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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2004)
BEST OF EUGENE 2004 BEST PACIFIC RIM: RING OF FIRE BEST BURRITO: BURRITO BOY (See Best of the Best p. 16) 2nd: Shiki 3rd: Mekala’s (See Best of the Best p. 16) 2nd: Burrito Amigo 3rd: Los Jarritos BEST VEGETARIAN: LOCOMOTIVE BEST SWEETS: SWEET LIFE 2nd: Café Yumm! 3rd: Morning Glory EW talked to Lee Zucker, co-owner: Why do you think that LocoMotive deserves to win? It is very simple: we are the only full service vegetarian restaurant in town. What is your worst kitchen disaster? We’ve never had one — I don’t know how to answer that question. (See Best of the Best p. 17) 2nd: Euphoria 3rd: Café Zenon BEST DISHES kitchen catch on fire once, in the beginning, a long time ago. One of the pots caught fire, so we had to close the restaurant for like an hour. If you could drive any vehicle, which would it be? Well, I’d like to drive some- thing called a hybrid. I care about the envi- ronment. BEST LATIN/CARIBBEAN: RED AGAVE 2nd: Los Jarritos “Who comes in second in this category?” Head Chef Brendan Mahaney asked. “I mean how many Latin/Caribbean restau- rants are there in Eugene?” Well, all the same, Red Agave, located at 454 Willamette St., has found its niche and prevails as the best in Eugene and maybe the only one of its kind. It has been around for about 2 1/2 years, and Mahaney’s been cooking there most of that time. “We have a lot of fun here,” Mahaney said. “Everyone in the kitchen cares deeply about good food. Worst kitchen disaster? One winter someone brought in a potent batch of “special” brownies for the chefs and waiters to enjoy, but failed to mention to anyone their ingre- dients. So naturally everyone dug in inno- cently enough. Before too long, Mahaney was asking himself if he was having a flash- back or if something was wrong with his heart. Because of the dangers involved with operating sharp knives in this state of mind, the restaurant was forced to close early that night so as not to harsh the mellow. BEST MIDDLE EASTERN: SORIAH (See Best of the Best p. 16) 2nd: Poppi’s Anatolia 3rd: Adam’s Place BEST NORTHWEST: KOHO BISTRO 2nd: Marché 3rd: Adam’s Place EW talked to Kevin Hyland, the owner: Do you think you really deserve to win? Yes of course. Because we use tons of fresh ingredients from right in the area. I’ve got mushroom guys at my door all the time. They go out into the woods and pick mush- rooms. We use local wild chinook salmon. Our lamb grower is Cattail Creek Farms, our beef supplier is also local, Knee Deep Saddle Company. We take food from here and work it together. We do things right, we don’t take shortcuts. We make all our own stock. And the best thing about win- ning this year is that neither myself or my employees voted. Worst kitchen disaster? We’ve set off our sprinklers in the kitchen four times. That’s far worse than any culi- nary disaster we could have. We’ve never actually started a fire, it just goes off because it wants to. BEST MEXICAN: CHAPALLA 2nd: Taco Loco 3rd: Los Jarritos EW talked to Edgar, waitstaff Do you think you really deserve to win? Well, we work hard and we’re trying to do our best. But it’s up to the people to decide, who vote for us. That’s really nice. Worst kitchen disaster? Well I think we had the WHEN YOU'VE MET YOUR PRINCE CHARMING • Showers & Weddings • Indoor & Outdoor • Formal to Casual • We Meet Your Budget • Menu Design (Seasonal Ingredients, Fresh Herbs) • Event Planning • Experienced Staff • Beer/Wine or Full Bar CORNUCOPIA C A T E R I N G 485 2300 24 OCTOBER 21, 2004 (See the Best of the Best p. 16) 2nd: Pizza Research Institute 3rd: Bene Gourmet Pizza BEST BURGER: HIGH STREET MCMENAMINS 2nd: Jamie’s 3rd: North Bank EW talked to Jenny, the manager: Do you think you deserve to win? Yes, because they are the best burgers! Worst kitchen disaster? Oh my gosh, probably a grease fire, but it wasn’t a grease fire. It was a box that caught on fire. BEST SEAFOOD: NEWMAN’S FISH CO. 2nd: Fisherman’s Market 3rd: McGrath’s Located at 1545 Willamette St., Newman’s has the best of both worlds: a restaurant style serve-‘em-up-hot menu as well as fresh raw fish to bring home to cook yourself. For this reason, Dwight Collins, owner for the past 25 years, believes that there is little competition for Newman’s. “We seem to be cheating the category,” Collins said. Newman’s has been around since 1980 offering a great assortment of fresh fish and other seafood treats that are flown in daily from Alaska or shipped from the Oregon Coast. With a small kitchen and few cooks, not much is left to chance at Newman’s. 2nd: Dutch Brothers 3rd: Allan Brothers EW talked to owner and master roaster Michael: Do you think you really deserve to win? Yes. Because I believe I’m the best coffee roaster in the area. I’ve got the most experi- ence — 25 years I’ve been roasting coffee for a living in this town. I also do the best job of training my people. It’s experience and talent I guess. What’s the oldest item in your wardrobe? A sweater that I bought when I was a freshman at the university. I still wear it. It’s just an old oiled New Zealand sweater that I really like. BEST SUSHI: SHIKI 2nd: Sushi Station 3rd: Misako EW talked to Yoshi Kikuchi, the owner: Do you think you really deserve to win? I would rather the editorial board at your paper Brail’s - BEST HANGOVER BREAKFAST TODD COOPER Full City Coffee BEST COFFEE TODD COOPER BEST PIZZA: PEGASUS PIZZA BEST COFFEE: FULL CITY The Little Cafe That Time Forgot m 25 YEARS & still cookin'! Best breakfast in town. If we don't make it, we don't serve it. Vegans, Carnivores, Vegetarians we serve them all! 342-2075 • 395 W. 5th, Eugene • Open 7am, 7 days a week
