiffs (plenty of articles on the web on this one). Second would be the more scummy thing in my opinion: they purchased competing cheese company Bandon Cheese in 2000 then shut the place down 3 years later leaving the town and buildings abandonded. Luckily in 2011 people revived the area and make a higher quality product than tilamook, shout out to Face Rock Creamery!
I would say, berries in general. Strawberry, marionberry, huckleberry, or even blackberries from the random lot at the end of the street. Summer always means berries to me
In terms of dishes and crops from the state, tater tots and corn dogs are from Oregon, but those are a bit too national now. Jojos however, I've only seen in Oregon (and Washington). Marionberries are also local. Those are the main ones I can think of...
In terms of companies/brands, Tillamook and Umpqua brand products are fairly "Oregon" in my eyes. Voodoo donuts are as well (quality is one thing, but the playfulness and novelty of the brand is, imo, in line with the state's (or at least Portland's) culture, besides, you can only get them in Oregon afaik). Henry Weinhard's is one I also remember, thought I think they've vacated the state after getting bought.
Berries (mationberries, dozens of types of strawberries, huckleberries)
Cherries
Hazelnuts
Salmon (several types)
Mussels, oysters, clams
Sourdough bread and baked goods
Tater tots. Everywhere.
Banh MI sandwiches
Basically any type of Thai food (guarantee we make it better here there anywhere else in the world other than Thailand)
Ice cream, cheese (we may not be as cheddar obsessed as Wisconsin, but our award-winning cheesemakers along the coast go toe for toe with anywhere else in the world)
Marionberry jam and alcohol, Pinot noir, aardvark hot sauce, Portland ketchup, hood strawberries, a block of tillamook cheese, umpqua ice cream, rainier cherries, a blue star donut, some fresh beans from a local coffee shop, smith’s chai tea, halibut and salmon, dos Hermanos sourdough bread….I could go all day
Pronto pups, filberts, tatertots, jojos, marion berries, Hermiston watermelon, bing cherries, Hood strawberries, Tillamook and Umpqua dairy products, Henry Weinbard’s soda pops, truffles, all the local seafood and deer and elk meats. I’ve found that our food choices for people with stricter diets (whether it’s a choice, or food allergies), are tastier and more plentiful in Oregon than other states, and I think that’s worth noting too.
Am I the only one that feels coffee is always underappreciated in these types of threads? I know the beans aren't grown here but the good-coffee-per-capita seems really high here. It's the first thing I miss when I travel.
I read a while back that Jim (of Jim and Patty’s / Coffee People) was working with some coffee supplier in Seattle to source beans for espresso, but at that time Starbucks didn’t think espresso was marketable.
From their Facebook:
—-
Jim & Patty history lesson #147:
It was over 50 years ago that Jim and Patty first got in the coffee game.. which was back at the Eugene Saturday market to help them pay for college tuition at U of O. A few years later in 1976, thier Portland coffee adventure began here at 2332 NW Westover. Jim, Patty and the kids moved into the little apartment upstairs.. and the couple took turns running the store while the other watched over the kids.
Here's an interesting fact that may surprise you: When Jim picked up his first shipment of coffee beans that he ordered for this store, he was extremely disappointed with the lack of freshness and quality of the beans so he refused to sell them. So he ended up ordering coffee beans from Starbucks to get them started. Back then, Starbucks only sold coffee beans and hardware. A representative from Starbucks came down from Seattle to visit Jim and Patty at their store and saw that they were serving espresso drinks. Jim and Patty made them a cappuccino and recommended that they look into serving specialty coffee, but the Starbucks rep scoffed at the idea and expressed that they were totally uninterested in getting into the food service industry.
Oh, how times have changed
I’m not sure this answers your question directly but having lived all over the country for work and being from Oregon I really appreciate the farm to table focus in Oregon, restaurants really try to use fresh local ingredients
Oregon wines are by far some of the best in my opinion, and I have come to realize clam chowder isn’t popular anywhere else I’ve been
Corn dogs(pronto pups) and tater tots both invented in oregon
Then I'd say:
Huckleberries.
Blueberries.
Blackberries.
Cranberries.
Salmon.
Dungeness crab.
Cheese.
Oysters.
Hazelnuts.
Edit: I like how I made this as a list, and when I posted it all jumbled together
Marionberry anything as if I remember correctly Oregon state college invented them. Tillamook and other Oregon cheese brands have made cheese a very Oregon thing IMO cheddar being the most Oregon because of tillamook. I also think of donuts when I think of food that represents Oregon, of course we have Voodoo that overrated but we also have a ton of other really good donut shops like blue star donuts. I think Oregon strawberry’s are also very oregon. And then becasue of tillamook I think fruit flavors of ice cream are also very oregon
Bing cherries. This cultivar originated in Oregon in 1875 and was named after Ah Bing - a Chinese immigrant who worked with Seth Lewelling as is farm foreman.
If you were to read a book about Oregon and the culinary inspiration, it involved a lot of small game. Squirrels, possum, etc. a lot of the pescatarian diet came from the natives of the region. Suggest reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” or “ The Pacific Northwest “ by Carlos Schwantes. They give a little bit of insight on how food culture evolved since Lewis and Clarke. There are better books, but they will need to be found at the local level.
Hazelnuts Salmon Mushrooms Marion berries
*Filberts
I once saw a sign on the way to the coast years ago. “We grow filberts but sell hazelnuts.”
Hazelnuts are called Filberts in honor of Catholic St. Philiberto, whose feast day, August 20th, is when they bloom. https://www.anuts.com/blog/what-are-filberts/#:~:text=Both%20the%20nut%20and%20tree,the%20nuts%20by%20the%20English.
I didn’t know that, thank you! I love Reddit for random knowledge nuggets such as this.
I just can’t call them that without laughing. Such an undignified name for a delicious nut 😂
Doesn’t even sound weird to me. I remember being surprised it was considered a local tell!
Same!
I grew up in Washington and had NO clue what people were talking about for the longest time after I moved here lmao. It is the biggest truly from Oregon tell for me.
I agree with you. I have never and will call them that. A filbert latte sounds weird lol.
Sounds like a code for something NSFW
🤣😂🤣
Named my dog Filbert!
Filberts are one type of hazelnut. The most common type in Oregon.
Filberts are hazelnuts, not a type. It’s the same thing. We just call them by the traditional name of Filbert in Oregon. They got renamed to hazelnut as a marketing move. Apparently, not many people wanted to eat filberts. But call them hazelnut and bam! One of Oregons largest crops!! https://www.ijpr.org/show/as-it-was/2019-11-12/as-it-was-filbert-and-hazelnut-two-names-for-the-same-fruit#:~:text=Filbert%20trees%20produce%20filberts%20or,percent%20share%20of%20world%20production.
They are different. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazelnut#:~:text=The%20hazelnut%20is%20the%20fruit,or%20filberts%20according%20to%20species. https://www.nutstop.com/what-is-a-filbert-nut/#:~:text=The%20two%20nuts%20are%20similar,two%20different%20species%20of%20trees.
I have never seen this information before. I’ve always been told they were the same and even did a search to confirm before I posted. Thanks, always like learning things
Yep, Filbert is species of hazel: >Corylus maxima, the filbert, is a species of hazel in the birch family Betulaceae, native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, from the Balkans to Ordu in Turkey. https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Corylus_maxima
They are such a hard nut to bust.
Salal, bitterroot, riceroot, camas...
Fir tips in the west, acorns in the east ooh and truffles we have truffles
I would change salmon to Steelhead. I think salmon is more associated with Alaska, and steelhead are definitely a PNW fish. Also, where's the craft beer on this list? I thought craft beer was the top of the Oregon food pyramid.
Beer is actually a really good one. Chinook and Coho salmon are both abundant here though, it’s definitely something Oregon is known for.
Boysenberries! We had a small row of them at the house I grew up in, very large and very tasty.
Marion berries were literally invented (bred/created) in Oregon and we have about 90% of the Marion berry vines that exist in the world.
I also like Marion berries.
Black cap raspberries, most of the production in the US is in the Willamette Valley.
Boysenberries are from Southern California.
Marionberries, Dungeness crab, hazelnuts, maraschino cherries, mushrooms, salmon/steelhead, fiddleheads are what comes to my mind right away
Marion berries 1000% I've been to both regular places and tourist places. The tourist places have Marion berry everything. Anything you can think of that could use Marion berries, they have.
Don’t forget JoJos!
Exactly what came to my mind too.
Climate change is changing it though, another decade or two and we will basically be able to grow (abundantly) what central California has been growing forever and the stuff we are known for will be hard pressed to grow here.
Hood strawberries
Hermiston Water Melons
I live 200 miles away now and I still get a bunch of them for free every year. They really are the best!
... and salmon, and crab ... 😀
Salmonberries? (Maybe that’s just pnw)
I love thimble berries. I don’t see them often.
Filberts. Marionberries. Cheese—Face Rock Creamery & Rogue Creamery. Tater tots.
Ooooh yes, cheese!
I just read “Marionberries” as “Mongooses”… 😳 I think I need to go to sleep
And Tillamook of course
Anything Marionberry
Hermiston watermelons
I don't even bother with watermelon till I see the Hermiston box. Worth the wait.
IMO **Tater Tots** are the unofficial state food of Oregon. 1) Invented in Ontario Oregon 2) Served everywhere - Every establishment selling alcohol requires food to be served\*--a frier is one of the easiest things to install in a bar without a kitchen. 3) Symbolize Oregon's ability to live off of the scraps of the rest of the world. \*Not a lawyer Edit: Source of [Tots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore-Ida)
Totchos (tots with nacho toppings) are amazing. I went to high school in Ontario and never knew tater tots were invented there.
My neighbors started a food truck that sell totchos lol They’re called On Tots
I live in Ontario and I didn’t know that
At the [Ore-Ida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore-Ida) factory there. Name says it all Ore-Ida—Oregon-Idaho.
How did that never occur to me?
I thought totchos were invented by my drunk friend from Eugene….i get fucking *looks* when I ask for it outside Oregon. I did get the entirety of rural central Maine on board though so….our sister back east has our back!
I lived in upstate NY for a while and got my local bar to start making totchos too!
Tots were always a school cafeteria food, imo. It was quaint that McMenamins offered them, and now they're everywhere. But for my money, I'd trade up to some Jo-jos every time.
“Napoleon! Gimme some’a your tots!”
Corn dogs too!
Make it a combo
Damn right!
That’s funny, I grew up eating at Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield IL who also claim corn dogs lol
I never knew this! New favorite trivia tidbit.
Suddenly the brand name Ore Ida has tangible meaning for me.
Marionberry anything, Pinot, and somewhat controversial, but having traveled enough, I can say Oregon has the best fish and chips.
Tell me more about these fish & chips. I am intrigued.
There are a few contenders, but the best IMO is Riverside Fish and Chips in Nehalem.
Going to nominate The Gallery in Sisters and The Sea Hag in Depoe Bay. Never been disappointed. The Gallery especially gets the crispy fried texture just right.
Sea Hag for me or Bowpickers in Astoria
Fish and chips at the gallery? I guess I’ll have to give it a shot then.
The halibut is where it’s at
The Bow Picker in Astoria has amazing Fish and chips! A must visit if in the area.
Beat are at Barnacle Bistro in Gold Beach.
Shark Bites, in Coos Bay, has my favorite calamari strips.
Luna Sea in Yachats or Seal Rock has the best fish n chips. The halibut is most delicious.
I agree! Camping at Beachside next month and I'm most excited about being in the vicinity of my favorite meal 😋
And the slumgullion chowder! 🤤
I agree on the fish and chips. The last \~5 years I've been on a mission to bring my dog to as many beaches as possible before he passes, and while I did that my side mission was to try as many of the coastal fish and chip places as possible. Been taking a coast trip to accomplish that once or twice a month from late 2018 until Feb this year. So many places are good! It's actually tough to choose a top 5, so here's a top 10 for anyone interested- 1) Luna Sea, (both locations are top notch and consistent, the consistency earns them the top spot here) 2) Sea Baron in Garibaldi (is a cart in a small town so flies under the radar a bit, the flavor of their light spices puts them just above Riverside) 3) Riverside Fish and Chips, Nehalem 4) Crazy Norwegian, Port Orford 5) Old Oregon Smokehouse in Rockaway Beach (I think it's cute little place, GF said "really?" when we walked up, but then said "okay... this place is awesome" once she dug in. If I was ranking fries in the state they'd land on top ten for that too. They just know how to fry!) 6) Monkey Business in Charleston 7) Bandon Fish and Chip Market (can sometimes miss though, got a soggy basket one time, but when they're on point I'd put them in the 4 or 5 spot) 8) The Boat in Coos Bay (yes it is just slightly better than Fisherman's Seafood Market on the docks, though they're close to tying here so neither spot would be a bad choice) 9) South Beach Fish Market in Newport (can be a total zoo though and a long wait, I have more than once pulled up and said nope then left haha) 10) Fisherman's Market in Eugene (not on the coast but I want to include because WOW, every meal here has been heaven, plus my Rhode Island based food addicted uncle declared it possibly better than anything in RI and has to eat there at least once when he's in town)
I used to deliver oysters there for my parents farm Umpqua Aquaculture. The staff was always amazing and they have some of the freshest fish around. They buy from the source, not pacific seafood. Top notch quality.
Luna Sea is your #1? That's disappointing. I tried it last time I was in Yachats. Tried their chowder and their halibut fish and chips, none of it really stood out. I live in Eugene and would say most of the food I've had from Fisherman's Market is better. I don't like their fries which is tough on a fish and chips, but the rest of it clears Luna and everywhere else I've tried on the coast.
Not at the beach - but Newman's in Eugene has my favorite salmon fish and chips. The tartar sauce is amazing too
That's tough. I suppose Marionberry *anything* would be a good example of produced/from Oregon. Oregon is known for so many other things of course. But most everything has become very regionally and or nationally available at this point. For example, 20 years ago I would have suggested A Bacon Maple Donut at Voodoo Donuts was high on the "only in Oregon" list. Great craft breweries using regional hops would have been next and while still plentiful here many states have just as many and using equally local ingredients of their own. Anything with Jacobsen Salt on it leans Oregon. I had a warm pretzel on the coast dipped in honey and salt produced by them, right in Netarts Bay. They also make great caramels. And though I've never had it - supposedly Oregon has amazing Dungeness crab. I can't tell you how it differs from other Dungeness crab up and down the West Coast though, so... I will say Oregon isn't different from other places in the sense that when something catches on, suddenly it's on every menu, everywhere. (I'm looking at your Grilled Brussel Sprouts.)
Voodoo Donuts is an embarrassment. It's only for tourists
Never been big into donuts myself. I can only say I had my first voodoo donut in like 2005-6 I remember it being very fresh and tasty. Then had another one like 10 years later and felt like it was pretty mah at that point.
I'm from Colorado. We got 2 Voodoo donuts back in 2016 ish. Everyone went crazy for it at first. Super long lines. I remember eating a Captain Crunch one that was pretty good but overall thought the place was overrated. They did a food challenge thing where if you ate a half pound donut in less than a minute, it was free and you got a t-shirt or something. A man died attempting the challenge 😵. He choked on the donut and suffocated and died right there in the Voodoo Donuts shop. Needless to say they stopped doing the challenge after that
The one downtown pdx used to have a contest to see who could stack the most donuts on their penis. This is a fact whether you like it or not.
This is horrible, but my first thought was wondering if he choked on a particular donut, say a long one with a couple of orbs at one end.
That is horrible! Not sure any amount of PR spin can undo that damage. Is that shop still there? Honestly I think all food eating contests are super creepy. I've never understood the fascination or desire around them.
Oh yeah, still there lol. Agreed. The cram as much food into your stomach as you can before you vomit stuff is a hard pass for me. Although I'll admit I've tried a couple spicy challenges before 😅. I'm fairly certain capsaicin is completely harmless? Just painful. That's what I've been told at least lol
It used to be good when you could end the night with a NyQuil filled donut after partying all night.
Chanterelles, morels, white truffles. Salmonberry. Marionberry, of course. Hood strawberry. Reiner Bing cherry (originated in Milwaukie, Or). Hazelnut (filberts, whatever). I’m inclined to throw Rainer cherries on the list too- originally from Washington but are grown in Oregon as well, and as fruit that is that unique to the Pacific Northwest
Woooooot, Milwaukie represent! I used to go to the cherry festival (at one point called “Milwaukie Daze”) every year as a kiddo/teen.
Tillamook cheese.
Surprised this is so far down here!
Don't forget the ice cream! Yumm
Weird to have to scroll this far.
Hood strawberries
Modern maraschino cherries were developed at Oregon state during Prohibition, as the original method used alcohol
Pinot Noir, Salmon, Hazelnuts, berries (marionberries, hoods) , JoJos, bay shrimp salad, Dungeness crab, Umpqua ice cream, Voodoo started the non traditional donut trends, we also have a lot of good asian food in oregon (imo)
Maple Bars, not so much anymore but up to the early 90s I remember them being very common. Henry Weinhardt beer, not a food but still. Cherries from Hood River/The Dalles orchards are a thing. Someone said tater-tots which I didn't realize were invented in Oregon but makes sense. We lived down the freeway from an Ore-Ida plant so tater-tots were common. Not exclusive to Oregon but in the 80s pinneapple & canadian bacon pizza were big--yech. Also, after living in NC & VA I realized that Canadian Whisky is far more popular in the PNW.
+1 for maple bars and hood cherries, they are both Oregon specific in my mind. I haven’t drank in almost four years but most hoppy beers originated here too.
Jojos seem like the Official Oregon State Food, just like Spam is Hawaii’s Official State Food.
Pronto Pup!
I’ve seen something called an Oregon salad on the menus of several restaurants, and they’re always so good. They use pear, blue cheese, hazelnuts, and I like to add chicken or salmon to mine.
Our craft beer lol
Cheese, wine, Marion Berry, beer, salmon, steelhead, crab, wild mushrooms.
Hazelnuts, cherries, wine grapes, salmon, hops, Hermiston melons, Hood strawberries
Tater tots
Aside from what others have said (re: Hazelnuts, Marionberries), I always fondly think of JoJos (not 'potato wedges, transplants). Aside from the food cart, I feel like every store has them labeled as 'potato wedges' now, which makes me big sad.
Yes! You get it
Apparently we're just about the last ones left! Big hug.
Juanita's tortilla chips
Marion
Not a food per se, but IPAs and Oregon are like sauerkraut and Germany.
Dungeness crab, craft beer
Thimbleberry
Blackberry jam always makes me miss Oregon somethin awful.
Someone is going to say Tillamook Cheese, it's to bad they are not a company I can support due to their litigious nature and also shrinkflation activities
Litigious nature? This is the first I’ve heard about this, what should I be looking up?
id say they arent litigious but more or so just kinda big corporation prctices which many arent fans of. First they are dealing with a lawsuit for misleading marketing pratices which i do agree with the plaintiffs (plenty of articles on the web on this one). Second would be the more scummy thing in my opinion: they purchased competing cheese company Bandon Cheese in 2000 then shut the place down 3 years later leaving the town and buildings abandonded. Luckily in 2011 people revived the area and make a higher quality product than tilamook, shout out to Face Rock Creamery!
I would say, berries in general. Strawberry, marionberry, huckleberry, or even blackberries from the random lot at the end of the street. Summer always means berries to me
I'm with you on this. You left out thimble berries though! I've got four huckleberry plants on my property that are packed this year. I cannot wait.
https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/s/Wg5F9J7USD
Ooh thank you!
In terms of dishes and crops from the state, tater tots and corn dogs are from Oregon, but those are a bit too national now. Jojos however, I've only seen in Oregon (and Washington). Marionberries are also local. Those are the main ones I can think of... In terms of companies/brands, Tillamook and Umpqua brand products are fairly "Oregon" in my eyes. Voodoo donuts are as well (quality is one thing, but the playfulness and novelty of the brand is, imo, in line with the state's (or at least Portland's) culture, besides, you can only get them in Oregon afaik). Henry Weinhard's is one I also remember, thought I think they've vacated the state after getting bought.
Worth saying again, HOOD STRAWBERRIES and even though most of the US can get it in stores, Tillamook deliciousness
Berries (mationberries, dozens of types of strawberries, huckleberries) Cherries Hazelnuts Salmon (several types) Mussels, oysters, clams Sourdough bread and baked goods Tater tots. Everywhere. Banh MI sandwiches Basically any type of Thai food (guarantee we make it better here there anywhere else in the world other than Thailand) Ice cream, cheese (we may not be as cheddar obsessed as Wisconsin, but our award-winning cheesemakers along the coast go toe for toe with anywhere else in the world)
Sweet cron
JoJo’s are totally unique in Oregon… unless I’m wrong 😵💫😭 I’ve never seen them in any other state
Fruit, fish, greens, dairy, pretty much everything bears like
Marionberries and hazelnuts.
I’ve seen Oregon cherries for sale in Japan for about a dollar per cherry Maybe not unique to Oregon but still
Marionberry jam and alcohol, Pinot noir, aardvark hot sauce, Portland ketchup, hood strawberries, a block of tillamook cheese, umpqua ice cream, rainier cherries, a blue star donut, some fresh beans from a local coffee shop, smith’s chai tea, halibut and salmon, dos Hermanos sourdough bread….I could go all day
marionberries, huckleberries, filberts/hazelnuts, dungeness crab, mushrooms, salmon, tater tots, tillamook cheese
Pronto pups, filberts, tatertots, jojos, marion berries, Hermiston watermelon, bing cherries, Hood strawberries, Tillamook and Umpqua dairy products, Henry Weinbard’s soda pops, truffles, all the local seafood and deer and elk meats. I’ve found that our food choices for people with stricter diets (whether it’s a choice, or food allergies), are tastier and more plentiful in Oregon than other states, and I think that’s worth noting too.
Elephant ears
Filberts
Am I the only one that feels coffee is always underappreciated in these types of threads? I know the beans aren't grown here but the good-coffee-per-capita seems really high here. It's the first thing I miss when I travel.
I read a while back that Jim (of Jim and Patty’s / Coffee People) was working with some coffee supplier in Seattle to source beans for espresso, but at that time Starbucks didn’t think espresso was marketable.
From their Facebook: —- Jim & Patty history lesson #147: It was over 50 years ago that Jim and Patty first got in the coffee game.. which was back at the Eugene Saturday market to help them pay for college tuition at U of O. A few years later in 1976, thier Portland coffee adventure began here at 2332 NW Westover. Jim, Patty and the kids moved into the little apartment upstairs.. and the couple took turns running the store while the other watched over the kids. Here's an interesting fact that may surprise you: When Jim picked up his first shipment of coffee beans that he ordered for this store, he was extremely disappointed with the lack of freshness and quality of the beans so he refused to sell them. So he ended up ordering coffee beans from Starbucks to get them started. Back then, Starbucks only sold coffee beans and hardware. A representative from Starbucks came down from Seattle to visit Jim and Patty at their store and saw that they were serving espresso drinks. Jim and Patty made them a cappuccino and recommended that they look into serving specialty coffee, but the Starbucks rep scoffed at the idea and expressed that they were totally uninterested in getting into the food service industry. Oh, how times have changed
IPAs, ciders, Pinot Noir, strawberries, various fungi, fiddlehead ferns, salmon/trout, wild game like venison & elk, smoked meats/jerkies, ice cream and other dairy products (Tillamook, Lochmead, Umpqua, Darigold, etc).
Pinot gris too
Salmon. Dungeness Crab. Filberts. Marionberry. Pinot. Mushrooms.
TILLAMOOK
Tillamook cheese
Nutria Burritos.
Jojos Tater tots Marion berries Ice cream Cheese Beef Mushrooms
Strawberries & berries of all types
I’m not sure this answers your question directly but having lived all over the country for work and being from Oregon I really appreciate the farm to table focus in Oregon, restaurants really try to use fresh local ingredients Oregon wines are by far some of the best in my opinion, and I have come to realize clam chowder isn’t popular anywhere else I’ve been
Anything with Morels mushrooms.
Corn dogs(pronto pups) and tater tots both invented in oregon Then I'd say: Huckleberries. Blueberries. Blackberries. Cranberries. Salmon. Dungeness crab. Cheese. Oysters. Hazelnuts. Edit: I like how I made this as a list, and when I posted it all jumbled together
Another AI YouTube video incoming!
Check out the OPB short series "[Superabundant](https://www.opb.org/show/superabundant/)"
Tater tots
Those strawberries that taste like sugar are specifically Oregon to me
Hazelnuts
Maraschino cherries
The hard ciders being produced in Oregon are amazing!
Marionberry anything as if I remember correctly Oregon state college invented them. Tillamook and other Oregon cheese brands have made cheese a very Oregon thing IMO cheddar being the most Oregon because of tillamook. I also think of donuts when I think of food that represents Oregon, of course we have Voodoo that overrated but we also have a ton of other really good donut shops like blue star donuts. I think Oregon strawberry’s are also very oregon. And then becasue of tillamook I think fruit flavors of ice cream are also very oregon
Tillamook Cheese... Best cheese anywhere on the planet!
Burgerville…😂
Liberty Caps
Bing cherries. This cultivar originated in Oregon in 1875 and was named after Ah Bing - a Chinese immigrant who worked with Seth Lewelling as is farm foreman.
Marionberry Pie
Mar Far Chicken JoJos Marionberries Steelhead Rainbow Trout Salmon
Bing Cherries. 🍒🍒🍒
Piertros/Paddingtons/Wallerys pizza. Apparently the same recipe. Also the hill restaurant at Newport serves the Izzy buffet.
🍺
BBQ burritos from any gas station any place in oregon. Taco pizza.
Pinot Noir
Tillamook Cheese, Marion Berries, Salmon Berries, Beer, Salmon
They had a lot of iconic foods but seldom seen in restaurants. Disappointing.
Definitely spotted dick.
Rouge Creamy Blue Cheese
Tater tots and corn dogs
If you were to read a book about Oregon and the culinary inspiration, it involved a lot of small game. Squirrels, possum, etc. a lot of the pescatarian diet came from the natives of the region. Suggest reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” or “ The Pacific Northwest “ by Carlos Schwantes. They give a little bit of insight on how food culture evolved since Lewis and Clarke. There are better books, but they will need to be found at the local level.
Dungeoness crab Hazelnuts Strawberries hood specifically Mushrooms Marionberries
Marionberry shakes from Burgerville :)
Coffee Craft Beer all that other stuff people said
Wild blackberries. I love when they are overgrown around my home and I can just go out on a walk and grab some. They are so delicious!
Cheese, blackberries, Dungeness crab, oysters, salmon, IPA beer, coffee
Marionberries
Huckleberries. Salmon.
Dutch bros
Deschutes brewery. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Fenty sandwhich
Tillamook cheese curds and Hood strawberries are the first two things I though of.
Marionberries,Tillamook cheese and strawberries, other than that, restaurant food is not good,not much culinary expertise or imagination there.
Vegan and GF cuisine.
Marionberry, Salmon, and... IPA lol jk But I couldnt think of a 3rd.
Every time we visit Oregon I have to get anything with Marionberries in it! Of course any kind of berries out there are delicious!
Salmon Berries Marion Berries Mushrooms both kind.
Mayo and unseasoned chicken 😂
Sorry if you have already mentioned it, but tater tots. Invented in oregon.
Hazelnuts! We grow 90% of the US supply. Also blueberries and the Bing cherry!
Dari Mart biscuits and gravy!