Date Night at Olympic Provisions

A few weeks ago, I was in the mood to try a Portland favorite - Olympic Provisions. Since this is a "meat" place, I knew it wouldn't take much to convince Dylan to go. We ended up having the perfect summer date night in SE Portland at the bar, overlooking the open kitchen.

We started with charcuterie, since this is their speciality. Olympic Provisions charcuterie is served in many Portland restaurants so we decided the Chef's selection of five meats was the way to go. Let the experts pick their favorites, right? We both loved the spice of the chorizo.The charcuterie board also came with some tasty pickled vegetables too. Did you know they have a Master Pickler? 

For dinner, I ordered something vegetarian, which I thought was funny. It was gnocchi with lemon, scallions and some other yummy flavors. The sauce was creamy and those little potato dumplings were cooked to perfection. Dylan had the braised beef short rib and it fell off the bone. This seems to be a staple on their menu but they change up the set depending on what sides are in season. 

The SE location is in an industrial area, but the inside of the building is comfortable and nice. It is an open concept with lots of windows and high ceilings. There were couples, families and larger parties dining. Even a classy looking group of men for a bachelor party. :)

There are two Olympic Provision locations, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They describe the locations "as siblings, sharing the same lineage but each has their own identity." I just love that.



Our next visit will probably be for brunch at the NW location because we have heard it is just as lovely in the mornings as it is in the evening. Of course, if you can't make it to a restaurant, Olympic Provisions sells their goodness in many local stores - Whole Foods, New Season and Fred Meyer.

Olympic Provisions (Southeast)

107 SE Washington Street

Portland, Oregon

503.894.8136

Olympic Provisions (Northwest)

1632 NW Thurman Street

Portland, Oregon

503.954.3663

open lunch, midday and dinner | saturday & sunday brunch | see hours online

Sunshine on a Winter Night

It isn't easy picking a restaurant for my family. We are the family of "constructive criticism" and everyone offers their opinion when it comes to picking a restaurant, well actually picking anything. Fortunately, I got thumbs up from everyone after we left Sunshine Tavern with full bellies. 

This is a small tavern, affiliated with Chef Jenn Louis' other restaurant, Lincoln. The menu is filled with your favorite comfort foods, including Chicken & Waffles, which was naturally my birthday pick for the evening. The rest of the group ordered burgers, salads and Monte Cristos. Sunshine Tavern was the perfect place for a casual atmosphere with some delicious pub fare. I also appreciate how they easily accommodated the nine of us, without complaint. 

The shuffle board was a great past time activity for the boys while we waited for our drinks and meal. The cocktails and beers were good but I am not too sure about the Beer Shandy drinks...I need to try a different one next time. I opted for the Lemon Shandy, which is a mix of lager and lemonade, served over ice. Interesting concept but I think I will stick with their signature cocktails or a draft beer. 

                   

We had a fun time and a few of us have already been back. If you find yourself exploring the new hot spots on Division or want to stop in for a casual drink, this is a great place. 

Sunshine Tavern

3111 SE Division Street

Portland, Oregon

503.688.1750

dinner tuesday-sunday 5pm - 11pm | lunch sat-sun 12pm - 5pm

Sunday Brunch at Xico

The holidays = eating my way through Portland. Lots of new restaurants to report! One of my new favorite Mexican brunch spots is Xico off SE Division. Watch out Verde Cocina...you have some competition! Each restaurant's menus are very different and you can't go wrong with either, but back to Xico. I tried a new dish and was not disappointed. My favorite savory breakfast dish is probably eggs benedict and the Sopes Floretine was their version, made with masa cakes and a chile lime hollandaise. Ahhh, so good. I would have substituted my potatoes for another masa cake. 

Of course, there are traditional mexican dishes like Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles, which also can't be beat. The Pork Belly Carnitas Hash looked tasty so that might be my choice for next time. The menu also featured some traditional cocktails like a Hot Horchata and the Bloody Maria. What's a Bloody Maria? It is made with tequila instead of vodka...a staple in a Mexican brunch place. It is a little spicy, so beware.

I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and it was very quiet at 10:00am when we arrived. I think most Portlanders get a later brunch start on Sundays so it worked out great for us. The good news is they take reservations so if you want to plan ahead, there is the option to do so.

Great place for vegetarian options, but just be sure you communicate to your server so there is no confusion. There was a slight mix-up with one of our meals (cowboy beans have bacon) so our server surprised us with a piece of tres leche cake with a mole spice whipped cream.  It was a nice gesture and we enjoyed the traditional Mexican dessert. 

I had a great time with my girlfriends so I am sure we will be back. It is a small restaurant but extremely comfortable with cozy bench seats and bright colors. We couldn't have picked a better place for our annual holiday brunch!

Xico 

3715 SE Division Street

Portland, OR 97202

503.548.6343

open 7 days a week for dinner | lunch wed-sat 11:30am - 2pm | sunday brunch 9am - 2pm