ChocolateFest 2014: Returning to Yum

This weekend K and I decided to return to the ChocolateFest after taking a year hiatus from the event.  Last year we headed south to Salem for the First Taste of Oregon and that was wonderful but we missed the decadence and yumminess that is ChocolateFest.

Still fun, still delicious and filled with vendors of all things chocolate and some things not so chocolatey but still quite wonderful.  And occasionally quite decadent.

SakeOne again brought it in big with their delicious fruity but not overly sweet Saketinis. This Forest Grove, Oregon based craft sake brewer stole my heart long ago with their Momokawa, Moonstone and G+ Sake lines.  I had never enjoyed sake before SakeOne and now I purchase it as regularly as wine or beer.  It is a refreshing change and should be considered.

There is a small coalition of wineries at the festival and although they are fun and often offer a unique sampling of flavors (ie Chocolate wine) they aren't my favorite part of this event and so I try not to spend too much time lingering around them.  (I know a few of you who know me personally are doubting the validity of that statement but it's true).  I was however, intrigued by a sampling of sipping vinegars that were absolutely delightful and had me envisioning an evening of concocting old-timey flavored punches and cocktails.  I had to pick up the warming sweetness of the Ginger Honey Shrub from Sage and Sea Farms.

It was a difficult choice and I'm sure I'll need to visit the Portland Farmer's market and pick up a couple more bottles.  Perhaps the Beet Sipping Vinegar or the sweet soft and refreshing lavender.  Don't balk, just try them and let me know what you think.


Because we had already attended the Wine and Chocolate Pairing seminar a couple of years ago, K and I decided to watch the cooking demonstration for Chicken Mole by Lane Community College's Chef Clive Wanstall.  His humorous and delightful presentation may have been a little rushed but it introduced a delicious way to serve up chocolate in an unorthodox manner.











Now certainly some of my favorite suhweet treats were represented and we quickly sought out Cupcake Jones.  Still the best place for cupcakes in Portland,  if you ask me.  Did I tell the about the time I was sitting outside of Cupcake Jones face deep into an Orange Cremesicle when Timothy Hutton rode up on his bike?  Let's just say no words were exchanged but I know he wanted my cupcake.

Another favorite purveyor of dreamy deliciousness is Arrowhead Chocolates out of Joseph, Oregon.  They create the best single-malt whiskey truffle ever.  Their salted caramel, earl grey, tiramisu and huckleberry truffles should not be missed.  I need to stop talking about them because seriously I could talk myself into driving the 5-6 hours out to eastern Oregon just to buy some more.

I'm also a big fan of Cocotutti, although they are neither a local nor a small batch chocolatier.  They do, however, offer some bold adventures in chocolate without tasting fake, waxy, or false.  The tea infusions are amazing.  I know.  Overused word.  But amazing pretty much wraps it up here.




Some of the vendors were simply producing run of the mill, waxy, flat chocolate but some stand-out yum appeared around each corner and I was especially impressed with the organically and sustainably driven Stirs the Soul.  The owner/chocolatier, Darren Hayes, was especially informative and in spite of his laid back demeanor his passion for chocolate was clear.  I found him later on YouTube, so you can check him out here and see what I mean.  The man and his chocolate are the real deal.

I was also really delighted to meet the owner/creator of Kilikina's. You can tell that this chocolate is created with and inspired by love.  Really sweet, make you smile, kind of love.

With no doubt, I love ChocolateFest and was very happy to return this year.  Sadly, there were no chocolate fountains or sculptures or models drizzled in chocolate as in previous years but that just left more time for meeting people who love their product and eating more chocolate.  And really, that is the point.

New Year's Resolution~ Experience Deliciousness

This autumn was a little rough for me.  I must admit, even when I ate or drank something that inspired me to tell all about it, by the time I was home in front of the computer the words wouldn't come.  But the Winter of my contentedness is here and I'm feeling primed and ready to spread Words of Yum all over the internet.

I have much to tell you but I'm going to start with one great meal/restaurant/festival at a time and work my way back into a delicious groove.  I hope you'll bear with me.  Especially when I've been chomping at the bit to tell you about a new restaurant in my neighborhood.  The Taipei Noodle Haus may appear to be suffering from a bit of an identity crisis but I believe their strategy just might work out for them.

The Parkrose area of NE Portland doesn't have too much to offer in terms of great places to eat. Aside from El Indio's Mexican Food and the truly fantastic Halibut Fish and Chips up at the Wooden Chicken most of the area's "restaurants" (read as bar and grill) don't really offer much more than standard fried bar fare.  Sure, a couple of places have tried but then seem to head right back into the PBR and Bud on Tap pitfall and there is always a quick trip up to Sandy Blvd and the Rose City area for more authentic attempts in adventurous dining.  Parkrose isn't much for adventures in dining but the new Chinese restaurant that offers everything from Korean Kim Chi to traditional Chinese/American standards to Noodle soups may just make it.  I hope so.

Let's not digress.  Let's talk about a fresh, light, perfectly seasoned consomme swimming with meaty, tender pork wontons, and the most crisp and delicious shoots of bamboo, sliced carrots and mushrooms.  This is the soup you want at home when you feel ill and need comfort. This is supreme comfort food. I dream about this soup interchanged with my dreams about their Chinese style Beef Noodle Soup.  Tender sliced beef served over house-made noodles and drenched with a spicy fragrant sinus clearing soup.

When I return my next couple of rounds to the Noodle Haus, I plan on sticking with the Signature Noodle dishes because these have shown the most promise from this new addition to the neighborhood.  Although the Salt and Pepper Shrimp served in shell did knock my socks off, other typical 'main course' dishes were merely fine.  Passable Chinese fare such as General Tso's and Szechuan Chicken are a little bit over-breaded for my liking but still use flavorful seasonings and fresh tender meat and vegetables.

In the starters section, the crab wontons, potstickers and fried shrimp appetizers are all tasty distractions but the fried Spring Rolls delight with a lemongrass tint to the tastiness.  The Korean Kim Chi is perfectly sweet sour spicy and a bargain as well.  

All of the items we have ordered on the menu so far have been very generously portioned and you should plan on taking home some carry-out if you order from the Family Style section of the menu. I'm notorious for indulging in too large portions and I still had to split our food ordered for two into three separate meal times.  So good.

The management and service here is fabulous.  Always attentive without excessive hovering.

The ambiance is lacking.  It's pretty sterile and instead of music there is a flat screen tv tuned to the news hanging in the far corner.  Perhaps some more wall art, live plants or softer lighting may perk things up a bit.

I look forward to returning to the Taipei Noodle Haus many many times and I hope that the neighborhood treats them well.

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