Grainy Photos | Bob’s Red Mill

What you need to know

I stumbled on breakfast after visiting a vendor I work with. My GPS had me head an unfamiliar direction, but I think it must know me pretty well. So I take a left instead of a right and what do I see? A beacon. A big red beacon. And I suddenly feel as if I’m on a road trip and just came upon an unmapped gem. Bob’s Red Mill. I passed slowly taking it all in. Open until 3 pm. Breakfast and lunch served. I knew field trip was in order by the looks of this place.

Cars parked all along the roadside, in addition to the large parking lot in front. A huge grain mill spins in the front as water tumbles over the wheel. WaHOO. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something like this. Is that outdoor patio seating? Why, yes it is!

Fortunately, it was going to be a nice weekend, weather-wise, so off we went the very next day. Oh, you don’t know what Bob’s Red Mill is? Well, all I knew before this trip wan that we get a pretty good waffle mix that they make and I also knew it was local, but I didn’t know that this roadside attraction was so close!

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods produces more than 400 products, including a full line of certified gluten free products and an extensive line of certified organic products. With a wide variety of whole grain products, from flours and hot cereals to baking mixes and grains

The retail store offers more than 300 Bob’s Red Mill products, kitchen essentials and a wide variety of all-natural items from regional manufacturers like Columbia Gorge Organics, Oregon Spice, and Willamette Valley Fruit Growers. In addition, there is a bookstore and state-of-the-art kitchen classroom for cooking classes taught by regionally and internationally renowned instructors. The Whole Grain Store & Visitors Center also features a from-scratch bakery and breakfast and lunch cafe using Bob’s Red Mill’s own products. Visitors to this first-class facility will discover the widest diversity of whole grains, flours, cereals, mixes and baking supplies available in the world. Shoppers can ship purchases on premises anywhere in the country.

Breakfast, here we come!

Yes, we parked on the side of the road, as the parking lot was full; just adding to the excitement of it all. Must be good, right? Grab a cup of coffee from the Batista in the entryway before heading in, or get some inside. You better be ready to shop grains, because that’s what they’ve got. Aisles and aisles of grain, pasta, spices, baking mixes and yes, fresh baked goods.

So, that’s all well and good, but what I came here for is a home cooked breakfast. Well close to home cooked. Karla helped us out and let me snap a photo as well. Since it was a little chilly, we opted to not eat on the patio and we went upstairs with our #81 tepee and took a peek to see what we could view from overhead. Is that a library under the stairs? Sure Enough.

From upstairs, where the seating wraps around three sides, you can see the entire store below you. There’s knick-knacks around every corner and random nostalgic items on the shelves. From up here you can enjoy your breakfast (download menu) or lunch (download menu) and secretly spy on the happenings below.

Oh, here comes our breakfast!

Just as a country breakfast should be. Not too fancy. The hash browns? Awesome. The hemp smoothie? Served in a plastic cup. But wait, it’s compostable corn based! Gotcha!

Listen, it’s well worth stopping by. It’s hidden, it’s a roadside attraction, and it’s an employee-owned company.There’s no mistaking that. Cheers!

Are you still not convinced? Check this out. How can you resist this couple’s generosity?
Now you HAVE to go!