COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND WINE COUNTRY - Columbia River Gorge - page 47

Santiago's Gourmet Restaurant (111 E. Yakima Ave., 509/453-1644, www.santiagos.org , 11:30 A.M.-2 P.M. and 5-9 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 5-10
P.M. Sat., closed Sun.) is a lively and popular Mexican restaurant with all the standards and excellent daily specials.
El Pastor (315 W. Walnut, 509/453-5159, 11 A.M.-8 P.M. Mon.-Fri., noon-8 P.M. Sat.) is a small place with inexpensive and delicious Mex-
ican dishes. Find lots more tortillerias and panaderías on South 1st Street heading toward Union Gap.
For gourmet Italian food and Northwest specialties, visit Gasparetti's (1013 N. 1st St., 509/248-0628, http://gasperettisrestaurant.com , 11
A.M.-midnight daily). The pastas are all freshly made, and desserts are a real treat. Interestingly enough, it is also well known for its onion rings.
You really can't do wrong giving them a try.
Let the chef win you over at Keoki's Oriental Restaurant (2107 W. Lincoln Ave., 509/453-2401, 11 A.M.-2 P.M. and 4-10 P.M. daily), where
the cooking takes place at your table teppanyaki-style. The teriyaki steak is always a pleaser.
Finding food out in the winery back roads can be a hit-or-miss affair. Load up on picnic supplies in town before you head out to ensure a happy
and fulfilling wine excursion. Deep Sea Deli (20 N. 9th Ave, 509/248-1484, 9 A.M.-6 P.M. Mon.-Sat., closed Sun.) stocks specialty cheese,
meats, and crackers. It also smokes its own salmon right on the property. Or leave the lunch packing up to Buhrmaster Baking Co. and Restaur-
ant (117 E 3rd Ave in Selah, 509/469-9973, www.buhrmasterbakingco.com , 8 A.M.-8 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 11 A.M.-8 P.M. Sat., closed Sun.), which
prepares box lunches to go for wine tourists.
Fresh fruit, vegetable stands, and U-pick places can be found throughout the Yakima Valley. From Yakima, the easiest way to find them is to
take Highway 97 and exit off Lateral A Road. Head down south and let the signs guide you. The farm roads are ruler-straight, so it is pretty much
impossible to get lost.
One sure winner is Barrett Orchards (1209 Pecks Canyon Rd., 509/966-1275, www.treeripened.com ) , where you can pick cherries, pears,
apples, peaches, or whatever is in season. Or let them do the work and buy from its farm store. It's also fun to just head down Highways 97 and
22 until something looks interesting—hand-painted signs are as numerous as the fruit they advertise.
Valley Eats
Toppenish's strong Mexican culture is evidenced in the town's restaurants, clothing stores, and songs on the radio. Taqueria Mexicana (105½ S.
Alder St., 509/865-7116) has the best south-of-the-border meals in town.
Also near Toppenish, the Yakama Nation Cultural Center (100 Spiel-yi Loop, 509/865-2800) has a popular restaurant with a large salad bar,
salmon, buffalo, and fry bread. The Sunday brunch is very popular.
You'll discover the best burgers around, along with floats, shakes, and cold drinks, at the old-fashioned soda fountain in Gibbons Pharmacy
(117 S. Toppenish Ave., 509/865-2722).
Sunnyside's big Darigold cheese factory is one of the largest cheese plants in the nation. Darigold Dairy Fair (400 Alexander Rd., 509/
837-4321, www.darigold.com ) has self-guided tours, fun exhibits (including flying cows), and videos, plus fresh ice cream, cheeses, sandwiches,
and gifts.
Snipes Mountain Brewing Inc. (905 Yakima Valley Hwy., Sunnyside, 509/837-2739, www.snipesmountain.com , 10 A.M.-10 P.M. Sun.-Fri.,
11 A.M.-11 P.M. Sat.) is hard to miss. It's the huge log-and-lodgepole building near the center of town, with a brewery behind glass and a diverse
menu that includes everything from wood-fired pizzas to seafood satay. It's very popular, with a lively atmosphere and tasty grub.
The Barn Inn and Restaurant (490 Wine Country Rd., 509/786-1131, www.thebarnmotorinn.com ) on the west end of Prosser is one of the
best local restaurants for all-American steak and seafood platters; munch the great appetizers while watching sports on the big-screen TV. Another
local favorite is Picazo 717 (717 6th St., 509/987-1607, www.picazo717.com ) , an arty, modern tapas and wine bar that serves food that will make
you want to sing. Try the daring shellfish cakes ($10) with shrimp, crab, and scallops drizzled with a poblano remoulade. Or bring a friend and
order the paella for two ($34). The well-educated staff is ready to offer the perfect wine pairing from the jam-packed cellar.
The Prosser Farmers Market (509/786-9174, 8 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Sat. June-Sept.) takes place in the city park.
INFORMATION AND SERVICES
For maps, brochures, and current festival information, contact the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau (10 N. 8th St., 509/575-3010
or 800/221-0751, www.visityakima.com , 8 A.M.-5 P.M. Mon.-Fri. all year, plus 9 A.M.-5 P.M. Sat. and 10 A.M.-4 P.M. Sun. May-Oct.).
Emergency medical service is provided by Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital (2811 Tieton Dr., 509/575-8000) in the city. Emergency medical
care is also available at the 63-bed Toppenish Community Hospital (502 West 4th Ave., 509/865-3105) which, along with high-tech care, also
provides a Native American Spiritual Care Center featuring facilities for performing healing rituals and ceremonies. Sunnyside Community Hos-
pital (10th & Tacoma, 509/837-1500) runs a 24-hour ER.
Sick pets are welcomed at Pet Emergency Service (510 W Chestnut Ave., 509/452-4138) in Yakima or at the Wapato Toppenish Veterinary
Clinic (Hwy. 97 and Branch Rd., 509/865-3435).
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
By Air
The Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field (2300 West Washington Ave., 509/575-6149) is the largest airport in the area. Alaska Airlines (800/
252-7522, www.alaskaair.com ) provides daily passenger service to and from Sea-Tac Airport.
Several rental car agencies have desks here as well.