tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39615003557631120662024-03-13T00:00:21.230-04:00FooditkaWelcome to my Queens foodie adventures, recipes and ethnic cultural eats. Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.comBlogger2095125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-31763933514940499682016-08-10T19:40:00.000-04:002016-08-10T19:40:11.427-04:00Zucchini season is here, make quiche!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I love all the things I'm currently seeing at the farmer's markets around town. The wonderfully communal culture in Portland also brings with it some generous friends and co-workers who share fresh produce from their fruitful gardens. This is so welcome, as our garden has been unfortunately neglected this summer, so I'll take all the help I can get.<br /><br />Last week, I uncovered some amazingly supersized zucchini in my office kitchen, which got me thinking about zucchini recipes. My mini happens to love zucchini, which is a blessing on its own and she seems to like anything in quiche form, which gave me the idea for this zucchini quiche. Hope you like it and are able to adapt it to your own tastes and preferences:<br /><br /><b>Fooditka's Zucchini Quiche</b> (serves 3)<br /><br /><b>Ingredients</b>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 - 1 1/2 cups of diced zucchini</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 small red onion, diced</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">4 eggs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 tbs of milk </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">1/4 cup of shredded smoked gouda cheese</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Olive oil</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Salt and pepper to taste</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Directions</b>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place round casserole dish into the oven to heat it up.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">In the meantime, sautee the zucchini and onion until golden brown and add salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs until light and fluffy and add the milk. Whisk for another few seconds.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Take the hot casserole dish out of the oven and add the sauteed zucchini/onion mixture. Then add the egg/milk mixture and distribute evenly. Add the cheese at the end.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Bake for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and puffed up.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Enjoy with a crusty piece of bread or simply on its own!</span></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-84774852391398501502016-06-20T18:48:00.000-04:002016-06-22T00:56:16.668-04:00Hunnymilk - Brunch Pop-up Decadence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I first heard about <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.hunnymilk.com/" target="_blank">Hunnymilk</a> </span>a few months back from a work colleague and it caught my eye (and whet my appetite). An amazingly decadent brunch pop-up for a flat price, lots of food and a great locale?! What's not to want? I finally had the chance to try it out with friends, Laura and Annie and we certainly weren't disappointed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Located in the <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://labucaitaliancafe.com/" target="_blank">La Buca space on NE 28th near Burnside</a></span>, Hunnymilk is set in a cheery, vibrant neighborhood that's pretty family friendly. Pop-ups are always a little dicey in terms of location, but Hunnymilk had nice clear signage that directed you right inside.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Once we walked in, we were enveloped by the homey, welcoming atmosphere. While the dining area is pretty simple and essentially unchanged from its <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">iginal</span></span> host, there are little quirky touches that indicate you're in for a treat. First off, there's a fun little dry erase board giving you a list of things to do while you wait to be seated, meditation and playing Nintendo being <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">among </span>them. The actual dining room is nice and casual with varied seating arrangements for different sized parties. As I mentioned, the format is very conducive to family dining, which is especially interesting to me these days - and I noticed quite a few families with young kids (even babies!). They also give you these cool little coloring books while you dine, and my friends and I took the liberty to put together a little impromptu art piece.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Food</b>:<br />There's so much to say about the food, since it was all pretty stupendous and there was so much of it to boot. With our party of three, we were able to choose most things on the menu and then share<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> them</span>. An added bonus, thanks to Laura came in the form of free Monkey Bread just by <a href="http://hunnymilk.us12.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=b63b0d3ccf416958340623678&id=a425f33e3a" target="_blank">signing up for their email newsletter.</a> I highly recommend you do this, and you too can get a little something extra.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Drinks</b> - The first thing you do when perusing Hunnymilk's tantalizing menu is their drinks. Sure they've got the traditional coffee, OJ and the like, but there are other fun options such as mango or guava juice and get this, caramel hot chocolate with toasted milk marshmallows. I couldn't possibly go with the latter knowing how much I'd consume in this meal, but my friend Annie went for the gold. I'm so glad she did, as I got to try her drink and fell into instan<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t </span>lust<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I</span>t was creamy, rich, and reminded us of high quality drinking chocolate. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Entrees</b> <b>+</b> <b>Desserts</b> - After the drinks, came the fun par<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t -</span> choosing our food! Everything you get in Hunnymilk comes in these steel baking pans that hold all <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the</span> goodness in. Both your entree and dessert comes on one tray so you've gotta think <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">about</span> them in tandem. The dessert was the easy part, as we chose <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">one of each</span>. Plus we got that killer Monkey Bread too <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I just mentioned</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br />The highlights were many including Annie's open faced croissant/donut (aka Cronut, but not really) with a mix of savory and sweet ingredients including maple syrup, crispy bacon and a runny egg on top. It was so decadent<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nd</span></span> featur<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ed</span> all the textures I love including crispy, runny, crumbly and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">everything in betwee<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n</span></span>. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I went traditional with my crispy pork ribs on a bed of cheesy garlic grits, a slow poached egg and pieces of avocado on top. Actually the avocado was <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an</span> innovative touch, as it relates to a rib dish but it worked well and added a little earthiness. I liked the little baby backs that pulled apart nicely and the meat fell right off the bone<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tasting</span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">delicious toge<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ther</span></span> with the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tangy</span> grits.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">In terms of the sweet stuff, there was lots and lots of<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> it</span>. I'm known to have a big sweet tooth so I pretty much devoured everything, but I have to be honest in saying that I think I overdid it a bit. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But as</span> they say, you eat with your eyes first and I just couldn't resist.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br />Two faves that stood out were the (free) chocolate monkey bread that pulled apart easily and dipped oh so nicely into the velvety peanut butter mousse. It really was the perfect thing to break apart and enjoy as a group, making this a social dessert. The other fave was ironically the item that looked to be the least decadent - a beautifully shaped Greek yogurt mold topped with rhubarb compote and a crunchy shortbread cookie on top. The latter was all sorts of buttery, crumbly and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">delicious</span>. It had the right texture to break apart and dip into the yogurt rhubarb <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">concoction</span>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Service and Cost:</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">On occasion, I've experienced that Portland's creative eateries can have quite a poor service component but luckily this wasn't the case at Hunnymilk. We loved our waitress who was friendly, cheery and knew the menu well. After learning a bit more about Hunnymilk's <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">staff</span>, I found out her name is Alex, she's a writer/editor and also girlfriend of Hunnymilk's founder, Brandon. Like I said, it's a tightly knit crew. They know th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eir customers and treat them well<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br />You'll pay a $20 flat fee for brunch which includes everything I described except the tip of course. Sure it may be a bit higher than your traditional Portland brunch, but it's <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the bees knees</span> (and then some).<br /><br /><b>3 Mmmms</b>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><br /><br />Hunnymilk - 40 NE 28th Avenue, Portland OR 97232<br />503-320-7805<br />hunnymilk.com</b></span></span></span></span></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-4686311996392096702016-04-25T19:55:00.001-04:002016-04-26T17:32:08.249-04:00Game of Thrones Direwolf Pigeon Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Last night was a day many of us fantasy genre fans were waiting for - the premiere of </span><a href="http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/about/video/season-6-tease" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Game of Thrones Season 6</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. Anytime I can get to see</span> <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/game-of-thrones-episode-descriptions-jon-snow-tower-of-joy" style="color: #274e13;" target="_blank">Jon Snow</a> <span style="color: #b45f06;">on the small screen is a win (too bad they killed him off last season), but last night's episode delivered at least a little Snow action. But...enough about Jon Snow and on to the </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Westerosi food, which very much represented at Moses and Sonya's big GOT debut party. Not only did we feast on mulled wine, brown stew, and </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2015/04/celebrating-game-of-thrones-with.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">lemon cakes of course</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, I also cooked up a special</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Direwolves" target="_blank">direwolf</a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;">pigeon pie you see above. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Using a rustic recipe I spotted on </span><a href="http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Delicious Magazine's website</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, I substituted the need for real pigeon, pheasant and venison meat for good ol' chicken. Using both ground chicken as well as leftover roast chicken breasts, I made it taste a lot heartier by adding a good amount of red wine and beef broth. In fact, someone at the party remarked at how much the chicken actually tasted like beef. So all in all, mission accomplished.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">To give this an extra special touch, I found an illustration of a direwolf, traced it onto the pie dough and then placed it in the center. I then found some whole peppercorns in my pantry, which I used for his eye. Really fun, and the result was earthy, primal and totally delicious. Hope you try it as well - </span><a href="http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/game-pie/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">here's Delicious' recipe</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">.</span></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-34921557321911175522016-03-29T14:47:00.003-04:002016-03-29T14:47:51.250-04:00Back in Old Astoria with Stamatis' Greek Gems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Back in NY last week, I finally finally had the chance to visit my beloved Astoria, even if very briefly. Truth is that I haven't had much time for anything lately, as </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pdxfoodbaby/" target="_blank">PDX Food Baby</a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">has been keeping me quite busy. No matter, there's always time for yummy food adventures and I promise to make more time for the documentation of it in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">As Dan and I had a lovely evening in Astoria last weekend, we remarked at how interesting it was that in all our years of living there, we've never eaten at </span><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/stamatis-restaurant-astoria" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Stamatis Restaurant</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. Both in the mood to experience traditional Greek food, we ventured over and met longtime Astoria cronies Meg & Tom across the street for a quick drink, as well. An awesome evening ensued, and it all felt comfortably nostalgic. Next time, we'll bring the baby to soak up Astoria's positive vibes too - but now, more about Stamatis:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Exemplifying "old Astoria" at its best, Stamatis is everything that the original Astoria stood for - family connections, multi-cultruralism and excellent food. I couldn't help but get enveloped by its warm welcoming atmosphere and the endearing demeanor of everyone that worked there. Sure it was our first time visiting and even after months of setting foot in Astoria, we couldn't help but feel comfortable and truly at home. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since it was the day before Easter and folks were in a festive mood, Stamatis was absolutely bustling and filled with great energy. It on the late side for us Portlanders (after 8:30 p.m.) so we were pleasantly surprised by how many people filled Stamatis' large dining room. Folks of all ages chowed down happily and enjoyed great conversation (in all languages), indulging in all the beautiful dishes that flew from the busy kitchen on to their tables. It was a truly a fun sight to see and added to the whole experiences. We reveled in just observing it all - and the delicious food was an extra bonus.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Food</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The best part about eating in a traditional Greek restaurant is all the fabulous meze (or small plates). So naturally that's exactly what Dan and I chose in order to get a little sampling of everything we so dearly miss about Astoria and Greek culture.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saganaki Cheese </b>- We love love love this fried kefalograviera cheese that's the ultimate Greek food indulgence. It's a fun appetizer to share and tides you over quite well until the next meze arrives. This one had a crunchy crust and a melty middle that was all sorts of salty, gooey and of course delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Zucchini Croquettes </b>- Oh my, how I've missed these! Stamatis' version was fantastic, we both agreed, and contained many fresh herbs such as oregano and mint, which made it even a little palate cleansing. Big chunks of yummy feta cheese were interspersed into these oblong gems and they melted beautifully, producing the perfect earthy/salty bite.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Grilled Seafood Platter</b> - Seafood is the specialty here and we couldn't refuse a medley of all sorts of grilled goodness such as lobster claws, stuffed shrimp, stuffed clams, swordfish and squid. I loved the beautiful charred crust on everything and as people say, "buttah and olive oil make it bettah," which was very much the case here. Cutting all this richness with peppery dandelion greens was the way to go.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Galaktoboureko</b> - How could we refuse a tantalizing portion of homemade Greek cheese pie (aka Galaktoboureko)?! This usually comes complimentary at the end of each traditional Greek dinner, and Stamatis certainly didn't disappoint. Their version was truly excellent - silky, custardy with a hint of cinnamon. Again, comfy nostalgic vibes all around - producing very happy tastebuds.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I've already mentioned, the service at Stamatis is on point. From the friendly host, quickly remembering my name, to our humble and somewhat sweetly shy waitress, we felt really happy to be there. All these good things created a fantastic dining experience and even though we were in and out of there in about an hour - hour and a half, it felt long and memorable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs are pretty reasonable, especially if you go the sharing route and for a very hefty meal (including ample wine), you can get out of there for about $30/person. I highly recommend sharing a carafe of wine (only $10) between two people, which gives you about 1 1/2 glasses each. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stamatis - 29-09 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>718.932.8596</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-25301380553430196562016-02-08T01:42:00.000-05:002016-02-13T15:25:48.771-05:00Daruma - Portland's Sushi Gem, Discovered!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Dan and I love sushi and truth be told since I've spent most of my time in Portland, pregnant, I couldn't truly enjoy the sushi pleasures of this town. Dying to try </span><a href="http://www.darumapdx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Daruma</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, a little authentic sushi joint on the corner of 42nd Avenue and Fremont Street, we finally made some time to visit. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's easy to overlook Daruma amongst the hubbub of popular dining establishments on Fremont, but that's exactly what makes it so great. It's totally under the radar, but once you step in, you'll quickly come to recognize just how special it is. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The space itself is small but nicely designed with lots of minimalistic touches and clean design. The sushi bar is the most prominent thing in the restaurant, as it should be and while you'll see some diners eating at traditional tables, the sushi bar is where it's at. It's fun to watch all the sushi preparation, carefully tended to by their talented chef. Yes - there's one man in charge and you can tell he's the head honcho and knows his stuff. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Aside from the sushi bar, there's other cool decor elements that caught our eye such as the looping footage of Akira as well as a hand drawn map of Japan, demarking each city and the type of fish you can find there. It was a work of art and something I very much appreciated, knowing how much work goes into a custom illustration such as this one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Food</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While the menu isn't overly extensive, I think that's a plus for the diner. In addition to sushi of course, we also chose for a few simple appetizers and got some nice complimentary dessert, which was a huge plus!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Appetizers</b> - Starting things off with a simple seaweed salad and a cucumber salad, we were pleased with our choices. First off, they were presented beautifully and looked elegant in their traditional handcrafted bowls. These reminded me of something we had back in Japan when we visited a few years ago. The seaweed salad was on the purplish side instead of the green seaweed I'm used to but it was a lot more subtle and lighter on the palate. The cucumber salad on the other hand was more acidy and presented a sharper flavor profile. Both things were nice as starters and weren't too overpowering, helping to prep our tastebuds for the sushi.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Sushi</b> - While Dan and I each picked our own sushi rolls, we ended up sharing everything, which is always fun. Everything was once again presented exquisitely and looked (and smelled) very fresh. We ended up going with the Beaumont, the Wilshire, and the Enoki roll. The first two were fish based while the third one was a veggie/mushroom roll. They were all excellent but my favorite was the Wilshire roll with gorgeous fresh salmon, kaiware sprouts, parsley and cucumber. While it was simple, all ingredients were beautifully composed and were ever so fresh.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Dessert</b> - As I hinted above, we received a little bonus dessert from the chef which was a mango custard. Served in a little shot glass, it was a perfectly sweet and slightly tart bite at the end of our meal. It also proved to be a great palate cleanser.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Service and Cost</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the minute we came in, we felt well taken care of by Daruma's friendly but unobtrusive waitstaff. I was impressed by how much knowledge they have about the sushi and how genuine they seem to be about what they do. The sushi chef especially impressed me and I loved the personal touch he offers to Daruma's patrons.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Costs aren't wildly cheap but<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> are </span>totally fair for the excellent sushi, atmosphere and service. We walked out of there paying around $30 per person, including with the order of drinks. I'll be back again very soon - and that's a promise.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Daruma - 3520 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland OR 97218</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>971.276.3711</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>darumapdx.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-79713997118290320242016-01-27T01:40:00.000-05:002016-01-29T14:57:22.117-05:00Happy Tummies at Stella Taco (for under $10!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br />Loving a good happy hour, I've been wanting to indulge in <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.stellatacopdx.com/" target="_blank">Stella Taco's</a> </span>offering. I always enjoy their tacos (and especially when they're just $2!) however, I've never actually been inside and eaten there. My experience has always been with take out that Dan brings home after the workday.<br /><br /><b>Atmosphere</b>:<br />Located just a few blocks from where we live, you can find Stella Taco on the corner of 30th Avenue and Alberta Street. It marks a pivotal spot in this quintessential NE Portland arts district in that I think it's where the good food starts. <br /><br />The interior couldn't be more inviting - it's well lit, boasts high ceilings, a cheery modern design and an overall casual, laid back vibe. Since we're now always dining with our little one, I must mention that Stella is super family friendly and throughout the course of our visit, I noticed several families with young kids. There's plenty of room between tables so you won't feel crowded and they even have a fun little activity corner for the kiddies.<br /><br /><b>Food</b>:<br />To no one's surprise, we came for the happy hour tacos which only go for $2 a pop between 3-6 p.m. Note that not all tacos are $2, just the street tacos, but rest assured that there's plenty of variety to go around.<br /><br /><b>Tortilla Soup </b>- Feeling the chill from the outdoors, I was ready to cozy up to some nice, warm soup. It seemed to be the special of the day so I thought it would be made fresh and I was right. Loving the chunkiness of the soup, it was packed with lots of hearty ingredients such as shredded chicken, black beans, greens and crispy tortilla chips on top. There was also lots of cheese on top, which gave it that extra dose of comfort and Mexican flavor.<br /><br /><b>Tacos</b> - While you can only choose the soft street tacos as part of the happy hour deal, there are 8 varieties to choose from. Whether you're a meat eater or a vegetarian, there's plenty of excellent options for you. I was half tempted by the veggie offerings but in the end went for the meatier pork Colombiano and the shredded brisket. Out of these, the former was my favorite, as the meat was most tender, dressed with some homemade chile sauce and topped with crispy tortillas. The brisket was good too but a bit on the salty side. If I had to do it all over again, I think I would go for the carnitas instead.<br /><br /><b>Service and Cost</b>:</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br />Ordering at the counter and then hanging up our number on their handy-dandy ceiling hooks, the service at Stella was pretty, well...stellar. We didn't feel like we waited long for anything and loved the attentive folks who cleaned our plates and at the same time made us feel welcome and relaxed to stay a while.<br /><br />Costs are amazing for the amount of food you get. It must be said that the tacos are incredibly filling and stuffed to the very top of the tortillas. The soup was on the generous side as well, and depending on how hungry you are, I think you can walk out quite full for under $10/person.<br /><br /><b>3 Mmmms<br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Stella Taco - 2940 NE Alberta Street, Portland OR 97211<br />971.407.3705<br />stellatacopdx.com</span></b></span></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-27426153262160845752016-01-11T01:11:00.000-05:002016-01-27T01:02:31.061-05:00The Maple Parlor Hits High Marks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">It's been months since I've wanted to try </span><a href="http://www.themapleparlor.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">The Maple Parlor</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, Portland's very own gourmet soft serve frozen yogurt shop. And of course I took my PDX foodie partner in crime, Annie along for the ride. We weren't sorry in the least and were so impressed by their full on offering, that we'll certainly be back soon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unlike other self serve fro-yo shops, the Maple Parlor exceeds expectations in several ways, including in atmosphere. I love its purple color scheme which is prominent throughout the shop, as well as its fun wallpaper accent wall, adorning big light-up MP initials that are fun for posing and taking selfies (such as the above). Luckily, we had the shop to ourselves, given it was later in the eve, thus making it that much more magical.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Aside from the charming decor, we loved that you can sample virtually every flavor of soft serve--Maple Parlor's friendly staff encouraging us to do just that. If you're looking to spruce up your fro-yo concoction with toppings, you can of course use your imagination, but right next to the fro-yo machines, you'll notice a handy dandy recommendation board, showcasing their most popular combinations. Nice touch, Maple Parlor!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Fro-yo</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's about 8 different fro-yo flavors to choose from on any given night, but they always include their signature Maple flavor. Even though we tried nearly all of them, some being really innovative and exotic, it all boiled down to that classic Maple, which is what both Annie and I ended up with.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My Sunda<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e</span></b> - Choosing the medium sized cup, it provided the perfect size for an after dinner dessert. Filling it with the aforementioned maple flavor proved delicious, along with fun toppings such as candied bacon, peanut butter shell, coconut chocolate chunks and pumpkin mousse. The toppings were the best part quite frankly, as they gave you a chance to be creative and indulge a bit too. And who doesn't love a little bacon on their sweet treat? I do! Annie took this route too, being more of a purist about it, as she topped her <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s</span>unda<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e</span> with bacon. Just bacon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Service and cost</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The folks at the Maple Parlor were friendly and helpful, immediately pointing out their little sampling cups to us, giving us the opportunity to try most of their flavors before committing. Overall, they were pretty unobtrusive but managed to be there to help when we needed them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Costs are reasonable, at $5 for a medium sized cup with unlimited toppings. So. Darn. Delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Maple Parlor - 3538 SE Hawthorne, Portland OR 97214</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>503.206.4757</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>themapleparlor.com </b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-19123653094824644642015-11-15T01:50:00.001-05:002015-11-15T01:50:15.043-05:00The Big Egg Runeth Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a fun activity of mine to explore different breakfast haunts in my neighborhood since I'm now privy to waking up early with baby. Getting to know my area even more intimately has been a lot of fun and I've made some new mommy friends along the way who've joined me for some delicious breakfast adventures.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> This one, at</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> <a href="http://www.thebigegg.com/" target="_blank">the Big Egg</a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was accompanied by Eva and her lovely little daughter Sophia, who I hope Edie can play with soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But...about the food!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Previously a food pod on N. Mississippi Ave, The Big Egg was always a challenge to try because of its popularity, and they always sold out early. However, about 3 months ago that all changed, as they opened up their first brick and mortar location on NE Alberta St. and 30th Avenue. What a treat for the neighborhood! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">While the storefront is small (it used to be the old </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2014/11/pdx-thanksgiving-dessert-roundup.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Sugar Cube space</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">), it's lovely and inviting and sports their quintessential yellow and brown motif. The interior is friendly and seats about 20 people, with a variety of booth style and counter seating. It's kid friendly, which is fabulous for me right now, and needless to say, I frequent it often.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Food</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've tried a number of their sandwiches already, each being more delicious than the next that I now thought I should give their French Toast a whirl. Really happy with my decision, I marveled at this crunchy breakfast sandwich that was wrapped in crunchy panko and then stuffed with smoked ham and a hint of gorgonzola dolce. It was unlike any breakfast sandwich I had and certainly the most unique french toast. A little taste of vanilla and cardamom in the brioche bread gave it that sophistication and something a little special that'll keep me coming back for more.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I usually experience really good service here and this time was no different. Like a lot of restaurants in Portland, you order up at the counter and then wait for your order to be called out. While it's not traditional restaurant service, I far prefer it, as it makes for a more casual experience.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs are on the expensive side for breakfast sandwiches but given the high quality of their ingredients, I really don't mind. My French Toast and coffee set me back about $12 total.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Big Egg - 3039 NE Alberta Street, Portland OR 97211</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>971.373.8098</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>thebigegg.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-71667400469097683432015-10-29T02:11:00.002-04:002015-10-29T02:11:30.551-04:00Coating My Insides with Delicious Grassa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Since being back at work, I'm happy to resume my Downtown Portland restaurant excursions - and it's always fun to do that with my enthusiastic, wonderful co-workers. About to describe my recent experience at </span><a href="http://grassapdx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Grassa</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, Portland's homemade pasta destination, and </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2015/02/paadeelangbaan-action-1-beers-at-lardo.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Lardo's</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> sibling, my friend Laura accompanied me and we had a great time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Essentially attached to Lardo, Grassa is an extension of this casual, stylish eatery. Just like Lardo, you order first, sit at a communal table and wait for your food to arrive. I like that there's service at the communal seats in the main dining room, and the waitstaff refills your waters, brings your food to the table and ensures you're having a good experience.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The dining area is simple but warm and filled with lots of patrons - especially during lunch. Although it's busy, I like that it's possible to score a table without an issue - making Grassa an accessible and friendly destination.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Food</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's about 10 different types of pasta dishes that grace the menu each day, and they somewhat differ daily. It's nice to see they vary up their menu items to keep things fresh and interesting, enticing patrons to come back for more. I went for the gold so to speak in choosing the carbonara, a signature Italian pasta dish, and I wasn't sorry.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Carbonara</b> - The i-ching of pasta dishes is of course the carbonara with lots of parmesan and pecorino cheese, pork belly and a beautifully fried egg on top. The latter was nice and runny and made the dish feel deconstructed, as egg is usually already cooked into this pasta. Needless to say, the pork belly raised the indulgence quotient to the nth level and it was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft, fatty and juicy on the inside. Overall, it made for a perfect end to a busy work week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Marinated Eggplant</b> - To start things off, Laura and I ordered this nice looking appetizer or contorni, as they refer to it at Grassa. Everything about it was delicious - from the tender eggplant circles to the soft mozzarella cheese, fresh pasta sauce, crunchy bread crumbs and some fragrant herbs on top. It was a vegetarian's dream, and Laura can attest to that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I already mentioned, the service was casual but lovely. We felt well taken care of and although the restaurant was busy, we didn't feel the least bit rushed to leave. In fact, we could've lingered and hung around for as long as we liked.</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are on the expensive side for pasta but well worth the high quality and generous portions. I also happened to have a </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://chinookbook.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Chinook Book coupon</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for the eggplant dish, which ended up being free, and this made things extra awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Grassa - 1205 SW Washington Street, Portland OR 97205</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>503.241.1133</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>grassapdx.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-86704314023330585692015-10-19T01:58:00.000-04:002015-10-19T01:58:00.430-04:00Delicious Lunch Adventure at Thrive Sauce & Bowls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Now that I have a baby, it's a little hard to stick to my usual food exploration routine, but I'm doing my best to manage (eh hem!). Actually, the baby is a great excuse to get out, as she loves movement and exploring new places - who would've thunk it, she must take after me?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Even though my little excursion to the new </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.thrivesauceandbowls.com/home" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Thrive Sauce & Bowls</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was sans baby Edie, it's definitely a place I'd like to return to again, especially since it seemed to be pretty family friendly. My friend Annie and I greatly enjoyed our lunch there and I can confidently say we'll be back.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><b>Atmosphere</b>:<br />Given that Thrive started off as a food truck and now has a brick and mortar location is testament to its success and culinary greatness. Their new restaurant has a fantastic location on NE Fremont Street and 46th Avenue - right in the center of that particular commercial hub. <br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Impressed by its cheery interior, the dining room is large and airy, boasting a beautiful hand painted mural that showcases a large carrot - no doubt connoting the fresh ingredients used in their dishes. The rest of the ambiance mirrors that homemade vibe as well, with colorful chair cushions, little country knick knacks on the walls, fresh flowers on the tables and other lovely things. I like how much room they have for both small and larger parties, with a few outdoor tables as well.<br /><br /><b>Food</b>:<br />Even though there's a variety of items on the menu, Annie and I both had our eye on the prize and ordered bowls. There were many flavors to choose from, and even a bowl of the day, which I ended up choosing. Overall, we were both happy and satiated at the end of our meal - so much so that I almost wasn't hungry for dinner that night. Well almost.<br /><br /><b>Cuban Bowl</b> - As I mentioned above, this was the day's special and included a bevy of rich, flavorful ingredients. The braised pork shoulder is what completely sold me along with fresh veggies such as red cabbage slaw, cilantro and a traditional mojo sauce. Overall, it was very very good but I have to say it didn't taste very Cuban - instead it had more South Asian flavors. The pork however, was really flavorful, not too fatty and totally submissive at the mere contact of the fork.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br />Japanese Bowl</b> - Annie ordered the Japanese bowl, which she also got with a protein addition of pork belly. Even though she was warned it would be pretty fatty, Annie didn't mind and committed to the indulgence. I had a bite too and loved how beautifully it was cooked, with little crunchy bits on the outside and a soft, almost sweet inside. The freshness of the veggies such as cucumber, seaweed and cilantro cut all that richness.<br /><br /><b>Service and Cost</b>:</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like that Thrive is an order at the counter kind of place so it eliminates all the formalities associated with dining out. We didn't wait too long for our order which was great and the staff was lovely and good about clearing our plates when we were finished.<br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs are on the moderate side and while a little high for lunch, their portions are generous and therefore still offer good value. My bowl set me back about $13 with tip while Annie's was more like $10.<br /><b><br />3 Mmmms<br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Thrive Sauce & Bowls - 4641 NE Fremont Street, Portland OR 97213<br />503.288.8365<br />thrivesauceandbowls.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-48891176733861196042015-09-26T23:07:00.000-04:002015-10-19T01:25:38.146-04:00Bakeshop - Bringing Sweet Sophistication to the NE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well readers, I'm back again after nearly a two month hiatus due to the fact that I've made ourselves a mini-me. Yes, I've had a little girl! A daughter of my own who's a sweet little angel (well sometimes). It's no doubt been a challenge getting back into my regular routine, but I haven't had a shortage of good things to eat, so here I go again, telling you about it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Just the other week, we had our lovely friends Sarah, Blair and little Franka in town from Calgary. Looking to show them a good time and offer them some of Portland's impressive eats, I headed over to </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.bakeshoppdx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Bakeshop</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(on Meg's recommendation) to pick up a few morning pastries. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed by their selection and the quality was so superb that it left everyone raving about it and wanting more.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Situated in the heart of Rose City in the NE, Bakeshop is set amongst a fast burgeoning area of interesting businesses such as </span><a href="http://casestudycoffee.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Case Study Coffee Roasters</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, a bevy of interesting food carts and such. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The bakeshop itself isn't large but most of the space is taken up by the wholesale business and the actual kitchen where their delicious goodies get made. There's a small section for retail too, which is lovely and boasts a beautiful display of goodies, but it's not exactly a place where you'd linger and just hang out. For that reason, I asked for a box of pastries and took it home to enjoy in the comfort of our home with our friends.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Pastries</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wow! There were so many beautiful and delicious looking pastries to choose from - one more elegant than the next. Overall, I think the sweets had a lot of visual appeal and you can tell they were made by pastry chefs rather than just really skilled self-taught bakers. I know how that must sound, but I gotta give kudos to the refined talent.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Indulging in an assortment of things including their chocolate orange pecan scone, the banana chocolate muffin, the marionberry scone and the piece-de-resistance, fig frangipane, it was hard to choose a favorite. All the pastries were made with care and really excellent ingredients, including delicious creamy butter. The homemade fillings and accouterments such as the local marionberries and the figs added a special PDX touch.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Experiencing really nice and prompt service, I have no complaints. As I mentioned, there's not much of an atmosphere in their retail business so I don't have too much to say, but overall, if you're looking to make a quick pastry run, you'll find that Bakeshop does the trick.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs aren't cheap but not exorbitantly expensive either for gourmet treats. Smaller pastries will set you back between $2-$4 while the larger ones are more in the neighborhood of $5.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bakeshop - 5351 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland OR 97213</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>503.946.8884</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>bakeshoppdx.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-32786616261399323142015-08-04T00:10:00.003-04:002015-09-24T00:49:38.125-04:00Savory Homemade Nibbles at Sterling Catering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Paying my weekly visit to the </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2015/03/visiting-hollywood-farmers-market.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Hollywood Farmer's Market</span></a> </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">last weekend, I sought out some freshly baked treats to serve to a guest at our home that morning. There was lots to choose from no doubt but my attention was quickly taken by the </span><a href="http://www.sterlingcateringpdx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Sterling Catering stand</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, which boasted both sweet and savory treats.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>About Sterling Catering:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Based out the NW on Everett Street, Sterling has both a retail location as well as a catering business. The Hollywood Farmer's market is an interesting choice for a retail extension, as I imagine it helps out with awareness for their catering business. I know that I'll probably look into it if I'm looking to order treats for an office party or a special occasion. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Specializing in sophisticated comfort food, both sweet and savory, Sterling is the brainchild of owner, Joe Sterling who has a good reputation in Portland--working at well known establishments such as Paley's Place, Bloom Catering and Artemis Food.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Breakfast Treats:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Opting for something savory, I chose two orders of the vegetable galettes and a tomato basil quiche. Both were excellent options and were the perfect thing to share with our guest. The inside of the galettes were packed to the gills with seasonal veggies such as corn, cherry tomatoes, onion, fresh herbs and thin slices of potato. Not only were these filling but the flaky dough that surrounded its contents served as the perfect vessel.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The quiche too was delightful, featuring a beautifully smooth egg custard filling and once again bejeweled with those sweet little cherry tomatoes. Bits of chunky feta cheese gave it a hint of tang, which was welcome.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Costs</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs aren't cheap but don't break the bank either at $2.50/piece. So for $7.50, I'd say you'll have enough to feed 3 people, plus a little left over.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sterling Catering at the Hollywood Farmer's Market - <span style="line-height: 18px;">NE Hancock Street between 44th and 45th Avenue, Portland OR</span> </b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-64648194400409946772015-08-03T01:53:00.003-04:002015-08-03T01:53:47.000-04:00Down Home Mexican (with a Surprise!) at Santeria <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">This past Friday, my lovely co-workers and I headed to the well known </span><a href="http://thesanteria.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Santeria Mexican restaurant in SW Portland</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. I say well known, as this place is notorious for sharing a restroom with </span><a href="http://www.marysclub.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Mary's Club</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, one of the most notable strip clubs in town. But before you turn your nose, reconsider both establishments (yes both), as one serves delicious down-home Mexican food and the other delivers a somewhat comical and memorable entertainment experience.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span></span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As soon as you walk into Santeria, you know it's a dive but these types of establishments can also be symbols of greatness. Sure there was absolutely no AC on the 100+ degree day we went in and no seating except at the bar, but the fact that it was so crowded was a great sign.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Everything about the decor and atmosphere is simple and no frills, but this again brings your attention to the menu and the fact that this place is always full also speaks volumes. </span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Food</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Even though I wasn't too hungry, I couldn't not try something and was immediately impressed with their taco selection (including the competitive prices). Also noticing their extensive non-alcoholic drinks such as homemade horchata, I was sold.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Al Pastor Taco</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - One of my favorite taco flavors, I was excited to try Santeria's version of the Al Pastor. Happy to see that it was packed with big pieces of marinated pork and pineapple, it produced a hearty and satisfying bite. It has to be said that the homemade tortillas withstood the generous filling of this taco. Overall, the taco more than surpassed expectations, and I'd be interested to try their other varieties as well.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Horchata</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - I'm a sucker for a good horchata and can sometimes be disappointed by the pre-packaged stuff they serve at restaurants around town. However this is far from the way they do it at Santeria, as it's quite evident that the horchata is homemade. I love the sprinkling of cinnamon spice on top, which adds a little something special to it. And yet another great selling point of this drink is that it's on free refills. Score!</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Service and Cost</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">I can't say that I was overly impressed with the service since it was quite slow and for a very simple meal should've been expedited quickly. However, all was forgotten when we got those delicious tacos and burritos - so overall, the quality and taste of the food surpasses the shoddy service.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are cheap (as they should be) and therefore welcome for really great Mexican food. My taco and horchata set me back a mere $5.50 or $6.50 with a tip.</span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Santeria - 703 SW Ankeny Street, Portland OR 97205<br />503.956.7624<br />thesanteria.com</span></b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-8939723199757616182015-08-02T20:33:00.002-04:002015-08-02T20:33:25.934-04:00Blackberry Lemon Bar Birthday Treat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Attending our neighbor Randi's b-day party yesterday, I was looking for a festive summertime dessert to bring to the celebration. Since summer fruit is so incredibly delicious these days, I headed to the </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2015/03/visiting-hollywood-farmers-market.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Hollywood Farmer's Market</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> yesterday to see what I could gather up, and needless the say the choices were endless.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Settling on some luscious-looking blackberries, I picked up a pint and decided to make these lovely blackberry lemon bars. Adapted from my </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/fooditka/luxurious-eats/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Luxurious Eats Pinterest board</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> from a recipe that called for raspberries instead of blackberries, the recipe works either way and is really just about preference. Even though it can seem complicated, it took less than a half an hour to prepare and about 35 minutes to bake. A little tip for you is to make sure you cool them properly (and even in the fridge) for an hour or two before serving. Since the blackberries discolor the yellow color of the lemon filling, it's wise to dress up the bars with a plumb blackberry on top for a little extra effect. A sprig of fresh mint won't hurt either.</span><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://lovelylittlekitchen.com/raspberry-lemon-bars/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Blackberry Lemon bar recipe as adapted from Lovely Little Kitchen blog</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">.</span></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-32845543802707045672015-07-31T01:49:00.001-04:002015-07-31T01:49:41.135-04:00Satisfying Korean Kravings at Kim Jong Grillin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I've had my eye on a new food truck in our neighborhood and as it happens, it has one of the most amusing names I've heard of in a while. </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://kimjonggrillin.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Kim Jong Grillin'</span></a> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">offers up delicious Korean street food, including all the staples such as bibimbap, bulgogi, Korean hot dogs and more!</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Location</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Situated on the corner of 42nd Avenue near Killingsworth Street, you'll find Kim Jong Grillin' in the parking lot of the popular </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2015/03/pollo-norte-where-bird-rules-roost.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Pollo Norte</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. The latter is also very good and it's nice to see they have outdoor seating (even despite the current heatwave it's still a pleasant place to hang out). The truck is the first occupant of what will become a more extensive food truck/pod destination in the future, and I can't wait to see the others tenants that move in.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Food</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">While the menu is simple, it offers enough variety for any kind of meat lover - but I must warn my veggie friends that the meatless options are limited. Lucky for us, we're all meat lovers in our party so we had no problems choosing something that suited our tastes.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Bibim Box</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - Since I haven't had bibimbap in a while, I was excited to try Kim Jong Grillin's version with kimchi, a choice of your favorite grilled meat (in my case pork) and a fried egg on top. I loved the combination of white rice and noodles that nested this thing and soaked up all that delicious spicy BBQ sauce. The pork was the winner of the night, as Dan and our friends Oscar and Beth also loved it and I think secretly wished they got it too. </span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Bulgogi </b><span style="color: #b45f06;">- Dan also went with a classic bulgogi, which traditionally consists of marinated beef with sesame on top. Incorporating other fixins such as kimchi, a tasty carrot slaw and white rice, it was also a nice way to go but Dan said that the beef was a little chewy. There's something to be said for the fact that he kept asking for my pork - just sayin'.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Service and Cost:</b><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">It took a few minutes to get our food but not too long, so no real complaints there. While they don't serve any alcoholic drinks, the guys got a few beers at Pollo Norte, which went perfectly with this hearty food.</span><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are a little pricey for a food truck averaging out at $10 per plate, but they sure were tasty and the portions generous.</span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Kim Jong Grillin' - 5427 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland OR 97218<br />kimjonggrillin.tumblr.com</span></b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-3190094650083849232015-07-30T02:06:00.002-04:002015-07-30T02:06:19.208-04:00As Fresh as it gets at Ned Ludd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Even with the bounty of deliciousness that constantly surrounds us in Portland, it's not often we get to eat at an upscale, gourmet restaurant but when we do, it's always spectacular. Our recent visit to </span><a href="http://www.nedluddpdx.com/#an-american-craft-kitchen" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Ned Ludd</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> for my birthday last week gave this statement more truth, as we were surrounded by fresh, seasonal and thoughtfully prepared dishes that we'd go back for any day.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Atmosphere</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Situated on the border of NE and NOPO, you'll find Ned Ludd on the busy MLK Blvd and truth be told, it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. The exterior is sort of rustic looking and the restaurant's signage not too prominent that you really have to look out for it. But when you find it, you'll be glad you came - and you'll be happy to also see that it has an official parking lot, which is kind of rare.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">The exterior is enticing in itself, as it adorns all the natural wood they use to power their signature wood burning oven. I love that the vibe is very organic, rustic and doesn't look like it's trying too hard, which is definitely felt inside too. While the interior decor feels a little thrown together, being made up of a hodgepodge of knick-knacks that look like they came from competing households, it still works together to create a charming atmosphere and in its own way, harmony.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Food</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Since the restaurant's philosophy is all things seasonal, fresh and centers around local bounty, we made sure to try a little bit of everything - especially the vegetables. We weren't sorry in our choices and I was especially impressed with Dan's main dish:</span><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #b45f06;">Spiced Flatbread </b><span style="color: #b45f06;">- Starting off with some homemade spiced pita breads simply sprinkled with course sea salt and fruity olive oil was a good idea. Not only were they warm and airy, they paired nicely with our other dishes, especially the veggies. It must be noted that the portion is generous and ample enough to share between 2 to 3 people.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Summer Squash Salad</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - I was instantly drawn to the description of this dish, which included Mediterranean flavors including za'atar and yogurt sauce. Dan remarked that it tasted a little bit like tzatziki, which I somewhat agree with. The squash itself was lovely, vibrant and cooked perfectly to preserve a little bit of bite.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Pastured Lamb</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - Being a total sucker for lamb, this was my dish of choice and while I liked it, I can't say I was in love. Surprised that the meat was served on the cold/room temperature side, I expected something hot that melted in your mouth instead. And while the cherry tomatoes and the pea shoots that rested on top were simply flawless, I thought the greyish eggplant puree on the bottom didn't do much for the plate's sensory appeal.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Cornish Hen</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - Totally opposite of the lamb, Dan's entree was a total standout. First off, it looked absolutely gorgeous, sporting perfectly roasted skin that was sprinkled with fresh herbs and little edible flowers. It just looked like a happy dish that you coudn't wait to dig into and once Dan gave me a generous piece, I was hooked and went back for seconds, thirds, and fourths. The way in which it was cooked, resulting in one of the juiciest renditions of a chicken dish, was impressive. It surpassed any expectations one may have about chicken, and while the veggies that surrounded it were fabulous too, it almost didn't even need anything to go along with it.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Service and Cost:</b><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Just like everything else in the restaurant, the service was very much on point. Our waiter was precise and attentive and very knowledgeable about the food. It was he who steered Dan towards getting that amazing Cornish Hen, so if you're stuck between a few different choices, the staff can certainly help you.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are on the higher side but justified given the quality and precision of everything. The above mentioned meal with a drink set us back about $40 per person not including tip.</span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Ned Ludd - 3925 MLK Blvd, Portland OR 97212<br />503.288.6900<br />nedluddpdx.com</span></b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-51433003962663816932015-07-27T01:42:00.001-04:002015-07-27T01:42:36.098-04:00Home Run at Division Food Trucks with Pyro Pizza and The Dog House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Capping this week off with a fabulous food truck experience, Dan and I visited the Division St. food trucks this past Friday eve. Never disappointed by their bounty, we were on the prowl for fresh wood fired pizza we noticed last time we were there. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://pyropizzacart.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Pyro Pizza</b> </span></a>-</span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Taking note of their fresh wood fired pizza oven and the beautiful, crusty pies they turn out, Dan and I had our eye on the prize. It's great to see that the pizza is made to order, of course, so it takes a few minutes to cook but it's all worth it. There's plenty of other things to get at nearby food carts that you can snack on in the meantime, which is what we did.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Fennel Sausage </b>- Dan got us a fennel sausage pie to share and it more than delivered both on appearance and taste. Boasting a beautiful blistery crust and thoughtfully composed toppings of homemade tomato sauce, spicy local fennel sausage and thin slivers of red onion, the flavors in this pizza shone bright. We loved how light and airy it was, the dough bejeweled with air bubbles that made it fluffy like a cloud, allowing us to eat lots of it. In terms of portion size, it was perfect--filling us up but saving room for dessert at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/timbersdoghousepdx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">The Dog House</span></a> </b><span style="color: #b45f06;">- Specializing in hot dogs, sliders and tater tots, The Dog House will tickle your comfort food bone and then some. The tater tot offering is simply amazing, as besides the classics, you can top your tots with virtually anything from a fried egg to avocado. Their creations offer up a new take on an old favorite, which is enjoyed by kids and adults alike.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sweet Potato Tater Tots </b>- Getting a side of sweet potato tater tots was a good idea, especially since they were homemade and double fried. I loved the size of these things, as they offered up the perfect little bite and were highly poppable. Biting into one revealed a bright orange middle, showing off some hand grated deliciousness.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I already mentioned, both foods I just described were made to order and therefore entailed a bit of wait time, but it was all worth it. It behooves you to stay close to both carts, as they shout people's names out when the food is ready, so you want to make sure you don't miss it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs are affordable for both things and you can walk out of there full for under $20!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pyro Pizza & Dog House PDX - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">SE 28th Avenue and Division Street, Portland OR 97202</span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">pyropizzacart.com</span></b><div>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">facebook.com/timbersdoghousepdx</span></b></div>
Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-28128174794350613572015-07-26T23:09:00.000-04:002015-07-29T02:27:08.542-04:00Off the Waffle is Off the Hook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoCj4RTzPtPJeSQWhwbgpoavjnwcjDtul60QRFyUfIgDZuYzE2VXcFHeLXpbbDLSFeAI-o5oWbqxexRl1N0pEVnuJrNW8JRUdeWu1RDMGq1NKdndUrNNsx_CSAa_e_DYvfUM23Z3K_a4J/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoCj4RTzPtPJeSQWhwbgpoavjnwcjDtul60QRFyUfIgDZuYzE2VXcFHeLXpbbDLSFeAI-o5oWbqxexRl1N0pEVnuJrNW8JRUdeWu1RDMGq1NKdndUrNNsx_CSAa_e_DYvfUM23Z3K_a4J/s400/IMG_3374.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Just this weekend, Dan and I drove over to SE Portland to finally cash in my free waffle winnings at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/offthewaffle?fref=ts" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Off the Waffle</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. Entering </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/offthewaffle/photos/a.472297979488568.119190.119803314738038/942641229120905/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">their social media contest</a> </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">each week for nearly 6 months, persistence paid off, as I won a $10 gift certificate, which was almost good for 2 servings of waffles. Overall, the experience far from disappointed and we'll certainly be back soon - especially after our new miniature arrival makes her debut.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Located on SE Clinton Street - one of my favorite locales in Portland - Off the Waffle is hard to miss, especially since it's situated diagonally across from the quirky </span><a href="http://cstpdx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Clinton Street Theater</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. There's a few other good restaurants and coffee haunts in the area that bring in a young 30 and 40 something crowd, including lots of families.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The interior is vibrant and welcoming, made up of a nice open dining room which is somewhat modest in size. I recommend dining here on a nice day when you can score a table outside on their sidewalk or take a waffle to go. A few convenient dining room touches include little napkin and utensil cubbies on the edge of each table, which avoid you using excess paper goods, therefore decreasing waste.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something else that I have to call out is the bathroom experience. Yes, the bathroom is equipped with a fully rotating disco ball and music to boot, making your visit to the loo that much more festive and memorable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Food</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We knew why we came, as we were both in the mood for savory waffles. In addition to the delicious waffles we ordered inside, they happened to be giving out free samples of their OG waffles outside the restaurant as well so we grabbed those too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #b45f06;">The Self Fulfilling Prophesy</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - Both of us gravitated to this sweet and savory combination of Off the Waffle's classic Liege waffles coupled with a sunny side up egg, lean bacon and a dose of real maple syrup. I wasn't sure if the waffle would be too sweet for this combo, but it worked perfectly, reminding me of some of </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2011/05/bacon-chocolate-chip-cookies-for-queens.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">my favorite desserts mixed in with smoky bacon</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. The latter was just perfect and they didn't skimp on it at all, Dan and I both observed. A runny delicious organic egg on top sealed the deal for us, giving this already hearty meal extra richness. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm happy to say that everyone at Off the Waffle was nothing but friendly, accommodating, super casual and efficient. Dan and I were astounded by how quickly we got our food after ordering, and despite this, we didn't feel the least bit obligated to rush out. Overall, it was lovely experience that I'd like to repeat soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costs are affordable, and even more so for us since we had that handy gift card. An average waffle however will set you back between $5.25 - $9.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 Sweet and Savory Mmmms</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Off the Waffle - 2601 SE Clinton Street, Portland OR 97202</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>503.946.1608</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>offthewaffle.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-35624664305495474802015-07-24T02:48:00.000-04:002015-07-26T22:40:49.469-04:00Thai Peacock is Deliciously Comforting <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Just the other day, my co-workers and I ventured over to the </span><a href="http://www.thaipeacockpdx.com/#about" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Thai Peacock</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> for a lovely team lunch. Not only was it close to our office, the food and drinks proved to be delicious and certainly a place I'd like to return to again soon.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Atmosphere</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Located on the corner of SW 9th Avenue and Oak Street, Thai Peacock is set amongst other notable food and drink heavy hitters such as </span><a href="http://www.couriercoffeeroasters.com/wordpress/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Courier Coffee</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> and </span><a href="http://www.mauricepdx.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Maurice</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. Its corner location makes it perfect for outdoor dining as well and makes for some nice people watching, especially during lunchtime.</span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">We sat inside for lunch, as it accommodated our larger group quite well, but word to the wise - you should make a reservation in advance. While the interior isn't huge, it's charming and quaint and includes some pretty touches such as beautiful oak tables, maps of Thailand and a few snazzy light fixtures that help set the mood. The vibe is a little trendy but still casual enough to come by with your buds or even that special someone. So all in all - a very versatile place.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Food</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">There's tons of delicious things to choose from for both lunch and dinner, but in terms of lunch specifically, there's a few specials that you can get for under $8 and the portions are generous.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Honeydew smoothie</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - I wanted to try something a little different to drink and went with the bright green honeydew smoothie you see above. What really sold me on it were the tapioca balls that you see on the bottom that reminded me of the delicious bubble tea I used to get in NY's Chinatown. The overall taste of this smoothie was milky, vibrant and not too sweet, which was appreciated. As the ice melted, it tasted more and more like a tasty milkshake, and I'd be eager to try the other flavors too.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Kaeng Mamuang</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - A type of curry dish, this one incorporated fresh ingredients such as chunks of mango, bell peppers, peas, carrots and fresh basil. It was a visually stunning plate of food that I also chose to have with some nicely cooked beef. The curry powder used in this dish was pretty spicy, as it was the red kind, and a little hint for people with more sensitive palates is to get it mild or medium. You'll still feel the spice that way, trust me.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Service and Cost</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">I have absolutely no complaints about the service, and especially given our larger party which is usually a recipe for disaster. While not all of our dishes were brought out at the same time, generally most of the meal's service went off without a hitch.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are reasonable and for lunch will set you back anywhere between $8 - $13.50 for an entree and about $10 - $16 for dinner entrees.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Thai Peacock - 219 SW 9th Avenue, Portland OR 97205<br />503.228.2310<br />thaipeacockpdx.com</span></b></span></div>
Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-44057445492510396102015-07-22T02:06:00.000-04:002015-07-22T02:06:24.547-04:00Summery Fried Eggplant with Fresh Tomato Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDpoKt1ArqxVZ8-qO5NP_SKQ5U800LP_schhQAdLRr2d9cowYR6wWYxYBe0MVAaPJX9nwj2y9xorsXYpF7rvX6yVGLIY1OEmty4lrsL6s0lfxjm4kN5qguzssm41AnJk9_EfTPaexf5rQ/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDpoKt1ArqxVZ8-qO5NP_SKQ5U800LP_schhQAdLRr2d9cowYR6wWYxYBe0MVAaPJX9nwj2y9xorsXYpF7rvX6yVGLIY1OEmty4lrsL6s0lfxjm4kN5qguzssm41AnJk9_EfTPaexf5rQ/s400/IMG_3317.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Looking for a new way to prepare eggplant, I gained inspiration for an eggplant layer dish through browsing through my </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/fooditka/healthy-eating/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Pinterest Healthy Eating board</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, only to create my own variation on an eggplant parm dish. The medley you see above uses loads of fresh, local ingredients that made it very scrumptious and I also omitted the heavy dose of cheese that's commonly used in the classic version of the recipe. With all of these tweaks, I created something I'm calling my Summery Fried Eggplant. Here's how you make it:</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Fooditka's Summery Fried Eggplant </b><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Ingredients</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> (serves 2)</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 large eggplant, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 - 1 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 egg white and 1/2 cup of water, whisked together until frothy</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 cup of gluten free flour (I used </span><a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/gluten-free-1-to-1-baking-flour.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">)</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">2 cups of fresh heirloom tomatoes, cut in half</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 tbs of red onion, sliced</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">1 tbs of fresh basil, chopped</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Balsamic vinaigrette</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Olive oil</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Salt & pepper<br /><br /><b>Directions</b>:<br />Cut the eggplant into slices and then season with salt. Let it sweat for about a half hour so it gets nice and tender.<br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coat the eggplant in the flour, then the egg whites and finally the breadcrumbs. Place into a hot skillet with olive oil and fry for about 5 minutes on each side. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.<br /><br />Then, make the tomato salad by combining the tomatoes with the onions and basil. Toss with a few splashes of the balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Then layer on top of the eggplant.<br /><br />If you so wish, you can serve the eggplant on top of fresh pasta or gnocchi like I did. It was really hearty and so delicious!</span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-43435348169216251572015-07-21T01:22:00.001-04:002015-07-22T01:38:48.467-04:00Best Pizza in Oregon (so far) is at Double Mountain Brewery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">This past weekend, Dan and I took a little road trip to the Columbia River Gorge, which we haven't been to in a few months. We missed our scenic road trips that we decided to visit the </span><a href="http://vistahouse.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Vista House</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> in Corbett and then drove another half hour east to Hood River. There, we had our eye on the prize, which was trying out Double Mountain Brewery and their legendary pizza.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Located in the heart of Hood River, not far from the waterfront,</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.doublemountainbrewery.com/" target="_blank">Double Mountain Brewery</a> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">is a popular go-to spot for visitors and locals alike. While the brewery isn't as scenic and spacious as </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Full Sail</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(also located in Hood River), its charm comes through in other ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">You'll find both indoor and outdoor seating here and even on a scorcher of a day like last Saturday (temperatures hit almost 100 degrees), there were still people dining outside with their dogs. The interior is extensive and offers both casual bar-side seating as well as more traditional tables, which we chose to occupy. Even though there's a little bit of a wait during lunchtime, it moves pretty fast and we were pleasantly surprised to be seated just 10 minutes after putting our name on the list.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Food</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">We knew why we came, which was of course for their famous pizza and this is exactly what we ordered. Also observing the generous portion size, we knew that splitting one pie would be just enough to fill us up.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">The Salami Pie </b><span style="color: #b45f06;">- When we saw the word </span><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2013/11/olympic-provisions-best-kind-of-meating.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Olympic Provisions</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> in the description of this pizza, we were so in! As you see above, the whole thing was also generously sprinkled with fresh peppery arugula, which added a nice dose of earthiness to this hearty pie. Dan asked to add a little bit of fresh mozzarella to this already delicious combo, which the staff was happy to accommodate. The end result was spectacular and so memorable - from the blistery crust to the fresh tomato sauce and those magical salami slices.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Service and Cost</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">:</span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />More than impressed with the service, not only was our waiter quick, he was knowledgeable, pleasant and there when we needed him. Even during a busy dining time, he was totally on the ball and we felt that everything from the time it took to bring out our pizza to refilling our water and beer glasses went off without a hitch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are moderate to a little expensive, but completely worth every penny for what you get. The pizza set us back $20 which is a lot for a pie, but the portion is nice and large and even gave us a little bit to take home.</span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Double Mountain Brewery - 8 Fourth Street, Hood River Oregon 97031<br />541.387.0042<br />doublemountainbrewery.co</span></b><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>m</b></span></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-69480865060693948692015-07-19T21:48:00.002-04:002015-07-21T00:48:28.246-04:00Monsoon Thai Goes Way Beyond Pad Thai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Excited to get my fix of comforting Thai food, Dan and I met new friends Danielle and Pat at </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/monsoon-thai-cuisine-portland" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Monsoon Thai</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">last week on Mississippi Ave. Truth is that I've passed by this place on many occasions without really noticing it, as it's not one of the modern, trendy restaurants that primarily occupy this neighborhood. However, this is a good thing, I think, especially when it comes to Thai cuisine, making us look forward to our experience.<br /><br /><b>Atmosphere</b>:<br />As I already hinted above, the ambiance at Monsoon is far from trendy and modern, but it's no dive either. From the outside, it's pretty noticeable with a bright yellow facade and cheery signage. In fact, I think it's quite fitting for an authentic Thai restaurant and I wouldn't have it any other way.<br /><br />Inside, the dining room is spacious and I love that they have these large wooden booths that create nice privacy. We chose this style of seating exactly for this reason and sat near the window which gave us a little view of Mississippi Ave. Note - there are two entrances to the restaurant, one in the front and the other off to the side where you can pick up your to-go orders.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br />Food</b>:<br />While the menu is extensive, I'm happy to report that it's not overwhelmingly long, which made our choices easy. We tried a little bit of everything - mixing both traditional staples with some new things as well.<br /><br /><b>Appetizers </b>-<b> </b>Starting off with some deep fried tofu and fresh salad rolls was a good idea. I love a nice piece of tofu and Monsoon's definitely delivered, as they weren't oily and went perfectly with the tangy peanut sauce. The salad rolls were excellent too, stuffed with fresh vibrant veggies such as carrots, cucumbers and lettuce. The latter was a great option if you're choosing to eat light.<br /><br /><b>Entrees</b> - We each decided on a different entree and sampled each other's food, which was a fun way to go. I went for the Thai Ginger stir fry dish with pork, Dan got the classic pad Thai with chicken, while our friends got other variations of these two dishes. It was interesting to have a pork stir fry, as this isn't usually what I go for in a Thai restaurant but this was delicious. The pork was tender and presented in bite sized pieces while the veggies in the dish such as shredded ginger, onions, mushrooms and bell peppers added nice freshness.<br /><br />Dan's Pad Thai was also excellent - the noodles being a little tender but definitely not overcooked and coated in a slightly sweet and sour sauce that made your tastebuds dance. The chicken that was mixed into the dish was nicely cooked as well and once again infused with great flavor from ingredients such as bean sprouts, green onions and once again the chunky peanut sauce.<br /><br /><b>Service and Cost</b>:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">We enjoyed really great service from start to finish. As soon as we sat down, our waitress made sure our water cups were full and she came to check on us a few times before our friends arrived. Once we ordered, it took just a few minutes to receive our food and the bill was easily expedited as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Costs are affordable and range between $4.95 - $10.95 for appetizers and $9.95 - $13.95 for entrees. They also have great lunch specials for $7.95 for all entrees on the menu.</span><br /><b><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Monsoon Thai Cuisine - 4236 Mississippi Avenue, Portland OR 97217<br />503.280.7087<br />monsoonthaipdx.com</span></b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-52737334561396738402015-07-16T02:13:00.001-04:002015-07-16T02:13:18.988-04:00Homemade Chocolate Chunk Blondies FTW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been on a baking kick lately - mostly because there have been many occasions to bake for including the 4th of July, a few block parties and also just for the sake of sharing something yummy with others. These gooey chocolate chunk blondies came about when thinking of something tasty, comforting and transportable to make for our neighbors who recently did something lovely for us.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Getting the recipe from </span><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chocolate-chunk-blondies-recipe.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Food Network's Ina Garten</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - the master of classic comfort food recipes - I thought they'd be welcome by adults and kids alike. The recipe was relatively simple, but definitely uses lots of rich ingredients such as butter, sugar and generous amounts of chocolate. While I skipped the walnuts in this case simply because I didn't have them and also because you never know who's allergic, I imagine it would give this dessert some nice texture and complexity. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">The whole thing took about a half an hour to put together and another half hour to bake - so overall not a huge investment. Our neighbors seemed to appreciate them and commented on how heavenly they smelled. I must agree that they did!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chocolate-chunk-blondies-recipe.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Chocolate Chunk Blondie Recipe, as adapted from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa</span></a></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-56982868479242799632015-07-14T01:02:00.002-04:002015-07-14T01:02:48.737-04:00Committing Delicious Carbicide at Mac!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">In the mood for some carby goodness, Dan and I recently dined at </span><a href="http://www.macandcheese.biz/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Mac! Mac and Cheesery</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, which we've known about even before we moved to this lovely city. Who doesn't love a good mac 'n cheese, really, so it's hard not to be in the mood for something this tasty and comforting.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Atmosphere</b>:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Located on a busy commercial block on Mississippi Avenue, Mac! boasts a whimsical sign and logo and an overall friendly facade. On a warm day, you'll notice people dining outside and the inside being virtually empty, which was the case when we went in as well. The outdoor is inviting, as the tables occupy a wide sidewalk area that's also shared with the sushi restaurant next door, and together with the other stores on that busy block. This all makes for good people watching, which gives Mac! yet another draw, but even if you decide to dine inside, you'll have a pleasant experience. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Food</b>:</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Mac and cheese is of course the star of the show here and there are over a dozen different varieties to choose from - some more inventive than others. While there are other things on the menu as well, Dan and I knew why we came and ordered different mac renditions.</span><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Truffle Mac</b> - Everything about this dish was music to my ears including the shaved prosciutto on top, mushrooms, peas and of course the truffle oil. While the latter ingredient was definitely felt, it wasn't overpowering and I admired their restraint. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the prosciutto gave it a little more sophistication and Italian flavor - an all around hit.</span><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Chili Mac </b>- Once thinking about this dish, it became so obvious to us, making us ask the question "why haven't we thought to make this before?!" Dan loved it and decided to supplement the regular pasta with a gluten free variety, which worked great next to the hearty meat sauce. The whole dish felt like a really complete meal and you almost forgot that it was just a bowl full of pasta. Loving the generous portion, it's a perfect thing to share with someone else or makes for good leftovers.<br /><br /><b>Bloody Mary</b> - To go along with the comfort food theme, Dan also got a Miss Mary Mac! cocktail, which is Mac's! take on a classic Bloody Mary. Everything about it was delicious and just the way it should be, Dan said, even down to the slightly warm piece of bacon that floated on top.<br /><br /><b>Service and Cost</b>:<br />Quite satisfied with the service, you order up at the counter and then have your food brought to your table. All this is well and good in certain restaurants in town only to later discover that your order has been delayed - but not here. Everything was done to a T and we got our mac in a mere 10 minutes. Much appreciated!<br /><br />Costs are affordable and you get great bank for your buck with most of the mac dishes at just $8 or $9 a pop.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">3 Mmmms</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Mac! Mac and Cheesery - 3936 N. Mississippi Avenue Portland OR 97227<br />503.200.5787<br />macandcheese.biz</span></b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961500355763112066.post-75162503069274398072015-07-10T00:53:00.001-04:002015-07-10T00:53:18.162-04:00Eeny Mini Cannelles Stole My Heart <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Taunted by yet another decadent bakery in Downtown Portland, I headed to </span><a href="http://www.nuvrei.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Nuvrei</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">, one of my favorite dessert haunts, during my lunch hour. There's never a shortage of something delicious to explore there - </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.fooditka.com/2014/12/rise-and-shine-with-nuvreis-dante.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">whether its their savory biscuits, bagels</span></a> </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">or sweets such as specialty croissants, macarons, cookies or the beautiful French cannelles.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">I decided to try the latter on this visit, and especially since I noticed so many interesting flavors such as strawberry basil, peach cardamom, pistachio lemon and others. Served in these darling little cups that are each labeled with a distinct flavor combination, the cannelles are real teeny and therefore sharable, with six to seven pieces per serving. It's just enough to give you a taste of a little something delightful without totally overindulging.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Peach Cardamom Cannelles</b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> - While it was pretty tough choosing my flavor of choice, I went with the peach cardamom in the end because it seemed beautifully vibrant and the peaches are of course seasonal. Loving the pretty golden color of these little treats, they went down as pleasantly as they looked - each piece being coated in almost a carameley texture and a really soft, spongy/eggy interior. I couldn't detect the cardamom too much but there was no doubt that the dessert was elegant, sophisticated and expertly prepared. I look forward to trying the other flavor combinations soon.</span><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Service and Cost:</b><br />Because I came in during an off peak time (they tend to be a lot busier in the mornings), I was helped right away. The gentleman I was dealing with was lovely and pleasant and generally happy to serve my every sweet wish.<br /><br />Costs are pretty darn expensive but unsurprising given the level of quality and sophistication of everything behind the display case.<br /><br /><b>3 Mmmms<br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Nuvrei - 404 NW 10th Avenue, Portland OR 97209</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>503.972.1700</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>nuvrei.com</b></span>Fooditkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927382832751244890noreply@blogger.com0