HIT THE TRAIL
Nestucca Bay Creamery, Fresh Artisan Cheese
Fresh Oysters, a North Coast Specialty
From Astoria to Neskowin, more than 100 miles of delicious food and beverage It used to be…that to get a great seafood dinner, or even a locally crafted beer, you had to go to Portland or Seattle. That’s because the Oregon Coast, home to the most delicious seafood, shipped its commercial catch to the biggest markets. Makes sense, as that’s where they could make the best revenue. And beer? Well, most beer was brewed in cities, and many of those breweries are now gone, unfortunately. Or you could go fishing, crabbing and clamming and cook it up yourself. That’s still a great option. But for those who enjoy din‐ ing out, a lot has changed, fortunately, for both locals and visi‐ tors.
North Fork 53 Tea Farm
Chefs, bakers, and brewers were the first to realize the rich bounty of the north Oregon Coast, opening restaurants and cafés that served local foods and used local ingredients and cre‐ ating craft beers with local flavors and waters. Small farms and ranches began to grow, too, many operated by younger people leaving the city to live and work the rural life. Nonprofits soon grew to support these new food entrepreneurs. By the mid-1990 and 2000s, a groundswell of food businesses had opened all along the north coast. Visitors began noticing too. With the onset of social media, word got out to the world beyond word-of-mouth among family and friends. In addition, established food businesses, such as Tillamook Creamery, Pacific Seafood, Pelican Brewing and Fort George Brewery were ex‐ panding their reach and markets, shining a spotlight on Ore‐ gon’s north coast. In 2017, Visit Tillamook Coast, with the help of Travel Oregon and a group of 70 local farmers, fishers, producers and chefs, gave birth to the North Coast Food Trail. At first it included 60 food businesses, ranging from Cannon Beach to Lincoln City. This year, it extends from Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach through Tillamook County, all the way to Neskowin. Now there are more than 100 miles and 80 businesses to enjoy, ranging from cideries, distilleries, fish markets, restaurants, farms, farm‐ ers markets, food tours and experiences, lodging, breweries, bak‐ eries and a cooking school, all featuring local foods and bever‐ ages. (Lincoln City is about to join a new Central Coast Food Trail.) Where should you indulge your tastebuds? Download a brochure and plan your trip at northcoastfoodtrail.com 44 Willamette Living Magazine July/August 2021
Shannon of Brickyard Farms