NW Style in Downtown Gresham, OR

Cool Wooden Salmon

Travel time is just around the corner.  With the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, and the Gresham Farmer's Market, you're bound to be traveling through East County.  I want to give a shout out to an incredible place to eat.

Last night at Gresham's first Third Thursday of the season we poured our local wines and ate at Mark's NW Table, Mark's NW Table.  We shared the most tender delicious Baby Back Ribs for dinner, including yummy veggies and potatoes.  And for dessert we had their (all ingredients handmade) Éclair.  What a total indulgence.  It was incredible, the dark rich chocolate, the custard, whipped cream and the pastry.  I don't know if I have the right words, let's just say heavenly. 

From the first time we stepped through their doors... One evening not too long ago, after a lackluster dinner somewhere else (not mentioning names), we wanted to have dessert.  That night Chivon, our very pleasant waitress presented a Mixed Berry Pie (we shared), it had this magical crust, we knew we were hooked.  I'm sorry I have absolutely no idea how they make it, but the secret must be in the crust.  And we decided to share Josh's ice cream sampler (one was green tea infused, the other bacon infused).  He came out and talked food with us.  We love this kind of thing and could tell he was loving it too.  This is total artisan food, yum.  The place is decorated nice, I think it would be called English style.  They provide for private teas.  I want to get a group of our tea ladies and schedule up a tea.

The next time we were there it got real busy.  Again Chivon was our waitress.  She zipped around bringing food and drinks to everyone, a little more short, but just because she was so busy.  That night we had dinner.  Howard had the Mussels.  I had the Hazelnut incrusted Halibut.  Again everything was delish.  Just busy, they're a small family group that I can tell they do it all for the sheer passion for food.  I don't come across this too often, if ever.  You just understand it, as you sit and see that people will wait for the food.  Miss Michelle Rose is the chef tucked away in the kitchen masterminding the creations.  Back by the kitchen is a picture of Michelle when she was just a child.  If you catch a glimpse of Michelle in her busy-ness, you see the childlike passion is still alive in this lady. 

Mark's NW Table is one of those places, the little towns just love because the homefolk and the visitors to the NW love this sort of thing.  I hope Gresham will hold onto them and do everything possible to work with this little restaurant.  These guys really do represent the area proudly.   Gresham has a gem with Mark's NW Table.

Oh and about the wines.  We sought out Mark's NW Table for Gresham Third Thursday, because this is the kind of place we want our wines.  Small, but true to the passion for food.  Whether it be our Apple Wine, or our Blush Pyment, or Mixed Berry Wine, or the others there is definitely more to come on food pairing...  So excited.  Thanks guys for having us last night.

Leaning Star Winery offers small batches of handcrafted wines.  Our winery is located on the outskirts of Gresham, Oregon, a short jaunt to the freeways in all directions. Learn more about Leaning Star Winery or send us an email and contact us.