Rooted in the Gorge

01/10/2025

Still living that cheese and charcuterie side hustle life. ✨🤘🏻🧀 A few little platters for ’s January HubTalk at tonight. ✨

You’re invited to the January HubTalk: Everyday Innovation on Thu Jan 09 2025 at 5:30pm at The Ruins!

Join us for an evening of inspiring talks and discussions on how innovation can be a part of our daily lives. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just curious about new ideas, this event is perfect for anyone looking to spark their creativity. Come mingle with like-minded individuals and discover how small changes can lead to big innovations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be inspired and network with others passionate about innovation!

HubTalks are a monthly networking and informational event hosted by Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub and Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. They occur every 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30pm. HubTalks are free, open to the public, with no membership required.

12/18/2024

Back in action at with a board for Mid-Columbia Bar Association tonight! 🧀 Y’all really know how to make a girl feel appreciated, thanks for all the love and encouragement on my prior post as I come back to Rooted 2.0! ✨

12/14/2024

After years and years of making art with charcuterie and cheese it is still my absolute favorite thing to do. ✨ Taking on a couple smaller jobs in the past couple months and finding joy in creating again has helped me come to the decision to relaunch the grazing board and grazing table side of my business in 2025. I have learned so much about myself over the past couple years, and am excited to come back into this with solid boundaries, firm pricing, limited availability, and a newly discovered ability to say no to projects that don’t light me up. Hoping starting out right from the outset will help keep this creative outlet joyful, preserve the margin to co-create beautiful things with clients who become friends, and continue to do my best work more sustainably with the same attention to detail and quality Rooted has been known for previously. More info to come soon, friends!

10/19/2024

Spent the night at the Empty Bowls fundraiser for - Because no one should be hungry. Food is a basic human right. Thanks to all who are working hard to make sure as many people in our community as possible are fed- y’all are the real heroes. Shout out to for the quick photo snap. Mural by .

10/02/2023

In a world where capitalism drives us to monetize every moment, taking the time to cook a nourishing meal for ourselves and the ones we love is an act of radical self care. 💛🌱✨ My favorite way to eat vegetables these days is to “garlic bread” them. Easy loose recipe below for you to save if you need an easy idea to add some warm, comforting flavor to your next veg dish.

Needed:
Your choice of veg
2-3 tbs butter
Garlic (freshly minced or dried powder)
Flake salt
2-3 tbs bread crumbs
1/4 cup shredded/grated Parmesan
Fresh herbs/squeeze of citrus optional

In an oven safe skillet, melt a couple tablespoons of butter on medium to medium high. Add in whatever veg you like or have on hand (patty pan squash pictured here). Add a few pinches of coarse salt, and shake a bit of roasted garlic powder (if you have/prefer fresh garlic- use that by adding it into the butter from the getgo and keep the heat on the lower end so it doesn’t burn). Take this opportunity to preheat your oven broiler on low. Cook until veg is fork tender, stirring from time to time to get everything softened. Evenly distribute a couple tablespoons of bread crumbs and about 1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan on top of the veg and place directly under the broiler until the bread crumbs and Parmesan are crisp and browned- keep an eye out, this can happen really quickly! Pull it out, slide it onto a plate, top with any fresh herbs you love- culinary variegated micro basil from the garden pictured- and maybe a squeeze of lemon if you’ve got it. Enjoy!

07/23/2023

Friends, thanks for letting me step away for a little while. The update to that sabbatical is a bit overdue. Navigating the last several months has helped me realize my top priorities currently don’t include running a small business. Although I have loved being able to meet so many of you lovely humans, be a small part of feeding y’all through so many celebrations, reach goals I thought were beyond audacious as well as some I never would have dared to think up on my own, and come into my power as a female in the kitchen in a way I could have only dreamed because of this beautiful thing that is Rooted, I need to close this chapter of my life and move confidently into a new season.

In the future, I anticipate returning to this space to share more of what I continue to love about the people pulling our food from local earth, friends gathered around my table, and my philosophy of food and recipes/ideas that flow from that. Until then, I wish you well in your own journey, hold so much gratitude for how you have been a part of my own, and hope to connect in real life again soon.

02/17/2023

Here’s the deal. I am still offline, but this felt important enough for our community and the people in it to jump back on and share.

As a business owner who has operated in The Dalles for several years now, someone who tries to foster genuine connection and create beauty with my time, effort, and money - I feel the need to state I unequivocally believe people matter more than aesthetics.

There are some very loud, persistent voices that are setting up a false dichotomy between caring for people in our community and creating a beautiful/safe downtown. But here’s a cool thing about the project to turn the old Oregon Motor Motel into a temporary shelter for veterans, families, seniors, and people with disabilities that they aren’t telling you.

While it is an incredible project that will save lives and help our neighbors, it also represents one of the largest single private investments into the beautification of downtown The Dalles in many years. This project will not only get people off the streets and connected to services, it will also make downtown more attractive to the many visitors we have coming in on the cruise ships, safer to the downtown community, and demonstrate that our city cares for each other in a way that is more than just a hashtag to win a chance at being on an online web series.



If you are interested in learning more about the project:
https://www.mccac.com/project-turnkey

If you’re the kind of person who wants to put your boots on and take action:
Please consider sending an email in support of the project to Mayor Mays and The Dalles city councilors. It doesn't have to be long or overly detailed, just let them know you are in favor of the project. If you’re also a local business owner and feel comfortable, maybe throw that in your email too so they can see that there are many voices in our small biz community that are not represented by a very loud few.

Their email addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Thank you for reading!

01/10/2023

Hey 👋🏻 I hope you had a restful holiday season. Reaching out to you here to let you know after several difficult personal and professional setbacks in 2022 culminating in receiving the blow that work beyond our expertise in the Baldwin Building would be necessary to maintain a licensed kitchen space there, I have reached the conclusion that what is best for myself and my family is to take a moment to process, breathe, and rethink work/life to fashion a more sustainable balance. For this reason, I've decided to take 2023 off from catering and unplug from online communication until July 1st to clear my mind. I’ve got a lot of feelings I’m currently working through, but please know all clients, vendors, and collaborators have been notified and taken care of on our end. I’m hoping that a few months of space will allow creativity and joy to take root here once again, but I have to acknowledge that right now those two things feel pretty elusive. I’ve always made it my mission to be honest in this space, and am thankful for all of you who have allowed me to show up as I am, met me in such a genuine way both online and in person. Thanks for your understanding and kindness in allowing me and my family the space to step away for a bit now. I hope to see you here and around our table sometime in the future. -Kristen

11/27/2022

We can get behind this too! Laurie is one of the most encouraging, kind, and calmly present people we’ve had the joy of meeting through our Rooted Table dinners, working with at weddings she coordinated, and encountering time and time again as she serves others in our community. We’ll be lifting Laurie up in our thoughts and prayers every time we see the cross lit at the Sunshine Mill and hope you will as well! All the best to you, Laurie- we hope this challenging season also carries with it the knowledge that you are loved and surrounded by so many here in this community you’ve been a part of building. ♥️

At The Sunshine Mill, we’ve accomplished a lot over the 13 years we’ve been open. We’ve had an incredible amount of support from the community, and behind that support have been a small handful of unwavering supporters, who are truly family.

Laurie Nichol is one of those family members. She’s the best friend of our owner, Molli Martin. The sounding board for Molli’s ideas, her frustrations and her innovations. Laurie has held Molli together through a lot of what The Sunshine Mill has gone through over the course of owning and operating a small business.

Laurie is an immensely strong individual, a leader in this community and a giver in every sense of the word. This year, it’s our turn to give to her. Laurie has been waging a battle against lung cancer, and her family and community have rallied around her, and we’re asking you, our community, to do the same.

This week we hung our cross as we do every year, and we ask that as you drive by, you send thoughts, prayers and good feelings towards Laurie and any others in your own life that need them. That cross is a symbol of love, hope and the spirit of the holidays, and it’s our Christmas wish that you use it this season to lift someone up in love.

Laurie, we love you and are so grateful for your unwavering support. We know you’re blessed and surrounded by your sweet family, and that you’re holding your dear granddaughter, Lucy extra tight this season, and we want you to know that we’re here for you as you’ve been for us.

Sincerely,

Your Sunshine Mill Family

11/24/2022

We are thrilled to be pairing up with Julia and Scott of Loop de Loop Wines + Matt of winesonsecond + 45th Parallel Wines for our next wine dinner in December! With a Mediterranean menu (that just happens to be vegan), wine pairings by the winemaker, and some exclusive wines (like their sold out 2021 skin contact Gewurztraminer orange wine and a barrel thief selection pulled to pair specifically with our dessert!), this evening is going to be a celebration not to be missed! Tickets available at the link below; hope to see you there!

🎟: https://rootedinthegorge.square.site
📷: Loop de Loop Wines

11/24/2022

We are so happy to be a part of this downtown and partnering up with other community minded businesses! ♥️ It has been so life giving to host others around our table again in this new, common space.

But through the doors of the former Baldwin Saloon in The Dalles one found warmth and laughter, a large table bristling with life and community in the space now called the Rooted Commons.

11/23/2022

They’re BACK! 🍪 Holiday cookie boxes and December events are up on the website and ready to roll! We’ve got a wine dinner in partnership with Loop de Loop Wines and winesonsecond (vegan Mediterranean menu on that for all you who have been eagerly asking, although it will satisfy meat eaters too!), plus a Rooted Table dinner featuring our fan favorite chicken piccata, and the always beloved Holiday Cookie samplers are all on the site- we have limited seats and samplers available so jump over to book yours! Link below.

https://rootedinthegorge.square.site

11/17/2022

Burnt Basque Cheesecake stole the show at Sunday night dinner yet again! This dessert has been a perpetual favorite for the several years we’ve been making it. I learned at the end of the night that a couple who had to quickly dash out the door popped their pieces on a napkin precariously placed in a purse and I GET IT Y’ALL because there’s no way you could leave this dessert on the table uneaten! (If this was you, the story made my night and next time, please let me grab you a box- it’s seriously no trouble!) 😂

11/16/2022

Behold the arancini- it looks simple and unassuming enough, until you bite into it! 💥 These fried balls of rice packed with truffle and mushroom umami goodness, served with rosemary cheese fonduta and dusted with salt are on our menu for Saturday’s dinner with 15 Mile Winery - and let me warn you in advance that many, MANY people have told us they are one of the best things they have ever put in their mouths. Crispy, savory, creamy, salty- and absolutely the menu item I personally can’t get enough of regardless of how many I’ve already eaten. We’re pairing them with Colter’s 2019 Pinot Noir, and you are not going to want to miss it. Last call to snag your seats- ticket sales close on Thursday afternoon! Link below for more menu details and tickets.

https://rootedinthegorge.square.site/product/RootedTable111922/65?cs=true&cst=custom

11/14/2022

About last night… we had a great time wine-ing and dining with you all. Seeing people come in and connect around our table again was so life giving- no less than 6 couples came up to me personally to share how excited they were to have met new people or how they’d exchanged numbers or had plans to meet up again soon in the future before leaving last night. To friends, I often describe our dinners as a container. I do my best to sit in a space and imagine how it could be configured to encourage connection, to show how things might look through the night for people like me who feel anxious walking into the unknown, and to share our menus beforehand with you so dietary needs and restrictions can be anticipated. Thank you to all who came for filling that container last night with your brave openness to something new, interested conversation, spontaneous laughter, numerous cheers, and lovely spirits. It was an absolute pleasure to share time and our table with you! ✨If you don’t have plans on Saturday, November 19th we are hosting the crew from 15 Mile Winery for a rustic Italian meal paired with some of their most sought after bottles, or we would also love to have you pull up a seat at our table on Sunday, November 27th for our Spanish paella dinner! Tickets for both are at the link below, and seats are limited! Hope to share space with you soon!

http://rootedinthegorge.square.site

11/14/2022

Hello from getting ready for our first Rooted Table dinner in our new event space, Rooted Commons! Just a quick hey, hello to give you a taste of how things are shaping up in here! ✨Will post more on stories if time allows tonight!

11/09/2022

Change is hard and exciting all at once. 🏗 Taking this moment to breathe in gratitude for all those who built the Baldwin from the ground up into the building and kitchen we are stepping into, and exhale worry and fear of not measuring up to the expectations of all this place is for our community. We are here to write a new chapter in the long ledger of this incredible, historic landmark. Thank you for all the support so far as we share our vision and heart for this space with you!

11/08/2022

As we continue to grow into this historic, common space downtown, we are excited to partner up with local wineries and knowledgeable wine purveyors to highlight the fruits of their labor! 🍇 Our first wine dinner will feature 15 Mile Winery and the history and hard work they put into each estate grown bottle of wine. We put together an Italian menu that sets off the flavor and richness of some of their most prized wines, including the B3 Super Barbera and their newly released 2019 Syrah! More info, full menu, and tickets available at the link below! 👇🏻

https://rootedinthegorge.square.site/product/RootedTable111922/65?cs=true&cst=custom