Tasty Places :: Rosebud

I’m in Atlanta for the week. Unlike my Portland trip, I’m not here with the sole purpose of eating [I’m here for a public health preparedness conference for my job]. But a girl’s still gotta eat, right? So I am taking advantage of my temporary proximity to new (to me) restaurants and stretching out my belly with some scrumptious Southern delights (huh – and I’ve been blaming my two pregnancies for my stretch marks all these years).

Monday Night Brunch, suckas

My first night here, my fro-workers and I used our public transportation skills to get us to Rosebud in Atlanta’s Virginia-Highland neighborhood. I’d happened upon the fact that Rosebud offered a Monday evening brunch (what?!), which was wonderfully exciting news since 1) brunch is one of my four favorite meals and 2) I’m only here Mo-Fri, so I hadn’t seen an Atlanta brunch in my future.

Comp bread was both soft and firm

My Pimm’s Cup

So you’d think I’d have selected something off of their special Monday Brunch menu, the likelihood of me finding myself in the ATL again on a Monday night anytime soon being slim. But my dumb eyes – they wandered over to the Dinner side of the menu and got caught up on those fatal (for me) words: turkey burger. Not that I haven’t passed up a turkey burger before – but this one offered a new experience, with goat cheese and pineapple. As much as the Peekytoe Crab Cake Benedict enticed me and the Cornmeal Waffle shouted my name, the burger had me at goat cheese.

A potent appetizer: fried cheese grits w/ smoked cheddar & pepper jelly

Half of my burger still sits in its To Go container in my hotel room, unable to be eaten without risking life and limb due to an enteric illness, as we have no refrigerator and it’s now several hours old. The risk might be worth it, though, as the burger was quite enjoyable – the creamiest of cheeses mingled with the punchy sweet tug of the pineapple did spark joy in my little heart. The fries were quite tasty too, crisp and fluffy and well seasoned, made even better with the subtly 1000 Islandish sauce with which they were served.

Crab Cake Benedict

Turkey Burger

Buttermilk Fried Springer Mountain Chicken

As good as the burger was, it’s not going on my Burger Quest list because I did not arrive at Rosebud specifically for the burger. But in the future, I might. For the burger, for the crab cake benedict, for the yummy and light Pimm’s Cup cocktail I slurped down well before my meal arrived, for the quietly hip ambience – Rosebud is surely in my future if and when I return to the ATL soon. And perhaps I will return to Atlanta (where the playas play) very soon if not for the food, then surely for the Coca-Cola.

Rosebud
1397 N. Highland Avenue
Atlanta, GA

Run LB Health :: Getting Faster

So I just had my fastest run yet, finally getting my per-mile pace under 9:00 while completing 4 miles. Before today, my best +4 mile run was 9:20, and it took a few months to get there – when I first began running back in November, my average was about 11:00. By running consistently, I’ve gotten my time down, hovering around 9:40-10:00 for 3-4 mile runs.

My fastest four

While our Marathon Team runs have been short so far, they’ve been fast! I think they’ve helped me push a little bit more as I try to keep up with our front runners (John, Po, and Kelly). Just goes to show you that taking on challenges with others is beneficial. Can’t wait to push it more with everyone!

Let’s get this party started!

Burger Quest :: Hawkins House of Burgers

Some of the best food in my life I’ve eaten in the front seat of my car. Though I like my sit-down places, I’m often a “To Go” kind of girl. I see nothing wrong with eating out of a greasy paper bag when the occasion calls, even with said back torn open on my lap, my foot on the gas as I cruise, anxiously awaiting a red light so I can take a bite, add ketchup, or wipe up the sauce/onion/fry I’ve dropped between my legs.

At Hawkins House of Burgers, you don’t have to eat in your car, but you sure gotta take your greasy bag elsewhere.

Order, wait until you hear your number

I found Hawkins via Yelp!, looking for a burger adventure that wasn’t too far from home. Now, some of you will be put off right away when I let you know where Hawkins is – you can find it in the heart of what’s oft referred to as “South Central.” If that worries you, that’s fine with me – just will make for a shorter wait the next time I go, as Hawkins is patient with their food. I happened to be nearby for a meeting at the MLK, Jr. Center for Public Health, so it was kismet – I decided to take my half-hour lunch break awaiting a Hawkins burger.

Gotta love a greasy bag

Juicy goodness in my front seat

Of course, I’d checked the menu ahead of time to see if they had turkey burgers – and they did! Served on a whole wheat bun, to make the stars align more than they already were for this particular burger quest. For you beef lovers, there are plenty of other burger choices – with chili, with an egg, double/triple-decked. But of course, I got the gobbler.

Hawkins touts its burger as the #1 in Los Angeles – they may have a point. It took a while for my food to be called, and then I got a little turned around driving to the meeting, so I only had a few minutes to stuff my face in the center’s parking lot. With a couple of bites, I knew I’d met the one – the one that could give my beloved Island’s burger a battle for first place on my (ridiculously subjective) list (as I have strange, picky taste buds and odd limitations on what I’ll eat – full disclosure). The meat was tender, the cheese melted delicately, the onions – red! (I love a thinly sliced red onion). The bun was soft, not too bready. The ratio of meat to bread to complementary components was spot on. It was so incredible that I almost cursed aloud at the fact of having to leave my greasy bag for a meeting.

Ready, set – attack

But I did, parting myself after eating half of the burger, a few fries, with the intention of finishing lunch after the meeting ended, when I could savor and enjoy and even cry, if needed.

So how pissed was I when I found I was the first one to arrive? Right behind me were a few of the other attendees, but the person who’d called the meeting was reportedly still on her way. So I quietly excused myself and walked right back to my car to finish what I’d started. It was a juicy, brilliant, savory, well-seasoned package of goodness that I fancied a lot (in case you couldn’t tell).

At first I was going to give a tie to my burgers at Hawkins and Island’s. Then I remembered that, when starting this, I told myself I wouldn’t sit the fence – that I’d rank these sandwiches based on what I’d most want to eat. Sure, Hawkins is cheaper and Island’s is more convenient, but what I really had to evaluate was taste. So I’d have to say that… Hawkins just barely edges out Island’s by a sesame seed. It’s really that close, but at this very moment, if I could choose a burger to eat right now, it would be a Hawkins turkey burger.

Their fries weren’t bad – they remind me of Fatburger’s fat fries. But weren’t anything special, and definitely not better than Fatburger’s. Still, I mean… they’re fries. It’s hard to go wrong with fries.

All that matters, really, is the burger. And it did not disappoint. The staff at Hawkins, I must add, were also friendly and attentive making for a well-rounded, delicious experience. Thanks, Hawkins House of Burgers! My belly is forever grateful.

Official Dianderthal Burger Quest Burger List:
1. Hawkins House of Burgers turkey burger with everything (mayo, mustard, pickles, tomato, red onion, lettuce), cheese added
2. Island’s California Flyer turkey burger (BBQ sauce, “Island Reds” – fried onion straws, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo)
3. The Habit (Veggie burger made like a Charburger, with mayo, pickle, tomato, lettuce, caramelized onions, cucumber, and sprouts)
4. The Counter (Build Your Own – turkey patty, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, chipotle aioli, ketchup)
5. Burger City Grill (The BCG, turkey patty, pickles, grilled onions)

Fry Factor
1. Island’s fries with ranch dressing
2. The Counter 50-50 fries (half regular, half sweet Ps)
3. The Habit french fries
4. Burger City Grill fries
5. Hawkins House of Burgers fries

Hawkins House of Burgers
11603 1/2 Slater St. (at Imperial)
Los Angeles, CA323.563.1129 (hint – call ahead!)

Run LB Health :: All In

The countdown has begun, team. In (just) 30 weeks, a good number of staff from the Long Beach Health Department will be up before the sun with sneakers on, caps pulled on tight, mini canteens of electrolyte fluid topped-off, and pockets filled with packets of nutritional goo. It may seem way off, but the 30th Annual Long Beach Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, and Bike Tour will be here before we know it. If you’ve already started training with the Health Department team (currently running about 2.6 miles on Mondays and Wednesdays), you’re already on track to getting that body of yours (and indeed your head) ready for the race. If you haven’t started running, no worries – you still have plenty of time to train for the half (which most of us are doing).

Now that’s a good looking team

I’ll be posting here a couple times a month until we make it to October 12th with tips, encouragement, and general information to help get us all (safely) over the finish line (and if any of you ever want to guest post, just say the word).

We’ll get started this week with some quick blurbs:

Training: Follow a training schedule, which you can find online. Most training schedules for half marathons have you begin training about 12-18 weeks before the race. Training schedules are useful because they help build endurance and speed, encouraging consistent workouts. Pop Sugar, for example has a great 16-week schedule for beginners that you can start on July 23rd to get you primed for the race in October.

After-Work Runs: If you follow a training schedule, you’ll likely do your long runs on the weekends, with shorter runs (3-5 miles) during the week. By running with the Health Department team on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can et your short runs in with friends!

Find a run buddy to keep you in line

Race Time: There is a 6-hour course limit for the half marathon so if you need to walk most or all of the course, you can do so. The limit for the full is 7.5 hours.

Half-Marathon Course

Running Apps: Phone apps that use GPS to track your pace and distance can be great tools for training. Popular ones include Map My Run, Nike+ Running, RunKeeper, Endomondo, and Zombies, Run! – these are typically available for iPhones and/or Android phones.

A post-run screen shot from Map My Run

Sign Up!: You can register up until the day before the race, or until it sells out. However, the earlier you register, the cheaper it is. Go to Run Long Beach for more information.

Stay Connected: On social media? Tag your Instagram and Twitter posts with #runlbhealth to keep us motivated.

Have a Blast!: See me for that – I love to work hard and play hard. Hopefully, we can plan a few post long run brunches (with endless mimosa) once we get to one of those 10, 11, 12-mile weekends. And I hope not to be alone after the race in the Beer Garden. And maybe more mimosas at Potholder Too or Berlin Bistro.

Happy running!

FYI, this is a personal blog, not affiliated with the City of Long Beach or the Health Department – I’m sure you knew this already but just in case 🙂

Tasty Places :: Fronk’s

I’d been to Fronk’s in Bellflower previously on a LWD outing. That Fronk’s was on Alondra (rather than its current location on Bellflower Blvd.) and did not serve alcohol. 😦

So during our December 2011 visit, we had to spike our drinks. My Diet Coke was infused with a shot of Jägermeister shortly after being plopped down in front of me, poured in quickly once the waitress turned away from our table.

A sampling of burgers

Yum (my response to everything as I was a good 15 lbs heavier back then)

Plenty of Jager to go around

Fronk’s was home to our holiday gift exchange outing

Baby back ribs

Beer battered corn on the cob

Now, Fronk’s has a snazzy new location, and they sell wine and beer. In fact, their tagline reads Burgers – Craft Beers – BBQ. And they do have plenty of beers on tap and a motley selection of burgers. There’s something for all: kids, vegetarians, carb freaks, meat lovers – you name it.

The New Fronk’s

Although they’ve only been in their new site for about a month and a half, their faire (thankfully) has remained classically Fronk’s – in other words, fattening and phenomenal. Yes, this isn’t a place you visit if you’re watching your waistline. My favorite Fronk’s dishes come fried. Deeply fried. Such as their sweet potato fries, cut theick and dusted with cinnamon sugar. I ordered a side of Sweet Ps with my chicken salad (I actually am watching my waistline – my stupid fault for suggesting Fronk’s in the first place), telling myself I’d only eat a few. What an untruth that turned out to be – after dipping the first fry of their creamy homemade sauces, I could hardly hold myself back.

Sweet Pees

So I only had a few bites of my salad once it arrived, served with a generous topping of grilled BBQ chicken. On my previous visits, I’ve enjoyed the selection my husband opted for – the Spicy Mother Clucker, a wisely assembled sandwich with blackened chicken, onion rings, cheese, a tempered chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, and maple bacon. Finishing one is quite a triumph (although not for my 6-foot-6 husband) – I always leave Fronk’s with a doggy bag (but don’t tell Tommy, my German Shepherd – he’s yet to taste a bite of Fronk’s). Even so, I didn’t disagree with my husband’s suggestion to order dessert in the form of a Fronk’s Famous Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae. Like the fries, I’d sold myself on only taking a bite or two. Instead, I ate and I ate and I ate until my belly just shut down on me. Luckily, I was wearing a flowy sundress – otherwise, I may have lost a button or broken a zipper.

House salad with BBQ chicken

The Spicy Mother Clucker

Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae

I must have that sundae again – not that I wouldn’t return for the salad or a Mother Clucker or the sweet Ps; but I MUST get that sublime mouthful of fudgy cake, creamy peanut butter, airy whipped cream, and rich vanilla ice cream in the very near future. Anyone care to join me? Otherwise, I’ll just have to eat the whole dang thing myself in my wide, flowy sundress.

Fronk’s
16922 Bellflower Blvd.
Bellflower, CA
562.804.2222

Tasty Places :: Guisados

The restaurant Guisados is on a lot of lists. Jonathan Gold has it on his 101 Best Restaurants in LA. And most notably, it has been on Dianderthal’s To Eat list (saved as a Note on my iPhone) for well over a year. So how pleased was I when, leaving an LA meeting near Dodger Stadium during the work day, I Yelped! some nearby restaurants to pick up lunch before heading back to my LBC office and saw that Guisados was right around the block from me. I was so excited that, parking across from Guisados on busy Cesar Chavez, I almost forgot to look both ways before jaywalking.

Easy to spot on Cesar Chavez

Love seeing that A in the window

Once safely across, I could see this was my kind of place – minimalist and simple (think In ‘N’ Out). They do tacos and they do them well and that’s pretty much it. But a wide arrangement of tacos – one for every kind of Los Angeleno (or Long Beachian). I’m partial to seafood tacos so once I reached the counter, I asked for a pescado and a camarones; and to mix things up a bit, I also ordered a chicken mole poblano.

Aguas Frescas

Waiting for my plate, I took a few minutes to enjoy their outdoor patio, a sweet little haven tucked into the hillside with a waterfall and plenty of shade. Before I had a chance to start daydreaming, pretending I was in some wonderful foodie writer’s retreat rather than on my lunch break 25 minutes from work as I sipped on my cool limon agua fresca, my tacos arrived.

Limon Agua Fresca

LA is great for outdoor eating

My three (not so) little guys were more than enough for lunch – I was full after just one. But when I return to Guisados again, I’ll surely force down several as I’ll be ordering an all-pescado taco plate – and I won’t be able to stop at one. Not that there was anything wrong with the other two tacos – the camarones taco was limy and bright with perfectly cooked shrimp; and the not overly sweet mole poblano was tasty and satisfying. But the flavor in that pescado taco was layered and delicate and tangy and textured and balanced – it may be the best fish taco I’ve ever tried (and I’ve eaten a lot of fish tacos).

Mole poblano, pescado, camarones

So the next time you’re at a game, skip the Dodger Dog and slip out during the bottom of the 8th while the parking is still plentiful and the line isn’t stretched down the block. Pescado for everyone!

Guisados Tacos
2100 Cesar Chavez and other locations
Los Angeles

Eating Portland :: DoughnutLand

Of course, a visit to Portland would not be quite right if it didn’t land me at Voodoo Doughnut at some point. In fact, over my two days in PDX, I went to Voodoo twice, the first time at 12:15 am, when the end of the line rested well inside the front door and there were plenty of fried bits of sweet dough for me and my fellow eaters. That first night, we took back the All-Classic Voodoo Dozen to our hotel room – 12 cakes selected by the staff for only $9.95. You don’t pick your doughnuts but still receive a variety at a nice price. We began sampling as soon as we returned to our room, using a wooden coffee stirrer to cut off bite-sized pieces.

So many choices

All-Classic Voodoo Dozen

The purpose of our follow-up trip to Voodoo was to purchase edible take-home gifts for friends and families (yes, I brought with me plenty of foil and Ziploc bags). But since we were out, we figured why not try another renowned doughnut place? One that seemed to be favored by the locals: Blue Star Donuts. While it may lack the variety of Voodoo and serve delights that are pricier, Blue Star holds strong to its motto: Quality Over Quantity. We didn’t go crazy with our purchase but left with what I’d say was a representative sample of their goodies.

The line at mid-day

A delectable display at Blue Star

Passed out and went to doughnut heaven

When all was said and tasted, the vote for my absolute, hands-down, first place, favorite doughnut was the Crème Brulee doughnut from Blue Star. Served with a shot of Cointreau liqueur, this doughnut packed both dynamic flavor and texture into a tiny treat. They were able to capture the delicate and crisp sugar bite of a brulee topping the creamy fritter fluff – and that shot of orange liqueur only elevated what was already near perfect. This was one of my ultimate bites of Portland (and I had a lot of them).

Blue Star’s Creme Brulee Doughnut

My only regret is that I didn’t get over to one final doughnut shop on my list – Pip’s Original, a cult favorite that also offers up an invigorating Chai Tea. You can bet I will make it to Pips the next time I’m up north. Hopefully, that will be in my very near future. And if it isn’t, surely I can count on you to bring me back a food gift stowed away in a Ziploc on your carry-on.

A closer peak into the Voodoo Dozen

The Orangatang: Surprising with a bright, not-too-sweet citrusy burst

The No Name: Good balance of chewy and crispy

Butterfingering: My Voodoo fav – dense and sweet with a bit of crunch

Portland Cream: A little extreme for my buds – super sweet and ultra chocolatey

From Blue Star – the Valrhona Chocolate Crunch was a chocolate lover’s delight and very yummy; the cinnamon sugar, pretty good

Voodoo Doughnut
22 SW 3rd and other locations (this one, open 24-7)

Blue Star Donuts
1237 SW Washington

Tasty Places :: Spin! Neopolitan Pizza

March tends to be a slow eating month for Dianderthal, what with Lent and the absence of a carefree three-day weekend and weekdays jam-packed with my kid’s practices and rehearsals. And there’s half-marathon training for me. So I was psyched that I had no plans when asked by my OG homie Jeannine if I was available to join her for some grub to celebrate her fourth 39th birthday. And I was even more psyched when she named her restaurant of choice as Spin! Neopolitan Pizza in Los Alamitos, as I’d driven by it several times over the past several weeks, my taste buds curious about what was going on inside.

Nice space

I was a bit overwhelmed when I arrived, not having checked out the menu online first (as I typically do); not realizing it was an order-and-sit kind of place – the pressure was on as Jeannine was already near the register in line when I got there (late). I still might have been overwhelmed (although pleasantly) had I looked at the menu ahead of time as it was plentiful, full of salads, flatbreads, soups, pizzas, and sandwiches. Jeannine was set on the Mini Mia, a combo that included a personal pizza and salad for $9.75. Me: psyched. And psyched once more when I learned they offer the option of a whole wheat crust (in addition to gluten-free).

Blood orange sangria

I also took her lead and ordered a sangria (even though I’m supposed to be abstaining on weekdays during March per my fitness goals – oh well) – the Blood Orange Sangria, to be specific. Next time in, I’ll order a pitcher of it as my little glass was gone way too soon, even when I tried to pace myself. It was tangy, punchy, and went down easy – a perfect accompaniment to my meal.

A meal I very much enjoyed. Like my sangria, my salad went much too fast. I ordered the Sonoma, with glazed pecans, apples, raisins, goat cheese, and a sweet, thick vinaigrette. My perfectly-sized Margherita was also quite delicious. My only issue with it was that my whole wheat crust clashed some (as might be expected) with the white flour used to roll the dough out. With a regular crust, the rolling flour blends in more subtly. But I’ll get the whole wheat crust again on my next visit because it’s my aim to be as healthy as possible while being unhealthy.

Sonoma salad

Greek salad

Margherita pizza

I ended my dinner with a small serving of gelato – vanilla because I’m boring like that. But this vanilla was anything but boring – rich, creamy, and bold. A great way to end the evening.

Gelato smorgasbord

Sumptuous vanilla gelato

Next time in, I plan to be a little more daring with my selection of pie – perhaps the BBQ di pollo & pineapple or the goat cheese & arugula. Maybe even the cipolla e chèvre (caramelized onions & goat cheese) or the pesto e pollo.

Looks like I have a lot of reasons to return to Spin! Anyone got a birthday coming up? Give me a call – the pitcher of sangria will be on me.

Spin! Neapolitan Pizza
11122 Los Alamitos (and other locations)
Los Alamitos, CA
562.684.7746

Eating Portland :: Day Three

Our final day in Portland started with a bang-zoom-wow for the bellies with breakfast at Mother’s Bistro & Bar. Walking in the drizzly rain, we thought ourselves lucky when first spotting the Mother’s sign, as we’d anticipated a line. Seeing none, our stomachs hooped and hollered until we realized the entrance was around the corner. And there, we found them – the people. The crowds, who’d arrived as did we for Saturday morning vittles. The wait, however, proved short and we were seated after just 15 minutes or so, though a tortuous 15 since we had front row seats to all the steaming plates coming out of the kitchen en route to the diners who’d gotten to Mother’s earlier than we.

Entrance on Stark

Though their specials for the day sounded delectable, I was torn once we were ready to place our orders between the Wild Salmon Hash and the Crunchy French Toast. My co-eater Christabel also thought the hash sounded good, and told me she’d be willing to share a bite (Yippee!! Although for a split-second, I considered ordering both the hash AND the toast – because what if the hash was so amazing that one bite wouldn’t do and I’d have to wrestle Christabel’s plate away from her? Then I came to my senses and decided if the hash was bomb-diggety, I’d just have to buy another round-trip ticket up north – it’s just a 2-hour flight from home).

Wild Salmon Hash

Christabel made a good choice

After sampling the hash, I’m pretty sure I’ll be racking up the frequent flyer miles. With just one bite, I was in hash heaven. Not only were the potatoes firm and the fish perfectly cooked and seasoned, but all was snuggled in a rich creamy sauce. If I had a second stomach, I would have called the waitress over and ordered Breakfast Part II.

Sandy’s Belgian Waffle

Crunchy French Toast

Bellinis

Thankfully, I was fully pleased with my singular order of french toast. Actually, I would purchase a flight as well for my plate – thick slices of Texas toast coated with cornflakes and richened with a buttery cream. My side of potatoes (just couldn’t resist) were awesome as well. With the exception of my Bellini, I didn’t finish anything. That doesn’t mean that the meal wasn’t memorable. In truth, it will not soon be forgotten.

Neither will our next stop, one of the McMenamins properties in the Pacific Northwest. Mike and Brian McMenamin operate a chain of 65 brewpubs, microbreweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs in the Portland area. We found our way to the Zeus Cafe at the Crystal Hotel.

I did find room for another drink – Lavender French 75

I was still stuffed with hash and toast, but Sandy was down for their burger, sharing with me her truffle fries. These were DEE-licious, especially when dipped in their homemade ketchup. I might have eaten all of them but that would have been rude. And I would have had to get my stomach pumped – not how I wanted to spend my last day in Portland.

Sandy’s burger and yummy truffle fries

Our biggest delight, however, was that sitting at the bar right behind us was Mike McMenamin himself, who was kind enough to say Cheese with us and encouraged us to go downstairs to check out the pool in the hotel. The next time I’m in Portland, I’ll surely stay in a McMenamin property – homey and quaint and full of history and stories, each one. Running into Mr. McMenamin was certainly one of several highlights of our short trip.

Mr. Mike McMenamin and friends

Our final eat-venture was at Oven & Shaker in the Pearl District, just north of downtown. This ultra-cool pizza restaurant has an LA vibe without the pretentiousness. It was a wonderful way to end our visit. I stayed boring with the Margherita, while Sandy embodied the spirit of the trip by taking a risk, ordering the Goat Cheese (with fig jam, basil, mint, arugula, and pistachios). Yes, she let me taste it. And yes, I was jealous. That pizza was a piece of work. Mine was pretty good too, made awesome with it’s crispy thin crust. And I was able to chalk up another tasty cocktail – my Honey Vodka Collins.

Goat Cheese Pizza

The Margherita

Fried Mozzarella

So I left Portland a few pounds heavier and very pleased with the venture. While this was my very first eating trip, it surely won’t be my last.

We can help do this

Does Portland have a ghost problem?

What I loved most is that Portland stayed true to it’s motto in keeping weird. After this trip, my personal motto has become Keep Diane Full. Portland surely did it’s job in doing this. Thank you, PDX. And happy eating!

Mother’s Bistro & Bar
212 SW Stark Street

Zeus Cafe at the Crystal Hotel
303 SW 12th Avenue

Oven & Shaker
1134 NW Everett Street

Eating Portland :: Day Two

I couldn’t let my quest to eat Portland get in the way of exercise or checking out a brand new city (to me), so my Friday in Portland began with a nimble stroll along the Willamette River. As proud as I was to be up early – being active – I was slightly ashamed that I was the only one walking. Everyone else in the park that morning either cycled or jogged right on past me, their sleeves pulled down over their hands, their cheeks flushed.  As much as I wanted to blend in, to act like I was one of the many fit and firm Portlandians, the photog in me could barely take 10 steps without finding a scene to snap.

Morning walk

So my nimble walk soon evaporated into a leisurely stroll. Which was fine because I crossed off many a desired sighting along the way: the Naked Neon sign (lit during the day); food carts; public art; vintage shops; and Stumptown coffee (from where I ordered a mid-walk latte that I can only describe as coffee as it was meant to be taken).

Total Tourist

Later, meeting up with my fellow PDX-eaters, we headed to North East Portland for breakfast. I was happy to get to ride along MLK Blvd. where I noticed plenty of African shops and markets. Cool, because I hadn’t known much about the city’s Black population. I learned that many of the US-born Blacks in Portland had begun moving to the suburbs, giving way to African immigrants moving into the community. But I digress. It’s the social scientist in me. We’re here to talk food.

As expected, a line awaited us outside our first stop, Pine State Biscuits. From our place in the queue, we had a clear view of the pastry kitchen, giving us a glimpse into biscuit-making and what a treat we’d have in store for us.

My iPhone helped us navigate the city

Pine State Biscuits

A picture of a chicken biscuit from Pine State, I must admit, was the critical factor that got me from ruminating on a Portland trip to buying my ticket. It’s a charming spot – an order & sit kind of place where, when busy, you have to stakeout and hover in order to get a seat by the time your food is up. I ordered the McIsley (fried chicken with pickles, mustard, and honey) along with a mimosa; my girls each went for the Reggie Deluxe (fried chicken, bacon, cheese, and gravy topped with an egg). The biscuit was the perfect combination of fluffy and dense, the fried coating of the chicken holding up well in between, even doused with honey and tangy mustard. Yoda would say: Quite the morning treat, it was.

The McIsley

The Reggie Deluxe

I didn’t finish my biscuit – not for want of more space in my belly but because, on the way over, I noticed Salt & Straw – a contemporary soda fountain – just a few blocks down. They let you sample as many flavors as you like, but I was easily sold on my second tasting spoon, the Salted Caramel Cupcake – equal parts spongy, salty, creamy, and sweet. The girls opted for Spicy Monkey Banana Walnut and Sea Salt with Caramel. My scoop? I finished it faster than you can say Portlandia. And still, a few blocks down Alberta on our way back to our bus stop, I still couldn’t say no to another spot on my list – Barista – even though I’d just a few hours before finished my Stumptown latte. The Barista cup too offered an elevated coffee experience. But this was the Pacific Northwest. What else could be expected?

The Perfect Scoop

Salt & Straw

After letting our stomachs recover by doing a bit of downtown Portland shopping, we next set afoot (and a-bus) to Pok Pok in South East. Our Friday evening was an early one, so we were seated right away in the rustic venue, smelling of fresh seafood and Asian spices. My aim was to fall in love with Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings, a dish I’d been hearing about for nearly a year and a PDX must-have. The wings were crisp, sweet, and briny – a wonderful flavor combination, complemented by my drink, a Tamarind Whiskey Sour (my favorite drink of the day).

Pok Pok

Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings (don’t let the fish sauce scare you)

Finally, we settled in on our final food destination for the day – Hopworks Urban Brewery. We couldn’t leave this Brew Pub capitol without trying out some local beers. However, I’m not really a beer fan. So out of the flight of 15 brews I tasted, I enjoyed… zero. Okay, maybe one. But I don’t think I would ever actually order an entire glass. Now, you can wine me anytime you’d like. Even cocktail me. But beer – no, although it was probably really good. By the crowd, Hopworks most certainly has a huge following. I did, however, enjoy my food tremendously. Their bread sticks with mustard sauce were divine – chewy, warm, and puffy, the sauce rich and pungent; and the black bean corn cakes were a delightful new taste, zesty and zippy.

Hopworks Urban Brewery

A Sample of Brews

And the day would not be complete without a stop at Powell’s (aka Mecca). This stop might have been better than any of the restaurants.

Powell’s City of Books

The Lobby of the Ace Hotel

So Day Two of Eating (and shopping) Portland was a success, which is wonderful since we traveled two hours by plane to please our bellies. More Eating PDX tomorrow!

Stumptown Coffee
The Ace Hotel at 1026 SW Stark Street and other locations (including one in LA!)

Pine State Biscuits
2204 NE Alberta

Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta

Pok Pok
3226 SE Division

Hopworks Urban Brewery
2944 SE Powell