Seattle LawDawg Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Jack Czarnecki purchased the Joel Palmer House about 10 years ago. He is a world-renowned mushroom hunter and chef who relocated to Oregon to be closer to the source of great mushrooms. He has been invited to create mushroom-centered meals at the James Beard House on a couple of occasions. Last week, I turned 31 and we celebrated by spending Saturday in the Willamette Valley visiting various wineries and then headed to Dayton, OR for dinner at the Joel Palmer House. A quick note on the highlight of the winery visits: Lemelson Winery is an amazing facility run by great people who turn out fantastic wines (mostly Pinots). Some of you may be able to find their "Thea's Vineyard" Pinot Cuvee' and I would highly recommend picking it up. The current release is drinking nice right now while their single vineyards will need some more time to open up. The Thea's should be available around $30. The "Jerome" is pretty tight right now but in a couple years, it should be a great Pinot. If you see it, grab it and cellar it. Should be around $50. Back to dinner... The menu at the Joel Palmer House includes a number of terrific dishes, from appetizers to desserts, or you can choose your entree and have it included in the Mushroom Madness dinner. Jack (who visits you a few times during your meal) will pair your entree to an additional 4 courses centered around mushrooms. So, here was the feast (paired with Penner Ash Pinots throughout): 1.) Porcini and Parmesan Risotto (this didn't count as a course) 2.) I had the Soup of the Day which was a mushroom (can't remember what kind) and corn chowder. My wife had the wild mushroom soup which was based with suillus mushrooms and topped with a white truffle sauce. 3.) Portobello with Carmelized Walla Walla Sweet Onions, peppers, and topped with Gruyere Cheese. 4.) "Heidi's 3 Mushroom Tart". 5.) My wife and I each chose the Filet Mignon, which was topped with a Porcini sauce and accompanied by a potato / onion tart and peas. 6.) Dessert consisted of a cake that was split into 2: The first half was chocolate tort in a raspberry coulee. The other half was a caramel walnut cheesecake that was by far the smoothest cheesecake I have ever had. I'm not a big cheesecake fan, but this had the consistency of a firm marscapone'. Very good. There was also a scoop of black truffle ice cream and two mushrooms that had the natural flavor of maple syrup. I could go on and on about each dish, but the bottom line is: this was one of the best meals I have ever had. You would have to like mushrooms to enjoy it, but the different flavors that the mushrooms produced in each dish were amazing. If you're ever in the Portland area, make the trip down to the Willamette Valley and go to the Joel Palmer House. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiley Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Right on and based off of the photos you sent me everything looked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 (edited) Sounds excellant! What brewery did they feature for us non wine drinkers? I love the breweries in and around that area. Also was the five thumbs up for the high quality or the price or both? That could be a 4 to 5 Benji evening I would imagine Edited July 31, 2006 by Hugh B Tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle LawDawg Posted July 31, 2006 Author Share Posted July 31, 2006 Sounds excellant! What brewery did they feature for us non wine drinkers? I love the breweries in and around that area?. Also was the five thumbs up for the high quality or the price or both? That could be a 4 to 5 Benji night I would imagine Good question. I didn't notice the beer list but I didn't get past the first page of the extensive wine list either. Now I have a reason to go back. I give 5 thumbs up to the balance of quality to price. It was an expensive meal but without the bottles of wine, it wasn't bad at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat2334 Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Sounds dam good. I love those kind of meals. Portabellos, sweet onions, peppers followed with filet mignon, nice! Did they bring out the realty, really good shrooms at any point?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 my kind of meal (multiple courses and i adore mushrooms)..... sounds fantastic... i bet those pinots worked very well with the shrooms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Did they have french fries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nogohawk Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 (edited) Jack Czarnecki purchased the Joel Palmer House about 10 years ago. He is a world-renowned mushroom hunter and chef who relocated to Oregon to be closer to the source of great mushrooms. He has been invited to create mushroom-centered meals at the James Beard House on a couple of occasions. Last week, I turned 31 and we celebrated by spending Saturday in the Willamette Valley visiting various wineries and then headed to Dayton, OR for dinner at the Joel Palmer House. A quick note on the highlight of the winery visits: Lemelson Winery is an amazing facility run by great people who turn out fantastic wines (mostly Pinots). Some of you may be able to find their "Thea's Vineyard" Pinot Cuvee' and I would highly recommend picking it up. The current release is drinking nice right now while their single vineyards will need some more time to open up. The Thea's should be available around $30. The "Jerome" is pretty tight right now but in a couple years, it should be a great Pinot. If you see it, grab it and cellar it. Should be around $50. Back to dinner... The menu at the Joel Palmer House includes a number of terrific dishes, from appetizers to desserts, or you can choose your entree and have it included in the Mushroom Madness dinner. Jack (who visits you a few times during your meal) will pair your entree to an additional 4 courses centered around mushrooms. So, here was the feast (paired with Penner Ash Pinots throughout): 1.) Porcini and Parmesan Risotto (this didn't count as a course) 2.) I had the Soup of the Day which was a mushroom (can't remember what kind) and corn chowder. My wife had the wild mushroom soup which was based with suillus mushrooms and topped with a white truffle sauce. 3.) Portobello with Carmelized Walla Walla Sweet Onions, peppers, and topped with Gruyere Cheese. 4.) "Heidi's 3 Mushroom Tart". 5.) My wife and I each chose the Filet Mignon, which was topped with a Porcini sauce and accompanied by a potato / onion tart and peas. 6.) Dessert consisted of a cake that was split into 2: The first half was chocolate tort in a raspberry coulee. The other half was a caramel walnut cheesecake that was by far the smoothest cheesecake I have ever had. I'm not a big cheesecake fan, but this had the consistency of a firm marscapone'. Very good. There was also a scoop of black truffle ice cream and two mushrooms that had the natural flavor of maple syrup. I could go on and on about each dish, but the bottom line is: this was one of the best meals I have ever had. You would have to like mushrooms to enjoy it, but the different flavors that the mushrooms produced in each dish were amazing. If you're ever in the Portland area, make the trip down to the Willamette Valley and go to the Joel Palmer House. Good stuff! He used to be based in the Reading, PA area (where I work) and I had the opportunity to eat in his restaurant years ago before it shut down - an outstanding meal & lots of mushroom based dishes. A buddy of mine new where Jack Z did some of his mushroom hunitng up near where I live. We went out and picked a few baskets of King Bolete (boletus edulis) - took some home and sauteed them Still have a jar of them dried and sitting on the shelf ... anyone have an idea they'll be good for or what to use them in? Edited August 1, 2006 by nogohawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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