Spring 2023
I’ve lived in the Gorge long enough to remember Chef Kathy Watson’s first restaurant, Viento, in Bingen. In those days, there were fewer choices when it came to dining out and we trekked across the bridge fairly often to enjoy the great food and cozy atmosphere. Later, when Watson opened Nora’s Table in downtown Hood River, we got to witness — and taste — her evolving creativity as a chef and loved that it was so close to home. When the restaurant closed in 2013, we felt the loss — as did so many others.
Luckily, as you’ll learn by reading David Hanson’s story (page 10), Watson is still doing what she loves — cooking good food for people with her Chef’s Collective, which is going strong as it enters its seventh year. The ticketed dinner series is held at the Ruby June Inn in Husum, where Watson collaborates with other talented chefs to create multi-course meals served around community tables. The dinners sell out fast and usually have a waiting list. Anyone who’s been lucky enough to enjoy a plate of food made by Watson understands why. Along with her culinary endeavors, she’s written a forthcoming memoir about her childhood with a troubled mother, and how finding her way in the kitchen saved her. I look forward to reading it.
Watson’s creative cuisine fits nicely in this edition as it’s our annual Arts Issue, which coincides with the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour in April. A few of the participating artists gave us early access to their studios for a preview of the beloved springtime event (page 40). The impressive work by these artists is just a small sampling what’s to come in the tour, which features forty artists from around the Gorge this year. The self-guided tour is free, with maps available at retailers and visitor’s centers throughout the Gorge, and online.
There’s lots more to enjoy in this issue, including a story about Tenzen Springs & Cabins near Stevenson (hello cover photo, I’ll be right there); a piece on Working Hands Fermentation and its lively neighborhood taproom; and a profile of Hood River cyclist Melanie Strong and her remarkable recovery from a bike accident.
And because the theme of this issue is art, I’ve included a picture of myself in my home office where I often work. The wall behind me is covered with art created by my two kids, and I treasure it. May you discover lots of art, in many forms, and plenty of other things to treasure this season as spring blooms in the Gorge. Cheers!
— Janet Cook, Editor
