WASHOUGAL — Ten eastern Clark County businesses are participating in Taste of the Gorge, featuring a diverse array of restaurants and small businesses in the Columbia River Gorge.
“We wanted to be a part of it because it entices people to get out, travel around this beautiful part of the country and see what local businesses have to offer,” said Andy and Tiffany Regan, co-owners of Camas Cheese Co. “It showcases local makers, producers, etc., that reside in the Pacific Northwest. We love introducing people to new things. This is a great way to make that happen.”
Taste of the Gorge offers an interactive digital passport featuring more than 70 participating businesses. Visitors can use the passport to track visits and earn points, which can be redeemed for prizes including gift cards to places like Balch Hotel in Dufur, Ore., and Skamania Lodge in Stevenson.
“The more check-ins they collect, the more likely they are to win prizes,” said consultant Angie Marie Madsen, who worked with the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance to manage the project. The alliance is a nonprofit network of businesses and organizations that support arts and culture, transit systems, local food, small businesses, climate sustainability and community collaboration in the Gorge.
“For me, as a designer, it’s the collaboration I want,” said Reed Creative owner Lori Reed, who designed paper passports for people who’d rather not use the app. “How can we bring people together instead of pushing them apart? This project was so endearing to me because of that.”
The Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance, organizer of the popular Columbia River Gorge Food Trails programs, created Taste of the Gorge to encourage visitors during a slower season and help diners find places that aren’t as well known, according to Madsen.
“We wanted to show people who live both in and out of town how incredible our local food and drink businesses are all year round, especially highlighting those who support local agriculture,” she said. “Plus, this is a fun way to encourage visitors to spread out and try new-to-them businesses. Certain towns get a lot more visitors than others, but the Gorge is full of smaller towns with amazing food and drink.”
The Camas businesses participating are Camas Cheese Co., Grains of Wrath Brewing, Hidden River Roasters and Lane Cellars. Participating from Washougal are 54-40 Brewing, Danglicious Vietnamese Kitchen, Get To-Gather Farm, Recluse Brew Works, Trap Door Brewing and Washougal Coffee Co.
“The whole point is to let people know that we’ve got these great places, but also to support the local economy,” Reed said. “Danglicous just opened, and this gives them a lot of coverage that they might not afford to be able to advertise as a startup.”
Camas Cheese Co. owners said they have had “a few people come in that were visiting specifically because we were on the passport,” the Regans said.
Recluse Brewing general manager Richard LaRue said he hasn’t seen a lot of passport holders come in but is excited about the intent and the potential of the program.
“We love this area, so any time we can be a part of something that highlights the great and deep food and beverage community in Washougal and Washington, we will do our best to help with that,” LaRue said. “From conversations we’ve had, the potential for prizes seems to be the big draw rather than exploring new places.”
To qualify for the program, businesses must demonstrate that at least 20 percent of their materials are locally sourced.
“That means they grow their own stuff or brew their own stuff or whatever,” Reed said. “To be a part of it, you have to source locally, and that makes us, as the users, feel better because we are supporting locals and also supporting locals who are sourcing locally.”
As of Oct. 16, 557 people had registered, and the vast majority of the businesses had received at least one check-in. Goldendale’s Jacob Williams Winery had 70 check-ins, according to Reed.
“Taste of the Gorge has already been a hit,” Madsen said. “Businesses enjoy the extra buzz, both on social media and in person. Customers have shared that they love the excuse to try a new location for a meal.”
The Gorge alliance is planning to make Taste of the Gorge an annual event “with even more participating locations in the future,” according to Madsen.
The event runs through Nov. 15.
For more information about Taste of the Gorge or to download a digital passport, visit gorgefoodtrails.com/taste-of-the-gorge.
Paper passports can be picked up at participating businesses, as well as at Two Rivers Heritage Museum, Washougal City Hall and the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce office in Camas.
