swifts ending

I love living in a city where thousands of people show up to cheer on thousands of migratory birds as they avoid deadly hawks while diving into a no-longer-in-use chimney to roost for the night. It's so random, quirky, fun, and so very Portland. There's about a week left to catch this band of birds before they head down South, if you've never gone, you should. 

the Vaux's Swifts

Chapman Elementary School, 1445 NW 26th, 

nightly around 6pm (until about Oct 1st, there were still a lot of birds as of Sept. 26th)

All the info you need: http://audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch

swiss ohana wyss

While it's been open for about a year, Cafe Hibiscus and I go back over twenty (though I didn't know it until three weeks ago).

Twenty Nine Years Ago: Chef Martin Wyss leaves the Kahala Hilton returning to his roots by working with wife Jeannie to open the neighborhoody Swiss Inn in a supermarket strip mall on the outskirts of  Honolulu, HI.

Twenty Eight to Eleven Years Ago: One of my earliest foodie memories, I recall sitting with my family in a dark overhead beamed European style chalet dining room, sipping an amazing slightly sweet savory Swiss Onion soup from a stone bowl (note: Childhood memories like half-remembered dreams are slippery at best).

Eleven Years Ago: After a successful eighteen year run, one that would see Swiss Inn write it's own special chapter in Honolulu culinary history, Martin and Jeannie decide to retire and close their beloved eatery.

Four Years Ago: The Wyss' give their blessing to daughter Jennie as she turns a selling-to-coworkers side project into a successful bottling and distribution of the family's secret Swiss dressing here in PDX. 

Three Years Ago: Setting up audio visual gear at a corporate event catered by the Wyss family, I rejoiced at the opportunity to devour a smörgåsbord of old school Swiss Inn favorites, but left wondering whether I'd ever do so again. Shortly after, but unrelated to this event, we packed up and moved to Portland.

About  A Year Ago:  Unknownst to me, Jennie opens the deceptively named Cafe Hibiscus, a cute Alberta neighborhood joint serving her family's Swiss cuisine with a generous side of Aloha (Hawaiian style love, not the suburb pass Beavertron).

Twenty Four Days Ago: My brother and sister-in-law meet Jennie at the Alberta street fair, promising to convince his brother (me) to return with him the next day for lunch. I don't remember everything he said, but "Swiss Inn" was enough.

Twenty Three Days Ago: We show up at Cafe Hibisicus and are immediately treated like part of the Wyss Ohana ("family" for those who haven't seen Lilo and Stitch). I have my mind bending "Anton Ego Ratatouille" moment as I take a bite of the Swiss soup and myself both grown up and child simultaneously enjoying the same bowl. We order way more than five people should eat for lunch, but there are no complaints, at least not until we try getting up and walking (btw though not required, for maximum cost-effective-variety-sampling-action eating family style is totally recommended).

Twenty Two Days to An Hour Ago: I edit pictures. I take more. I work. I play board games. I work. I procrastinate on writing this post. I reflect on the warmth and goodness of the Wyss family and our wonderful lunch. The Swiss Salat Teller, a sampling of all their salads is an order-every-time dish for me (along with the Swiss Onion Soup). Also loved the Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich, their classic Emince Zurichoise (pork cutlet in creamy mushroom sauce), and anything that has to do with either their spatzli or their garlic butter.

This very moment: I finally finish writing about how an unlikely Swiss restaurant with Hawaiian roots causes a temporal collision of my past and my present, my old home and my new, and how I definitely think you should pay Jennie and Cafe Hibiscus a visit (name a another delicious 808 or PDX Swiss restaurant that treats you immediately like family, in fact name another Swiss restaurant, see what I mean).


Cafe Hibiscus
503-477-9224
4950 NE 14th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
www.martinsswissdressing.com
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 12-3 p.m.
Wednesday-Saturday 6-9 p.m.
Closed: Monday & Tuesday

grand prix PDX

I know this isn't much notice, but it's more warning than I had last year when I found out about this by accident. The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby, which happens TODAY (Saturday August 13th, 2011) is one of my favorite yearly "ahh Portland" events (one of those random, weird, unique things that only increases my love for this city).

Mt. Tabor. Thousands of Portlanders in full summer mode (hmmm everyone seems to have a cooler). Marching band intermission. All sorts of creative mayhem powered only by gravity. 

Advice, go early, plan on not finding parking anywhere on the Mt. Tabor (though it's worth looking cause I did last year), better yet bike or get dropped off, bring tasty things to eat and drink, find a comfy spot, get off the road when they yell "get off the road!" and hit up Cheese Bar after (just cause it's close by and awesome).  Download this event map (I wandered aimlessly last year) http://www.soapboxracer.com/docs/2011/Spectator%20Map.pdf

It starts in two hours, stop reading this and go...don't worry it lasts all day beginning with scoping out the vehicles up close in the "pits" then spending the afternoon watching three at a time "races." 

PDX Adult Soapbox Derby

http://www.soapboxracer.com/

Happening today, Saturday the 13th of August starting at 10am, but going well into the late afternoon or later.

local lyonnaise

Sometimes...

I don't want just the greatest hits or some best of playlist.

I want to listen to "Reckoner" as part of "In Rainbows"
                      or "No Surprises" as part of "O.K. Computer"

I want to savor Shostakovich's "String Quartet No. 8" in it's entirety,
                     not just the brilliant "Allegro Molto."

Sometimes...

I don't want just a country's most famous dishes.

I want to consume just the food and wine of a particular region.

I want dishes that aren't just executed well, but work well together.


And that's why I loved our Lyonnaise dinner at St. Jack's, why I chose it as my order-whatever-I-wanted birthday meal.



     Pommes Frites
       Rustic Pork Terrine with Pistachio
         Pork Rillette
           Saucisson Sec
             Cervelle De Canut
               Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk Cheese
                 Gratins d' Escargots
                   Fisherman's Stew
                    Special Pork Shank
                      Vacherin Aux Fraises
                         Mascapone Mousse
                            Madelines

The rusticness of it all. The beautiful Saucisson. The pickled fruit and veggies. The hints of mustard. The crusty baguette that you have to pull apart with your hands. The perfect scallop in the stew. The melty meat on the must order Pork Shank. The mind blowing Vacherin. The simply sublime Madelines. I loved it all.

I can't wait to return for Roasted Bone Marrow, Frog Legs, Fried Tripe, Whole Roasted Trout, Mushroom and Asparagus Tarte, Blood Sausage, Onglet Steak Frites, and Gratin de Macaroni. Few menus truly excite me, but "yes" I basically want to try St. Jack's in its entirety.

While not necessary, I found that reading up on Lyon and taking a cursory glance a few articles (see below) about St. Jacks definitely added to the experience, as did sipping a glass of Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir (Not a Lyonnaise wine, but I couldn't pass up a glass pour of one of my favorite French style NW wine producers).

So sure there's plenty of Best of Some Country type restaurants out there, but if you're the type that likes more than just what's popular, what's mainstream, that salivates at the mere mention of "Roasted Bone Marrow," and craves some regional specificity St. Jack is a food adventure well worth taking.


St. Jack 
restaurant and bar
2039 SE Clinton
Portland, OR 97202
http://www.stjackpdx.com/home/
503.360.1281


The Patisserie is open 7 days a week 9am-4pm
The Restaurant is open Monday - Saturday
Happy Hour, Monday - Saturday, 4pm - 5:30
Dinner, Sunday - Thursday, 5pm - 9:30pm
Dinner, Friday & Saturday, 5pm - 10:30pm
For parties larger than eight people please contact the restaurant directly at 503.360.1281.


More info:

The Oregonian's Rising Star

St Jack named 2011 Rising Star of the Year by the Oregonian.
Read the article.
Watch the video.

 

Alissa makes Madeleines

Pastry chef Alissa Rozos makes Madeleines for Portland Monthly: watch the video.

pop-up palate pleasure

I won't tell you too much (the pictures do that already) and discovery (both before and during) only adds to the delight of the pop-up experience.

What I will say about Boke Bowl IX (the ninth materialization of this whimsical roaming ramen joint, existing ephemerally yesterday at Accanto) is that I'd return without hesitation. Buns. Handmade Ramen. House brined pickles. Pork Belly. It's a fun experience for the patient (it's improbable that you'll get reservations, don't be afraid to walk-in and wait) and the open-minded (traditional flavors creatively combined with new ingredients and /or used in different ways).

See you next iteration.


Boke Bowl
http://bokebowl.com/

wine in the city: PDX Urban Wineries Premiere

While I love the ease and beauty of a wine country excursion, I've no complaints about this winemaking collective bringing their craft into the heart of the city.

Not satisfied with just being closer, the PDX Urban Wineries hosted a premiere event Sunday that made themselves and their delicious offerings completely accessible. I give these brave souls credit, standing out in the open (no bar or tasting room attendants to shield them), they fearlessly faced the Helm's deep like onslaught of the thirsty masses. Loved getting to taste eight wineries in one place, and the chance to catch up with a few friends.

After snapping a few pictures in near darkness (my excuse as an available light shooter who can't really afford a flash and doesn't like to blind people), I left reflecting on how this reminded me of a tasting I once attended in Vincent's garage (just before the birth of Vincent Wine Company); the wine casks serving tables, the non traditional location (still a garage of sorts as the Slate is a Scion facility), the Sunday afternoon timing, the connecting with other like minded individuals, and of course the great wine.

The eight members of the league of PDX Urban Wineries are:

ENSO Winery
1416 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR 97214
503-683-3676
info@ensowinery.com
www.ensowinery.com
www.twitter.com/ensowinery
www.facebook.com/ensowinery
Hours: Tues-Sun 2-10pm, Closed Monday
We’re an artisan winery and tasting lounge, located in the heart of Portland’s Eastside. We hand craft wines that are expressions of the moment—ensos—in the truest sense of the word. Our focus is on crafting bright white wines (Pinot Gris, Riesling), robust red wines (Zinfandel, Malbec, Mourvedre), and a Rosé to rule them all!


Grochau Cellars
2621 NW 30th Ave
Portland, OR 97210
503-522-2455
gcwines@msn.com
www.gcwines.com
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm or by appointment
At Grochau Cellars, we come to wine as appreciators first, explorers second and creators third. We try to always remember that balance. Drawing inspiration from the landscape around us, and the classic, nuanced wines of France and Spain, we craft the kind of wines we hope to drink at the end of the day: Pure, honest and delicious.

 
Helioterra Wines
503-757-5881
info@helioterrawines.com
www.HelioterraWines.com
www.facebook.com/HelioterraWines
www.twitter.com/HelioterraWine
Hours: Tastings by appointment
Helioterra Wines is a small, artisan producer of Oregon wines made at an urban winery in Northwest Portland. Our wines are pretty, sensuous and evocative in style, to honor the wine grapes and the fertile vineyards where they are grown. And our goal is to deliver the best possible wines to rival top-tier wines, without top-tier prices.

 
Hip Chicks do Wine
4510 SE 23^rd Avenue
Portland, OR  97202
503-234-3790
winegoddess@hipchicksdowine.com
events@hipchicksdowine.com
www.hipchicksdowine.com
Hours: Open 11am – 6pm Daily
Hip Chicks do Wine is a SE Portland urban winery that was established in 1999 by Laurie Lewis and Renee Neely.  As owners and winemakers they hand craft their award winning wines from small lots of grapes.  Different varietals from Pinot Noir to Zinfandel  are sourced from world class growing regions throughout Oregon and Washington.  We specialize in fruit-forward wines in a fun package.

Jan-Marc Wine Cellars
503-341-4531
janmarc@janmarcwinecellars.com
www.janmarcwinecellars.com
Hours: By appointment only
Jan-Marc crafts wines of distinction in limited quantities. Ancient lava flows, volcanic eruptions, massive floods, wind and rain have given us a land that we experience in a bottle of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Taste the stones, the sun and the mystique of Oregon in these wines, during a private visit with us.


 
Ribbon Ridge Vineyard
503-452-0258
503-348-8298
info@ribbonridge.com
www.ribbonridge.com
Hours: By appointment only.
RRV is a small, family-run vineyard and winery. Since 2003, our Pinot Noirs have honestly expressed the character of our estate vineyard in the heart of Yamhill County’s Ribbon Ridge AVA. Each vintage is unique but all feature the fruit’s brambly black cherry, blackberry and red raspberry flavors ably supported by an elegant, perfectly balanced structure.

 
Seven Bridges Winery
1121 N. Loring
Portland, OR 97227
503- 203-2583
info@sevenbridgeswinery.com
www.SevenBridgesWinery.com
www.twitter.com/7bridgeswinery
www.facebook.com/SevenBridgesWines
Hours: By appointment only

Seven Bridges is a small urban winery founded in Portland, Oregon in 2008.  Our focus is to create the type of wine that we love to drink: Rich, full bodied red wines. To do this, we source premium hand-picked grapes, then we employ traditional methods on small batches of wine to coax the best qualities from the grapes resulting in a delicious hand-crafted wine.

 
Vincent Wine Company
503-740-9475
vincentwines@gmail.com
www.vincentwinecompany.com
Vincent Wine Company is a small producer of Pinot Noir in downtown Portland, Oregon. Our goal is to make translucent Pinot with perfume and texture, that tastes delicious and fits nicely on your dinner table. Find our wines in most wine shops around this city and in several fine restaurants.