The Nah-So-Mah Tribe of Bandon, Oregon has a beautiful legend to explain the monolithic Face Rock and the sea stacks that punctuate the pristine beaches. According to the story, Princess Ewanua and her father, Chief Siskiyou, were visiting tribes along the coast. The local inhabitants were afraid of the evil spirit of the ocean, Seatka, but Ewanua, being from the mountains, did not have such concerns. After a great feast, while the tribes lay sleeping, Ewanua, carrying her cat and kittens in a basket, together with her dog, Komax, walked to the ocean to swim in the swirling currents.

Suddenly the evil sea spirit grabbed Ewanua. The dog, Komax, carrying the basket of cat and kittens in his mouth, tried to rescue his mistress, biting Seatka. Howling with rage, the monster threw the basket far out to sea and kicked away the dog. He tried to get Ewanua to look him in the eye, which she refused to do, knowing that his power lay in his eyes.

In the morning the tribes found Ewanua, turned to stone, her face looking up at the sky, refusing to look at Seatka who is nearby. Komax, the cat and kittens lie to the west, waiting for their mistress to return.

We first heard this legend sitting in Lord Bennett’s Restaurant along the cliff tops of Bandon. With its panoramic 180 degrees view of the Pacific Ocean, it is the perfect spot to watch the sun setting behind the majestic rock formations, including Face Rock, in the midst of the swirling sea and sand.

Named after the Irishman who emigrated from Bandon, Ireland and is credited with naming the town, Lord Bennett’s specializes in seafood that is locally sourced and seasonally produced. The most popular plate is a combination platter of grilled fish with scallops, prawns, steamer clams and mussels sauteed in garlic butter.

In the summer, in addition to the freshly caught wild salmon, grilled spot prawns are the local delicacy. Also known as Alaskan prawn, these large shrimp are found in the North Pacific, especially Alaska. A single fisherman from Coos Bay fishes it from a deep trench off the coast of Bandon. And you can only eat them at Lord Bennett’s because the chef/owner, Rich Iverson, makes a

point of buying up the entire catch during the few weeks of the year that it is available.

The prawns arrive surrounded by rice, sweet corn and vegetables. They are split in half and perfectly grilled. Tender and sweet, they are like mini lobsters. We enjoy them so much that we come back two nights in a row.

Of course, that is not all that we have. A dozen Kumamoto oysters on the half shell, a bowl of clam chowder so thick that the spoon stands upright, and freshly baked bread round out the meal, accompanied by a glass of local Pinot Gris.

Although the desserts look very appetizing, we simply can’t eat anymore.
Rich comes by for a chat. Although he is also the chef, on the weekends he likes to work the front, chatting with patrons and keeping an eye on his super-efficient staff who keep the water glasses topped up and the bread basket filled.

As the sun turns the sky into a canvas of orange, purple and red, we raise a glass to Princess Ewanua, as she looks skywards!

IF YOU GO
Lord Bennett’s Restaurant is at 1695 Beach Loop Drive, Bandon, OR; (Tel 541-347-3663). Dinner is served daily 1700-1900 pm; lunch is served only on Friday from 1100-1300 and brunch is available on both Saturday and Sunday (1000 to1400).

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