Sunriver Resort Executive Chef Travis Taylor in August had just 30 seconds to decide on a concept and 60 minutes to execute two dishes for a title that will last a lifetime.

Taylor, winner of the Bite of Bend Top Chef competition, took home the title of Iron Chef Oregon after the two-day, three-round culinary event in Portland. Taylor and Sunriver Sous Chef Fabrice Beaudoin beat out some culinary heavyweights from across the state, including the competition’s defending champion, with dishes incorporating duck breast and dark Oregon cherries.

Taylor’s winning entree featured duck prepared two ways – crispy duck with an apple, arugula and garden veggie salad with a hazelnut dressing and pan seared duck with roasted potatoes and a cherry chutney and cherry chipotle puree.

They weren’t just dished created to win a competition. They were the kind of dishes you’ll find every day at Sunriver Resort. Taylor has incorporated his unique Northwest flair into all nine of the dining outlets he oversees at the resort. Eating anyplace at the resort means you’re in for a unique culinary experience that utilizes local and seasonal produce and fresh local fish and meats from regional farmers. The result is diverse, rotating menus.

Those menus are on full display each month during Sunriver’s Winemakers Dinner Series. The series allows the winemakers themselves to explain what went into creating their wines and gives Chef Taylor the opportunity to create a perfect tasting menu pairing.

He recently talked to The Source weekly here in Bend about his win, his culinary style and more. You can read the story here.

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The Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) is the "Official" Tourism Information Resource for Central Oregon, including the communities of Bend, Sunriver, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Crooked River Ranch, Terrebonne, Culver and Black Butte Ranch. Most of the stories posted online can be found in the Official Central Oregon Visitors Guide.