Portland Photo Diary

Here's just a small peek at some of the adventures (foodie and hiking) my friends and I experienced during our trip to Portland, Oregon.  It is such a quaint and small knit city that's it's hard not to fall in love with the people, the greenery, the food, and the unique culture.

Multnomah Falls

Crispy cereal french toast at Mother's Bistro, a popular brunch spot

   

The Woodsman Tavern and Voodoo Doughnut

The view from Portland City Grill. Perfect for happy hour and watching the sunset.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

We had such a great time here that it is on my list of places to revisit.  It truly is a gem city in the U.S. It definitely reminds me of the 90's; no sales tax and the gas attendants pump your gas for you!  Click here for my post about my favorite restaurant here in Portland, The Woodsman Tavern.  P.S. I hiked to the top of that waterfall! Really! Here's proof!
Portland wasn't the only city that we visited in the Pacific Northwest.  We also hit up Seattle! Come back next week for my photo diary on Seattle!  We got amped up on a walking caffinated tour and gawked at the Chihuly Exhibit.

What To Eat in Portland: The Woodsman Tavern

I just got back from an amazing time in Portland and one of the best meals of my life! That's right! You heard it, it's up there - on the top!  I don't know if it was the combination of the fresh air, the friendly locals, no sales tax, or the quaintness of the town that I admired so much, but the food and service combo was undoubtedly high quality.

This restaurant was recommended to me by fellow Instagrammers and (trusty 'ol) Food&Wine Magazine.  It's a 15 minute taxi drive out of downtown Portland but well worth the trek.  It was opened by Stumptown Coffee Roasters owner, Duane Sorenson, and if you're a coffee slut like me, you would frolic here too.

The food was amazingly fresh.  We started off with a simple salad, marinated octopus, and deviled eggs.  I ordered the whole trout with crazy water and sun-dried tomatoes cause I was feeling a little wild that evening.  The crazy water was a brothy, buttery, tomato water that complemented the fish perfectly.  The skin was perfectly crispy and the flesh just flaked off in my fork.

If you come with a larger party, get the grilled bone-in ribeye for two.  It is two pounds of melt-in-your-mouth, tender meat.  One of the best steaks I have ever had.  This will compete with any steak house.  Perfectly seasoned with a side of crisp watercress and rich potato gratin.

Deviled Egg {$2}

Marinated octupus {$8}

Whole roasted trout with crazy water and sun-dried tomatoes {$22}

Grilled bone-in ribeye for two with watercress and potato gratin {$48}

Lastly, because there was a bit of a wait in between dishes, (which we didn't mind because as Los Angelenos our whole life is a wait in traffic, grocery store, coffee shop) they gave us complimentary dessert and coffee which we were going to order anyway, but this just made our visit even sweeter!  Lemon custard cup that was light and tart, and a rhubarb crisp with ginger ice cream that was very homey with a granola topping.  

Because this restaurant is owned by Stumptown Roasters, they take their coffee seriously (as do I).  It was almost like a ritual the way they hand-poured the steaming water in circles into the Chemex decanters at your table.  Around and around and around. Break. Repeat, around and around and around.  Serve.

Thank you so much Angel and Food&Wine Magazine! This is definitely a destination for anyone going to Portland, and a popular one with the locals.  If you are there during the weekend, try to catch their brunch menu.  It also looks amazing.  I wish I had.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post! I'll take you around Portland in my Photo Diary!

The Woodsman Tavern
4537 Southeast Division Street
Portland OR
971-373-8264
Reservations suggested
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-woodsman-tavern-portland

fEATured: The Hart & The Hunter Sunday Brunch

Last Sunday I organized a Blogger Brunch with local food bloggers.  We had a great meal at The Hart and the Hunter, a new restaurant in the renovated Palihotel on Melrose Ave. And guess what? It's also a new fEATure!

I've been here for dinner and weekday breakfast and loved both, but brunch is where it's at!  The biscuits are a must when dining here no matter what meal.  They come with 3 different spreads. Try all three together or separately.  I really like the pimento spread, spicy and cheesy! The biscuits are so buttery and soft, they are truly melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

I ordered the fried green tomato and crab eggs benedict ($18).  It was so decadent! The crab was deliciously fresh, and acidity in the green tomato added a bit of balance to the buttery hollandaise sauce and the perfectly runny yolk. Perfect for sharing!

Barbecued oysters and shrimp ($18)

I forgot what this was called but it's a apple dumpling with bacon inside and cheddar cheese on top.  It's a breakfast twist on a classic American treat!

Anastasia from Simply Delicious Photography, Kiki from Dinner With Kiki, and Susan from Park This

Pecan praline pancakes with maple syrup and butter ($10)

Jamie from Green Beans & Grapefruit, Sarah from Sarah Bearclaw, and Puno from punodostres

Chicken cracking sandwich with fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and avocado ($13). I love the chicken cracklings paired with crisp veggies.  I welcome chicken skin cracklings in place of bacon any day!

Thanks to all the food bloggers that joined me for brunch! It was so fun getting to know all of you.  I'm already looking forward to the next blogger event!  

Looking to join me for a future event? I welcome bloggers and foodies of all kinds! I'd love to eat with you! Join me at Los Angeles Food Bloggers.

The Hart & The Hunter

7950 Melrose Ave. 

Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 424-3055

hartandthehunter@gmail.com

Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-hart-and-the-hunter-los-angeles

Recipe: Not Your Grandma's Fruit Salad

Spring is here and the best fruit is coming back in season.  This isn't your grandma's fruit salad with the canned fruit cocktail.  Although I admit, as a kid I used to pick out the cherries out of that bowl before anyone could get to it first.  I can't wait to try this recipe out with fresh blackberries, raspberries, and peaches!

Ingredients:

2 bananas

2 pears

2 apples

1 pint of strawberries

1/2 cup of golden raisins

1/2 cup condensed milk

1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt

sprinkle of granola on top

Core and dice the apple and pear.  Don't bother pulling out your apple corer, just use this simple tutorial and you'll never use that thing again.  Cut the core off the apple by squaring around the core.  Simple! Then you will have a flat surface on the apple pieces to easily dice them into 1/2" squares.

Cut the strawberries in half and slice up the bananas. Add the raisins, condensed milk, and sour cream.  I know, sour cream sounds weird but it is actually a nice balance between the tart and the sweet condensed milk.  It also gives the milk something to hold on to.  If it's too weird to put sour cream on fruit instead of the regular 'ol potato go ahead and use greek yogurt.

Mix. Serve. Sprinkle granola on top of each serving.  I like to use Kashi or the Trader Joe's brand. Enjoy!

Recipe: Iced Latte with Homemade Almond Milk

I would have never thought to make my own dairy-free milks until I was researching the VitaMix and came across the recipes on their website.  From that moment on, I swore never to buy any rice, soy or almond milk from the store again since it was so easy to make at home!

First, you must soak the almonds overnight.  There are some recipes that say you don't have to, but just look at how plump they are after getting this extra treatment.  Having fresh almond milk for my coffee is so delicious!  There is a HUGE taste difference from the fresh and the boxed version.

Ingredients:
1 cup raw almonds
2 cups filtered water + 3 cups filtered water
2 Tbs. honey 
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 shots of espresso or 1 cup of double-strength brewed coffee

Soak the almonds overnight in 2 cups of filtered water or until they are completely immersed in water.  

The following day, drain the almonds and put them into the blender.  Add 3 cups of fresh filtered water, honey, and vanilla extract.  I like mine a little sweet but you can definitely leave the honey out.  

Blend, then liquefy for a few minutes.

In a small mixing bowl (large enough to hold 5 cups of liquid) or in a large measuring cup like mine, position a clean kitchen towel over the cup.  Make sure you use a kitchen towel that has very little lint residue. Secure the cloth with a rubber band and make a dip in the towel for the milk to go in.  Slowly pour in the milk.  Simultaneously stir the milk around with a spoon to encourage it to seep through the cloth.  Pick up the cloth and with all your buffness, squeeze out the rest of the milk.  

Pour the milk in a container and let chill.  You can freeze and save the almond pulp for cookies.

If you have an espresso machine, pull two shots of espresso and pour over ice.  Pour 1 cup of fresh almond milk over your espresso and serve.

If you don't have an espresso machine, brew the coffee grinds in half the amount of water so that it is extra strong. Pour the coffee over ice (in a non-glass container).  Since you are pouring it over ice, the ice will melt down and bring your coffee back to its normal strength.  Top it off with almond milk like how you would normally cream your coffee and serve.

Enjoy this milk with your cereals, in smoothies, or in anything you would use regular milk for.  I experimented with Kahlua and it was UH-mazing!  I'll have to post that recipe soon.

It is perfect for raw food enthusiasts and vegans or anyone who is lactose intolerant or has milk allergies.  Almond milk is remarkably healthy and has lower calories than dairy milks.  I am completely addicted!  I bought a large bag at Costco for $8 that should make me about 27 cups of almond milk.  What a deal! Try it and let me know what you think!

Hey Girlfriend!

on me: H&M leggings and boots, F21 chambray blouse, Plastique necklace, Betsy Johnson watch, gifted silver cuff
on Sayche: FKNfamous hoodie

Sometimes the best days are those spent with your girlfriends. They just get you! Sayche and I spent the entire day last week taking pictures, eating (of course) and having a blast! What do you love doing when you're with your girlfriends?