![]() ![]() ![]() Over the span of a meal, there was Pacific rockfish, albacore, Chinook salmon and Dungeness crab paired with a cornucopia of produce, much of it grown on ōkta’s own nearby farm. Each of the dishes my guest and I tried hit the mark in terms of composition (gorgeous), technique (advanced), proportion (neither too large nor too small) and flavor.Īs at Castagna over a decade ago, ingredients here are overwhelmingly local. It is tasting menu only ($165 weekdays, $260 weekends, wine pairings from $160 prices subject to 20% automatic gratuity), with the long-form option offering 15 to 20 courses. The food is, of course, the highlight at ōkta. The dining room is louder-a combination of an eclectic playlist and surprisingly bouncy acoustics. Despite the kitchen’s size and constant flurry of activity, it remains a bastion of calm and quiet. As the host leads the way to tables set along a low-rise banquette along the perimeter, or in the center of the dining room, your vision fixates on ōkta’s expansive open kitchen: Lightner, up front, finalizing dishes for service a cluster of cooks preparing plates along a counter running the length of one side shelves of cookware along the other and a big, wood-fired grill centered in the rear. The olfactory greeting is the wafting scent of wood smoke. On entering, patrons are immediately presented with a visual summary of the night’s offerings on a tray of ice inset into a long buffet separating foyer from dining area. Our server knew the details of every dish and deftly fielded every question we threw her way. Black-clad service staff, a mix of locals and new Oregonians, were friendly and efficient. Wood and ceramic serveware were custom made by Oregon artisans. The dining room is elegant but subdued, with furniture and fixtures mostly in lighter hues, from blond to gray. He left in 2015 and has maintained a relatively low profile since.Ī recent meal at ōkta was a multidimensional blockbuster. Under Lightner, Atera earned two Michelin stars and a rave review from The New York Times. Yet, it is already plain Lightner has added points to the peerless culinary IQ that led him to emerge as an industry star at Castagna in 2009, then thrive on the big stage at New York City’s Atera after he left Portland. It has barely been two months since the debut of ōkta, Lightner’s sparkling new McMinnville restaurant. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.Okta Photo by Evan Sung. Our dishes are a celebration of Willamette Valley’s ingredients, combining thoughtful sourcing with fine dining techniques and preparation. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. We’re a wine country restaurant sharing food with heart in historic downtown McMinnville, Oregon. We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. ![]() We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special. Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful - and this is still in our DNA today. Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in. ![]()
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