Y'know how embarrassed you feel for yourself when you stumble upon your 7th grade diary?
it's the same feeling when you forget about your half-assed food blog, after a year.
Meriwether's is spectacular, and fresh. albeit uninspiring.
Sometimes we do not need to be awed by innovative technology, or weird gastronomic pairings.
Maybe an heirloom tomato should just be an heirloom tomato.
It was, at Meriwether's. It is about the farm. It is about the fresh ingredients. Meriwether's is so confident about the food they produce that there is no need for razzle dazzle. That is why they are so good, and that is why i cannot complain when a "panzanella caprese salad" is just a caprese salad on top of a little house made bread.
Meriwether's reminded me that life does not need to be complicated to enjoy.
Let fresh farm-to-table ingredients speak for themselves!
Showing posts with label Northwest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northwest. Show all posts
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Lincoln
I had a meal with a boy that I hold hands with.
It was our birthday dinner.
The room was industrial, and oddly wood-crafty with a particular northwest air. Clean, modern but unpretentious and warm.
our server would not serve me alcohol because my driver's license was expired-- for 3 days. I cursed her and the OLCC under my breath, but smiled nonetheless. Rosemary lemonade (not so)regretfully stood in as my glass of wine. Mr. Z, although not the heavy-drinker, ordered a beer only to spite my untimely predicament.
My pasta looked like meal worms(cavatelli), but tasted like happy cheese pockets that had just enough tooth in it all complimented with the delightfully greasy duck confit.
I whipped out my camera to take a picture of the clever and efficient way they designed their votives, but he told me to wait while he was in the bathroom to do something so silly.
I kicked him in the shin.
We shared something called a brutti ma buoni for dessert. I suppose it meant ugly but good. It was lumpy nutty meringue. Ugly, and okay.
The meal itself was fine but mostly I enjoyed the boy I got to hold hands with
:)
It was our birthday dinner.
The room was industrial, and oddly wood-crafty with a particular northwest air. Clean, modern but unpretentious and warm.
our server would not serve me alcohol because my driver's license was expired-- for 3 days. I cursed her and the OLCC under my breath, but smiled nonetheless. Rosemary lemonade (not so)regretfully stood in as my glass of wine. Mr. Z, although not the heavy-drinker, ordered a beer only to spite my untimely predicament.
My pasta looked like meal worms(cavatelli), but tasted like happy cheese pockets that had just enough tooth in it all complimented with the delightfully greasy duck confit.
I whipped out my camera to take a picture of the clever and efficient way they designed their votives, but he told me to wait while he was in the bathroom to do something so silly.
I kicked him in the shin.
We shared something called a brutti ma buoni for dessert. I suppose it meant ugly but good. It was lumpy nutty meringue. Ugly, and okay.
The meal itself was fine but mostly I enjoyed the boy I got to hold hands with
:)
Friday, June 19, 2009
Rogue Ales Brewery and Pub
You can take the girl out of Beaverton, but you can't take the Beaverton out the girl.
bear with me friends, its been a few months and I'm rusty.
I have been trying to run away from my Beaverton roots. When i meet new people at bars, or where i work they often ask me "where are you from?". As vaguely as possible i reply "near Portland". total cop out. Portland has quite the hipster stigma about the 'burbs. you do not know how many times I've heard someone say "oh totally LO", "Gresham this", "Beaverton that", "of course she grew up in the West Hills".
I became self conscious in college when I realized my heavily branded Abercrombie & Fitch wifebeater suddenly became uncool. Mall branding was not status-quo, but individuality was(Still up for argument, ahem hipsters). Portland: the city were the geeks are the cool kids. So I traded my American Eagles for American Apparels, and went to this place called the bins. (yes, I am a tool)
I'm going to be honest. As much as I say I hate my Beaverton upbringing, that I think anybody who stays in Beaverton is a loser, I totally love the Tron. The Bins are gross, and i think fixed gears suck. I know I'm not supposed to but I LIKE shopping at Target, dammit.
Most of all I love my childhood friends. While some may have explored new horizons, many have remained in Beaverton. They vehemently talk about how much they love it and will never leave. My friends, although, have remained in stagnant waters for the past six years. Rather than growing up, they have remained man-children. It has been the same weekend party, working the same part-time(now full-time manager!) job. and apart from the occasional trek to Portland City Grill, Henry's Tavern, or Dirty they remain rooted in their comfortable labyrinthine city.
I am not above traveling to Beaverton for the occasional barbeque, birthday party, or perhaps some Korean shabu shabu. But I am definitely not going to travel an hour into the burbs to smoke weed, and listen to the new Murs album.
But there is one way I can lure them into the city.
BEER
Hometown boys are always a sucker for some really good, super local beer. Luckily for portland, we have handfuls of them scattered everywhere. My old friend, Mikey, was in beaverton taking a break from his military base. As tradition we go to The Rogue Ale House and drink their delicious beers, and we drag our other friends out too.
Rogue has some wonderful beers. The Hazelnut Brown Nectar is my favorite. Thick, nutty, and hints of chocolate. I never have considered myself interested in beer. It was always the means to an end, but hand me a pint of that and I'll be whispering sweet nothings to my inanimate friend. I really dig on the unpretentious vibe that they have in contrast to Deschutes' over kitschy woodwork and Bridgeport's severely modern design. It's T-shirts and beer bottles, and a pub really should be nothing more.
The food however. The food.
Now, above I just stated how much I really liked Rogue. For any sunny day when I am craving a beer, and JUST a beer, this is where you can find me. I'll be damned if i eat their food ever again. Mikey and I had eaten there before and while it was decent (albeit) pub food, its price tag beckoned something of quality. It didn't suck enough for us to not come back, so on this last trip I was extremely disappointed. Maybe this is my fault, I just should have known. Why in the world would you grind up Kobe beef? WHY? and yet, I just had to try the Kobe beef cheese burger, it could only make a burger better... right? Mikey ordered the kobe blue balls pasta (less for his interest in kobe beef, more in his hate for kobe bryant), and our tagalong Grey called us stupid and ordered a normal beef burger.
While my burger was not horrible, it was over done, and honestly unimpressive. I had a bite of the normal burger and I hardly noticed the difference. My friend's meat balls were rubbery and tough and the angel hair pasta was soggy and swimming in a something comparable to a jar of Safeway brand tomato sauce. I usually expect pub fare to be a little sub par. I'm not expecting anything outstanding, but i hope that i am eating something decent. However, If i am spending 16 dollars on a burger it had better blow my mind. It did not. In fact, I'm pretty sure Red Robin produced better and (dare I say it?) more creative slop.
I pulled hairs to get my friends out to Portland, only to offer them overpriced tough Japanese ground beef. I remembered rolling my eyes when Grey complained about the 5.50 pints, and the 16 dollar burgers. While I was trying to explain Kobe beef to him, I was thinking of how uncultured and cheap he was being. In fact, it was I who was being the pretentious bitch, and my dining experience proved it so. Grey smirked at my friend and I as we shelled out cash for a meal neither of us cared to finish, while he happily flung twelve bucks on the table(tip and all) So i did not flinch when it was decided that we were going back to Grey's house to pound some bud light and play Rock Band.
i know that this was not eloquent. sorry, i'm just putting it out there. kobe beef should be a steak. to put it through a meat grinder is like painting a masterpiece and using it to wipe your shit.
(Also, I have discovered the mindblowing goodness of an OBA burger. bomb. dot. com. yea i said it)
bear with me friends, its been a few months and I'm rusty.
I have been trying to run away from my Beaverton roots. When i meet new people at bars, or where i work they often ask me "where are you from?". As vaguely as possible i reply "near Portland". total cop out. Portland has quite the hipster stigma about the 'burbs. you do not know how many times I've heard someone say "oh totally LO", "Gresham this", "Beaverton that", "of course she grew up in the West Hills".
I became self conscious in college when I realized my heavily branded Abercrombie & Fitch wifebeater suddenly became uncool. Mall branding was not status-quo, but individuality was(Still up for argument, ahem hipsters). Portland: the city were the geeks are the cool kids. So I traded my American Eagles for American Apparels, and went to this place called the bins. (yes, I am a tool)
I'm going to be honest. As much as I say I hate my Beaverton upbringing, that I think anybody who stays in Beaverton is a loser, I totally love the Tron. The Bins are gross, and i think fixed gears suck. I know I'm not supposed to but I LIKE shopping at Target, dammit.
Most of all I love my childhood friends. While some may have explored new horizons, many have remained in Beaverton. They vehemently talk about how much they love it and will never leave. My friends, although, have remained in stagnant waters for the past six years. Rather than growing up, they have remained man-children. It has been the same weekend party, working the same part-time(now full-time manager!) job. and apart from the occasional trek to Portland City Grill, Henry's Tavern, or Dirty they remain rooted in their comfortable labyrinthine city.
I am not above traveling to Beaverton for the occasional barbeque, birthday party, or perhaps some Korean shabu shabu. But I am definitely not going to travel an hour into the burbs to smoke weed, and listen to the new Murs album.
But there is one way I can lure them into the city.
BEER
Hometown boys are always a sucker for some really good, super local beer. Luckily for portland, we have handfuls of them scattered everywhere. My old friend, Mikey, was in beaverton taking a break from his military base. As tradition we go to The Rogue Ale House and drink their delicious beers, and we drag our other friends out too.
Rogue has some wonderful beers. The Hazelnut Brown Nectar is my favorite. Thick, nutty, and hints of chocolate. I never have considered myself interested in beer. It was always the means to an end, but hand me a pint of that and I'll be whispering sweet nothings to my inanimate friend. I really dig on the unpretentious vibe that they have in contrast to Deschutes' over kitschy woodwork and Bridgeport's severely modern design. It's T-shirts and beer bottles, and a pub really should be nothing more.
The food however. The food.
Now, above I just stated how much I really liked Rogue. For any sunny day when I am craving a beer, and JUST a beer, this is where you can find me. I'll be damned if i eat their food ever again. Mikey and I had eaten there before and while it was decent (albeit) pub food, its price tag beckoned something of quality. It didn't suck enough for us to not come back, so on this last trip I was extremely disappointed. Maybe this is my fault, I just should have known. Why in the world would you grind up Kobe beef? WHY? and yet, I just had to try the Kobe beef cheese burger, it could only make a burger better... right? Mikey ordered the kobe blue balls pasta (less for his interest in kobe beef, more in his hate for kobe bryant), and our tagalong Grey called us stupid and ordered a normal beef burger.
While my burger was not horrible, it was over done, and honestly unimpressive. I had a bite of the normal burger and I hardly noticed the difference. My friend's meat balls were rubbery and tough and the angel hair pasta was soggy and swimming in a something comparable to a jar of Safeway brand tomato sauce. I usually expect pub fare to be a little sub par. I'm not expecting anything outstanding, but i hope that i am eating something decent. However, If i am spending 16 dollars on a burger it had better blow my mind. It did not. In fact, I'm pretty sure Red Robin produced better and (dare I say it?) more creative slop.
I pulled hairs to get my friends out to Portland, only to offer them overpriced tough Japanese ground beef. I remembered rolling my eyes when Grey complained about the 5.50 pints, and the 16 dollar burgers. While I was trying to explain Kobe beef to him, I was thinking of how uncultured and cheap he was being. In fact, it was I who was being the pretentious bitch, and my dining experience proved it so. Grey smirked at my friend and I as we shelled out cash for a meal neither of us cared to finish, while he happily flung twelve bucks on the table(tip and all) So i did not flinch when it was decided that we were going back to Grey's house to pound some bud light and play Rock Band.
i know that this was not eloquent. sorry, i'm just putting it out there. kobe beef should be a steak. to put it through a meat grinder is like painting a masterpiece and using it to wipe your shit.
(Also, I have discovered the mindblowing goodness of an OBA burger. bomb. dot. com. yea i said it)
Friday, September 12, 2008
First Thursday Freedom: Part 1 of 3. Marina Fish House
So I have memories of Newport Bay restaurant stretching into the edge of my existence. I remember going there for a cup of clam chowder between stops at Claire's and Nordstroms at the age of 12. In fact, I believe I paid for my first own sit down meal there with jenny quan at Washington Square. I had father's day brunch in hillsboro. My old college roommate served an obscene amount of coconut prawns back in the day. You and I both know that there is nothing spectacular about Newport Bay, but at least it is something familiar.
When Seattle's Restaurants Unlimited bought out all of Pacific Coasts restaurants I witnessed another part of my childhood fade away.
Marina, frankly, is a damn shame. It is set in one of the most perfect places in portland. You can sit outside and overlook the skyline while the bridges move up and down. You can watch the walkers, bikers, and cars cross the river at a rhythm so unlike the serenity of the lazily bobbing boats. The view allowed you to observe the world rather than participate in it. it is like a moving painting.
I was in good spirits yesterday because after 6 days of work, i was ready to relax and make the most of my 1 day of rest. Alexis suggested Newport Bay restaurant, and i agreed since i had not been there in a long time. we just stopped in for a snack and a sip(gulp).
I really have little with which to judge but i'll do it anyway.
Pomegranate Mojito: tart. but not good tart.
"shrimp" cocktail: it was an ice cream scoop of bay shrimp on a sad piece of lettuce. i'm sorry baby shrimp, i think 40 of you died in vain. It was like eating non-food. Seriously, if you are going to name a restaurant MARINA, you should probably get your concept straight and throw in some actual pieces of real seafood
calamari: it was deep fried squid, with a red pepper aioli. i probably should have not ordered this for it quickly became too heavy. 10 points for having tentacles.
hornitos margarita: :( rose's lime? aka pine-sol. it tasted warm.
Their price point is definitely at the level where you should know what the fuck you are doing. they don't. like i said, no one actually cooked anything for me to actually judge their food, but if their appetizers and cocktails are any indication then i'll go elsewhere.
a damn shame. its a beautiful view.
When Seattle's Restaurants Unlimited bought out all of Pacific Coasts restaurants I witnessed another part of my childhood fade away.
Marina, frankly, is a damn shame. It is set in one of the most perfect places in portland. You can sit outside and overlook the skyline while the bridges move up and down. You can watch the walkers, bikers, and cars cross the river at a rhythm so unlike the serenity of the lazily bobbing boats. The view allowed you to observe the world rather than participate in it. it is like a moving painting.
I was in good spirits yesterday because after 6 days of work, i was ready to relax and make the most of my 1 day of rest. Alexis suggested Newport Bay restaurant, and i agreed since i had not been there in a long time. we just stopped in for a snack and a sip(gulp).
I really have little with which to judge but i'll do it anyway.
Pomegranate Mojito: tart. but not good tart.
"shrimp" cocktail: it was an ice cream scoop of bay shrimp on a sad piece of lettuce. i'm sorry baby shrimp, i think 40 of you died in vain. It was like eating non-food. Seriously, if you are going to name a restaurant MARINA, you should probably get your concept straight and throw in some actual pieces of real seafood
calamari: it was deep fried squid, with a red pepper aioli. i probably should have not ordered this for it quickly became too heavy. 10 points for having tentacles.
hornitos margarita: :( rose's lime? aka pine-sol. it tasted warm.
Their price point is definitely at the level where you should know what the fuck you are doing. they don't. like i said, no one actually cooked anything for me to actually judge their food, but if their appetizers and cocktails are any indication then i'll go elsewhere.
a damn shame. its a beautiful view.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Heathman
The immortal French 75: Champagne, Gin, and a lemon zest. bubbly and girly, but not the panty droppin version PandaBear makes.
Kumamoto Oysters: to describe how i felt when i tasted it cannot be described in words, but mere grunts of satisfaction, surprise and pleasure. very rich. served with champagne mignonette.
Dungeness Crab Salad: very cute molded avacado, mango and finished with a generous serving of fresh crab. drizzled with olive oil balsamic and a red pepper coulis. the avacado was either overworked, over ripe, or straight up sitting out too long. but other than that it was great. they didn't fuck with the crab, just let it be (as it should)
Crispy Veal Sweetbreads: The second I saw this on the menu I was sure I was going to get it. Sweetbreads, my friends, is the Thymus gland of the calf. This one was the stomach gland. What I have earned in karma for being a nice person, I have lost in my curious eating adventures. Anyways, I've always wanted to try it and i figured the Heathman would know how to give it to me. It had a texture unlike anything i've eaten. soft and velvety with a nice mild flavor. reminded me of a firmer foie gras and it disintegrated in my mouth as quickly as i put it in. but i really have nothing to compare it to. the oyster mushroom risotto complimented it well.
Yum, good food, and it wasn't on my tab. I wish my companions chose more adventurous selections. If you are going to a restaurant like the heath, you may as well try something that will push the limits of its caliber. Dave paid so he is awesome. Satheara's salmon was overdone. my mam, as usual, wished she had soy sauce
In the end:
I can now say I've eaten at the Heathman
I can now say i have had veal sweetbreads
I will always and forever look for kumamoto oysters on a menu
Dave is awesome
the phantom of the opera is AWESOME
originally 8/26/08
Kumamoto Oysters: to describe how i felt when i tasted it cannot be described in words, but mere grunts of satisfaction, surprise and pleasure. very rich. served with champagne mignonette.
Dungeness Crab Salad: very cute molded avacado, mango and finished with a generous serving of fresh crab. drizzled with olive oil balsamic and a red pepper coulis. the avacado was either overworked, over ripe, or straight up sitting out too long. but other than that it was great. they didn't fuck with the crab, just let it be (as it should)
Crispy Veal Sweetbreads: The second I saw this on the menu I was sure I was going to get it. Sweetbreads, my friends, is the Thymus gland of the calf. This one was the stomach gland. What I have earned in karma for being a nice person, I have lost in my curious eating adventures. Anyways, I've always wanted to try it and i figured the Heathman would know how to give it to me. It had a texture unlike anything i've eaten. soft and velvety with a nice mild flavor. reminded me of a firmer foie gras and it disintegrated in my mouth as quickly as i put it in. but i really have nothing to compare it to. the oyster mushroom risotto complimented it well.
Yum, good food, and it wasn't on my tab. I wish my companions chose more adventurous selections. If you are going to a restaurant like the heath, you may as well try something that will push the limits of its caliber. Dave paid so he is awesome. Satheara's salmon was overdone. my mam, as usual, wished she had soy sauce
In the end:
I can now say I've eaten at the Heathman
I can now say i have had veal sweetbreads
I will always and forever look for kumamoto oysters on a menu
Dave is awesome
the phantom of the opera is AWESOME
originally 8/26/08
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