An exotic new dining experience in St. Helens
Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The personal welcome, and the answers to your dining questions, are both typically delivered by owner Lane Attrash.
Attrash has envisioned the venture for about four years, and took his time finding the perfect location. Dishes from Spain, Greece, and the Middle East cover a flavorful range from delicate to more robust.
“Our food is very hearty and very healthy,” he said. “Everything is made from scratch, to order. Nothing is fried; it is all charbroiled or sautéed, and we use all olive oil.”
“Our dinner menu is very different from our lunch menu,” Attrash said. “If they want to take that extra step and try something new, wonderful. Our menu is also filled with more familiar offerings, so we have something for everyone.”
Bananas Flambé, Crème Carmel, Orange Blossom Rice Pudding, and Crepes Flambé are just a few of the decadent desserts.
An extensive and ever-growing wine list is another Klondike specialty.
“Chateau Ksara is the oldest winery in Lebanon, it used to belong to priests,” said Eddie Attrash, head chef and founder of Pasha’s Restaurant in Bend.
“From a different winery, Chateau Musar, this Musar Cuvee Blanc 2003, a white wine of Lebanon from the Bekaa Valley, is made from a local grape variety called Obaideh. These wines are as old as the Phoenicians, probably the grapes, the vines. It is quite wonderful.” For those who prefer red wine, Lane Attrash suggests a 2002 Massaya, from the Bekaa Valley.
“A bottle of wine can vary in price anywhere from $15 on up; the most expensive being $2,800,” Attrash said.
Attrash’s vision is still taking shape; for example, patio seating for seasonal outdoor dining is coming soon.
A very special future development “is to become a wine bar or wine cellar after 10p.m.,” Attrash said. “We’ll have 800 plus bottles of wine in stock, we’ll have cheeses, desserts, and food to complement the wine on the menu.
“After 10p.m. we’ll be open for a social, intimate evenings–a glass of wine, a cup of coffee. It’s a place that’s safe and quiet, somewhere you can enjoy coming as a couple or as a group of friends, or on your own. We hope to begin this sometime around April.”
The main lunch hours are between 11a.m. and 2p.m. with dinner served between 5p.m. and 10p.m. For reservations, call the Klondike Mediterranean Bar and Grill (503) 397-4297. Reservations are recommended for Thursday-Saturday seatings. The address is 71 Cowlitz Street in St. Helens, Ore.
To learn more about the wines mentioned in the feature, visit their sites. Explore www.chataumusar.com.lb or visit www.massaya.com.
