Thyme opens at FivePine

The FivePine campus's new restaurant Thyme has a lot more going for it than just a new name. With Jennifer and TR McCrystal's influence, there's a fresh approach to offering a more upscale dining experience.

The new name on the building is just the beginning.

"We are teaming up with FivePine to offer a casual bistro style dining experience," said Jennifer McCrystal.

Thyme will offer a variety of price options, and is also a more casual dining experience than Jen's Garden. The new restaurant will cater to FivePine guests, local clientele, visitors from Bend and tourists.

A minor remodel enhanced the community-comfort feel they were looking for. Some of the new touches include floral photographs by Valori Wells-Kennedy as well as some of her own designs on fabrics used in all kinds of creative ways. Several half-walls were constructed to give the space a cozier feel. Barbara Berry's paintings are still on display as well.

Another attraction for families is access to Sisters Athletic Club's "Kid's Club." All patrons need to do is let Thyme staff know when they are making dinner reservations. The cost is $2.50 per child, per hour. Children must be picked up by 8 p.m., so it's best to plan your dinner with an early reservation time.

Up until the official reopening, a few items were added to the menu. On April 9, the menu, bar menu and wine list changed to reflect the expertise that has made Jen's Garden such a big success in Sisters.

The new menu will offer guests an ala carté, bistro style menu with specials reflecting the availability of seasonal foods.

"We're open Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to close. It's a place where locals can drop by and have a drink after work or a lovely, casual dinner," said McCrystal.

Having honed her skills at Jen's Garden for the past four years, Chef Caryl Hosler will offer an array of delicious food, from appetizers to entrees, salads and desserts.

Starters include steamed clams in sausage, beer, saffron and tomato broth, a combination of flavors that has both medium heat from the Spanish chorizo sausage and exquisitely seasoned quarter-sized clams. The dish begs for more bread to soak up the last drop of the broth. The sweet potato and smoked salmon ravioli with sage butter was off the charts with a combination of light, sweet, crunchiness nestled in a bed of mixed greens. The salmon and sweet potato filling left diners excited about the next culinary adventure.

The soup and salad course included French onion soup with bleu cheese and Gruyere gratin. The rich, warm flavors of the cheeses make it a perfect soup for a cold winter night to warm up with by the fire.

At Thyme, you can come in, sit down in one of their cozy seating areas complete with fireplace and leather couches and enjoy a great glass of wine and a light snack with friends, or choose one of the many booths or tables.

Main courses at Thyme vary from the bistro burger grilled with a blend of bison and beef with grilled onions, Gruyere cheese and mushroom demi for $13, to chimichurri marinated flatiron steak with white bean cassoulet and peppercorn sauce for $18.

The lemon caper chicken meatloaf over roasted red potatoes and Thyme jus for $15 is amazing.

The experience at Thyme isn't complete until you've slid your fork through one of their amazing desserts. The flourless chocolate cake with ganache is intensely rich. The maple cinnamon, crème brulee was a wonderful surprise. All desserts are $6, and with a great cup of freshly brewed coffee are great way to cap off an exciting new adventure in Sisters Country

dining.

"FivePine has a spectacular campus, and the final piece of the puzzle was having a consistent, high-quality dining experience at their restaurant," said McCrystal.

Thyme is located on the FivePine Campus next to Sisters Athletic Club. For more information call

541-588-6151.