Hazelnut crusted salmon ... Savory oyster mushroom cream sauce ...

Fresh strawberry shortcake ...

Mouth-watering phrases are uttered on cooking shows without any sense of the effect they might have on their viewers. To those living in many areas of the country, these savory presentations are merely hollow words and cannot be actualized since most of the fresh ingredients are unavailable. For those fortunate enough to live in the Mid-Willamette Valley, cooking show seduction can quickly be turned into table top satisfaction.

Appetizer – Cheese Plate a la West Salem

Ignore the impulse to enter Wal-Mart for a ready-made plate of chicken fingers or celery sticks and ranch dressing. Value is one consideration, but when preparing a meal, ask yourself one important question: What would Rachael Ray do?

The answer is to find the freshest ingredients possible. Begin the appetizer search with a quick trip to West Salem to visit the Willamette Valley Cheese Company. The award-winning jalapeño jack and cumin gouda will adorn a platter nicely beside their creamy havarti, fontina, and mozzarella. By using 100 percent Jersey milk from their certified organic farm, each cheese is “buttery smooth, mildly fragrant, and all-natural” according to owners Rod and Melissa Volbeda.

The cows roam outside of Salem and the mindful Dutch-style approach to cheese making translates into a freshness of dairy that few have experienced. Complete your appetizer plate with a cut of Fitts' fresh smoked salmon and serve with a sliced & toasted baguette from Cascade Baking Company. This quick dish would probably win awards in other areas of the country.

Wine

A good meal must begin with a good bottle of wine. It is a European adage, and living in the Willamette Valley gives the opportunity to act on romantic attitudes.

In the Willamette Valley, the identical climate to France's rich Bordeaux region brings exceptional wine and the understated self-perception among Oregon's wine connoisseurs leads to great value on fresh, local options. Savants and novices alike rub shoulders at the Santiam Wine Company in Southeast Salem where the owner's keen knowledge helps guide her customers to the right bottle.

Start with the “cheap & cheerful” selection that may include an Oregon Syrah from St. Paul's Owen Roe Winery or more difficult to find varieties such as an Argentine Malbec. For the freshest of grapes, go directly to the nearest vineyard, preferably one that doesn't advertise. Small vineyards such as the Maresh Red Hills Vineyard in Yamhill County rely on word of mouth and their pinot noir keeps their name on the tip of many tongues.

Entrée – Free Range Sirloin and a Medley of Oregon Mushrooms

Oktoberfest offers the world a glimpse into the food culture of Mt. Angel. They are serious, some even religious, when it comes to agriculture. Food show and travel channel celebrities have visited this Oregon town during the lively event, but few have had the chance to put their knowledge to action in the comfort of their own home.

A key to the top-quality cuts of meat found in Mt. Angel is the Lonely Lane Farm. This farm draws on three generations of farming experience, and they provide the area with free range cattle that is comparable to any fine dining cut of beef. They provide entirely sustainable feed and care for their cattle in a seasonal way that helps to ensure their livestock is living in a dry and warm environment all year round. The beef can be purchased in bulk as what is known as “locker beef” directly or as smaller portions at the LifeSource supermarket in Salem.

A fresh cut of beef may hold together the entrée, but the many Oregon mushrooms & herbs available in the Mid-Willamette Valley would have any chef considering the wagon trail. At the Rainforest Mushroom Company located off of Highway 20, a chef who seeks will be rewarded. There are several varieties of oyster mushroom, including pink and yellow, a variety of fresh or dried shitake and maitake as well as the “lion's mane” mushroom. This “lion's mane” mushroom appears like it's namesake would suggest, and the long stringy appearance acts like a sponge for all of the melted butter and flavorful herbs one adds. A substantial source of cooking herbs and spices are available at Roth's Market and a variety of plant-your-own herb garden options are available at 13th Nursery in Salem.

The latest trend of fresh food boxes offered by local farms gives a recurring supply of fresh ingredients to incorporate. Many of our local farmers can be found at the Saturday Market and their fresh food service includes a box of fresh produce grown throughout the season.

The plans vary, but the basic idea is to offer a direct source of farm fresh food to those interested in eating top notch fruit and vegetables. Items can include fresh sweet onion, shallots, Gravenstein apples, Golden Raspberry, and countless other items grown throughout the year. Many people enjoy the surprise and eduction provided by each new set of boxed produce and often times the farmers will include crop-specific recipes to help kick start some cooking ideas.

Coffee & Dessert & Dessert

While coffee is never just coffee in the Mid-Willamette Valley, a fresh fruit pie is exactly that - fresh. With the right climate for so many fruits, the word fresh finds its soulmate in the phrase 'fruit pie' at the Willamette Valley Fruit Company. They have an abundant selection to offer and the new store in Salem will help satisfy a new crop of customers. Anyone can call in an order by 8:30 a.m. for the pie of their choice, then pick it up on their way home from work. It is heaven in a dish and as fresh as a pie can be.

People in other parts of the country crave Oregon fruit and northwest food items. They are usually shipped, packaged, and priced as a luxury item since the term 'Northwest Cuisine' adds a tidy premium to an east coast menu. It is fortunate for residents of the Willamette Valley to be able to cut through all the red tape and get to enjoy the natural abundance just as it should be enjoyed - here.