A hot dog walks into a bar...

Stopped by Bird Dog and had a chicken fried hotdog covered in sausage gravy. The illustrious Jr had a rueban dog and some really greasy chili fries. We then vowed to return and eat sausage until the end of the world. This is a hard life. 

Espresso and chamomile

Ok, first things first: OMSI After Dark is awesome. They (Oregon Science Museum peoples) stay open late for the 21 and over, with microbreweries set up in booths all over the place. There are special activities and presentations geared towards adults (think: Taiko drumming and the science behind beer tricks, not XXX) and music, and you get a pint glass and there was a sausage truck and and and...PROS: Awesome! Beer! Science! No kids!
CONS: Really crowded and long lines.

Just had to throw that in there because for some reason I really like it when reviews sum it all up in a "Pros" vs "Cons" sorta way.

I was at first determined to sample all the brews available at the event, but I abandoned that quest after a short while when I found myself gravitating towards two repeatedly.

Beer #1: Oakshire Espresso Stout by Oakshire Brewing
This stout was so crazy good I think Tara had two pints. Oakshire Brewing is in Eugene. While James immediately recognized it, I had never heard of it. This stout was heavenly, creamy, coffee, thick and smooth. I just purchased two bottles as a hard week's reward. And because I couldn't get it out of my mind.
PROS: Delicious. Stout. Tastes like coffee.
CONS: Filling! And I think it may have got me drunkish but who's to know?

Beer #2: Chamomellow by Buckman Brewery
This was the first sample that I tried and kept going back for, and then they ran out and I cried for two seconds before running over to the Oakshire stand again.
Chamomile beer. Two of the most comforting things in this world, beer and chamomile tea, got together and had a beautiful baby, that when imbibed, will immediately transport you to a state of relaxation and unicorns. For some reason, it just works. Looks like Buckman Brewery is right here in P-town; I will soon be hunting it down...
PROS: Beer was never more soothing. Herbal and light.
CONS: Beer was never more soothing.

Detours

Went to Detour Cafe the other day and had the most delicious and eggy french toast, made with a housemade cardamom bread. Reminded me kind of this. It may be hard to tell from these grainy phone pics, but the place was super cute, with HUGE mimosas, little doll house booths and a rack of gourmet food magazines. Detour has huge family style dinners some nights, all at one table and some crazy cool egg sandwich specials during week days. Afterwards, we wandered around and looked at some streets covered in chalk drawings.

Have mixer, will bake.

With the holidays fast approaching, I'm daydreaming of all the delicious recipes I've been stockpiling. I FREAK out come the end of the year, getting preoccupied with making sugary sweets, frothy eggnog and all sorts of roasted spicy things. It gets a little insane at times, until before I know it, Tara and I are trying to shape home made marshmallows out of cookie presses, surrounded by champagne or trying to force people to try our eggnog meringue. Getting into the spirit of things, Tara and I have begun compiling a list of all goodies we will be attempting (and possibly even failing at a few, but who cares when it involves ingredients like these.) Here's my check list so far- all from recipe sites that I really enjoy- lots of other great non-sugar related recipes on most all of them:

Dulce de Leche Marshmallows from: The Spiced Life
My marshmallow love knows no bounds. I've killed hand mixers on batches of them, experimented with espresso and cocoa mixes and am now ready to move on to the next.

Buckeyes from: Smitten Kitchen
I have made a home made peanutbutter cup thing in past years, but now I'm looking forward to trying these. They look a bit more sophisticated, but that may just be the beautiful photography that Smitten Kitchen consistently provides.

Cherry-limade Bars from: Cheeky Kitchen
The lemon bar is a CLASSIC. My cookie book's page that holds this recipe is neatly annotated by my mother's hand but is gummed down by layers of sugar and lemon. I'm not quite sure I can get behind the maraschino cherries and food coloring called for in this version, but it opens up some great possiblities that I never imagined. Layered lemon bars? Holiday colors? Yes. YES

Salted Gingersnap & Hazelnut Bark from: Bitchin Camero
I LOVE how grown up this looks. Like, Harry and David good. Like, I ordered this from some catalog just for you this Christmas. But wait, I actually made it! This is what I imagine the conversation will go like when I gift my friends sweet packets of this salted chocolate confection. Oh, and I also love how freaking EASY it sounds to make. But I leave that part out of my imaginary conversations.



French Bread Pudding from: Epicurious
Tara and I are also going to be doing a bread pudding- however, most recipes I have been looking at call for chocolate, french toast, sweet breads, caramel and other extras when all I really want is plain good bread, eggs, cream and sugar. This recipe looks simple enough to satisfy those cravings, with dried cherries to add some tartness.


Burnt Sugar Lollipops from: Fig & Kindle
These rustic candies look so unassuming. I imagine all the better to appreciate all the differing degrees of caramelization. I can see these wrapped up in stiff cellophane and brown bows.


Hooray for the holidays! Time to dust off those rolling pins and start stocking up on refined sugars. YES. What are YOU guys making for Thanksgiving/Christmas/whatever?

Grillz

Had some Korean BBQ ribs at Rontoms last night. Served on a large chunk of grilled lettuce with some charred edges. Does EVERYTHING get 20 times better if it's cooked on a grill? I'm about to go on a all-grill diet.

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I swear I don't eat that many burgers

Willamette Weekly just put out an article with a run down of the top ten burgers of Portland. Knowing how Paris has his Seattle Hamburger Project and is making his rounds, I thought perhaps he could be persuaded to expand his feeding frenzy. Not to mention, most of these are sorely tempting to myself. Making number 4 is Foster Burger, which you may remember I have already mentioned. I am ashamed to admit that Foster Burger is the only burger I have had so far on this list. Aghk. Also making the list though is Wildwood - hoo boy!

I've stolen some shots from the article- with this double decker cheese monster being number 1. Although I am sure it probably sicks Moni out, James is intrigued, to say the least.

Sainthhood

The cupcake urge is still strong with me. Checked out Saint Cupcake the other day (here in P-town) and have been enjoying them immensly. Not quite Butter Lane good, but pretty freaking awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I ate two that belonged to some strangers once, and Monico got embarrassed and pretended he didn't know me.

Side note- just got this app, and can't figure out how to do links or tags... Uh...




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You win some, you lose some.

Finished an otherwise excellent dinner tonight with a scoop of bacon ice cream with the Jocy & the Luis. Let's just say: some things are better off without a liberal dose of bacon grease. Many hours later and my gut is still feeling it.
Tapalaya verdict: Stick with the pulled pork and the steak specials and steer clear of any dairy/pork combos.

That's what I call a sandwich

Oh boy, it's been a while, huh? Well, I've been caching up some food EXCITEMENT so prepare to be EXCITED! Last summer (I know, I know, almost a year ago) James and I finally made it to Kenny & Zuke's, a sandwich place we had been hearing about for ever. This is James holding the Mushugeletta, or something crazy like that. It basically involves every kind of meat in copious amounts.
I had a delicious something or other, I don't remember what. I was too amused watching James try and fit that bad boy in his mouth. HA!

The Food in my Life

Coconut fish @ Pambiche, a cuban restaurant that Tara and I showed to Paris back in summer.

Dedicated to Felicia.

James' lobster and mushroom ravioli @ Urban Farmer that was way better than my overcooked slider.

Also, for James' birthday the other night we tried out Nuestra Cocina for the first time. Very good Mexican fine dining, with a woman who's sole job is to press an order of fresh tortillas for every customer when they come in. My favorite dish there was lamb braised in banana leaf. My pics taken there were atrocious, so I am not bothering you with them, but their website shows how beautiful the dishes are.