NPSO 2015 Annual Meeting

Penstemon barrettiae along the Klickitat River. Photo by Carolyn Wright

Meals: Options & Menus

The Best Western Hood River Inn (BWHR Inn) is well known for the quality of its food and for its wine and beer lists. Conference meals will be served in the Columbia Room, on the mezzanine level. The registration form asks you to indicate your special eating preferences and limitations. The Inn’s kitchen & catering staff is well-practiced at preparing and serving meals to conference attendees, and we will work closely with them to meet your needs.

If you prefer to bring your own food, you will have a small refrigerator and microwave in your room – however, you will not be able to bring your own food or beverages into the Columbia Room. The BWHR Inn has a full dining room (the Riverside Restaurant) and a bar/lounge/restaurant (Cebu Lounge). In addition, the town of Hood River has many attractive eateries.

Draft conference menus are posted here so that you can decide whether to prepay for the catered meals or to make other plans. The menus may change slightly by the time of the meeting, based in large part on the selections you make on your registration forms. The costs of the Friday evening buffet and the Saturday afternoon snacks are included in the registration fee. You will indicate on the registration form which additional meals (Saturday breakfast, box lunch, banquet buffet) you want to purchase.

Even at buffets, the chapter will pay as a function of how many people are served, so pre-registration for meals is required. Early registration helps us and the BWHR Inn staff prepare for the event. We also encourage you to purchase your beverages at the no-host bars except where the menu indicates that they are included in the cost of the meal. Ice water and coffee will be available at meal and snack times

In the draft menus below, GF means “gluten free” and “V” means “vegan.” When a meal is being served buffet-style, vegan meals may be separately plated & may include items not listed here.

Ice water and coffee will be available at meal (and snack) times.

Friday Evening Hors D'oeuvres Buffet

Included with registration

5:30-7:00PM, Columbia Room

A selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. For example:

Chicken skewers “Diablo” (GF)
Quesadillas with portobello, goat cheese & roasted tomatoes
Spanakopita with spinach & feta
Meatballs in tomato sauce (GF)
Deviled eggs (GF)
Melon or asparagus with prosciutto (GF)
Red pepper hummus, olives & pita/ricecrackers (GF,V)
Mixed nuts (GF,V)
Fresh fruit & vegetable platters (GF, V)
Coffee, decaf, tea, no host bar

Penstemon rupicola, Monte Carlo WA. Photo by Carolyn Wright.

Ribes sanguineum (Red-flowering currant), Memaloose State Park. Photo by Don Hardin.

Saturday Breakfast

$15.50

7:00-8:00AM, Columbia Room

House-made almond granola (GF, V) & Greek yogurt (GF)
Poached Hood River pears w/ toasted hazelnuts (GF, V)
Freshly baked muffins (GF, V), pastries, scones
Seasonal fresh fruits
Chilled organic fruit juices
Coffee, decaf, teas, hot cocoa (only for those who have paid for buffet)

Saturday Box Lunch

$16.50

Pickup 7:30-8:00AM, Columbia Room foyer

Select one of the following. All include potato chips, whole fresh fruit, house-made GF cookie, bottled water.

1. Croissant sandwich: turkey & aged provolone
2. GF & V: Veggie: hummus, marinated red peppers, seasonal vegetables, olive tapenade on GF ciabatta roll
3. Ham & swiss on marble rye with Dijon mustard
4. GF: Italian sandwich: prosciutto, salami, sopressata, aged provolone, pickled onions & marinated sweet peppers on GF ciabatta roll

Saturday afternoon snacks (limited quantity):

4:30-6:00 p.m. Columbia Room foyer

Included with registration

Salted party mix, tortilla chips & salsa, cheese & crackers (including GF options), fresh veggies
Coffee, decaf, tea and no-host bar

Saturday Buffet Dinner

$35

6:00-7:30 PM, Columbia Room

Smoked chicken & gemelli pasta w/ lemon, spinach & gorgonzola
Baked penne pasta w/ tomato & vegetables (GF, V)
House-made meatballs in red gravy (GF)
Roasted vegetables (GF, V)
Beet salad w/ orange horseradish dressing (GF, V)
Antipasti platter
House-made focaccia (GF) & butter
Hood River Apple Crisp (GF, V) w/ optional whipped cream
Coffee, decaf, tea, iced tea (for those who have pre-paid for the banquet)
No-host bar

Sunday Breakfast

You are on your own for breakfast Sunday morning, unless you are attending the board meeting, at which a continental breakfast will be available.

Cypripedium fasciculatum (Clustered Ladyslipper), Weldon Wagon Trail. Photo by Dell Rhodes

Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata (Spotted Coralroot), Conboy Lake National Wildlife Reserve. Photo by Don Hardin.

If you have questions that aren't answered here, send email to annualmeeting@npsoregon.org.