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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2007)
EW ’s gift guide 2007 HOLIDAY MARKET CATCH Venturing away from the market, much as we love it, we sometimes drive to Corvallis, and we never, ever take I-5. Why? Because on Hwy 99W, just after the bridge reconstruction and just before you hit that long 50 mph stretch outside of Corvallis proper, lies just about the yummiest place in all of Oregon: Hazelnut Hill . Proprietors Sally and Robert Hilles have been running the company for over 20 years since the timber industry crash prompted them to sell their mill and start raising hazel- nuts instead. Oregon grows almost 100 per- cent of U.S.-based hazelnuts (other hazel- nuts mostly come from Turkey), and the Hilles duo have been able to thrive selling their tasty treats alongside six varieties of apple, dried berries (sometimes covered in chocolate) and Umpqua ice cream (avail- able at the store). The center of the business, of course, comes from the nuts. But they don’t simply harvest hazelnuts (not that it’s “simple” — Sally Hilles explains that during harvest season, they employ 20 people and work a lot of early mornings and late nights). They roast the nuts, make them into candy (the Dark Chocolate Hazelnuts with Guittard chocolate coating that rich nut meat … wow), get spicy with them (according to one employee, it’s possible to eat the Hot & Spicy Hazelnuts all day long) and create hazelnut Pancake/Waffle Mix, Hazelnut Butter and Hazelnut Flour . Really, there’s no need to go a sin- gle meal without the products of Hazelnut Hill (which are also available online at www.hazelnuthill.com). If you’re a specific kind of locavore, you probably harvested, froze, canned, dried and bottled all kinds of treats of your own over the summer months. Consider setting up a local food exchange ; maybe your friends specialized in plum chutney while you focused on tomato sauce. A holiday trade shares the bounty of our valley, moun- tains and coasts while building community. But you can also build community by sharing your income with some of our area’s many local food producers. And hey, being a locavore? It’s the new in thing. Just ask the folks at the dictionary. ■ Health and Beauty Shoppe 2868 Willamette Street, in South Eugene Mon-Sat: 10 am – 8 pm Sunday: Noon – 5 pm -S a nd AH cte ele e of H d n Ble a a l th nd B ea ts, roduc ut y P and Gifts for the senses 20% OFF! Any Custom Blended d Perfume, Bath & Body or Home Fragrance Products from our Blending Bar Holiday Gift Store (Within Gallery) Prints, Cards, Jewelry, Locally Handcrafted Toys by Gallery Artists Off er good through November 30, 2007 Announcing!! Thurston High School Choir’s Holiday Craft Faire Friday & Saturday 10am - 6pm / 10am-5pm O PENING F IRST F RIDAY D ECEMBER 7 th With Reception Open thru December Tues.-Sat. • Noon till 6 www.newzone.org 164 W. Broadway • (541) 683-0759 11/23 & 24 Hand-Crafted Items! Food! Movies for Kids! FREE ADMISSION! Thurston High School 333 N. 58th St Springfield, OR 97478 Bring Donations for Food for Lane County!! Seasonal Gifts • Amber & Silver Jewelry • Candles • Incense • Meditation Cushions • Yoga Mats • Journals • Books • Aroma Therapy Products • Prayer Flags RUBY CHASM 152 W 5th @ Charnelton 344-4074 M-Sa 10-6 • Su 12-5 Eugene Weekly’s Gift Guide 2007 • 15
