Restaurant Will Serve Elevated Rustic Fare From Cowhorn’s Chef Tim Payne, Featuring Fresh Produce from the Vineyard’s Working Garden & Local Purveyors
Wine List to Showcase Estate Wines from Cowhorn & Sister Winery Johan Vineyards in Willamette Valley, Plus Several Like-minded Producers
October 26, 2023 (JACKSONVILLE, OREGON) — Cowhorn Kitchen & Wine, an upcoming restaurant serving artfully crafted, seasonal menus from the team behind Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden, is set to open on Friday, November 17, in the heart of Jacksonville, Oregon. Reservations are now available here.
The Southern Oregon restaurant will offer an intimate dining experience with elevated rustic fare, incorporating locally-sourced ingredients from the vineyard’s working Biodynamic garden just down the road as well as neighboring farms and purveyors in Oregon. Guests will be able to enjoy a selection of Biodynamic, family estate wines from Cowhorn and its sister property, Johan Vineyards, in Willamette Valley, plus several options from like-minded producers around Oregon and beyond. Located in the space formerly housing The Mustard Seed café and more recently Sunny Side Up, Cowhorn Kitchen & Wine will be open for dinner Thursday through Monday and for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Founded in 2005, Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden produces top quality wines through a uniquely sustainable and holistic approach, which wholeheartedly considers all aspects of the agricultural ecosystem. Cowhorn Kitchen & Wine will be an extension of this philosophy, simultaneously illustrating the interconnectedness between the land, food, wine and guest experience. Cowhorn’s family-run business model is deeply rooted in the surrounding community, farming for a sustainable future and providing guests with an unforgettable visit centered around food and wine. Like Cowhorn’s farm, its winery is Demeter-certified Biodynamic®.
In his current role at Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden, Executive Chef Tim Payne leads the full cycle of the culinary process – from planting and harvesting more than 60 varieties of herbs and vegetables, to pickling, preserving and fermenting his own ingredients, to planning and preparing all of the estate’s dining offerings, like their live-fire dinners in the vineyards, back-country barbecues by the river and more. Driven by his love for food and farming, he has spent more than two decades exploring the worlds of food, wine and hospitality, serving as executive chef at restaurants including Coho in Washington state, Terroir in Colorado, The Wine Bistro at Earth & Vine in Wyoming, Addison’sand Sofia’s restaurants in Missouri and Farmer Girl Foods in Colorado.
At Cowhorn Kitchen, the produce-forward lunch and dinner menus will offer creative starters, salads, housemade pasta and entrees. Tim will draw inspiration for the ever-changing menu from what’s growing at Cowhorn just down the road. Guests can expect produce-forward dishes like Broccolini with charred lemon, sunflower seeds & caper-raisin vinaigrette and Carrot Gojuchang with heirloom carrots, carrot butter, paneer, latke & pickled raisin. The restaurant will also showcase comforting dishes like the CK&W Burger with fontina, grilled onion, bacon, ck&w burger sauce & shredded lettuce and housemade Tagliatelle Pasta with lamb merguez, breadcrumbs, swiss chard, winter squash sofrito & kale pesto. Cowhorn Kitchen will also serve a selection of snacks, including nuts & olives, bread, french fries and heirloom polenta, to enjoy with wine.
To drink, the menu will feature wines from Cowhorn and Johan vineyards, showcasing the variety and breadth of wines from the sister properties, as well as a few selections from winemaker friends around Oregon and beyond. New releases as well as an extensive list of library wines, dating back as far as 2008, will be available by the bottle, glass and half glass. Beer from local breweries will also be served.
Cowhorn Kitchen is working with all Oregon producers, including some of the best ranchers, purveyors and artists from around the state. The restaurant will showcase hand-fired ceramics by Notary Ceramics in Portland, handcrafted water glasses from Gary Bodker and Jacobsen finishing salt from the Oregon coastline, to name a few. The rustic yet stylish restaurant will be intimate, with 24 seats in the dining room, plus patio seating for 16. Designed by the Cowhorn team, the interior will be warm and welcoming.
“At Cowhorn, we value biodiversity by cultivating crops that not only promote a richness in the land for producing grapes, but also bring flavor to the table,” says Executive Chef Tim Payne. “We’re thrilled to expand upon our mission to foster the connection between food and wine at Cowhorn Kitchen & Wine, all while paying homage to the surrounding land, what’s grown in the region and of course, our guests.”
“We envision Cowhorn Kitchen as a heartfelt extension of the live-fire dinners in our vineyards, the back-country barbecues by the river and the hand made pasta nights we have at The Overlook at Cowhorn Vineyard,” says Co-owner Mini Byers. “We want those magical moments to be available all the time to our friends and visitors from around the world in our beautiful town of Jacksonville.”
About Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden – Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden is a 117-acre, Demeter-certified Biodynamic and woman-owned vineyard and farm producing quality wines and growing grapes and other crops through uniquely sustainable and holistic methods. Founded in 2005 and purchased by Co-owner Mini Byers in April 2021, the progressive farm is nestled in the fertile Applegate Valley of southern Oregon, which boasts well-draining soil, lush vegetation and stunning views. Just a few miles north of California, the property is home to a vineyard, garden and a beautifully-designed, LEED-certified tasting room, which was awarded a Living Building Certification. Originally planted and designed by the renowned biodynamic agriculture expert Alan York in 2005, the sustainability-forward vineyard demonstrates a conscious effort to harness the natural richness and diversity accompanying the land. Winemaker Vince Vidrine’s passion for creating authentic expressions of the grapes aligns seamlessly with Cowhorn’s mission of growing Biodynamic wines through minimal intervention. This inspired approach to agriculture and emphasis on biodiversity yields a beautiful selection of wines including red, white, rosé and orange wine blends that are full of dimension and flavor. Cowhorn’s Rhone Style wines are made with 100% estate fruit from 25 planted acres, receiving more than 100 90+ scores over the years. Beyond the wine, Cowhorn offers a culinary program that’s integral to the vineyard and immersive experiences for wine enthusiasts. The tasting room is open by appointmentWednesday through Sunday from noon until 6pm.