One thing that Portland has plenty of in the wintertime is rainy Saturdays. Well we recently happened upon a nice prescription to chase away those rainy day blues: Drink a bunch of whiskey.
Fooditka got invited to a whiskey tasting at The Knock Back on Northeast Alberta, and knowing my fondness for mellow, smokey brown spirits, she invited me to tag along. The added bonus, in addition to some damned fine whiskey, was the venue itself. I've been meaning to check out The Knock Back for quite awhile, and here was the perfect opportunity. The tasting was courtesy of Koval, a distillery in Chicago that is steadily gaining traction with whiskey drinkers across the land, and with good reason. Their product is top-notch; I'd rank it up there with any American whiskey I've tasted to this point. The food came out of The Knock Back's kitchen, and I'd say it was also very good. However, this post is a team effort, and we'll leave that part of the review to the expert. I'll mainly stick to the liquor.
Atmosphere:
The Knock Back has some serious curb appeal. It just looks like the kind of place where good times are found in abundance. The outdoor area looks fantastic for the warmer months, and the inside has the exact right balance of class and neighborhood joint. There is a ton of cool artwork all over, highlighted by a painting of Chuck Norris with a pair of Super-Soakers aimed and ready. The bar itself is nicely appointed, and all of the different drinks and menu items are up on the back wall in plain sight. It's in a perfect location, smack in the middle of Alberta Street, and will hopefully remain there in perpetuity.
Koval Whiskey - Founded in Chicago in 2008, Koval is a relatively new company. It was started by a married couple who decided to leave behind a life of academia, and begin a new pursuit: craft high-quality whiskey from organic grains that are produced by farms in the Midwest, thereby supporting sustainable agriculture and the local economy. As lofty as those goals sound, at its heart, the decision was probably an easy one for the simple fact that whiskey is more fun than school.
The tasting itself consisted of 4 different types of whiskey, plus the good people at The Knock Back made a delightful punch to go with all their food. The base for the punch was Koval's White Rye, which I believe is the same spirit as their Rye Whiskey, but it's not aged in oak barrels. All of their limited edition whiskey is aged 2 - 4 years in toasted 30 gallon barrels, as opposed to charred 55 gallon barrels, like most other American whiskeys. The smaller barrel allows the spirit to mature faster, and the toasted wood seems to make the finished product more mellow than a charred oak barrel would.
Millet - This was the first whiskey we sampled and while it was decent, it was definitely the weakest of the four. I thought it was slightly smokey, and rather clean tasting, but a little too thin. It lacked the substance you usually find in a high quality whiskey. Perhaps I'm just not a fan of whiskey made from millet. This is the only time I've had any, and again, not bad, but nowhere near as good as the next three whiskeys on the menu. Maybe that's why they put it out there first. On a scale of 1 - 5, I'd have to give it a 3.
Rye - Ahhh, yes. There it is. This was a much more substantial whiskey than the first, but somehow not quite as smokey. It was smooth and even, and not overpowering. It had a great, almost silky texture, that coated my palate in just the right way. A little drop of water swirled in enhanced the overall experience, so I imagine it would be fantastic on the rocks. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Bourbon - The bourbon was the bomb. I like bourbon in general, so I was especially interested in critiquing theirs. This, in my opinion, was fantastic. What stood out to me was the aftertaste. The initial sip was great, and then it bled slowly away, lingering with a slightly sweet and smooth flavor. It was just the right amount of bite and texture, and somehow not too "bourbony." The Knock Back guys came around with stylish Manhattans in frosted glasses made from this delightful spirit, proving the point that it is perfect in mixed drinks also. I'm going to say 4.9 out of 5, but only because perfection is supposed to be unattainable.
Four Grain - This one reminded me more of a scotch than an American whiskey. I'd have to say it was the smoothest of the four, and not too smokey, on account of the toasted oak that it's aged in. The overall taste was remarkably even, with no one flavor standing out above the others, yet all contributing perfectly. Again, a tiny bit of water really opened it up, and I would love to try it on the rocks. Fortunately, Koval is being distributed in Portland now, so I'm sure I'll get my chance soon. Let's say another 4.9 out of 5.
Food:
As Dan promised, now it's time to get to the food portion of this post, which I was lucky enough to sample. Overall, the food was impressive and delicious and enough of a reason to return to the Knock Back. Here's what we tried:
Potato Croquettes - I love a great croquette and this had all the winning elements, including a crispy exterior, a soft, pillowy interior and some cheesy goodness on top. Their size was perfect for popping into your mouth, and both Dan and I indulged in a few pieces.
Dirty Popcorn - An appropriate snack to have with the whiskey, their seasoned popcorn packed a punch with lots of interesting spices. Although we felt a little bit of heat with each bite, the flavors were nicely balanced and didn't overpower the palate.
Bruleed Marshmallows - My favorite part of the afternoon was when the Knock Back's talented mixologist brought out a sampling of boozy marshmallows made from Koval's fruity liqueurs and then proceeded to brulee them on the spot. I don't know how he did it, but he managed to get a flawless brown crust on the outside of the marshmallow, whereas the inside was oozy, sweet and oh so delicious.
Service and Cost:
As we were invited to a private event, there was obviously no cost to speak of. However, I'll tell you that all of the whiskey that we tried retails for around $50 a bottle, give or take a few dollars. For that price, and the quality of the product, I'd say it is definitely worth it. It may sound a little pricey, but you usually get what you pay for, and I've had more expensive whiskey that wasn't nearly as good.
3 Mmmms
The Knock Back - 2315 NE Alberta St, Portland OR 97211
503.284.4090
theknockback.com
Yesterday, I attended another fun foodie meetup with some local Portlandian food enthusiasts at a quaint little restaurant called Trinket. Being that it was a breakfast meetup, we congregated first thing in the morning, which I prefer, as it leaves the rest of the day free for work and plans.
Atmosphere:
Situated in the South East part of Portland, not far from the popular Division Street, Trinket occupies a small space right on Cesar Chavez Blvd. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it, but luckily I spotted it right away and was also happy to see they had a small lot for parking.
Walking in, I was pleasantly greeted by a cozy atmosphere with rustic wooden furnishings, such as the pretty antler chandelier and the charming booths. There's a small bar in the back where the day's pastries are displayed ever so carefully and the whole space is filled with nostalgic, comforting touches that remind you being at your family's house.
Food:
There were so many amazing options to choose from, lots of them being non-traditional spins on classic brunch dishes such as duck eggs Benedict, a savory waffle, pistachio French toast and other fun items. After much deliberation, I went for the sweet stuff and got the French toast you see above:
Pistachio French Toast - Part of the small plates on the menu, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect in terms of portion, but I decided to take my chances. It's true that the above pictured serving was quite small, however, I must say that because it was so rich, a little went a long way. Consisting of soft, pillowy brioche bread with ribbons of cinnamon and flecks of raisins, it also hat bits of chunky pistachios, as promised. The latter ingredient was more subtle, which was OK with me. The top of the French Toast was dressed with freshly whipped cream, which was just dreamy as well as a dollop of smooth apple butter.
Service and Cost:
Given that we were a large group and that this is a small restaurant, I think the service went off without a hitch. Mostly all of our dishes came out at the same time, with the exception of one, which then appeared just a few short minutes later. Our server was pleasant and accommodating with any special requests, which was appreciated.
Costs are inexpensive to moderate, setting us back around $12-15 each including tip.
3 Mmmms
Trinket - 2035 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Portland OR 97214
503.477.4252
trinketpdx.com
I love trying new brunch options in the neighborhood, especially when it involves eating Mexican food. Noticing a recent Eater write-up for a nearby Mexican brunch at Autentica restaurant, my friend Sonya and I popped in to check it out.
Atmosphere:
Located in the ever evolving North East Killingsworth and 30th Ave neighborhood, Autentica is surrounded by other interesting eateries such as DOC, Cocotte, Nonna and others. It's easy to spot from the outside by the pretty wooden signage and the colorful accents on the facade.
Once you walk in, the restaurant is long and narrow and connotes something of a friendly neighborhood joint. The decor is simple, filled mostly with two or four top tables and a prominent open kitchen that occupies most of the space.
Noticing various sized parties during brunch, it was pleasantly full but not so much so that it was tough to snag a table. Luckily they also accept Opentable reservations, which I'm always keen to use.
Food:
It was hard to decide what to choose, as most of the dishes totally sounded like something up my alley, being a huge fan of Mexican food. Asking our server for advice, she recommended the Huevo Enchipotlado (scrambled eggs with house made chipotles), but I decided against it, being a little intimidated by the spice. Instead I went for their Chilaquiles - my barometer for good Mexican fare.
Chilaquiles Rojos - Surprised to see these Chilaquiles were more or less deconstructed, the eggs, beans and other fixins co-existed on the side of the tortillas enrobed in guajillo chile sauce. While I really enjoyed the tortillas, which were perfectly flavored, I wished they were mixed in with the eggs at least, as I love when the latter ingredient sticks to the already softened tortillas. Everything else on the plate was tasty and enjoyable (especially a velvety crema that I requested on the side), but I can't say any of it blew me away.
Because she was feeling under the weather, Sonya chose the arroz con huevo (fried eggs and rice), which she didn't complain nor rave about.
Service and Cost:
I must say that the service at Autentica was quite good, given that it was peak brunch hour. Observing the atmosphere and gauging whether people seemed to be happy, I must say they did and no one seemed to be rushing out too quickly. Overall, a nice vibe and service was had.
Costs are moderate for Mexican food and set us back between $10-$15 each including tip.
2 Mmmms
Autentica - 5507 NE 30th Avenue, Portland OR 97211
503.287.7555
autenticaportland.com
This past Friday evening, Dan and I headed Downtown for a movie and dinner plan with new friends, Laura and Gianni. I find it interesting that whereas a Downtown locale in NYC would produce tons of dinner possibilities, the pickins in Downtown Portland are a lot slimmer than say in our neighborhood or in the South East. After some research, I found a casual greasy spoon joint called The Original Dinerant, which is where we ended up.
Atmosphere:
Drawn in by their all-day breakfast menu, I thought The Original would prove to be a fun, casual option for those of us who appreciate good brunch and a solid burger menu.
Walking into a semi occupied restaurant, we found the vibe to be modern and friendly, and a little step up from your traditional neighborhood diner. I like that some familiar diner aspects were preserved such as leather booth seating, some neon light action and a rotating display of pies right as you walk in. Their bar is extensive and welcoming with cushy leather stools, and Dan and I sat there casually for a few minutes enjoying a drink.
In terms of clientele, I found it to be a mix of tourists and locals like us and for the most part people who had a specific reason to be Downtown. All in all, it looked promising but didn't seem that it would blow us away.
Food:
As I hinted above, we all found familiar diner-esque foods on the menu and some were also stepped up with sophistication. We each chose something different yet quintessential of diner fare and shared a little starter as well.
Smoked Buffalo Wings - I love a good wing and these were the perfect meaty treats to get us started. There was a lot of meat on the bones, which was nice and the outside skin was a little crisped, providing nice crunch. While the wings had a distinct kick and flavor, they weren't overpowering or hard to eat. Also coming with a side of their house-made blue cheese dressing, it was pleasant but almost not even necessary.
Chicken Pot Pie - Seeing this item on the menu made my giddy and excited, especially since I haven't had a pot pie in a long time. Happy to see a beautifully browned pastry crust on an absolutely huge pie, I was eager to break into it and noticed it was accompanied by a spoon. This really was the perfect way to dig in, as its contents were a bit stewy, packed with shredded white chicken meat. The filling was no doubt indulgent and rich, mixed with cream, however it didn't feel heavy and I must admit that I almost finished it whole.
Banh Mi Burger - Dan ordered this dish and chose a gluten free bun, which actually resulted in something that looked like a sandwich. Packed with braised beef, bacon and a medley of pickled vegetables, Dan thought it was OK but nothing to write home about. I agree, as I tried a little bit of the meat and it didn't impress me much. The poutine was good, but veered on the side of salty.
Other Dishes - Laura and Gianni got the hamburger with mushrooms and the Lava Lake French dip, respectively. The burger was pretty good, Laura said but was unwieldy and hard to eat. The fries looked good but I'd recommend a different presentation, as to not make them look oily.
Service and Cost:
While the food wasn't anything remarkable, we enjoyed good, attentive service. Our waitress was always there when we needed her but we didn't feel stifled by her presence. All in all, we experienced friendly and accommodating service.
Costs are high for a diner experience, but moderate for The Original's Downtown location. We paid about $30/person including tax and tip.
2 Mmmms
The Original Dinerant - 300 SW 6th Avenue, Portland OR 97204
503.546.2666
originaldinerant.com
Given that it was a quintessentially rainy Saturday morning in Portland, Dan and I lazed around at home. Having a strong hankering for homemade pancakes, I succumbed to the craving and made two batches of fluffy pancakes, tailored to each one of our diets (mine being the eat anything diet and Dan's the gluten free).
Using a simple recipe for fluffy pancakes from All Recipes, I substituted the all purpose flour with Bob's Red Mill products that fit our needs. For my version (first picture above), I used whole wheat flour and for Dan's, I used Bob's gluten free corn flour that actually produced silver dollar corn cakes.
Both versions were tasty and unique in their own right, but I preferred my fluffier rendition, as I found it to be airy and more pancake-like.
To further jazz up this dish, I cut up a delicious Rainier apple into thin slivers and reduced it in butter and sprinkled it with a pinch of cinnamon and brown sugar for about 20 minutes on low heat. Producing a tender, sweet compote, the pancakes almost didn't even need syrup. We poured it on top anyway for good measure and I can't say it spoiled this already sweet deal. Hope you enjoy it too!
Fluffy pancake recipe, as adapted from All Recipes
Le Pigeon is one of those aspirational Portland restaurants I've been dreaming of going to for a long time and my mom's recent visit presented the perfect opportunity to check it out. The fact that I had an Opentable gift card from my lovely co-workers didn't hurt either - so off we went on our gourmand adventure.
Atmosphere:
On a typical rainy Portland evening, we found the restaurant dimly lit by candlelight, which immediately gave it that charming, intimate feel. The space is also quite modest, further making it feel cozy, as its filled mostly with communal tables. This type of arrangement reminded me of our meal at Beast, which I enjoyed but it isn't for everybody. Luckily, my mom and Dan were open minded about it all and seemed to appreciate everything.
Another aspect about the vibe I like here is that you have access to an open kitchen and can take a look at the talented chefs who are preparing your meal. I always admire this kind of transparency and marvel at the experience and skill that go into each beautiful dish. Next time, I may even sit at the bar to take a closer look.
Food:
Since we were pretty much eating the whole day (and because we had a huge dinner at Mother's the night before), we decided to go lighter this evening and shared everything. Happy with our strategy, we got to enjoy a variety of foods without getting too full.
Ricotta Gnocchi - Everything about this dish spoke to me including the duck bolognese, the homemade, fluffy gnocchi and the duck fat croutons. Even though the dish wasn't too large, each bite was mighty filling and flavorful. My mom seemed the most impressed and said that she was surprised by the onslaught of deliciousness that came with each bite. I couldn't agree more - although I have to say that the ricotta was very subtle.
Smoked Mackerel and Crispy Potato Salad - This dish was a total visual juxtaposition, as it presented both a rustic and a sleek aesthetic. As you can see, the ingredients were roughly cut and chopped but placed beautifully and quite strategically on the wooden slab. Each piece complemented the other and I especially loved the saltiness of the mackerel with the heartiness of the hard boiled potatoes. It was a total visual feast, as you can see.
Pekin Duck Breast - I couldn't walk out of here without trying the duck and luckily my dining companions were into it too. Consisting of a beautifully seared duck breast that was cooked to a nice medium rare, it was then jazzed up with vibrant flavors of a silky blood orange bernaise sauce, bright green leaves of Brussels Sprouts as well as little bursts of pomegranate seeds. Freshness, surprise and vibrancy were the key elements here, and I'd highly recommend this dish to others.
Beef Cheek Bourguignon - In the mood for something hearty, we also went with Le Pigeon's rendition of this French classic. It delivered everything we expected and more, as the beef was perfectly braised and broke apart without effort. Resting on a luxurious bed of creamy risotto that was also dressed with oyster mushrooms, pickled onion and sweet herbs, it was no doubt a fantastic food marriage made in heaven.
Blood Orange Tarte - We managed to save room for dessert and ventured to try the tarte of the day, which ended up being a huge winner! A beautiful blood orange tarte, complete with fresh blood orange segments, a silky pastry cream and a vibrant pistachio mousse on the bottom, it provided a perfect last bite. All three of us marveled at how simple yet sophisticated it was and how the pastry chef really let the natural ingredients shine.
Service and Cost:
Just like the rest of the experience at Le Pigeon, the service was most professional, unobtrusive and just generally excellent. We felt well taken care of and our dishes came out in reasonable time. Also, due to the intimate nature of the restaurant, the waitstaff offers to hang up your coats, which made us more comfortable.
Costs are on the high side but in my opinion justified for the high quality of food, atmosphere and service you get. Our entire meal set us back about $144 in total, which included a glass of wine as well. For a truly gourmet experience, I think this is just about right.
While it's sometimes tough to get a spot in Le Pigeon's intimate space, I highly recommend making an Opentable res.
3 Mmmms
Le Pigeon - 738 E Burnside Street, Portland OR 97214
503.546.8796
lepigeon.com
After a long but enjoyable hike the other day, Dan, my Mom (who was visiting from NY) and I headed over to Life of Pie for delicious pizza and then moseyed over to What's the Scoop? for ice cream - a perfect combination. The temperate hit nearly 50, which was good enough for us to get a scoop of something cold and delicious.
Atmosphere:
Situated on one of our favorite blocks in North Portland, which is North Williams Avenue, What's the Scoop? is a charming little ice cream shop surrounded by other delicious establishments. The whole block is pretty new, as in less than a year old so its facade as well as its interior is shiny, modern and sleek.
What awaits inside is a spacious ice cream parlor and a full on creamery with the most amazing smell coming from their freshly made ice cream cones. The ice cream is made from liquid nitrogen, I found out, which results in more creaminess and longevity.
Ice Cream:
As in most Portland ice cream shops, customers are welcome to try any flavor for free, which is just what we did before deciding on our final ice cream choices. After some deliberation, the following flavors won over:
Cone Yo! - Attracted by this unique flavor, it included chunks of their homemade ice cream cones including the chocolate flavored ones. At first the cone flavor was very subtle, but after a few spoonfuls, I dug up some nice chunky pieces and loved them. The vanilla ice cream that surrounded the cone action was superb and ultra creamy.
Orange Chip - This flavor is what my mom ordered, and I have to say she chose wisely. The ice cream was super refreshing and boasted a pronounced orange flavor that also tasted very natural. Little chunks of super dark chocolate gave it a little indulgence and a hint of sophistication too. I'd order this one next time, as well.
Service and Cost:
Our server was polite and gave us a try of anything we wanted, but she wasn't syrupy sweet. No matter at all, as I prefer a straight shooter any day, and can't complain in this department.
Costs are expensive but worth it for the high quality of ice cream you get at $3.75 for a small scoop.
3 refreshing Mmmms
What's the Scoop? - 3540 North Williams Avenue, Portland OR 97228
971.266.1787
whatsthescooppdx.com
This week's happy hour stop was at Lincoln, a restaurant on North Williams Ave. in North Portland. We went with some friends on Friday evening, so everyone was truly in the happy hour frame of mind. Right off the bat, I'd have to say that Lincoln's menu items are a little more ambitious than some of the pizza and taco-centric happy hours we've been to in recent weeks. Not to say that's good or bad, but you're going to be eating something closer to rabbit-liver fois gras or pancetta and romesco with fontina cheese than meatball sliders or brick oven pizza.
Atmosphere:
Located on the up and coming strip of restaurants, shops, and bars north of Fremont on N. Williams, Lincoln exudes a classy atmosphere when you first walk in. It is warmly and dimly lit, with a modern simplicity to the interior fixtures. The bar made a nice impression visually, and all of the staff looked very dapper in their black on black attire. It wasn't very busy when we arrived, but it wasn't empty either. Fashionably late, of course, the rest of our group was already seated when we got there. We sat right down and got to work breaking down the happy hour menu. Happy hour is from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Food:
There are a variety of choices on the menu ranging in price from $3 - $10 and ranging in complexity from toasted bread to the aforementioned rabbit liver mousse. My curiosity overcame my squeamishness, and I ordered the fried pig ear. Fooditka had to have the rabbit liver mousse bruschetta, and we split an order of the poutine. For a cocktail, I ordered the Pimm's cup, which was the bartender's choice for happy hour.
Fried Pig Ear - I like pig. I like fried. I like ears. Well, that last part I wasn't too sure about, but I figured, two out of the three, I may as well give it a shot. The dish certainly looked very appetizing; a perfectly fried, deep brown color with a wonderful outer texture and a creamy pink sauce for dipping. The first bite wasn't what I was expecting. The outside had that great crunch, but the ear itself had a pretty gummy, sticky texture that kind of surprised me. The flavors were nice though, and I couldn't quite decide if I was grossed out by it, so I took another bite. Still strange, but less so, and this time I put the creamy mayo on it. By the third bite, I was hooked. I now eat three pig ears a day as part of a weird and balanced diet; I'm eating one right now in fact.
Rabbit Liver Mousse Bruschetta - This was Fooditka's choice, and I only tasted a little bit of it. I've never been a fan of liver mousse, and in all honesty, I was still a little shell-shocked from my first two bites of pig ear to give it a real attempt. I will say the bit I had was very creamy and rich, with an interesting, if not exactly appetizing flavor, but that's just me. Fooditka enjoyed it quite a bit from what I could tell and I'd say that if you like that sort of thing, you will enjoy it also.
Poutine - Lincoln's poutine was a little on the fancy side as well with root vegetables, fontina, and a nice piece of pancetta complementing the french fries and gravy. Overall it was a very tasty dish, and a little less exotic than the other two dishes we chose. I enjoyed it, although I would say that the french fries themselves were a little limp for me; I prefer a nice crispy fry.
Pimm's Cup - I thought the drink was tasty overall, but to say it packed a wallop would be overstating things quite a bit. As our friend Rollston put it, it was pretty watered down and weak. If I had one complaint about Lincoln, it would be in the cocktail department. I will say I was torn between ordering the bartender's choice cocktail and a glass of the house red which was a Portuguese blend according to the waiter. Next time I'll just go with the vino.
Service and Cost:
One note about the service; they automatically added a 20% gratuity onto the bill, possibly because we were a party of six. Normally when gratuity is added onto my bill, it's around 18% and I say something like "Well, that's kind of presumptuous, but Ha! Their loss, because I would have tipped 20%..." On its face, I'd say adding a 20% gratuity is very presumptuous, except in this case, the waitstaff definitely earned it. So essentially, they tipped themselves exactly what I would have tipped them anyway but they took the decision out of the patron's hand, and simply delivered exceptional service. Our waiter was very nice and patient as we hemmed and hawed over all of our different choices, and his partner was lovely as well every time she brought out a dish. They were happy to answer any and all questions, but weren't overbearing or pushy.
As far as the cost, including drinks, and a 20% tip, our party got out of there for about $22.00 per person. It was definitely a pricier happy hour than some other places in town, but ultimately worth it for the atmosphere and interesting variety of food.
2.75 Mmmms (minus .25 for the sub par cocktail effort)
Lincoln Restaurant - 3808 N. Williams Ave, Portland OR, 97227
503.288.6200
lincolnpdx.com
As I briefly mentioned on the blog a few weeks ago, my mom, Mira was graciously awarded the honor of being featured at Mother's Bistro & Bar in Portland with a special Slovak menu. Selecting a few dishes that represent our Eastern European heritage, my mom provided Mother's Owner & Executive Chef, Lisa Schroeder with the recipes that further got refined to fit the restaurant's clientele in Portland.
Attending a celebratory dinner in my mom's honor this past weekend, we got to sample all her dishes, as served at the restaurant, and other delicious things that make Mother's so special.
Atmosphere:Warm, comfortable and delightful are words I'd use to describe the atmosphere at Mother's. From the beautiful lighting that comes in the form of vintage chandeliers to the paintings in gilded frames and the French country cupboards, you immediately feel at home even if this isn't the type of house you grew up in.
Impressed by the sheer size of the restaurant that seemed to extend throughout an entire city block, we marveled at how busy it was - no doubt a great sign. Situated by a lovely rectangular table that was set for five, we took advantage of the comfy bench seating that gave my mom and I a great view of the entire restaurant.
Even though I'll get to the details of the service a little later, it must be said that everyone at Mother's - from the hostess to the waiters all the way to the bus boys - exude warmth, friendliness and an overall happy disposition. Not only did this immediately make us feel comfortable, it's also a sign of a well run business.
Food:
Needless to say, we were dying to try Mother's rendition of my mom's dishes which included her Segedinsky Gulas, Stuffed Cabbage and Slovak Apple Cake. Aside from that, we were encouraged to try other things on the regular menu, which we simply couldn't refuse. Here are the highlights:
Segedinsky Gulas - While my mom usually prepares this dish with chunks of chicken, it's actually supposed to be cooked with pork, which is just what Chef Lisa did. Made up of shredded pieces of braised pork shoulder, the dish was also topped with delightful little egg noodles (that we call nokerle) which were slightly browned and therefore crunchy. Although different from my mom's dish, this really looked the part and tasted absolutely delicious. We couldn't get enough of the hearty gravy that surrounded all that tender meat and there was no doubt this dish was packed with love and flavor.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls - Loving the beautiful color on this dish, it was piled high with additional shredded cabbage, which is just how my mom prepares it. Once we let our forks pierce its soft shell, a tender beefy middle exposed itself, bejeweled with rice, making it that much heartier. A side of smashed potatoes was an alternative way to enjoy this meal but no doubt a tasty one.
Slovak Apple Cake - Describing this as a "two crust flaky pastry filled with apples," we fell in love with it immediately. Reminding us more of my mom's zemlovka (Slovak bread pudding, also made with apples), we appreciated the healthy dose of shredded apples and the rich maple walnut ice cream that made it that much more luxurious.
Pierogi - Along with the Segedinsky Gulas also came a portion of potato pierogi that were hard not to love. I think they were the perfect size too, as each piece provided about two good bites that we devoured with sauteed onions and silky sour cream on top.
$15,000 Dungeness Crab Cakes - Dan couldn't resist ordering this decadent dish made of fresh local crab, seasoned with creole mustard sauce, coleslaw and matchstick potatoes piled way high. I had a generous piece of the crab cake and was impressed by its creamy consistency and perfectly crunchy crust.
Service and Cost:
Truly receiving A-list treatment, we couldn't have asked for a better evening. Not only were we treated like special VIP guests, my Mom was given the well deserved kudos by both staff and customers, which made her day and melted my heart. Chef Lisa and her whole staff were beyond lovely, generous and welcoming and we treasured just how seriously they take their Mother of Month program. It rightfully exemplified a business that not only sticks to its mission but carries it out with pride and dignity.
Since we were the guests of honor that night, our meal was graciously comped but here's an idea of the prices you can expect. They're very reasonable!
Appetizers - $3.95 - $12.95
Entrees - $13.95 - $21.95
Dessert - $6.50 - $7.50
3 Motherly Mmmms
Mother's Bistro & Bar - 212 SW Stark Street, Portland OR 97204
503.464.1122
mothersbistro.com
I had a pretty strong hankering for a bagel the other day - so much so that I made it my mission to find a bagel shop in my neighborhood. The challenge wasn't too tough, as I discovered Bagel Land, a modest little bagel place just under two miles away from our home.
Atmosphere:
To call Bagel Land humble is a good way of putting it, as the shop is really no frills and the epitome of basic and simple. Virtually it serves just what its name suggests, which comes in its plainest form as well as with various flavored cream cheeses and toppings. The shop practically has no atmosphere, as its just a place you walk into to order your bagel and then go on your merry way. This was more than fine with me, as I planned to devour my bagel in the comfort of my own home, and the other customers in the shop also seemed to share my idea.
Bagel:
I knew what I came for which was an everything bagel with lox - no cream cheese or other fixins to dilute the taste, just simply a bagel with lox.
There were a bevy of bagel flavors to choose from, including your standard variety of sesame, poppy, whole grain, salt, garlic and others. The cream cheese flavors seemed plentiful as well and there were a few suggestions for breakfast sandwiches and the like that looked enticing too. However, I kept my eye on the prize, which was the lox.
Happy to say that I was impressed with the bagel sandwich overall, the actual bagel wasn't overly large in size and it was just fluffy enough. Certainly not as dense as a NY style bagel (which is delicious in its own right), it still had a lot of flavor. The lox was superb and better than in NY, I think, as the salmon is more local here in the Pacific Northwest. I liked that it wasn't overly salty and the small portion went a long way - it's as if they didn't have to try too hard to get it right.
Service and Cost:
Friendly, humble and efficient, I got my bagel in about 3 short minutes after ordering it, which gave me just enough time to snap some photographs. Perfecto!
Costs are inexpensive, but you do pay a premium for good lox, as my sandwich set me back about $5.50. However, it was well worth it and I'd get it again in a heartbeat.
3 Mmmms
Bagel Land - 4118 NE Fremont Street, Portland OR 97212
503.249.2848
We decided to spend our happy hour this week with Ze Germans; risky, I know. Fooditka spotted Gustav's Bier Stube while out and about one day and saw that they have happy hour all day on Sunday. Playoff football followed by beer, schnitzel and giant soft pretzels? Ummmmm, sure.
Atmosphere:
Gustav's is situated a bit farther out than where we normally go to eat and drink. It's on a main road, Sandy Blvd, and it's a pretty large establishment with a nice sized parking lot to go with it. Upon entering you see it's set up like large beer hall with high, vaulted ceilings and rich dark wood everywhere. We were seated right away, and then had to wait for quite a while before our server showed up. It wasn't all that busy, but it was Sunday evening after all, and it wasn't deserted by any stretch. One other note, the floor in the men's room was covered with some kind of wet, slippery film that seemed kind of nasty. Perhaps it had just been mopped and hadn't yet dried. Who knows?
Food:
We ordered off of the happy hour menu, which had a pretty large selection of different food to choose from. It's broken into $4, $5, $6, and $7 tiers. We split a few different items between us; $4.00 potato pancakes, and $5.00 Bavarian pretzels and a chicken schnitzel. I lobbied for a shepherd's pie as well, but Fooditka talked me out of it. I got Paulaner Oktoberfest for $4.00, which is also part of the happy hour deal.
Potato Pancakes - The pancakes were not bad, but they were a little on the oily side for my taste, and didn't have that satisfying crunch to the outer layer that I like so much. They were decently seasoned, but not remarkable really. The serving was 3 pancakes and a little bit of apple sauce and sour cream on the side.
Bavarian Pretzels - The pretzels were o.k. as well, but nothing spectacular. I had in mind an image of a big, crusty, salty, steaming hot thing of beauty that tore apart to reveal a delightfully pillowy inner texture; alas, they were closer to the pretzels you can buy in Costco by the hundreds and then microwave in your kitchen. Definitely edible, but not really German beer hall quality in my opinion. In fact, the best part of the pretzels was the mustard that came with them.
Chicken Schnitzel - I'd say the schnitzel was the best of the dishes we ordered, but it didn't really blow me away. The texture was right; crunchy and tender on the inside, but the overall experience was pretty bland. Not much flavor to the actual piece of meat, even with the lemon squeezed on top. Fortunately there was mustard left over from the pretzels to slather on top.
In fairness, I will say that we consumed every single morsel of food that was set before us, which is to say that it wasn't bad overall, just not really very good.
Service and Cost
I stated earlier that the service left something to be desired and I stick by it. After we were seated it was a good 10 minutes before anyone came by to take our order. In fact, I had to flag down someone who wan't actually our server. But once we got the order in, the food came out pretty quickly and was fresh and hot for sure. Plus, the beer was delicious. Something else I should mention, happy hour is also available Monday through Saturday from 2-6 p.m. at the bar. The all day Sunday happy hour is throughout the entire place.
In terms of cost, I have zero complaints in that department. Another thrifty meal on our happy hour tour of Portland, we got out of there for $21.00 including tip.
2 Mmmms
Gustav's Bier Stube - 5035 N.E. Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213
503.288.5503
gustavs.net
Taking a little road trip with our cousins Vicky and Eric last week, Dan and I ventured to Seattle for a few days. Everyone was new to the city except for me, which was fun to see again, uncovering some new gems and visiting some old standbys. One of these was the legendary Pike Place Market of course, which is situated right by Bell Harbor. Boasting lots of interesting foods, we popped into the legendary Piroshky Piroshky storefront for some freshly baked yeasty treats.
Atmosphere:
Located on the outskirts of Pike Place Market, right across the street from the actual marketplace, Piroshky Piroshky occupies a small space in a strip of other specialty foods and drink establishments across the street. Given its popularity, there's always a line no matter how early you come by, but luckily it moves fast and there's many things to occupy your time while you wait. One of these activities is perusing their extensive menu of piroshkys (or handheld pies filled with sweet or savory ingredients), another is watching the piroshky being made on the premises. You get to see what's fresh and just may change your mind a handful of times before it's your turn to order something.
Piroshky:Boasting over two dozen varieties of sweet and savory piroshky, it's hard to decide which one to go with, but your nose and eyes usually don't steer you wrong. It's best to go with whatever is fresh out of of the oven or is generally recommended by the staff, which is why I chose the Smoked Salmon Pate piroshka.
Looking lovely with its elongated shape and an exaggerated tail that was crisped to perfection, the Smoked Salmon pate combines high quality ingredients such as Seattle's finest smoked salmon, fresh dill, onion and cream cheese. Think of it as a lox bagel turned on its ear, with all the flaky, buttery dough surrounding it completely instead of just on the bottom. My trip companions tried this generously sized pastry and agreed it was the winner of the bunch. Not only does it come highly recommended, I also think it offers the best value for your buck and is conducive to sharing with one or two people.
Service and Cost:
As I already noted, the service is fast, despite the long line that snakes around the corner of the storefront. The staff doesn't beat around the bush and tells you quickly if they've run out of something and generally services your order within a few short minutes.
Costs are moderate and range anywhere between $3.50 - $5.80 a pop.
3 Mmmms
Piroshky Piroshky - 1908 Pike Place, Seattle WA 98101
206.441.6068
piroshkybakery.com
After an awesome New Year's eve celebration (with lots of tasty food might I add), Dan and I made plans to start the year off with even more deliciousness. Planning to make homemade fried chicken and waffles, we prepped the ingredients a day ahead of time, brining the chicken to ensure great flavor.
The recipe for this dish came by way of a generous gift we received from our friend Matt in the form of an Ad Hoc Fried Chicken Kit. The kit includes 2 portions of chicken brine as well as packets of coating mix, which is enough to make two whole fried chickens.
A neat little trick I learned by making this was to buy a whole organic chicken and then get it butchered at your local supermarket. Not only were the folks at our local Fred Meyer happy to help, it didn't cost anything extra and allowed us to buy a high quality organic bird.
Here's the Ad Hoc Fried Chicken recipe, courtesy of 7x7
For the waffles, feel free to use this trusty recipe, courtesy of Chow
Another new place we explored with my cousins last week was Firehouse Restaurant, as it came highly recommended by friends Moses and Sonya. The concept for this restaurant is really cool, as it's a refurbished firehouse that dates back to the early 1900's, inspired by the 20th century Italian Renaissance. Pretty busy on a Sunday evening, we were glad we had reservations, as we situated ourselves in its cozy dining room.
Atmosphere:
As charming from the outside as on the inside, Firehouse Restaurant has the concept of comfortable and rustic down pat. The rusty red exterior looks the part of firehouse while the inside features beautiful wooden beam work, an impressive wood fired oven and classic wooden furniture. I noticed lots of homey touches such as old cookbooks, rustic flowers, and simple candles that further set the scene.
We scored a great, semi-private table towards the front of the restaurant that offered a perfect nook for us to settle into. The large windows located throughout the restaurant also offered a nice view of the wintery scene outside.
Food:
Fitting with the atmosphere, the menu also consists of rustic, homestyle food you'd love eat on any given day. They stress the right buzzwords of course, such as local and seasonal, but my personal piece-de-resistance on the menu was their wood-fired pizza.
Appetizers - Ordering a few small plates, we ended up with the fried cauliflower, the fried, stuffed olives and the roasted beets. Out of these, the beets were the best, as they were uncomplicated, perfectly tender and dressed with roasted hazelnuts and some greenery for a touch of earthy freshness.
Pizza - We couldn't walk out of here without trying the pizza and immediately gravitated to the pie with house-made fennel sausage, onions and fresh mozzarella. I absolutely loved its blistery crust and all the savory toppings, the slightly smoky cheese being my favorite. My only constructive criticism of the pizza is that aside from the crust, the rest of the pie was uber thin and so much so that it flopped over as you picked it up. This made for a messy experience, but still a delicious one.
Meatballs - Also drawn to this classic dish of Italian meatballs with tomato and rosemary braised kale, it looked better than it tasted. Not to say I didn't like it because I did (especially all that hearty sauce), my only issue is that the dish was very heavy handed with salt - something I'm noticing a lot in Portland lately.
Cod - The cod was definitely on the lighter side and I liked its flaky texture. Dressed with a mixture of braised garbanzo beans, beautiful romanesco and fresh herbs, it was great for soaking up all that flavorful sauce, especially with the leftover bread from the aforementioned meatballs.
Service and Cost:
While we appreciated our waitresses' honest and straightforward manner, I'd overall characterize the service as slow. It started just fine but apparently got held up somewhere between the appetizers and the main course. The drinks, however kept on coming which was good.
Costs are on the moderate side for Portland with appetizers ranging between $5-$8, the pizzas at $13-$15 while the mains are $16.50-$19.
2.5 Mmmms
Firehouse Restaurant - 711 NE Dekum Street, Portland OR 97211
503.954.1702
firehousepdx.com
Last weekend, we welcomed our cousins, Vicky and Eric to our new home and together, they helped us to continue to eat our way through Portland. Starting with brunch at Grain and Gristle, we powered up before taking them on a light hike in Washington Park.
Atmosphere:
Very much a laid back neighborhood joint, Grain and Gristle is fast becoming one of our favorites. Dan and I have been there before for a casual dinner, during which they offered a 2-for-1 food special that left us wanting to try more. The brunch is also supposed to be great, and since there was no wait, we thought why not.
Resembling a neighborhood tavern, Grain and Gristle sports a very simple, natural look with lots of rustic wood furnishings and local art on the walls. My favorite aspect of the decor is the roughly finished wooden bar, which looks like something that came out of an artisan's workshop. In terms of the clientele, you'll find lots of locals and regulars in small groups of two or four, mostly. You can also just pop in and eat at the bar, which some folks do.
Food:
Although the brunch menu remains on the simple side, it boasts all the classics and some interesting surprises as well. One thing's for sure, which is that great quality ingredients are always used so no matter how basic the dish is, the outcome is usually excellent.
Chilaquiles - One of my favorite brunch dishes, I was happy to see this one on the menu. Grain and Gristle's rendition was totally different than what I'm used to making, as the tortillas were enveloped in a crimson escabeche sauce and then topped with delicious scrambled eggs and pickled veggies. I loved the crispy/tender juxtaposition of the tortilla chips and eggs and how well seasoned everything was. Requesting the crema and the queso fresco on the side, it was nice to dip into but almost didn't even need anything extra.
Other dishes - Dan and my cousins ordered other brunch items such as the Eggs Benedict (pictured above), which seemed to be a hit with Eric and the Steak and Hash. The latter was reported to be good but a little heavy on the potatoes and light on the steak, as Dan noted.
Coffee - I must also call out the cup o Joe I had here because it was fantastic. Supplied by Extracto Coffee Roasters, it was perfectly potent, flavorful and just the right thing to have on a Sunday morning. It must also be noted that the refills are free, so you get great value.
Service and Cost:
The service here proved to be competent and all around quick. We felt well taken care of and our coffee, various drinks and food arrived in good time. Our waitress offered an honest opinion of the food and proved to be really good at her job without being too effusive.
Costs are average and set us back around $30 per couple, including tip.
3 Mmmms
Grain and Gristle - 1473 NE Prescott Street, Portland OR 97211
503.298.5007
grainandgristle.com
Loving to explore and uncover the Portland doughnut scene, I happened to learn about Pip's Original Doughnuts while trying to familiarize myself with our neighborhood. Known for their fresh mini doughnuts, which come in a number of interesting daily flavors, I thought "what's the harm in trying them, since they're so tiny!"
Atmosphere:
Situated in the Beaumont Wilshire neighborhood in Portland, there's plenty to discover in the lively strip of businesses where Pip's is located. It feels like a nice little community with young families and young professionals, and I'd like to explore it more in the coming weeks.
Pip's itself is a small storefront, but definitely big enough to seat at least 30 or so people. On a typical rainy Portland day during which I came in, it was bursting with people who were both in line for doughnuts and others sitting inside enjoying coffee, chai and the aforementioned doughnuts. Everyone seemed happy and smiley and the atmosphere was casual, fun and hospitable. Although I took my treats to go, it would've been lovely to come by with Dan or with friends to sit for a while and soak in the infectious atmosphere. Next time, I'll do just that.
Doughnuts:
You'll notice the flavors of the day written out on their menu board, which is modest and not overwhelming. There are a few staple everyday flavors and others are daily specials. Both sound enticing and delicious.
I chose three flavors and doubled up on each one including their signature cinnamon sugar, the honey sea salt as well as the honey, sea salt & Nutella. Loving to watch these beauties be created on the spot, they're fried to order and piped through a special mold that drops the fresh batter right into the hot oil. The toppings are added immediately after so they remain super fresh and delicious.
Out of the three aforementioned flavors, the Nutella special was my favorite, as I'm a sucker for a hazelnut, chocolate spread. I loved the sea salt in this combination as well because it provided a little morsel of savoriness with all that desserty goodness. Dan agreed with me, but especially appreciated the airiness of the dough and the way it stayed perfectly crispy on the outside.
Service and Cost:
Given Pip's popularity, you have to be prepared to wait in line for your doughnuts but this wasn't an issue for me, as it allowed me to soak in the atmosphere. I loved listening to the indie music mix they had on and the way in which the orders were called out to happy customers. Overall, the vibe is infectious and comfortable, making you want to return soon.
The doughnuts and the coffee (and chai) are fairly priced at $2.95 for 4 doughnuts all the way through $6.95 for a dozen. I noticed that the hot cocoa and the coffee are well priced too ranging from $1.25 - $4.25.
3 Mmmms
Pip's Original Doughnuts - 4759 NE Fremont Street, Portland OR 97213
503.206.8692
facebook.com/pipsoriginal
