Photo Credit | Find. Eat. Drink.
By Chef Jenn Louis
Astoria is a really amazing coastal town. It’s the most Northwestern town in Oregon, right before you go to Washington. You cross the long four-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge at the mouth of the Columbia River, where it meets the Pacific Ocean. It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. It’s just truly so beautiful here and we always try to go for a couple of nights, especially in the summertime. It is also where the Goonies was filmed and you can go through the Goonies’ house.
![Astoria Column | Photo Credit: Joanna Poe [Flickr]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54806d5de4b0a7c95f7b6d01/1422547435682-R3XXR6FGES8FRDH5RZGS/image-asset.jpeg)
Astoria Column | Photo Credit: Joanna Poe [Flickr]
There’s the Astoria Column which is kind of a lookout. You walk up to the top and then there’s an old shipwreck, which is amazing.
![Astoria Column | Photo Credit: Dylan Luder [flickr]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54806d5de4b0a7c95f7b6d01/1422547419618-VLPU06S3UV55HNZPBZJU/image-asset.jpeg)
Astoria Column | Photo Credit: Dylan Luder [flickr]
Photograph courtesy of Bowpicker Fish & Chips
This is a restaurant that’s like a food truck, but it’s an old wooden boat called Bowpicker Fish & Chips.
They use local albacore for the fish. There are always long lines of people on the side of the road waiting to get their fish and chips. On a hot day, grab a can of cold beer at the gas station across the street and eat fish and chips on the hood of your car on the side of the road. It’s super fun.
Photograph couresty of the Oysterville Sea Farm
Oysterville was established in 1854 and has lots of antique stores. It is really worth visiting. It’s feels like you are on the East Coast and is very unique for the West Coast. At the top of the peninsula is Leadbetter State Park, which is beautiful.
The Oysterville Sea Farm is in a beautiful building in the most tranquil little area. You are right on the water and it’s as quiet as it can be.
Photograph courtesy of La Tarasca
Centralia is the half-way point between Portland and Seattle and where you’ll find La Tarasca. It’s an authentic, family-run Mexican restaurant serving full-on sit-down meals. They are from Michoacán and they serve carnitas, adobado, and handmade tortillas.
Tacos La Fuente | Photo Credit: Jenn Louis
Right off the I5 freeway between Portland and Seattle is one of my very top places called Tacos La Fuente. It is literally a blue bus. On the back it says ‘Mexican food’ with a drawing of a fish and it says Jesus in the middle. They have some of the most delicious tacos. I grew up in Southern California with tacos being very much a part of my world and these are fantastic.
ASTORIA COLUMN - 1 Coxcomb Drive, Astoria, OR 97103 | T: 503.525.2963 | www.astoriacolumn.org
BOWPICKER FISH & CHIPS - 1636 Duane Street, Astoria, OR 97103 | T: 503.791.2942 | www.bowpicker.com
OYSTERVILLE SEA FARM - 34300 1st Street, Oysterville, WA 98641 | T: 360.665.6585 | www.willabay.com
LA TARASCA - 1001 W Main Street, Centralia, WA 98531 | T: 360.736.7756
TACOS LA FUENTE - 10329 Martin Way E, Olympia, WA 98513 | T: 360.977.8423
Chef Jenn Louis
Chef Jenn Louis is the co-owner, with her husband David Welch, of Lincoln Restaurant, Sunshine Tavern and Culinary Artistry in Portland, OR. She was a semifinalist for the 2010 and 2011 James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Northwest Award. Look for her book on gnocchi to be released in the spring 2015.
Visit Jenn at Lincoln Restaurant and try dishes like corned lamb neck with salsa verde, house-made flatbreads with three different sauces, albacore skordalia, and her fresh-made pastas.
Get Jenn's eating and drinking recommendations in the Find. Eat. Drink. iPhone app.
LINCOLN RESTAURANT - 3808 North Williams Avenue, Portland, OR 97227 | T: 503.288.6200 | lincolnpdx.com
SUNSHINE TAVERN - 3111 Southeast Division Street, Portland, OR 97202 | T: 503.688.1750 | sunshinepdx.com
CULINARY ARTISTRY - www.culinaryartistry.net
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