Breakfast At La Bastide – A Gourmet Taste Of Oregon

Breakfast is more than a meal at La Bastide Bed and Breakfast. It’s an elegant, two course, gourmet “taste of Oregon” on a plate.

(Disclosure: Thank you to La Bastide Bed and Breakfast for hosting our stay. But, as always, the opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own)

The beautiful dining room set the stage for what was sure to be a memorable meal. (The paintings on the walls are actually for sale, and are displayed in a gallery setting. They were painted by a very talented local artist who lives nearby.)

Breakfast is served at 9 a.m. each morning, and the elegant dining room is filled with personal touches to make each guest feel special. We were warmly greeted by innkeepers Mark and Elizabeth who invited us to be seated at the table of our choice. (A gourmet “to go” breakfast can also be arranged if guests are on a tight schedule.)

The table setting was beautiful.

Our cups were quickly filled with aromatic coffee that is locally roasted and blended specifically for La Bastide. It was full bodied and smooth, and the pitcher of half & half was ready and waiting for us on that crisp, snow white tablecloth.

We began with a glass of juice, and there were many choices on the menu. The orange juice was fresh-squeezed, and my tomato juice was chilled and delightful.

Our first course was skillfully delivered by Elizabeth.

Imagine a breakfast rainbow in a bowl…and there it was!

This Cantaloupe Ginger Smoothie Bowl was a frosty delight, and the toasted coconut added a wonderful texture and crunch to every bite. What a healthy start to our day in wine country!

A Sausage, Kale and Chevre Frittata served with Rosemary Potatoes was Course #2. 

Once again, the ingredients in that frittata were locally sourced, and we could taste the love baked into that dish. Previously we had explored the patio and garden outside the back door of the inn so I knew exactly where the rosemary was grown. That pungent herb added an extra layer of flavor to those delicious potatoes.

Our breakfast was divine, and Mark and Elizabeth were the perfect hosts. It was obvious that all the diners enjoyed both the meal and the gracious service.

When breakfast was over, Peepaw headed back to our room to pack while I sat down to chat with Mark. His easy going, friendly demeanor makes him the perfect innkeeper. Mark laughed when he told me both he and Elizabeth could best be described as “math nerds.” With backgrounds as analysts that certainly explains their amazing attention to every detail at La Bastide.

The couple built their beautiful home in 2014, and they opened their B and B with only weekend bookings at first. But within six weeks of that launch the demand was there to accept bookings on a full time basis!

Later I got a closer look at the huge chef’s kitchen were our breakfast had been prepared.

One of the La Bastide staff members was already hard at work making preliminary preparations for breakfast for the following day!

The spotless kitchen was filled with wonderful smells, and Mark took a minute to check on some items already in the oven.

That La Bastide kitchen pantry would be every cook’s dream!

After that peek into the pantry Mark pulled out his treasured book of recipes used at the inn.

Each recipe is written in great detail. When preparing a recipe, every ingredient is carefully measured or  weighed to insure consistency each time a dish is served. There is even a photo of the finished dish on the recipe page so all kitchen staff members know exactly how that dish should look before it leaves the kitchen. There is nothing left to chance in that wonderful kitchen…or on the finished plates. 

Check out this mound of freshly grated cheese. And notice it is sitting on a scale. (I could only imagine what wonderful dish was being created for the pampered diners the next morning.)

And now for a BIG surprise…

Peepaw and I hope to return to La Bastide again late next summer…and we’re hoping some of you will want to join us! We’re still working out details, but stay tuned. And if spending a few days in the Willamette Valley wine country sounds like fun, send me a comment and let me know you want to be kept in the loop. I’m anxious to introduce all of you to some of the most amazing wines and winemakers in the valley. And if you aren’t a wine drinker you’re still welcome to join us. There is SO much to see and do in the area, and we have “friends in high places” who have access to people and places most folks don’t. (And the scenery is some of the best to be found…anywhere in the world!)

And now let me share this special treat from Mark and Elizabeth.

Remember our beautiful fruit course at breakfast? Mark shared the recipe with me to share with all of you!

Yes, Mark and Elizabeth have made La Bastide a perfect home away from home in Oregon wine country. And now the welcome mat is rolled out for you too! 

So what do you say? Let’s explore the Willamette Valley wine country…together!

CHEERS!