For those of you who have been following my blog for over a year, you know that I have a holiday blog too. It is a movement I promote through the month of December to spread holiday cheer. It wouldn't be possible without the help of my friends and family and since all of you are my friends, I would love your participation too!
It is the Merry Moments Movement. It is your opportunity to pay it forward and make someone's day this holiday season. Check out the link for more details and the merry moments made so far!
http://www.themerrymoments.com
#merrymoment
So, pardon my lack of endless eats posts...I have been gearing up!
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Midwestern Cuisine from Savoy Tavern
Thanks to Portland's Drink Deck, we discovered Savoy Tavern on SE Clinton Street. We decided to pick a restaurant on the Eastside since we were heading to the Trailblazer's exhibition game against Golden State.
We arrived around 5pm so we had plenty of time for happy hour! Pretty easy to find a seat at that time, but it did start to fill up around 5:45pm. It wasn't packed for a Friday so I imagine any night of the week would be great for happy hour. The menu was excellent...never been to a restaurant themed around food from the Midwest. Lots of Wisconsin cheddar cheese...even fried cheese curds!
The atmosphere was low-key and really fulfilled the "hip hangout" category as Drink Deck described it. My favorite touches were the copper mugs and the old fashion bar accessories. The "L-shaped" bar was built with dark wood and a mirrored liquor display to feature all their bottles, including the array of whiskeys. It was a rainy afternoon and we enjoyed our meal in a cozy booth lit by a single tall candle.
For dinner we both opted for the burger...go figure. It was served on a delicious Grand Central brioche bun and I ordered the side salad with basil vinaigrette. Are you surprised? Yes, that was BASIL vinaigrette. While we waited for our burgers, we ordered the Tavern Board, which was tasty. It only came with one type of salami and one type of cheese, which was a bit disappointing. Really, that was my only complaint because I love trying different cured meats and cheeses.
Last, go for the cocktails. YUM! I had the Milwaukee Mule and wanted to go back for a second. It was a ginger infused vodka with lime and ginger beer in a copper mug! Very creative drinks and I imagine most of them are inspired from the Midwest.
We arrived around 5pm so we had plenty of time for happy hour! Pretty easy to find a seat at that time, but it did start to fill up around 5:45pm. It wasn't packed for a Friday so I imagine any night of the week would be great for happy hour. The menu was excellent...never been to a restaurant themed around food from the Midwest. Lots of Wisconsin cheddar cheese...even fried cheese curds!
The atmosphere was low-key and really fulfilled the "hip hangout" category as Drink Deck described it. My favorite touches were the copper mugs and the old fashion bar accessories. The "L-shaped" bar was built with dark wood and a mirrored liquor display to feature all their bottles, including the array of whiskeys. It was a rainy afternoon and we enjoyed our meal in a cozy booth lit by a single tall candle.
For dinner we both opted for the burger...go figure. It was served on a delicious Grand Central brioche bun and I ordered the side salad with basil vinaigrette. Are you surprised? Yes, that was BASIL vinaigrette. While we waited for our burgers, we ordered the Tavern Board, which was tasty. It only came with one type of salami and one type of cheese, which was a bit disappointing. Really, that was my only complaint because I love trying different cured meats and cheeses.
Last, go for the cocktails. YUM! I had the Milwaukee Mule and wanted to go back for a second. It was a ginger infused vodka with lime and ginger beer in a copper mug! Very creative drinks and I imagine most of them are inspired from the Midwest.
2500 SE Clinton St.
Portland, Oregon
503.808.9999
open daily by 4pm | happy hour 4 - 6pm
Thursday, October 18, 2012
New recipes from How Sweet It Is
Guess what? It is going to be a weekend in Portland so I hope to have some great new restaurants posts SOON! Stand by.
But, until then, read about my obsession with some of Jessica's recipes from How Sweet It Is. If you haven't been to her blog, then you are missing out. I warn you...once you start, you won't be able to stop. I could make EVERY recipe and last night, I made two - Sweet Potato Burgers with Avocado and Double Bean Burger Patty Melts.
My love for sweet potatoes is almost surpassing my love for anything inspired by caprese salad. Okay, so that might be an exaggeration, but I do love them. This recipe was so easy and the potato/avocado combination is divine. I did alter the recipe slightly, not because it needed it, but because I lacked the proper ingredients to make the cream. Instead, I made a simple rosemary, roasted garlic aioli:
Ingredients - Rosemary Roasted Garlic Aioli
1/4 c. mayo
1 tablespoon rosemary
4 cloves roasted garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Mash up the garlic cloves and then mix with mayo, rosemary, salt and pepper. Voila!
Now, the reason I also made the bean patties is because my other half doesn't drool over sweet potatoes like I do (he did end up liking the burgers though). The Double Bean Burger Patty Melts were fantastic except that I did something wrong and the ingredients didn't stick together very well. My recommendation - rinse and drain the beans properly. I think I had too much liquid from the canned beans, so I started off on the wrong foot. Not good. Yet, the flavor was still wonderful and the caramelized onions tasted great with the beans and cheese.
Since we had extra patties, I just decided to freeze them, just like we would with a traditional beef burger. They won't last long in there, I can assure you that.
My love for sweet potatoes is almost surpassing my love for anything inspired by caprese salad. Okay, so that might be an exaggeration, but I do love them. This recipe was so easy and the potato/avocado combination is divine. I did alter the recipe slightly, not because it needed it, but because I lacked the proper ingredients to make the cream. Instead, I made a simple rosemary, roasted garlic aioli:
Ingredients - Rosemary Roasted Garlic Aioli
1/4 c. mayo
1 tablespoon rosemary
4 cloves roasted garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Mash up the garlic cloves and then mix with mayo, rosemary, salt and pepper. Voila!
Since we had extra patties, I just decided to freeze them, just like we would with a traditional beef burger. They won't last long in there, I can assure you that.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Can't wait until next year...Feast Portland.
Dear Feast Portland,
I wish I could have met you and all of your friends.
Can't wait until next year...I will go broke before I miss out on such a great event.
Mark it on your calendars for next year...Portland's ultimate "foodie" event.
http://www.eatmagazine.ca/feast-portland-portland-puts-on-the-show-of-the-year/
@feastpdx
September 20, 21 & 22nd 2013.
I wish I could have met you and all of your friends.
Can't wait until next year...I will go broke before I miss out on such a great event.
Mark it on your calendars for next year...Portland's ultimate "foodie" event.
http://www.eatmagazine.ca/feast-portland-portland-puts-on-the-show-of-the-year/
@feastpdx
September 20, 21 & 22nd 2013.
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| via |
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
What's for dinner? Well, what's in the pantry?
It was a typical, "what's for dinner?" kind of night and I wasn't in the mood for grocery shopping. The challenge: using the ingredients I already had in my pantry. A game that I don't play well. My inspiration was some chicken, mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.
Naturally, that lead me to Chicken Parmesan! I made it on the fly and I didn't have to spend ten minutes looking up a recipe....it was so easy! Read and learn.
Recipe - Simple Chicken Parmesan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
You need:
Egg & milk (for the egg wash)
Mozzarella cheese
Marinara Sauce
Chicken breasts
Make your Parmesan crust:
Bread crumbs
Italian seasonings (oregano, parsley etc...)
Minced garlic
Salt & pepper
Parmesan cheese
Now, follow the steps:
Flatten chicken breasts, dredge each one in the egg wash and then cover with your homemade Parmesan crust.
Brown the chicken in a hot skillet with olive oil for about 2-3 minutes.
Place the crusted-chicken in a "bake safe" dish (like a glass baking dish or pan).
Cover with mozzarella cheese and top with marinara sauce.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
Voila! Serve over noodles and you are good to go (add some delicious garlic bread if you have it)!
For next time, I might try to add some red pepper flakes. My recipe needs something else but I am not sure what. Might need to have a chat with good ol' Giada, the Italian expert herself.
What would you add to this recipe?
Naturally, that lead me to Chicken Parmesan! I made it on the fly and I didn't have to spend ten minutes looking up a recipe....it was so easy! Read and learn.
Recipe - Simple Chicken Parmesan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
You need:
Egg & milk (for the egg wash)
Mozzarella cheese
Marinara Sauce
Chicken breasts
Make your Parmesan crust:
Bread crumbs
Italian seasonings (oregano, parsley etc...)
Minced garlic
Salt & pepper
Parmesan cheese
Now, follow the steps:
Flatten chicken breasts, dredge each one in the egg wash and then cover with your homemade Parmesan crust.
Brown the chicken in a hot skillet with olive oil for about 2-3 minutes.
Place the crusted-chicken in a "bake safe" dish (like a glass baking dish or pan).
Cover with mozzarella cheese and top with marinara sauce.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
Voila! Serve over noodles and you are good to go (add some delicious garlic bread if you have it)!
For next time, I might try to add some red pepper flakes. My recipe needs something else but I am not sure what. Might need to have a chat with good ol' Giada, the Italian expert herself.
What would you add to this recipe?
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Willamette Valley: Carlton Bakery
Portland is lucky to have a local bakery or coffee house on every corner and I wish we had more places like this in the Willamette Valley. Fortunately, we are getting closer with new places like,Carlton Bakery. It is about a 25 minute drive from Newberg, on the back roads of Hwy 240, but it is well worth it! The route is scenic, through beautiful farmland, and the pastries are absolutely divine!
This husband/wife duo recently opened this bakery for their love of perfect pastries and even better baguettes. Neither of them had culinary or baking experience but fell in love with a bakery in Japan and knew that it was time for a career change. Tim would wake up early each morning and head to the local bakery to learn how to make the baked goods from scratch. With lots of practice and a couple years of baking classes, Tim and his wife, Ahmee, decided it was time to open their own bakery! They settled on an old gas station, which had since been converted to The Filling Station Deli. Eventually, they decided to change the name to "Carlton Bakery." The old garage was renovated into a working kitchen and their dream of making fresh pastries, baguettes and croissants came true!
Since I have a problem making decisions when it comes to food, I tried a little sample of everything. The BLT sandwich, on their house made baguette with Carlton Farms bacon, is fantastic. They even have a simple, French baguette with cheese and ham that makes you feel like you are traveling abroad. Do not get me started on the pastries, please. I tried the fruit tart, sesame pastry, croissant and the chocolate croissant. No, I did not eat them all to myself. But next time, I am going back for the walnut bread...and some other Gorgonzola pastry that looked fabulous.
Check out their Facebook page for more photos.
This husband/wife duo recently opened this bakery for their love of perfect pastries and even better baguettes. Neither of them had culinary or baking experience but fell in love with a bakery in Japan and knew that it was time for a career change. Tim would wake up early each morning and head to the local bakery to learn how to make the baked goods from scratch. With lots of practice and a couple years of baking classes, Tim and his wife, Ahmee, decided it was time to open their own bakery! They settled on an old gas station, which had since been converted to The Filling Station Deli. Eventually, they decided to change the name to "Carlton Bakery." The old garage was renovated into a working kitchen and their dream of making fresh pastries, baguettes and croissants came true!
Since I have a problem making decisions when it comes to food, I tried a little sample of everything. The BLT sandwich, on their house made baguette with Carlton Farms bacon, is fantastic. They even have a simple, French baguette with cheese and ham that makes you feel like you are traveling abroad. Do not get me started on the pastries, please. I tried the fruit tart, sesame pastry, croissant and the chocolate croissant. No, I did not eat them all to myself. But next time, I am going back for the walnut bread...and some other Gorgonzola pastry that looked fabulous.
305 W Main Street
Carlton, Oregon
503.852.6687
open Wednesday - Sunday
Check out their Facebook page for more photos.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Family-style at Jamison
Portland is the home of new, reinvented restaurants. One goes out of business and then another opens to take its place. It is impossible to get through my mile-long list of restaurants to try as it is, and then my friends go and suggest a new one on me. Jamison opened last month and is a second venture for the owner's of Davis Street Tavern. It took the location of the well-known, Fenouil. Sad to see them go, but I have to say, I am pretty excited about Jamison. In my opinion, way more impressive than Davis Street.
We chose to dine outside because it was a beautiful summer night and the restaurant has a large patio for outdoor dining. Our view was of Jamison Square with trees lit up by outdoor white lights creating an ambiance that made want to stay all night. The indoor dining was equally lovely with rustic, wooden touches but comfortable with oversized chairs and banquette seating. The birdcage chandeliers were my favorite decoration piece. All the windows opened up to the patio so even dining indoors felt like you were outside. This place will transition nicely into the winter with the warm interior colors and cozy fireplaces.
The inspiration of the menu is "American family-style" so your plates are served as the kitchen prepares them. This is my FAVORITE way to dine. I come from a big family so sharing and sampling different dishes is my preference. There are small plates, vegetable sides, flatbreads, salads and large plates. We ordered something from ever section. Our favorites were the heirloom tomato salad (a given since it is tomato season), roasted garlic and crostini and the farro with broccoli raab and peppadew peppers. We walked away without ordering the halibut dish and I am regretting it. I must go back and try.
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| via jamisonpdx.com |
The inspiration of the menu is "American family-style" so your plates are served as the kitchen prepares them. This is my FAVORITE way to dine. I come from a big family so sharing and sampling different dishes is my preference. There are small plates, vegetable sides, flatbreads, salads and large plates. We ordered something from ever section. Our favorites were the heirloom tomato salad (a given since it is tomato season), roasted garlic and crostini and the farro with broccoli raab and peppadew peppers. We walked away without ordering the halibut dish and I am regretting it. I must go back and try.
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| garlic crostini & menu |
One thing I have to say is that it is vegan and
vegetarian-friendly. We ate all vegetarian that night and had NO problem finding options. With that said, you will find seafood and meat options too.
Stop by before while we still have our beautiful summer nights. You won't regret it...maybe check out their happy hour and let me know what you think!
Jamison
900 NW 11th Ave
Portland, OR
503.972.3330
open tuesday - sunday
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