June/July 2010
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Flatbread Community Oven: Fun, Funky, Family Friendly! by Annette Benedetti 
Looking for a great place to take your family for lunch or dinner? How about a cool joint to hit for a night out on the town for just the two of you? Flatbread Community Oven, located at The Old Mill in Bend, is just the place!
Somehow the people at Flatbread have managed create an atmosphere that is the perfect blend of family friendly and funky. As much as my kids like to eat at restaurants that make you feel like you stepped straight into a nonsensical Loony Toons episode, I must admit, it pains me to spend money on my own personal torture experience. Should I feel guilty about wanting to maintain some sense of my pre-parenting dignity when I go out? Well, the question of whether or not I should feel guilty is moot with Flatbread as a mealtime option. The staff is incredibly friendly and responsive, and the menu is packed with delectable options that include wood fired flatbreads, pizzas, pastas, and more! Surrounded by warm earthy colors and split wood piled up to the ceiling, you'll be anything but on sensory overload. Even the wildest children can't help but feel soothed. And I haven't even mentioned the best part yet: the entertainment for the kids! A bar runs along one side of the restaurant providing a perfect place for little ones to perch while they watch pizzas get made. From their doughy beginnings all the way into the fiery oven (a huge fireplace fueled by wood and placed right in the wall), each pizza is created right in front of their transfixed eyes. What about a night out alone? Once again, Flatbread has somehow found that perfect middle ground that allows grownups to be grownups and kids to be kids. There is a great bar area that is kid free, but in general all of the restaurant's seating is appropriate for date night. And as the kiddos head off to bed (noted by their dwindling numbers), Flatbread is transformed into the type of joint I used to frequent when I was an "oh so hip" non-mom. Lit candles lining restaurant's far brick wall provide a cool nightlife atmosphere. And the wine is amazing! Don't know your wines? Don't worry, the staff is incredibly knowledgeable; tell them what you like and they'll match you up with a glass of wine that will top your night off. Great food, fun atmosphere, and the perfect wine; what more could you ask for? But don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself (and then write me and tell me how right I was). You can download their menu and find out more at www.flatbreadpizza.com. Welcome to a family dining experience without all the headaches. Cool Flatbread fact (taken straight off their menu): In 1984, a group of friends who represented the old tradition of pizza-makers in Naples, founded the VPN Association. Their aim was to protect and cultivate the culinary tradition of the Neapolitan pizza. On September 15, 1997 the Italian government awarded the VPN the esteemed denomination of control (D.O.C. or Certificate of Origin). Flatbread is the only VPN certified Neapolitan pizzeria in Oregon and one of only 21 in the United States. FCO is proud to strictly adhere to the statutes set forth by the VPN. Their pizzas are wood fired in over 800 degrees which imparts a slight rustic char that perfectly complements the balance of fresh flavors. They use only the highest quality ingredients available, including authentic Caputo Italian Flour, imported San Marzano tomatoes, "fior di latte" (fresh whole milk mozzarella), and fresh herbs. |
