Portland Day 2
March 30, 2011 Comments Off
Our 2nd day in Portland was our first full day so first thing we did was get breakfast. We went to a place called Tasty n Sons, and oh my goodness yes, it was tasty. We shared a chocolate potato doughnut and I can still remember the sugary crunchy outside and the melt-in-your-mouth inside. It was so delicious, I wish we ordered two. The restaurant has a definite north african influence, which Drew and I both enjoyed. I liked the spiciness of my chicken hash with harissa cream and Drew really liked his Shakshuka, which was a red pepper and tomato stew with baked eggs.
Feeling satisfied, we walked to our next bus stop (along the way Drew got an espresso at Ristretto Roasters and I got a macaron at Pix Patisserie). We then headed toward Washington Park. We stopped at the Rose Garden, but sadly, there were no roses. I can see the potential though, with all those stumps June would be a great time to come back! We then made our way to the Japanese Garden and it was so beautiful! It’s very small, but immaculately maintained. Our last stop in Washington Park was Hoyt Arboretum. Although the weather was bad and my socks were getting wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to take a hike among the giant sequoias and the redwoods. I love forests and it’s great to see these giant trees so close to a bustling city.
After a quick stop at the Ace to change and dry off, we headed for dinner at Tabla. Seriously, if you go to Portland, go to Tabla. The food was delicious! and at 3 courses for $24, the price can’t be beat. I think my favorite was the handmade pasta, but the sous vide egg with pork belly comes in at a close second.
For after dinner entertainment, we headed to Ground Kontrol. Drew was super excited about it. I think it’s pretty much a 20-30 year old guy’s dream. The first floor was mostly filled with classic arcade games, but the second floor was the best part. It was all pinball machines! I’ll admit, at first I didn’t understand why Drew was so excited. It’s just knocking a little ball around until it falls through the middle and you’ve lost 50 cents. But, as I played a few games, I came around. It’s fun when you figure out the tricks of a particular machine. My favorite was the Simpsons one. As we left, I realized that Drew just totally upped my nerd level. Still not sure how I feel about that. All in all though, a successful second day. Stay tuned for our last day in Portland…
Portland Day 1
March 28, 2011 Comments Off
For our 1 year anniversary, Drew and I decided to go to Portland. It might sounds weird to go to Portland in March (yes, it was cold and wet), but it’s just a short hop from the OC by plane, it’s not particularly expensive (good for a grad student budget), and it’s got good food, beer, and coffee (which is all we really need on vacation). So off we went!
We arrived on Wednesday at 2pm. Took the max rail downtown (had the most helpful guy at the airport station telling us which tickets to buy and which station to get off at). We stayed at the Ace Hotel and I really must say, it was great! It’s got a great location, convenient to the rail car stops and bus stops, 1 block from Powell’s City of Books, and a pretty good restaurant. oh, and did I mention it is connected to a Stumptown Coffee?
When we arrived, we were both starving from lack of lunch so we got some small bites at the happy hour at Clyde Common, the Ace restaurant. Then off we went to the arial tram. It’s not technically a tourist attraction, as it was built to take people to work, but nevertheless, it give you a great view of Portland, so we decided to go for a ride. After the tram, we took a couple of bus rides across the river for dinner at Bamboo Sushi. Drew and I were both looking forward to this place because it is one of only 2 sustainable sushi places we know of. All of their fish is sourced from sustainable fisheries and caught in environmentally friendly ways. They work with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in determining the sustainability of the fish. Drew and I both think it’s a wonderful cause to support and the food was delicious!
Post dinner, as we wandered the neighborhood, we saw a brewpub so we stopped in for a drink. None of the beers were particularly memorable, but it was still nice to get out of the rain and try some new brews. As we headed for the bus stop, we saw Laurelhurst theater, which is kind of like the dollar theater here, except they also sell beer. We had enough beer for the night, but opted for a viewing of The Illusionist, which while odd, was a wonderful animated film. I definitely recommend it.
Our first day ended with dessert at Clyde Common, where we shared the crepes with cocoa panna cotta with brandied apricots and pistachio cream. yummy :)
*tiny aside about Jetblue, the airline we took to Portland. Drew love it. If you’re over 6 feet, take Jetblue if you can. Drew likes the extra leg room and I love the limitless snacks :p
Out of Town…
March 23, 2011 Comments Off
Drew and I are leaving for a 3 day vacation to Portland, OR! I’m so super excited. No new posts for the next few days, but I’ll definitely make up for it when I get back. Have a great weekend, everyone!
1 year ago….
March 21, 2011 Comments Off
Happy 1 year, my love! You make me the happiest, luckiest woman in the world :)
Breakfast at The Crow Bar
March 20, 2011 Comments Off
The Crow Bar is a popular gastropub here in the OC. I had never been so when friends suggested it for brunch, of course I wanted to go. It was not crowded at all, I think breakfast here is new so not that many people know about it yet. The food I think could be improved. The banana foster french toast was yummy and the sauce was fantastic, but it was lukewarm. If it had came out hot, I think it would have been perfect. The chorizo egg flatbread was really tasty, maybe a little salty, and I think I would have like a little green on there like spinach just to balance things out a bit, but the ingredients were fresh and the prices were reasonable. Overall, definitely a worthy place to go on a weekend morning, especially while it’s still quiet :p
Thanks, Teiko for the treat!
