Amber
PORTLAND, OREGON | JULY 2024
An hour outside of Portland, a seven-mile gravel road winds up a heavily forested hill before opening up to panoramic views of the Columbia Gorge. We’re always looking for an adventure, so we decided it was worth the fear of getting lost in the woods to set up a summer Supper nestled among the noble firs, presented by Alaska Airlines. Those views were just the beginning; for dinner, we walked up into the pine canopy to a treehouse platform overlooking valley views that stretched as long as the endless golden light of that afternoon.
Golden hour thickened into an amber twilight that lingered late into the evening, gilding everything from the trees that towered over the table to the distant ridge lines of Silver Star Mountain. The bracing scent of forest pines blended with the heady aromas of curry and sambal that Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Gado Gado and Oma’s Hideaway brought into the forest to anchor his Indonesian-inspired feast.
WELCOME
We started with a cocktail hour on the lawn overlooking the vast expanse of the Gorge. Guests had a choice between two woodsy, summery cocktails to set the scene: a Westward Whiskey Wishing Well or a Bee’s Knees from Straightaway Cocktails.
Both beverages offered a delightful balance of pine and sunshine to kick off the evening in style.
A MENU BY CHEF THOMAS PISHA-DUFFLY
Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly takes inspiration from his grandmother, Oma and her Indonesian cooking at his Portland restaurants, Gado Gado and Oma’s Hideaway. This meal in the trees was anything but traditional, though. The plates he prepared alongside Gado Gado’s Chef de Cuisine, DaMenga Weaverhuff were as bright and colorful as the flavors they carried. Smells of warm curry and woodsmoke and sounds of pots simmering on the grill mingled with the afternoon’s golden light, engaging diners’ every sense in a synesthetic experience akin to a warm bath in the middle of the woods.
Dinner started with Oma’s own recipe for Roti Canai to prime everyone’s appetite for American Lamb skewers, summer tomato salad, and that incredible curry as the main course.
MENU
WELCOME
Potato + Lamb Panu Puri green chickpea, lemongrass, potato, cucumber, preserved lemon, mint
Rockfish Crudo sambal dabu dabu, lime leaf, tomato, squid ink puff
Cocktails:
Straightaway Cocktails Bees Knees +
Westward Whiskey Wishing Well
SAMBALS
Ijo green chili, tomatillo, anchovy
Oelek Thai bird, garlic, vinegar
Terasi shrimp paste, fried alliums, tomato
AMUSE-BOUCHE
Roti Canai flaky Malaysian flatbread, coconut corn puree
Wine: 2022 Rodney Strong Vineyards Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc
SECOND
Sate Kambin American Lamb, palm sugar gula jawa, peanut, turmeric
Stone Fruit & Tomato lemon cucumber tzatziki, basil, mint, crispy chickpea
Wine: 2022 Davis Bynum River West Chardonnay
MAIN
Grilled Poussin cabbage slaw, dipping curry, Oma’s acar pickles
Tempeh Goreng green beans, sambal tomat
Yellow Rice Oma’s aromatic yellow rice
Wine: 2021 Rodney Strong Reserve Pinot Noir
DESSERT
Pineapple Fritter pandan powdered sugar, kaya jam
Cocktail:
Westward Whiskey Truth or Dare
WINE PAIRINGS
Our friends at Rodney Strong shared some of our favorites from their cellars, including a special pour of their 2022 Davis Bynum River West Chardonnay — its balance of oak and acidity paired wonderfully with the herby lemon tzatziki and crispy chickpeas served with the summer tomato salad.
NIGHTCAP
As the sun set, we perked up with a Westward Whiskey cocktail to cap off the night. The Truth or Dare, made with Westward Whiskey Stout Cask, coconut-sweetened condensed milk, and Ca Phé Vietnamese Coffee, offered the perfect compliment to the pineapple fritters we enjoyed for dessert.
As dinner wound down, guests pulled out their Lumitory conversation cards to get to know each other better. The guilding on the sky-colored cards matched the glowing surroundings of the tree deck. The gentle chatter of the good conversations they prompted drifted off into the distance, the far edge of the Gorge fading with the evening light.
SECRET LOCATION: NOBLE RIDGE TREE DECK
Phil and Pam built the Noble Ridge Tree Deck for their daughter’s wedding, and now they host a few select events in the trees each year.
Their love for this special place came through in their welcome, where Phil read a poem he had written for the gathered crowd.
Hosting a Supper in this magical location felt like our childhood treehouse dreams coming true!
