For most Portlanders Dundee, Oregon is just the slow spot on Highway 99. But if you were to pause on your way to the casino, take a deep breath and look around, you might find that Dundee possesses a variety of charms. The surrounding countryside features beautiful rolling hills, dotted with a number of respected vineyards. And for those in the know, Dundee offers a particularly unusual opportunity: Super secretive gourmet dining.

Sub Rosa is a “virtual” restaurant and bar located in Dundee, and if you have to ask how to find it, you aren’t invited. As their web site says “If you know us or know someone who knows us – you’re in. Otherwise you just get to read about us on this web site.”

Advocates of slow food, the folks at Sub Rosa “showcase local farmers, seasonal organics and the finest cuts of meat, game and wild seafood…We grow our own salads makings and herbs in our garden here in Dundee. There is plenty of local seafood and game to choose from and the whole concept of ‘free-range’ anything appeals to us.” In addition, they offer a delicious-looking beverage list that includes Sub Rosa Spirits: vodkas infused with tarragon and saffron, respectively.

It sounds wonderful, and whether they were putting together a dish inspired by the cuisines of India or Provence, I’d be more than happy to belong to one of the three or four couples they might seat. But there is yet another reason to visit this mysterious Dundee establishment. Sub Rosa offers “clothing optional” dining.

Nude dining began via happy accident on a particularly hot July evening. “One wardrobe malfunction led to another that evening and soon the entire wait staff was topless.” The guests soon followed suit. Now Sub Rosa lists “nude barbecue” as one of their offerings.

Speaking only for myself, I can see a substantial disadvantage to Sub Rosa’s philosophy on clothes: Having seen this picture of their waitstaff, I’m afraid that if they were walking around topless I would be utterly unable to give the food the careful attention it surely deserves.

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If Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of Summer, then what better way to continue the summer vibes than to have a BBQ? I don’t know about you, but after that lovely three-day holiday weekend filled with sunshine, BBQs, and spending time outdoors, I’m ready for another.

Fortunately, New Seasons Market has the same idea. On May 30 and 31 from noon – 4PM, all New Seasons stores will be hosting BBQs where the proceeds will go to a local community group as specified by each store:

Arbor Lodge – Ethos Music Center;
Cedar Hills Crossing – Farmers Ending Hunger;
Concordia – North by Northeast Community Health Center;
Happy Valley – Father’s Heart Street Ministry;
Mountain Park – Autism Service Dogs of America;
Orenco Station – Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center;
Raleigh Hills – Raleigh Hills Elementary and Middle School Art Program;
Sellwood – Sellwood Middle School Garden Program;
Seven Corners – Dinner and a Movie.

For $6, you can have fresh lemonade and a veggie or hot dog and know the money will stay in the area. So, choose your store — or choose more than one — and support these community groups. Oh, and while you’re going, you may as well bring along your canvas bags and grocery list to do some shopping inside the store, too.

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• November 9, 2009 -- Sub Rosa (1)
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Here’s what we’ve found as we’ve traveled the local PDX web (complete with our comments) for July 2nd:

• Alaska Airlines cabins going cashless starting Aug. 5 – Portland Business Journal: – Which means you ought to just forget about getting more than one drink on your flight – unless flight attendants have wireless credit card authorizations on their belts, that is…!
• Going cheap on eBay: MetroFi’s Wi-Fi gear – Portland Business Journal: – I'd just loooove to spend my money buying back what my tax dollars already paid for…! Or, um…no thanks.
• Portland Mercury | Blogs | Blogtown, PDX | Gas-Free Fridays – I'm thinking about it. Seriously thinking about it. You?
• Portland Mercury | Blogs | Blogtown, PDX | L.O.W. BBQ Returns for Fourth of July – Ummm…there are so many things wrong with this article that I can't begin to describe it.

  1. L.O.W? Started originally by Rodney Muirhead. Yeah, the guy who owns Podnah's. The guy who *owns* the PDX BBQ scene. Sure, Ken bought the L.O.W. name a while back – and then opened a Jewish-style deli. But is now doing BBQ on the Fourth. I’m so confused…!

  2. Carry out 48 hours in advance? Which means, um, you’re already too late to order it. And you already were when the post originally went up…

  3. Friday. Yeah, the Fourth of July Friday. The day that amateur grillers – not to mention the guys that actually know what they’re doing – live for. I’m going to head downtown to get a pulled pork sandwich from Ken…why, again?

  Soooo, in essence: welcome, new Portland Mercury food writer. It’s clear that you’re obviously new to these parts! (Moral of the story? Probably not a good idea to write from a press release – the ‘cue fans in PDX have long memories…)

Note: you can share bookmarks back to our site if you have a Mag.nolia account – just join our group and then send relevant links to that group when you mark a site, article, or post!

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• November 9, 2009 -- Sub Rosa (1)
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