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Oregon Eatery Profile: Newport's Blu Cork Wine Bar

(Newport, Oregon) - It created an immediate buzz on the central Oregon coast this past year upon its first opening, acquiring press all over Oregon's landscape of food and wine pundits.

In the charming section of Newport called Nye Beach, the folks at Village Market & Deli in Newport have created a wonder with Blu Cork Wine Bar, right down the street from their first restaurant – which itself is only two years old. The preview opening the first weekend in July was highly successful, with standing room only at various points on both nights, and subsequently continued to sizzle with popularity among residents and regular guests of the town.

The Trusty family – Deborah, Bob and son Jonathon - have brought a bit of Portland’s Pearl district to the historic Nye Beach district of Newport. Inside is a beautiful interior of mustard yellow, reds and browns, as well as stunning artwork and window details. This warm space screams earth tones – as in the soil where wine grapes are grown.

Premium and medium range wines from around the world are featured, with a special emphasis on northwest and California wines. Names like Sokol Blosser, House Wine (Magnificent Wine Group), Elemental Cellars, Charles Krug, Witness Tree, Glen Eldon, Kiona, Cristom, Stefano, Erath and Willamette Valley Vineyards have been delighting crowds for months now. Recently added vino pleasures include Il Corie Barbera from Mendocino County, Ecosse sparkling wine from Carlton, and the stunning Izadi Tempranillo from Spain.

The tapas selection boasts an incredible array of delicacies. The Chorizo al Vino is andouille sausage and bay leaf cooked in a dry red wine for $5.50. Or indulge in the Buffalo Lollies, which is strips of buffalo steaks on a skewer, accompanied by fennel cucumber slaw under a mulled wine reduction.

The Comfort Polenta is a cream-styled type of corn meal, with shaved goat cheese from a company called Drunken Goat Cheese, which cures its cheese with wine. The dish also contains Applewood smoked bacon and crab apple mustard.

The Wine Sides ($9) is a glorious grouping of selected artisan cheeses and meats. The goat cheese is aged one year, with a light flavor, slightly smoky – milder and “not so barnyard,” as co-owner Jonathon Trusty put it. This comes from Cyprus Moon out of California, the same folks who make Humbolt Fog.

The proscuitto is a silky knockout, dry aged, cured in sea salt and coming with a bit of a buttery finish to it. Imported from Italy, it is made from the pork shoulder – and the company boasts it is “humanely treated pig.” The very pungent blue cheese comes from England and is powerful, yet memorable and deep in range of layers.

This tasty plate also features blood sausage and pate. The pate is, well, to be blunt: it's better than sex. It's pure heaven, with mild yet bold, multiple layers causing your tongue to soar to unimaginable heights. It's a housemade chicken liver pate, with wild organic mushrooms collected from the central Oregon coast, containing schallots and cognac, among other things.

In the dessert realm, Blu Cork has a chocolate marscepone tart, a gelato made with Irish stout, and organic, homemade and imported dessert bars that will leave you reeling. They are extravagant yet simple, with peanut bars, almond bars, date bars and lemon bars coming from Italy, drizzled with lavender honey and powdered sugar. They open up incredible new vistas on your palate as you engage in the pleasures of wine tasting.

Another recent addition is the Pots de Creme, a Belgian dark chocolate moose served with a white chocolate stick and a touch of Courvoisier.

To further augment the experience, Blu Cork Wine Bar has become a monster of a live music hotspot, providing a variety of jazz, folk, blues and alternative with an innovative and sophisticated twist. One of the perennial highlights is Portland singer Beth Willis who gets the place hopping with her wide mix of cover material and alternative originals. Another favorite is singer Lee Gray - who is actually the man who collects fresh mushrooms for Blu Cork Wine Bar and Village Market & Deli.

Blu Cork is non-smoking. Hours are Thursday through Sunday from 7 p.m. to 12 p.m., and will feature an outdoor patio for imbibing outdoors on those glorious coastal early evenings in this unusually beautiful section of Newport. There is a section of the patio for smokers. 613 SW Third Street, Newport. 541-265-2257.

BREATHTAKING CLIFFTOP IN NEWPORT

STARFISH POINT is located on the Central Oregon Coast - in Newport - and offers only the finest in luxury condominium lodging. At Starfish Point, every unit is focused on the beauty of the sea and the beach.
All of the units boast two bedrooms, two bathrooms, designer kitchens, wireless broadband Internet, fireplaces, Jacuzzi’s and private decks - surrounding you in soothing relaxation. We have a friendly staff dedicated to high quality and superb customer service. 140 NW 48th Street, Newport. (541) 265-3751. (800) 870-7795. www.starfishpoint.com