Star Sushi Celebrates Its First Anniversary in Ashland

Star Sushi, located at 293 E. Main in downtown Ashland (across from Bloomsbury Books), is celebrating one year in business. Owner Mario Camcho made the move in August 2012 after his family’s restaurant in Medford had enjoyed considerable success over the last seven years.
“I started work-ing with my father’s restaurant in Bea-verton when I was twenty years old,” Mario said. “In 2006 we decided to move to Medford and open a Star Sushi there. It was very popular, and we thought a similar restaurant in Ashland would be equally successful.”
The atmosphere at Star Sushi is comfortable and relaxing, with interesting murals on the wall, fun sculptures, and a number of tables along the walls and in front facing East Main. The sushi bar is located in back, and it seats eight people. There you will meet their all-star chef Ricky, who hails originally from Korea and knows everything there is to know about sushi and all its different permutations.
The menu features lots of different sushi, but it’s not the only thing on the menu. When I was there for lunch last week, I had their Chicken Teriyaki, which was outstanding. Their other specialties include Spicy Chicken, Shortrib, Beef Yakinku, Teppan Vegetable (with tofu), Breaded Pork Cutlets, and Curry Rice Vegetables, all of which are served with miso soup, salad and steamed rice.
There are also plenty of appetizers (Edamame, Salmon Kama, Tempura Chicken, etc.), hot noodle dishes, soups, salads, and Bento plates. The latter are especially good and also come with miso soup, salad, goyza (or tofu) and steamed rice.
At the sushi bar, you can order from a dazzling array of sushi rolls, all of which are pictorially shown on their menu. The Mt. Hood, for example, features shrimp tempura and crab. The Orlando comes with baked salmon and crab. The Vegas features Tempura shrimp, spicy tuna and crab.
There are also veggie rolls and nigiri, plus the Sushi Bar Specials feature things like 5-piece sushi and 6-piece tuna rolls. All of the Sushi Bar Specials can easily feed two people.
The menu also offers desserts such as Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake and Tempura ice cream. Beer and wine is available, as is sake. The restaurant offers plenty of local wines, like Grizzly Peak and Del Rio.
Star Sushi is open seven days a week (Mon-Thu 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10pm; and Sundays noon to 8pm). For more information, call 541-482-1710. They can also be seen on Facebook.

Paschal Winery Now Back Under Original Ownership

When you walk through the doors of Paschal Winery, located at 1122 Suncrest Road outside Talent, you almost feel as if you’ve discovered a piece of Tuscany here in the Rogue Valley.  The tasting room’s cool tile floors, walls adorned with art, and rounded windows with views of rolling hills rowed with vineyards is the perfect setting to get you in the mood to sample their locally-made wine.
Roy and Jill Paschal established Paschal Winery in 1998, and after a brief change of ownership, once again are back to share their love of wine with the Rogue Valley. Roy was raised on a family cotton farm in Arkansas.
“He created a host of entrepreneurial successes, and Paschal Winery is a beloved project where he can be in touch with his agricultural spirit and love of the land,” said Tasting Room manager Agnieszka Stachurska. “After the success of the vineyard, the winery and tasting room followed naturally on site.”
The tasting room is now open daily from 11am to 6pm, pouring seven to eight varietals of wine made from locally-grown grapes. The vineyard site is planted with pinot gris, viognier, pinot noir and merlot.
“We are known for our unconventional red blends,” Agnieszka said. “Our goal is to offer a community space for musicians, local artists and to support nonprofit organizations in their endeavors as well.”
Paschal hosts weekly music concerts, as well as a Sunday Serenade Happy Hour from 4 to 6pm with live music, no cover charge and discounted wines by the glass.
“For many years we have cultivated a close relationship with the Siskiyou Jazz Institute and the Classical Guitar Society, who bring acts to Paschal from all over the world,” Agnieszka said. “We are also introducing Swing Dance Events every 2nd Saturday of the month.”
Their warm and welcoming Tuscan-style tasting room is also ideal for private events and weddings.  
“We have had a wonderful welcome back,” Agnieszka said. “We look forward to reconnecting with all of our customers who love this place as much as we do!”
For more info, call 541-535-7957.

Donnie and John Join Forces at So. Ore. Automotive

Local auto mechanics Donnie Elliott and John Bryden have joined forces to open Southern Oregon Automotive, located at 2490 Ashland Street.
Donnie has lived in the valley for 15 years and began working as a mechanic while a student at SOU. He has worked as a mechanic and service manager at a couple of local shops since then.
John started repairing cars at 16 and opened a repair shop in Del Mar, California. After moving to Ashland 20 years ago “to be part of a closer knit community,” he opened Mobile Man Autorepair, which offers on-site auto repair.
Southern Oregon Automotive is a full-service auto and truck repair shop. They specialize in late-model Japanese and European vehicles, as well as domestic vehicles.
“We offer all types of services, including automotive air conditioning and full-service diagnostics on all late-model vehicles, including hybrids,” Donnie said. “All repairs come with a Nationwide parts and labor warranty, due to our BWD Certified Auto Repair affiliation.”
John agreed. “Customers can expect prompt, expert service with the proper experience, knowledge and technology that one should expect when working on modern vehicles,” he said. “We strive to make sure the customer understands the problem and the options they are available to solve the problem.”
The shop offers a one-year, 12,000-mile warranty on almost all repairs. The Mobile Man Autorepair is also available to help motorists on site when broken down or stranded.
“We can diagnose the issue on site and have the vehicle brought to our repair facility if needed,” John said. “We offer fair, reasonable, top-quality automotive repair that you can depend on with a Nationwide parts and labor warranty,”
For more info, the phone number is 541-482-2010 or 541-708-0767.

Avalon Reopens in Talent

The hills of Talent are definitely alive with the sound of music (and kitchen utensils), as Avalon Bar and Grill is back open with new owners. Stefano and Anna Cipollone are intent on putting the Avalon back on the map, both with their new traditional American menu and the musical lineup.
Stefano is a first-generation Italian American who grew up in the restaurant business of his family in south Florida.
“When I was young, I spent summers visiting family in South America,” Stefano said. “My future travels would lead me to working in the kitchens of Colorado, Alaska, and now, for the last nine years, Oregon.”
While working in Colorado, Stefano learned from some of the best chefs and restaurateurs that the mountains of Colorado had to offer. He helped people design their kitchens and open new restaurants. He continued his career here in the Rogue Valley with the Jacksonville Inn, and helping to open Cicily’s Pastaria and Grill in Medford.
Stefano was also a wildland firefighter, spending the first five of the last nine years working as a Hotshot, and originally the Forest Service brought him to the Rogue Valley.
“Working as a wildland firefighter can be hard on a family, so I changed career directions to follow my dream of continuing in the tradition of my father and grandfather,” Stefano said. “They were both accomplished chefs who knew the value of respecting the food.”
Stefano is intent on being a hands-on owner. “This valley is amazing, and we use local purveyors for much of our food and wine,” he said. “Our bread is homemade rosemary onion, and we also make our own desserts, dressings, soups and sauces. We buy from Cherry Street Meats, the Phoenix Farmers Market, and the local farmers’ markets. Our meat comes in fresh, like Umpqua Valley lamb, and we use local grass-fed beef when available.”
The music schedule is also varied, as they have booked Ed Dunsavage, Gayle Wilson, the Rogue Suspects, Karen Lovely and Wine Without Reason this month, among others.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Tue-Sun. Sunday brunch starts at 10am.You can see them on Facebook at Avalon Bar and Grill Talent. Call 541-535-6677 for more info.