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Calendar
of Events, Wine Maker Dinners
and our Staff Reviews & Favorite Things!
Isn't It Time to Take A Vacation or plan your holiday adventure?
Announcing the Canyon's Edge Tasting Room & Bistro in Kennewick.We are busy finishing our Tasting Room and Bistro at Southridge Villa in Kennewick. It will be a tapas style menu, made from local seasonal ingredients, so you will enjoy small plates with a big flavor. Address: 3617 Plaza Way Suite C
Laurelwood NW Public House has re-opened it's doors today after a 4 month re-model. The place is looking great with new floors, paint, kitchen and most exciting; a new menu. Our NW Public House menu proudly features delectable apps such as Dungeness Crab Dip, Beef Short Rib Empanadas, Sauteed Calamari and House Cut Fries. If your feeling more more like a salad you might think to try the Baby Arugula Salad with Hazelnut Ham, Olives, Roasted Peppers, Manchengo and a Sherry Vinaigrette. For a Sandwich try a Turkey and Avocado Panini or a Grilled Linguisa Sausage. Don't worry we kept the Halibut Fish and Chips but added Beef Short Ribs and a Grilled Paillard Chicken Breast to the entree's. We have a brand new Happy Hour menu featuring many of our tasty new items like house ground hamburger sliders, fried mac & cheese sticks and blackened fish tacos. Daily 3-6 pm and 9pm-close. Most importantly we have the same great BEER! So next time you are in NW Portland come by and visit.
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Waving Tree Winery
Waving Tree Winery Come celebrate Labor Day Weekend at The Pines. Enjoy wine tasting, a new art exhibit featuring Barry Mack, hors d'oeuvres, and a special 20% discount on 6 or more bottle purchases all weekend long. Help us break in our new hardwood floors by dancing the night away with live music Friday by Heart and Hammer and Saturday by Henry Schifter and Company. Music is from 6-9 p.m. each night.
Wild Mushroom Class - Dan Brophy on the 25th Not able to get away by plane? Try a Balloon! Something is always happening at Rusty Grape Vineyards in Battleground....... |
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Favorite Things
Davis Street Tavern
This avant garde atmosphere is one that only embellishes the food. A spectacular wine list is just the icing on the cake, but back to the food. Extremely innovative combinations that are shear joy to the mouth will make this dining experience one that will make you wanting to come back often. A beet and goat cheese tureen turned out to be a table favorite, lamb done to perfection, halibut not over cooked and scallops to die for where on the menu that evening when we savored the flavors. This restaurant uses what is fresh and available and the ever changing menu will keep us wanting to come back and see whats next. Although we have not made it to their happy hour it is only at our loss. The menu boasts a huge selection of local bounty which we can not wait to try soon. Hope to see you there.
Update: Possibly the best happy hour food there is! Don't miss the mussels in coconut milk or the seared steak and sauce with fries. Also the burgers - pork, sirlon and more - all exceptionally tasty!
Bo's Restobar
Although we've only indulged late at night and during lunch we have to write a little something about this downtown corner location. Besides the sheek atmosphere the service here is very good. The clam chowder with lemon grass is so delicious and a truly unexpected flavor that leaves you wishing you had ordered more. The Scallop Ceviche is a beautfiul presentation and in two words Simply Delicious. The spicy wings are indeed spicy and gooey goodness! Try it - we think you'll like it - and decide to come back again.
The London Grill
The Standard Sunday Brunch can be described in two words Absolutely Fabulous!
An outstanding array of offerings puts this high on our lists of "must
go." Well worth it anytime you can make it or need to impress! We
also recommend it for a private semi - casual lunch or dinner location
where the old world charm is evident in the decor of fine wood work and
ambiance. One of only two four diamond restaurants the food speaks for
itself. The London Grill also boasts one of the most extensive wine lists
in the Northwest, with more than 10,000 bottles and awarded Wine Spectator’s
2007 Award of Grand Excellence. Over the past 50 years, the London Grill
has become known for its table-side dining and numerous specialty dishes,
including Dungeness crab cakes with roasted red pepper sauce and cilantro,
dill-cured salmon served with cucumber and red onion salad, roasted rack
of lamb, and the local breakfast favorite, Eggs Benedict. Chef Franz Popperl,
the London Grill's new executive chef, has dedicated decades to creating
award-winning cuisine. Make your reservations on line at bensonhotel.com
Our New Favorite Book - Order a copy Today! It's Awesome!!
Oregon Copies Coming Soon in Spring 2009!
Favorite Things continued ....
Our staff regularily visits great culinary stores and
restaurants all over the country that we would like to share with others. We're known to drive across town for
something we like without thinking twice. Here are just a few of our favorite
things that we'd like to share with you! Keep coming back as we continue
to uncover those gems in our marketplace.
West Cafe
Update! - The Twilight Tuesday Wine Dinners - we highly recommend - the best value in Portland we think!
On the corner of Jefferson and 12th resides West Cafe. Sleek and hip with a urban atmosphere. What a gem! We had occasion to try several of the dishes off the main menu that we think deserve a word of gratitude. The shredded pork wrapped in bannana leaf was tender and flavored with ginger and garlic, uniquely presented, along with a really nice red thai curry sauce, just a touch of heat in it. Very nice. The Morrocan half chicken with cardommon, apricots and dates was recommended by our wait person and so wonderful, full of palate pleasing sensations. The appetizer of prawns was tasty. Although there are only two prawns we were not unhappy we ordered it, the curry potato salad on the side was very very good. This tapas dish comes in a long narrow boat plate and although we wished it was a little bigger, we'll order it again for the flavors alone. We also had the cesare salad and it could use some zip but, all in all we will be back and plan on attending some of their jazz evenings and wine tasting evening already! Give West Cafe a try and we think you will not be disappointed! Every third Tuesday of the month the Twilight Tasting/Tapas Dinner - we attended 3 and can easily say you will not be disappointed - this is the best quality and food pairing for the price we've found so far.
Living Room Theater aka livingroomtheaters.com
Just back from our first experience at Living Room Theaters on 10th & Stark. What a great place. Groovy and open bar scene intices movie goers to stay awhile in the plush brown cube benches and chairs. We were sad we got there a little late and couldn't enjoy a cocktail there in the "lobby bar." Tthe hummus appetizer was a very nice portion and presented so you could make a kind of hummus,tabouli, baba ghanoush style pita sandwich for easier eating in the theater. The chicken skewers are tender and come with a nice noodle base. The pizzas are delicious if you enjoy an extra thin crust as well. This is definitely my new favorite theater in Portland and we already have plans to return soon so we can get there a little earlier and enjoy the entire location just a little bit more!
We just love Steves Cheese is now the Cheese Bar and located at 6031 SE Belmont . In fact we drive across town to visit his store. Why? Well for one we like to support the little guy once and a while, but, Steve deserves the accolades we've been hearing about. He is a wealth of knowledge and information, not to mention he picks out great cheeses that are seasonal which only compliment his many other staples in his case year round. Our favorites are the 4 Year Gouda, Ossau Iraty and you can't miss with the Rogue River Gold Blue, but we can't leave out the great Raclette that is in season right now or the fresh ewe cheese that comes in the cutest little jar. Also, you will want to buy the smoked sea salt he has - it is awesome on fish and so inexpensive. Now he has added beers and food to his new establishment - you have to check it out! We hope to be seated at the bar very soon.
We can't say enough good things about Fenouil. If you haven't been there you are missing out on a delightful experience.
The service and the atmosphere are wonderful. We recommend the mussels
and foie gras for appetizers. The onion soup is a oozing with the cheese
and prepared the way you like it. Main courses that have become our favoirte
are the duck, scallops and Kobe Steak. For dessert - take your pick but,
we choose the port - whether its a tawny or the flight - what's not to
like? If you elect to take a bottle of wine along - make sure you send
a glass to the kitchen so you can return the love you'll get in every
tasty and elegant bite of food. Recently we attended a Wine Maker Dinner
at Fenouil with Goose Ridge Estate Wines. It was exceptional. Each course
was paired perfectly and the food presented was done very well. It was
a blast and all 20 of us left happy! Each month they have dinners that
celebrate various georgraphic regions of the world. We are planning on
attending some of those coming up.
Just a quick update here - you simply must get off your butts and attend one of the regional dinners that they do each month. The best value in town. It was fantastic we attended Bastile Day - and it was great......
Macadam Bar and Grill has become the favorit lunch spot of one of our close friends. The
atomsphere is right, the food great - she likes the fish of the day and
chips! Sea Bass just the other day - and the accompanyments are great.
She didn't know what to expect and now has many casual business lunches
there. Kudos to you Macadam Bar and Grill - thank god we finally have
a great restaurant in that location on Macadam! O.K. our staff confirmed
it - had a casual dinner party - and the food was really well done - in
fact, we might have to say that their blue cheese burger is the best we've
tasted. Thick, juicy and oozing with cheese! The pear slaw is to die for!
The chicken penne was very nice with some sundried tomatoes that added
just the right touch. What a great place to eat when you don't want to
spend a ton but still want great food. The service was excellent as well.
Enjoy!
Puddin River Chocolates! - if you
have not placed one of their famous Mudballs in your mouth - you have
never really had a gourmet chocolate experience! So exceptional! Teresa
has her own shop on line or at the Thriftway store in Cuthford. What a
fabulous hand made Holiday gift or - we even know people that give them
to deserving students for graduation!
The Meadow - Possibly the only stop you'll need to make for a special gift or just plan fun!
O.K. so just when you think you might have the insider information on gourmet finishing salts from exotic locations you realize you knew nothing! Well, at least that is how we felt after visiting The Meadow. What an awesome shop - not only do they carry the most diverse collection of salt that we've found in the city - the owners also seem to know more and be more passionate about the earthly spice than anyone we've ever met. If you have some spare time and want to add something different to your next dish that will keep your friends guessing what you know - that they don't - stop by. Once you get past the salt displayed you'll find that this shop does have it all - for anyone, including yourself that deserves a "special" gift! Fresh flowers, yummy wines, exotic chocolates beyond compare and of course the salt and unique collection of salt and pepper mills provides a bounty of options in the gift department. We left with a sampler of finishing salts and a bag full of unique chocolates in very colorful and interesting packaging that we know will make the recipients feel special. We could try to describe what we think of each one and how it was packaged, but really you deserve to take the time to explore this shop yourself. It's somewhat of an abstract piece of art - a real treat! They are located just a couple of minutes from Broadway at 3731 N Mississippi. You need to stop by - you will not be disappointed.
www.nwfoodandwinefestival.com