Ashland, Oregon area 2017 (various eateries)

I always look forward to my visits to Ashland, Oregon. They are always pleasant, especially when there are plenty of restaurants that are either new or standbys that are consistently good. My last two trips have yielded tasty meals that were satisfying and delicious.

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.


Hearsay
40 S 1st Street, Ashland OR
This restaurant has taken over the space of an establishment I've enjoyed previously. They offer creative and world-inspired cuisine, which was unexpectedly delicious. The decor had a lot of dark wood and felt casual and upscale at the same time.
http://www.hearsayashland.com/


Gin Shrub. A well-balanced drink made with Seagram's Gin, blueberry and lemon shrub. This was sweet, sour, boozy and thirst quenching.

Maple Leaf Farms Duck Wings. I wished this appetizer came in bucket size; it was so delicious. This dish hit all my favorite flavor senses with a sweet and spicy citrus chili glaze, a cooling and creamy coconut cream, and crunchy toasted sesame seeds. Not to mention the meat was seasoned well and cooked until tender and juicy.

Tequila Prawns. Another excellent small plate that I wished was a big plate. The large prawns were cooked perfectly and draped over crispy fried patatas bravas, roasted garlic buttermilk sauce, and green onions.

Halibut & Chips. A very good version of fish and chips. The Halibut gave it a meatier texture and the light beer batter coated the fish with just enough of that crunchy shell. The Caribbean spiced fries had a nice spice blend with cinnamon and allspice and the coconut slaw and tropical fruit hot sauce balanced the dish with sweet, tart and spicy.

Snake River Farms Pork Short Ribs. An incredibly succulent, carnivorous dish with large pieces of pork cooked until falling apart and braised in a flavorful sauce. Warm potato salad surrounded the meat and it was all topped off with bacon and pomegranate syrup. An excellent dish.

Immortal Spirits
141 S. Central Avenue, Medford, OR
Founded in 2009, this distillery is one of the few that actually distill their own whiskeys, rums, and even absinthe. They are actually so proud of their absinthe (which is not as wormwood heavy) they have cocktails where the absinthe is the star, rather than just a flavor enhancer. The tasting room is small but comfortable, and the staff is knowledgeable but also laid back and welcoming. The drinks and spirits are reliably delicious and the food is quite tasty as well. I would recommend this establishment for a quick tasting or for a longer, lingering lunch with cocktails and conversation.
http://www.immortalspirits.com/


Sazerac. Made with their Single Barrel Whiskey, absinthe, and bitters, this is a spirit forward, good cocktail that always goes down easy.

Whiskey Ginger: A light and refreshing drink made with whiskey, lime juice, and ginger soda.

Walk the Plank. This was fruity and sweet with freshly muddled strawberries, rum, and lemon soda.

Absinthe Mojito. Their take on the Cuban classic with Absinthe as the primary spirit and enhanced with freshly muddled lime and mint, then topped with soda. This was well balanced and easy to drink.

Entombed Pork Pancake. House-made pulled pork filled this beauty. Greek yogurt, scallions, and a house-made whiskey BBQ sauce was the topping. This was a very large pancake that satisfied two people with meaty pork, fluffy pancake with fantastic crispy edges and a tangy and sweet BBQ sauce.

Immortal Tacos. Another delicious pulled pork item. These mighty tacos were filled with the tasty meat, a spicy Sriracha slaw, smoked paprika, tangy lime aioli, and fresh cilantro. This was savory, tangy, spicy, crunchy and fresh all at once.

Drunken Goat. Fluffy, buttery buns were filled with grass-fed Black Angus beef from lucky cows that fed on their spent grains from whiskey making! Bacon, creamy goat cheese, red wine-glazed onions, black pepper and fresh greens fulfill this burgers destiny to be amazing. This was juicy, perfectly cooked and served with a tasty side of red potato salad.

Quickdraw. For the meat lover, this burger had the same fantastic beef, plus double the bacon, crispy fried onions, Colby cheese, whiskey BBQ sauce and added pulled pork that I requested. A really fulfilling burger that hit all the umami sensors.

I don't have plans to visit Oregon in the next few months, but I look forward to my next visit. I'm confident that the food will be just as good and there may even be a few new places for me to try.