Gourmet food and wine rafting trips with an Oregon twist! Part of the pleasure of a whitewater rafting, kayaking, or trail hiking vacation with White Water Warehouse is getting to sample some of Oregon's spectacular gourmet foods and wines. Oregon has some of the best organically grown produce on the planet. And, the state is fast becoming a wine making and producing legend. Each year, White Water Warehouse strives to provide our guests with the freshest, best foods that Oregon has to offer. This year, we are also focusing on Oregon, Washington and Idaho wines and will be offering these wines to our guests with meals each evening. Below we highlight just a few of our gourmet food products that are uniquely Oregon and wonderfully fresh.

Special Gourmet Food & Wine Trip June 26-28, 2010 If you are a true "foodie" and love the idea of pairing incredible cuisine and wonderful wines with a superb rafting experience, call us. Traditionally, we have offered our gourmet wine and food trip every other year but our phones really heat up each time a media outlet writes about or profiles Whitewater Warehouse's unique epicure trips.  In the past, most of our gourmet trips have featured Italian, country-side cuisine matched with vintage wines. Chef Morse travels regularly to Italy (and the countryside of Oregon!) to discover the best regional foods and wines.  He brings with him a unique understanding of food but he is also an experienced Rogue River oarsman--a perfect combination!  You'll raft each day through the spectacular Rogue River canyon, lunching riverside. In the evening, you will overnight in historic Rogue River lodges--Black Bar and Marial. There, you will enjoy superb wines matched with mouth-watering hors d'oeuvres and multi-course meals. This trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 26 - Monday, June 28, 2010. The 3-day, 2-night lodge to lodge trip is priced at $1040 per guest and is an adults only trip. Price includes meals (from lunch the first day through lunch the last day), gourmet wine selection to match the evening meals, lodging, gear, shuttle back to your vehicle at the end of the trip, all government fees--it is all-inclusive. Check out a sample menu.

Martini Madness - August 29 – 31, 2010

Join the friendly folks at White Water Warehouse and southern Oregon’s own Organic Nation Spirits on the most unique trip we’ve ever offered. This 3-day, 2-night lodge-to-lodge trip is an all-adult trip. Cost is $900/adult and includes all meals (from lunch the first day thru lunch the last day), gear (inflatable kayaks are free of charge), guides, government fees, lodging (double occupancy—private cabins with private baths), shuttle from the take-out to your vehicle at trip’s end, and of course, wonderful “Rogue River signature” martinis each evening at the two different lodges. Diane & David, owners of Organic Nation Spirits, will be your hosts and mixology experts. Book your space today…limited to 24 guests.

Oregon-fresh Salmon & Steelhead

White Water Warehouse's lodge guests enjoy locally caught Oregon salmon & steelhead for the first evening's hors d'oeuvre. Bob Meister, owner of White Water Warehouse, spends his fall fishing season catching salmon and his winter fishing season catching steelhead and then individually cures, smokes, and vacuum-seals the superb fish for our guests' enjoyment throughout the summer months. The true "king of taste" when it comes to fish, WWW really enjoys serving up this uniquely-Oregon taste treat for our clients!

"Mad Ed's" Organic Produce

"Mad Ed" in his greenhouse

Take a peek at the photos below which we took in the early spring of 2008. This particular garden sits in the heart of Oregon's Willamette valley and is just one of the organic gardens where we pick produce. We call this gardener "Mad Ed" because he is the most fanatical small farmer we know. He supplies our later tomatoes, cabbages, zucchini, onions, and garlic. He starts the early Oregon Spring tomatoes in his greenhouse and then transplants them in raised beds. Because the Willamette Valley spring weather is generally cooler, he also tents his tomatoes with smaller tunnel greenhouses to provide added warmth and to help stimulate growth.

Yum! Mad Ed's attention to quality and detail means our clients reap the benefits of healthy, organic produce in every salad and sauce that we lovingly prepare.

Aunty Berry's Raspberry Jam - The berries are hand-picked and the jam is homemade. This "sunshine" in a jar used to be prepared by our 88 year old Aunt. Now, our Mom makes the sweet-stuff (in our company, family works at every level) but it will always be known as "Aunty Berry Jam." You'll find this jam on most of our lodge trips and all of our camp trips. It tastes so fresh, you'll think it was just picked off the vine.

Oregon Hazelnuts - These nuts, the hazelnuts, are being touted all over the world for their unique, buttery flavor. We choose to go to the grower and purchase the Hazelnuts for our trips. Our growers are Dave and Darlene Chambers and their orchards are located in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley. While on our trips, you will sample some of their roasted Hazelnuts as well as their chocolate covered delights. Yummy! Check out more on these increasingly famous nuts by accessing the Oregon Hazelnut Commission's website at: www.oregonhazelnuts.org

Campagna's specialty foods - Over a glass of wine or other cool beverage at end of a long day of rafting and fun, you will sample this Oregon company's unique hors d'oeuvre offerings. Samples might include a hot pepper jelly with cream cheese, a Pinot Noir wine jelly, a olive & black fig tapenade, or even a Sicilian eggplant caponata. All Campagna's products are unique to them and made with the freshest ingredients.

Owned by Marlene & Joe Peterson, the company used to grow its own garlic, and many of the herbs and peppers found in their wonderful products. Now, the couple buys from local farmers' markets and growers. Campagna is dedicated to producing foods that are delectable, enticing, easy to use, and are made from fresh, natural ingredients and seasonings.Check out their website at: www.campagnagourmet.com to order any of their products.

 

Russel Davis - Davis Family Farm

Davis Family Farm – When in season, WWW purchases all our Oregon blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cantaloupe from our friendly local farmer – Russell Davis. Russell supplies us with the freshest produce. In fact, most of the fruits and vegetables have just been picked off the vine before appearing in WWW’s river meals! Full of great nutrients and excellent tastes—these Oregon grown beauties will keep you healthy and happy while you enjoy the majestic beauty of the Rogue River with WWW's super guides!

 

Outrageous Offerings

Sandra and Michael Salazar from Washington State, started this unique shortbread company in 2005. They have a variety of shortbreads that are fantastic paired with complementary wines. We are offering their superior product this year as an appetizer before dinner the second night on most of our rafting/lodge trips.

Trained as marine biologists, the Salazar's have always had a passion for food and wine. They first developed the Blue Cheese Walnut shortbread because they wanted a "different" appetizer--and loved the texture and sensation of the savory shortbread coupled with certain wines. We are offering three varieties this year, but the company makes many, many more. Check out their cool website at Outrageous Shortbread.

Check out some of our gourmet rafting recipes!