There’s a lot to squeeze into this week’s Tidbits! A new Italian spot has opened in The Dalles, heirloom tomatoes are still making the rounds, fall treats are starting to show up, wine harvest is underway and September’s event calendar is getting busy. Let’s get into it.

On the menu right now

Celilo Restaurant’s favorite dishes won’t be around long. Seen here, roasted chicken featuring spinach from Feather Oak Farm. With Celilo’s restaurant set to close at the end of October — while its catering business continues — there are only so many dinner nights left to stop in. Open Wednesday–Saturday, 5–9 PM.

D’Avanzo’s, the Italian restaurant from Goldendale, opened its second location this month in The Dalles. The menu includes Italian favorites like lasagna and bolognese, along with baguettes served with housemade herb butter. Lunch brings sandwiches to the menu, and they’re also serving fruit-based specialty drinks.

In White Salmon, Feast Market & Delicatessen may still have slices of mascarpone cheesecake with coconut cream topping available. If that sounds like your kind of dessert, don’t wait too long.

Solstice Wood Fire Pizza is recommending its ricotta gnocchi with locally foraged chanterelle mushrooms, currently on the specials menu.

Crush Cider Café has chile relleno on special this week, while Riverside Restaurant is reminding us that its cioppino never disappoints.

Heirloom tomato season isn't over yet

Get them while you can.

Double Mountain Brewery has been putting heirloom tomatoes to very good use on pizza lately, but tomato season won't last forever.

Over in The Dalles, Freebridge Brewing is serving heirlooms a couple of ways, including on pizza and bruschetta. One more reason to make the most of tomato season while it’s still here.

Double Mountain's Heirloom Pie

Apply Valley Country Store's Pumpkin Milkshakes & Pear Dumplings

Fall is creeping onto the menu

Apple Valley Country Store on Tucker Road has announced that pear dumplings start this weekend, and pumpkin milkshakes are already available every day. Stop in for your favorite fall treats from 9 AM–6 PM daily.

Kaile’a Coffee Co. has rolled out its fall drink lineup, including the Sweater Weather Latte, Caramel Apple Fizz, Harvest White Mocha and Pumpkin Spice Chai.

And Full Sail Brewing has Oktoberfest on tap. This Munich-style Festbier brings notes of sourdough and toasted bread, balanced by herbal, floral and spicy German Noble hops. It clocks in at an easy-drinking 4.8% ABV.

Harvest season means grape stomps

The wine harvest has begun, and with it comes one of the more entertaining parts of the season: grape stomping.

Jacob Williams Winery is inviting wine lovers to its Wishram location Friday, Sept. 11, from 4–6 PM for its annual Rosé Stomp. Everyone is welcome.

Maryhill Winery gets stomping Sept. 26–27 during Harvest Celebration Weekend, with grape stomps taking place at all four Maryhill tasting rooms.

At Grateful Vineyard, Mondays and Tuesdays bring discounts for seniors and hospitality industry workers. And yes, while this is Hood River Eats, it’s also peak dahlia U-pick season up there — which seems worth mentioning.

A big weekend around WAAAM

Mount Hood BBQ has housemade cheddar jalapeño and Texas beef sausages on the menu, and the truck is hitting the road for the next few weekends. After wrapping up today at its Cascade Avenue spot near the old Little Bit Ranch Supply, it heads to the WAAAM Fly-In this weekend, Kiyokawa Family Orchards next weekend, and back to WAAAM for the car show the following weekend.

Another good stop near the museum? Twin Peaks Drive-In. Grab a burger or shake and keep an eye on the sky as planes from the Hood River Fly-In take off and land this weekend, Sept. 12–13.

Festivals are filling the calendar

The Huckleberry Festival takes over Daubenspeck Park in Bingen, WA, this weekend with three days of vendors, entertainment, food, and a beer garden.

pFriem + Grasslands Barbecue Oktoberfest is right around the corner, happening Sept. 26 from 2–7 PM at Hood River Waterfront Park. Expect traditional music and games, German-inspired food from Grasslands Barbecue, ice cream from Frosty Peak Ice Cream, pretzels and sausage from David Gluth, and plenty of pFriem beer — including Oktoberfest served in traditional steins.

And looking ahead to Oct. 3, the Hood River Orchard & Ale Festival runs from 11 AM–6 PM with 80+ beers and ciders, live music, fall food, a craft market, and Columbia River Gorge views. Entry is free, with tasting packages available separately.

Summer may not be ending just yet, but the Gorge is clearly ready for fall.

Thursday Tidbits