Leftovers...

Well, alright then.  I just unloaded the contents of my phone into my computer and found countless pictures of food I never shared.  I know that if you're a friend of mine on Facebook,  that sounds highly unlikely, right?  It has gotten to the point when I take a picture of my food, K asks me to please not post it because our friends will think that all we do is eat.  Which isn't true...really.  It is kind of a funny phenomena these days though, food voyeurism.  Not sure if it started back in 2010 when the NY Times asked readers to send them pictures of their food and received hundreds of submissions.  I have the article bookmarked.  I still refer back to it occasionally when I'm feeling itchy for a foodie fix.

Some of the pictures I have taken I may have felt uninspired to write about, or got too busy, or I simply forgot about them.  OR, I have even felt too self conscious to write about my experience.  I get shy sometimes, it happens.  I'm not feeling shy right now.  I'm feeling like I'm in one of those house-cleaning, dust off the cobwebs and clean out the attic moods.  Or better yet, clean out the fridge.  And here are the leftovers.  Some of them moldy and ready to be tossed but some just as tasty or even more so, than the day they were first served.

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There was the night we spent with our good friend celebrating the New Year and working our way through the Stone Vertical series.  I really didn't have much to say besides "it was Epic"  Truly epic. 

Also epic were the shots I took at Timbers games and the delicious offerings from the Food Cart Alliance.  These tots from Timber's Dog House were an extreme example of how delicious tots can be be.

Or how about these somewhat yummy tots with a more delicious Po'Boy and some even MORE delicious gumbo from Roscoe's?  

There are these yummy pics from the Russell Street BBQ in Portland.  We went some time in April in our quest for BBQ comparable to Austin and for the life of me, I don't know why I wouldn't have told you all about it.    The BBQ was delish but I really would have raved on about the drinks like this cucumber cooler and the Frito Pie appy.  So good.

Also in our great search for well, great food, we like to try out different pizza places.  Who doesn't, really?  So far we've found many notables including the pies at Baby Doll Pizza in Portland and these monster slices at Deschutes Pizza Company in Maupin.  Actually, BDP requires more discussion.  I think we'll head there this week for a "refresher" and I'll tell you all about it later. 

   

Deschutes Pizza

Baby Doll Pizza

There were these lovely pictures from the Wet Dog Cafe in Astoria, Oregon.  Such a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon in Astoria.  Great staff, yummy food and look at that sweet taster.  I can't believe I didn't give you a breakdown of those little beers.  Maybe I did and I just can't find it. The more the pity. 

Some more delicious offerings came courtesy of our friends at TeSoAria.  There wine pick up parties are great fun and they always put out a lovely spread of treats created by Joy Olsen with a little help from John and his Traeger.  

I'm not sure if I've ever shared with you my love for OHana on Sandy Blvd.  If I haven't, I have been remiss. This lovely little restaurant serves it up Hawaiian style with authentic family recipes and some of the most ono this side of the Pacific. 

And then there are the pictures that had me uploading my phone shots in the first place.  This morning K and I went on our continued quest for the best Chicken and Waffles ever.  Miss Kate's Southern Kitchen may fill the bill as far as Portland Ops are concerned.  I enjoyed the Chicken and Waffle while K ordered Miss Kate's Biscuit.  Chicken on a biscuit with bacon, egg, and the most scrumptious bacon gravy, Good Heavens! I didn't even know such a thing existed.  The gravy was creamy, spicy buttery sweet.  The biscuit flaky but not dry.  The bacon was, well, perfect.  The Chicken deserves the capitalization I give it here.  Boneless, skinless, battered in a spicy but not too hot flaky crust.  So tender, juicy and delicious. The waffle it sits atop is crispy, fluffy sweet.  Just a drizzle of the delicious maple syrup is needed here.  This is the real deal. Took me back to Ms. P's in Austin. It was that good.  Wash it down with a Mexican coke or a Sweet Tea and we're talking Heaven.    

The rest of the pictures consisted of our trip to Phoenix.  We consumed some really good food in Phoenix, and some really mediocre food.  I'll save that all for a different post.  

  

Best Burgers in Gresham...bold claim and follow through.

Although I'm sure I'm not the first, I do want to be one of the many to congratulate Shannon Chisom and Adam Reid on saving the iconically delicious Best Burger, now named Best Burger and BBQ.  I'm not going to get into the rise and almost fall of the relatively new brick and mortar via award winning food cart establishment.  I just want to concentrate on what was clearly one of the best burgers I have had and yes, I've had a few.

K and I stopped in to Best Burger and BBQ on our way home from a short hike and driving loop around the Columbia River Gorge.  I was hankering for a burger and recently had heard there a many places popping up deep in Gresham that would fill the bill.  We decided on Best Burger because we knew exactly where it was already and didn't have to hunt for it.  Really happy with our choice.  

We were ordering to-go because we had our four-legged hiking partner with us and don't like to leave him in the truck on warm days.  We hurried in and were greeted warmly by a hostess/server and handed two menus.  The place is small and the you can either be seated in the not-quite fast food looking dining room or order from the counter at the back of the restaurant.  Behind the counter is the open air kitchen and a door to an Asiany themed full bar called Woks Up, which also boasts 4 full sand volleyball courts out the back patio.  I had hoped for a patio where we could bring the pooch but there is a giant "No Pets Allowed" sign and so there I had my answer...

The menus are a little overwhelming and we were in a bit of a hurry and I imagine with my sunglasses and sweaty ponytail looked a little lost.  It was at that moment that the owner, Adam introduced himself and his co-owner, Shannon to us.  He then asked us how we were, how we had heard about them and if we needed any help.  Very nice.  Very aware of his customers and their situation.  In a moment we had decided on the Hawaiian 1/4 pound and the Ranger 1/2 pounder.  Oh, and a basket of Garlic Parmesan Fries ( a basket easily treats two).  

The Hawaiian was pretty much what you would expect; a very tasty burger with provolone cheese, a ring of pineapple and teriyaki.  The hamburger buns are sweet, soft and sturdy enough to hold up to the sauce without being dry.  I loved being able to enjoy the burger with just the right amount of  "juice" and not get too sloppy with a soggy bun.  I do however, enjoy a teriyaki that is a little less salty than what is on this burger.  That may just be my personal preference.  

The Ranger is their prize winner.  We had the 1/2 lb. version of this wonderful cheeseburger topped with beef brisket.  Warily, I poked at the brisket.  It looked like it may be a little dry.  I was wrong.  Oh So Wrong, and delightfully so.  This brisket was moist and flavorful, fully complementing the meat deliciousness of the hamburger.  I want to come back for this one.  My only problem with it is that a portion of the proceeds for this particular burger goes to the USS Ranger Foundation, dedicated to bringing the decommissioned aircraft carrier to rest in the Columbia in the Troutdale/Fairview region.  I don't think this is a good idea but enough about politics, back to burger.  And fries.  Oh the fries.  Hand-cut fresh potato french fries, golden brown and covered with parmesan cheese and just enough garlic to clear your sinuses but not everyone around you.  Straight up yum.  

We'll be back when we have a little more time to spend.  Linger on the extensive (maybe too extensive?) menu and possibly check out those volleyball courts in the back.  Oh yes, we will be back.

Gemini Lounge: I wish I were two people so I could come here twice as much...

I don't know if I want to share this.  I'm feeling selfish and don't want this place, The Gemini Lounge, over-populated. I'm sure there is a later night life here that has the place popping but for happy hour ( a delicious 3 hours long, Thursdays-Sundays 4-7pm) the cozy seating was readily available and the service and food were on the mark.

This place has some great seating street-side but today was a little chilly and so K and I headed inside to meet with our friend, Sue and were greeted warmly by the owner.  He brought us a menu and  guided us through the Happy Hour options happily.

We went for the Fried Pickles which were amazing!  Delicious dill spears perfectly breaded and deep fried.  Served with a Horseradish aioli sauce and ranch.  Both the owner (who was also our server) and the cook who brought out the pickles were careful to warn us to wait before we dove into our plate lest we burn the heck out of our mouths.  Nothing kills a happy hour faster than a shot of scalding hot pickle juice down the back of your throat, and so we thank the staff at Gemini for keeping our welfare in mind.





Now Sue, she's a straight shot sippin' kind of gal and was already into a double of Hornito's Anejo.  K and I were feeling bold and well, happy and so we went for the Cocktail Creations.  K ordered the Medusa; Kracken Rum, Bushwacher's Hard Cider, Cointreau and freshly squeazed OJ.  Very pretty, very dangerous...I went for the Jenny Jen, which happened to be the drink special of the day, $5 all day.  It was basically a grown up Shirley Temple, Prosecco and Pomegranate liquor and Pomegranate juice.  Simply delicious.

As the name foreshadows, the specialty of the house is an amazing array of twin sliders.  I, again, went with the Happy Hour special which follows the current Zodiac sign.  The Taurus sliders are delicious little Painted Hills Beef burgers with Gouda cheese on a sweet, light brioche bun.  K ordered the Sagitarius, a Bleu Cheese burger with carmelized onions and the standard dressing of pickles, lettuce and tomato.  All fresh, mostly local (whenever possible) and just wonderful.  Sue had the Pisces, Wasabi Ahi and a horseradish slaw that brings a happy tear to your eye.  I seriously can't wait to get back and try out the rest of the Zodiac.  There are some amazing vegetarian and vegan options. 

 

All sliders are served with your choice of House salad, Spring Mix, Caesar salad, Truffle fries, House fries (yum), Cajun fries, absolutely crisp and delicious Sweet Potato Fries or a Tomato Gorgonzola soup that I vow to try next time.  Amazing, right?  

This is not your average bar food.  Sure, if you broke it down to simple format...soups, burgers, sandwiches and salads, but the good folks at the Gemini do it better.  K and I are excited to plan our return trip to this little diamond in the "rough" of SE Foster.  

Austin: home away from home for this Portlander

I love Portland, Oregon.  I love Austin, Texas.  It's a little too easy to draw some comparisons and truth be told, although I'm not normally a competitive person, I look at these two bergs as if in constant competition.  Best weather?  I choose Portland because I enjoy the cooler, wetter climate. Best Nightlife?  Austin: Dirty 6th St. and South Congress are hands down more fun at night than any other place I've been including Vegas Strip and New York (although I'd be willing to give NYC another chance). Best Beer?  Portland, by a landslide of hops a mile wide. Best Food? Wait a minute.  It isn't that easy.  With so much goodness in both regions you can't simply blanket "best" this category.

K and I were highly anticipating our Spring Break trip to Austin.  Salivating actually and with good reason considering we were planning entire day's itineraries around where we would be eating each meal.  It started as soon as we got off of the plane.  Our son and his friends greeted us warmly and then asked what our plans for dinner were.  Salt Lick...it was a given.  We had passed up going to Salt Lick on our last trip down and decided it was time. It looked as if a good two-thirds of Driftwood High School was employed at this sweet ranch style restaurant and all of them spoke with a sweet Texas drawl, " How Y'All doin' this eve'nin?" You don't hear accents that strongly in Austin.  I suspect it is because they have a high transient hipster population mixed with a million or so out-of-towners.  Our server was a more seasoned veteran of food service and she kindly guided us through the menu although we already knew what we wanted. We ordered family style, all you can eat...seriously, no regrets.   The food came in baskets and on Melmac plates and bowls.  This was picnic style the way I remember it from the 70's.   Although the sides of potato salad, beans, cole slaw and bread were standard fare, the meat made the meal.  We had ordered a little bit of everything including "Burnt Ends".  Meat candy if ever there was.  The juices and excess sauce they've slathered on the brisket while it was still on the grill collects on these ends and crisps up to black gold.  Saltysweet, Crispytender, Delicious. The ribs were a little fatty for my liking but the flavor was yum.  The brisket, including the burnt ends, was amazing, melt in your mouth meat with a soft smokiness.  The sausage, surprisingly, was my favorite.  These smoky links were really packed with flavor.  I wasn't expecting it to tell the truth and my favoritism still swings back and forth to the burnt ends.  If I close my eyes right now I can almost taste it.  Did the Salt Lick live up to the hype?  Yes. The meat is front and center here and it is the shining star.  It took us days to digest but we couldn't slow down.  There was much food to be had.

The following morning, we couldn't resist and K and I went to the free breakfast at our hotel.  Of course it was convenient but no food really noteworthy.  I did find the Texas shaped belgian waffles charming if not terribly edible.  Budget hotels are not to be known for the quality (or quantity) of their food.

Our son redeemed our morning fare by taking us to a sweet, comfortable vega-friendly restaurant called Bouldin Creek Coffehouse. An array of teas, coffees and specialty drinks may leave you befuddled but trust your gut, you can't go wrong here.  The food items reflect that same pattern.  I had the Bello Jiafra portobello sandwich.  Indescribably good. K ordered off of the breakfast menu and had the Tamale Breakfast: Two cage-free eggs served with two sweet potato pecan tamales.  Yes, sweet potato pecan tamales.  Unbelievable and oh so delicious. The vegetarians here have it gooood. It was also a sweet alternate meal to the previous evening's delicious debauchery.  It was wonderful and I hope to return to this place soon.  The menu was so intriguing and sounded so scrumptious, I truly could have finished the rest of the week just eating here but it's always good to leave something to return to and so...

OK, this part is a little hard to write about.  I'm actually tearing up a little.  A little bit from guilty pleasure shame, but more so because I miss this place so much.  It is a longing I'll have to live with for a great long while.  Later, that same day, we headed over to the brick and mortar version of Gordoughs. A cozy looking Public House equipped with horseshoes and cornhole boards on the patio, extra woody, pubbiness on the inside.  There wasn't a crowd, which was pleasantly surprising considering all the publicity this place gets on the Food Network and the like.  We were quickly seated and given menus but our food took a little longer than I enjoy but I have a theory about that.  When a food cart establishment moves to a full sized dining establishments there are adjustments to be made.  I ran into the same issue with Lardo here in Portland, but as I think about it, the wait bothers me less and less because the food is simply that damn good.  I don't want them to change their mode if it means sacrificing the taste that feeds my dreams.  OK, off of my soap box and back to the review...I ordered the Squealing Pig,  I have to pause, my knees are weak, 3 strips of amazing bacon sitting on top of a Jalapeno Jelly donut with Cream Cheese frosting.  Top it off with candied jalapeno. Now squeal with delight.  K ordered the Ring of Fire (and so our penchant for HotSweet continues) and our son ordered the Dirty Harry. The Ring of Fire is a brownie batter doughnut iced with chocolate icing, drizzled with salted caramel butter sauce and sprinkled with copious amounts of brownie bites and cayenne candied pecans.  So much to love. The Dirty Harry took it to the next level.  This is a bowl of coconut cream filled donut holes covered with chocolate sauce and fresh coconut flakes. It was like a bowl of cocoa puffs, gone to heaven. It will make your day, punk.  OK, sorry, I couldn't resist.  Voodoo Donuts in Portland are unique but I have often whispered that they are simply so-so flavor-wise.  I much more prefer to drive out to Joe's Donuts in Sandy or head up to Annie's donuts on Sandy Blvd when I'm looking for delicious donut flavor. Gordough's kicks all of their donut...well, let's just say Gordoughs wins.  Over and over again.  Next time I may need to stop in here for an actual meal and not just the "snack" we craved, but goodness knows these donuts are a meal in themselves.  This place serves their burgers on their doughnuts...I'm tearing up again.

Quick note: There is a fast food chain in the Midwest and California named "Freebirds World Burrito"  I want one to open in Oregon, pronto.  And this is why...$5 piled high nachos. 

And then there is the Lucky Robot.  Based on a Tokyo restaurant concept, this self proclaimed Japanese Kitchen brings cool to the hot days in Austin.  Don't let the iPad ordering frighten you, it's basically drive-in style ordering brought into the 21st Century and it is fun.  Traditional menus are available but once you get the hang of the iPad you'll forget about hiding your face behind laminated plastic.  With the exciting spin on traditional Japanese cuisine, the super attentive, sweet staff and the wonderful atmosphere, this is a quick favorite. Over-ordering will be your only regret here because everything we ordered was delicious, and delicious is a weak word for what I'm feeling.  Let's start with the Love Replica Taco.  Sesame crusted ahi tuna with cabbage, thai basil, mint, ginger scallions and cilantro, finished with cranberries, avocado and wasabi aioli on a flour tortilla.  The ahi in this was perfection and the blending of these flavors had me wondering, then proclaiming it was the best thing I had ever eaten.  Now granted, that may have been the spicy sweet sake punch, Thai Basil Lemon Drop, talking but we did split the pitcher so I think I'm safe here.  Try the Asian Tacos, try the sashimi, try the Crunchy Atomic Tuna Roll.  お楽しみください！

        

For this trip to Austin,Texas, I had some very specific meals in mind.  One of them was the chicken and waffles at Ms. P's Electric Cock. Our last trip to Austin left us traveling to this popular food cart not once, but twice turned away without Ms. P's sumptuous chicken.  This time we would persevere.  This time we would not fail.  This time we would dine on the dusty but comfortable picnic benches on South Congress not once but twice!  The first time we arrived too early for chicken and waffles, which is confusing to me noting my old fashioned assumptions that waffles are breakfast food but it makes sense.  This is a food cart.  The space is small and if they were rolling out those chicken and waffles they wouldn't have room to create and serve their amazing breakfast burritos.  Whatever you may like on your breakfast burrito, I suggest you choose chicken strips.  The coating on these strips is crisp, spicy, savory good.  Well, who cares what came first, the chicken or the egg?  They belong together wrapped in a warm tortilla and covered with a spicy green tomatillo sauce.  We returned the following day for this...

The waffles are crisp, sweet chewy goodness.  Pair them up with Ms. P's succulent, spicy, chicken and some pickled hot jalapenos and carrots and you're in a level of Heaven I call Austin.  I will go here again and again and again but does Portland have a contender?  Plenty.  None of them are carts and most are a little spendy but I still battle it out over whether the C&W at Screen Door or Country Cat is the better plate.  Both are absolutely delightful but for different reasons.  And I'm still eagerly anticipating the re-opening of Mac and Dub's, scheduled for June 1st.  Best chicken and waffles in Portland.  Better than Ms. P's?  mmmmm I think I need another bite...

Spring, she is a-springing

In my real life, I work in Education.  It is an especially rewarding/trying/wonderful/excruciating career to consider.  I feel equally blessed and damned on many occasion.  This time of year, in the district where I work, we blessedly receive one week off to recuperate from the dreariness of winter.  It is called Spring Break.  This year, it couldn't have come soon enough so I decided to start early. I choose to celebrate Spring all March long.

Well, actually I did wait until March 16th when K and I attended our quarterly TeSoAria wine pick up.  Owners John and Joy Olsen again put out a yummy, casual spread of goodies and their always amazing crew of staff and volunteers poured their fantastic selection of wines.  I know I usually skip the whites and head straight for the deep and delicious reds but I must profess, the Vermentino truly has me dreaming of long and lazy summer days, sitting on the porch, putting away a bottle of this stuff.  Now if I can just get Joy's recipe for Barbacoa pork that she used for the little sliders she served at the pick up...

On the 17th K put together our traditional St. Patrick's Feast of deliciousness pulling together not one, not two but four Corned Beef Briskets served with Colcannon.  Shae made her own Irish specialty, Kerry Cake. (recipe to come)  So amazing.  Thank goodness we had burned a few calories earlier in the day during the 35th Annual Shamrock Run for Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

On the 21st we attended the Laurelwood Public House's 12th Anniversary.  Owners Mike De Kalb and Cathy Woo De Kalb have been successfully gathering friends, fans and family to their Public Houses for 12 years.  Touting some of the tastiest beers made as organic and sustain-ably possible, the family friendly "pub" on NE Sandy Blvd is one of my favorite places to go.    To celebrate their 12th, LPH held a wonderful little party and released The Boss IPA 12.0.  Now, at first I misread this as 12 % and thought "what?!  how can that be?"  Can IPA's even get to 12%  The answer is "yes"  there are a few Imperial IPAs out there that reach that level although when you get above 10% you're generally looking at Barleywines, Barrel aged, and Stouts.  But let's get back to the Boss 12.0.  with it's ABV around 6.5%.  This is a really well balanced, not too bitter IPA with the sweet floral ending I look for whenever I sip off of K's IPAs.  I'm proud to say that over the past couple of years I have learned to enjoy an IPA or two or four leaving my generally favored Porters and Stouts for chillier weather and cozier evenings.  I think I really came to appreciate the Oregon style IPA when we started growing our own hops, a delight to look at and breathe in.  

After a couple of rounds of delicious chicken wings, garlicky fries and IPAs, my friends and I enjoyed a little impromptu dance party with the amazing Loop Ninja, Tony Smiley. This one-man-band loop artist extraordinaire was amazing to watch and listen to.   A quick congrats to Mr. De Kalb and his crew on another great year in beer.

Then it was time to celebrate K and my 27th anniversary.  So we headed down to NE Alberta district to do what we love best, eat and drink.   First stop was Aviary's happy hour, a nice way to introduce yourself to this smarmy little place.  This menu has some really bold offerings and although I was intrigued by such menu items as the red curry braised goat and the fennel cured sturgeon, we did just want to start our evening here and so we stuck to the bar's HH menu.  K ordered an IPA.  Yes, I'm smiling when I type that. I ordered a Death by Snu Snu (yes, I'm smiling as I type that as well) cocktail in spite of it's $11 price tag because I really wanted something funky and absinthe inspired.   This puppy delivered, not death, but sweet sweet deliciousness. I suppose those guys drawing Futurama knew what they were talking about.
To munch on, we had the brussel sprout nachos, trotters and eggs and the slaw dogs.  I loved the queso fresco and the sauces served but perhaps the brussel sprout could have been a teeny bit less charred and they would have come off better and not so bitter.  The trotters and eggs are basically a scotch egg deconstructed.  Very pretty and tasty, satisfying but nothing to knock your socks off.  The Slaw Dog however is a deal-maker.  The smoky sweetness of the dog and the spicy sting of the slaw, whoa.  Don't worry what your date is thinking when you stick this messy thing in your mouth, it's worth it.

After Aviary, we decided to walk up Alberta and stop wherever we darn well wanted to.  And there it was.  Pie and Cocktails.  You don't have to beat me with a stick, of course I want pie and cocktails.  This was going to be an evening of mixing it up so who cares if dessert is the "middle course"?  I hadn't even heard that Travel and Leisure had voted Random Order one of the best pies in America.  Yes, BEST PIE in America.  Here we were, and they were right.  K ordered the Irish coffee and a Tahitian Vanilla Suger Salted Caramel Apple Pie.  I had the Temperance Trader Bourbon infused SDF-PDX Salted Pecan pie and a Nudge.  Truly, the only way I ever want to have Pie and Coffee again.  Sitting in the window, watching the sunset down Alberta, listening to Devo's Are We Not Men? Thank you, Random Order, thank you.




Off and running again, the Branch Whiskey Bar beckoned.  Not only because I had a Groupon, but because I wanted to try a Lobster Corndog.  I mean really, we had set out this evening to try things we had not tried before and a lobster corndog was definitely on that list.  So glad we stopped in.  This place was hoppin' but we found a perfect little table at the back, perfect for kitchen spying, K and I love watching kitchens at work.  It reminds us of when we were younger and able to keep that kind of pace.  I shudder to think of myself on the line now.  Someone would get hurt.  Probably me.
We ordered whiskey drinks because this was, after all, a Whiskey Bar.  K had the Dark and Stormy and I ordered a Whiskey Ginger with Ginger Beer.  It'll put a whistle on your lips for sure.  We shared an order of Lobster Corndogs which fortuitously comes with two dogs.  Warning: don't disrobe your dog.  It is a wonderful salty sweet indulgence but definitely not pretty if you separate "dog" from "corn".  Just close your eyes and enjoy. The corndog was firm, not greasy and had just a hint of savory sweet seafoodness.  I want more. To double our indulgence we ordered the Duck Fat French Fries.  I promise, this isn't just naive consumerism talking.  These fries are wonderful, crisp, herbaceous, fat, delicious.  But rich.  A little too rich to take in all at once so you definitely want to share your order.  Putting all these away yourself will have you diving into your water glass like a mad dog.  Unfortunately, my Groupon wouldn't load...guess I'll have to come back and try that Chicken and Truffle Pot Pie.

All in all, a great start to the month, and she isn't even over yet...