The Wenatchee valley and surrounding region is rich with agricultural and culinary goodness year 'round. Just ask some local restaurant chefs, wineries, breweries, and other specialty foods and beverages made here in the valley who rely on local resources to make their product taste fresh and unique at all times. This is what keeps the customers coming back. The talented Chefs of a few local restaurants I've talked to, actively seek out farmers who supply them with local produce and meats to help create unique dishes that incorporate seasonally grown flavors from our area as much they can.So during this long, cold winter put the following local family establishments on your Winter Bucket List and enjoy the local flavors of our valley. It will warm your heart and tummy.

Photo credit: Chateau Faire Le Pont & Livingncw

CHATEAU FAIRE LE PONT GRILL

A beautiful winery and restaurant with a chef who creates an artistic delicious blend of local flavors.Savor fine cuisine at Chateau Faire Le Pont Grill from talented Chef Seth McKee who creates beautifully blended flavors of the seasons freshest local ingredients in his French inspired dishes. Chef Seth actively seeks out the best local resources to supply the Grill with the fresh ingredients year 'round. From Wenatchee valleys produce, beef from the Okanogan, salmon from the Columbia River, and shellfish from the Quinalt region of Hood Canal, and other local sources, are used in Chef Seth's seasonal menus. EVERYTHING is scratch-made in house including deserts, fresh baked Ciabatta/Focaccia/Sourdough breads. And the pièce de résistance is the dishes created are well complimented and happily enjoyed with Chateau Faire Le Pont wines.Beautiful any time of the year, Chateau Faire Le Pont has a large stone fireplace and big leather couches in the tasting room to keep you warm and cozy while you're sipping their luxurious 2013 Syrah with a long smooth finish.RECOMMEND: Double R Ranch Beef Tenderloin; roasted fingerling potatoes, smoked wild mushrooms, blue cheese butter, red wine jus (Gluten Free)Restaurant Hours of Operation:

• Tuesday- Saturday 11-9
• Dinner 4:30-9:00
• Lunch 11:00-3:00

Visit the Tasting Room: Tuesday-Saturday 11-9, Sunday& Monday 11-6

• $5 for five tastes or $2 per taste!
• $5 will be waived with bottle purchase!!

Chateau Faire Le Pont, 1 Vineyard Way, Wenatchee, WA (509) 667-9463

photo credit: Livingncw and Pybus Bistro Facebook

PYBUS BISTRO

House-Made Pasta and Winter Squash savored with a smooth glass of Vin Du Lac Pinot Noir.They had me at house-made pasta. French food with a Pacific Northwest influence, Pybus Bistro prides itself on sourcing as much as they can locally and making everything in house from scratch. Chef's Frank and Michelle St. Dennis have years of training and experience as Chef and Sous Chef for various better restaurants in California and Seattle. They brought their passion and tasteful creativity to Vin Du Lac Winery in Chelan before opening Pybus Bistro a few years ago.Lucky for us they are open for lunch and dinner every day, and brunch on the weekends. The atmosphere is open and casual with a view of the Pybus Market activity.RECOMMEND:

• Pappardelle Pasta ; house-made Pappardelle Noodles, Butternut Squash Puree, Bacon, Sage, and Goat Cheese.
• Brunch with Fried Chicken, Belgian Waffle, Maple Pecan Butter.

Pybus Bistro, 7 N Worthen Street, Wenatchee, WA 509.888.7007

STONES GASTROPUB

An impressive selection of wines and better cuisine.Stones Gastropub, a local gathering hot spot for wine, dining and socializing is conveniently located across from Performing Arts Center. Stones Gastropub is known for their curated world wine collection and 11 revolving crafted beers on tap. Stones Gastropub does its best to support local farms, wineries, and breweries on the menu. Incorporated in many dishes are microgreens (nutrient-dense super food), grown in East Wenatchee, and pasture-raised chicken from Fila Farms in Waterville, WA. These are just a few of the local sources used in Stones changing seasonal menus.RECOMMEND:

• Stone fruit flatbread made with fresh seasonal fruit (I had peaches), goat cheese, and aged vinegar and balsamic drizzle from D'Olivo Olive Oils.
• Order a glass of Dead Crow Vineyards, a new winery located in Sunnyslope area of Wenatchee, making its debut appearance of Mourvedre (very similar to Cab Sauv) at the restaurant. I'm sure the wine is just as intriguing as the name.

Stones Gastropub, 120 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, Washington | (509) 470-2296

photo credit: Mela Coffee Roasting Co.

MELA COFFEE ROASTING CO.

A coffee house where the coffee really is the best in the Valley.For just about 8 years now Mela Roasting Co. has been the local's favorite coffee house in downtown Wenatchee where numerous meetings and business deals have been forged and mothers have met for coffee dates. One thing that has stood the test of time is the robust and smooth flavor of Mela’s own roasted coffee. With coffee this good, no wonder people call this place their favorite meeting spot.Mela Coffee Roasting Co, 17 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA (509) 888-0374

photo credit: Cafe Columbia FacebookCAFE COLUMBIAStart your day off with an enormous house-made pastry or slice of quiche and cup of Blue Star Coffee.Located in Pybus Market, Cafe Columbia bakes fresh deserts, pastries, pies and quiches daily that are served up with another local favorite coffee roasting company, Blue Star Coffee, out of Twisp, WA. Nothing like a hot creamy espresso and a fresh baked cinnamon role to start your chilly Winter day. While you're at Pybus Market, peruse the other cool shops and kiosks for local artisan goods and specialty foods.RECOMMEND: Lemon bar!Cafe Columbia, 3 N Worthen St, Wenatchee, WA 509) 888-3970

photo credit: Livingncw

WENATCHEE CHAMBER TASTING ROOM

Belly up to the reclaimed 1940's flatbed bar for a taste of local made wines, beers, and ciders, all in one place. You will enjoy tasting over a dozen regional wineries and a handful of local-made micro-beers and ciders all in one cool spot. A tasting fee of $5 provides you 4, 1 oz. pours of rotating wines, beers, or ciders. Drawing inspiration from the regions agricultural and industrial history, the Chamber Tasting Room is a spacious wine bar, information center, conference room and private event space of refined industrial sophistication wrapped in their 1929 historic buildings repurposed wood, steel, old gears, doors and a VINTAGE TRUCK. Show stopper appeal that is modern and comfortable with local nostalgic character. Use one of their I-Pad information stations to help you navigate Wenatchee and the surrounding communities.Represented at the tasting room; Jones of Washington, Malaga Springs Winery, Martin Scott Winery, Crayelle Cellars, Ryan Patrick, Horan Estate, Phillippi Hard Cider, Snowdrift Hard Ciders, Rootwood Hard Cider, Badger Mountain Brewing, Wenatchee Valley Brewing, Columbia Valley Brewing and more from Wenatchee, Lake Chelan and Leavenworth regions.Wenatchee Chamber Tasting Room, 137 N Wenatchee, Suite 101, Wenatchee, WA 509) 662-2116You'll want to visit family owned, estate grown wineries thru out the winter season in Wenatchee as each winery is unique and beautiful in scenery and ambiance, and the wines are incredibly good. Check open hours for each winery as some have limited weekend hours only.

• Jones of Washington Tasting Room
• Malaga Springs Winery
• Martin Scott Winery
• Stemilt Winery

photo credit: Wenatchee Valley Brewery Facebook

DRINK LOCAL CRAFTED BEER ON WENATCHEE BREWERY ROW

That's right, Wenatchee has enough breweries now to have an official Brewery Row!The Wenatchee valley has become a hot-spot for local crafted beers. And why not! Wenatchee valley is just as rich in wheat, hops, and barley as it is in grape vines and tree fruit. It is only natural that the region has inspired some local brewers to tap into their beer passion and produce a much needed brewery presence in the valley. If anything these breweries in town have become the go-to place for get-togethers and Trivia Night. Family friendly too!

• BADGER MOUNTAIN BREWING, One Orondo Ave., Wenatchee, WA
• WENATCHEE VALLEY BREWING CO., 108 Islandview St, Wenatchee, WA
• COLUMBIA VALLEY BREWING, 538 Riverside Drive, Wenatchee, WA

photo credit: Livingncw

STEMILT FRUIT

Fresh seasonal produce and local-made specialty foods year round.As the apple capital of the world, Wenatchee is abundant with apples all year. Stemilt, a long time grower and pioneer in the tree fruit industry, has you covered year round with the freshest, juiciest apples and local seasonal produce grown in the valley. Stemilt Retail store carries a variety of local produce and specialty foods such as Stemilt Creek Wine, Starving Farmer Popcorn, Otto's Honey, Aplets & Cotlets, and much more. Give the gift of local flavors this Holiday by putting together a basket of local goodness from Stemilt.Stemilt Retail Store, 3615 US-97-ALT, Wenatchee, WA (509) 663-7848