Wednesday, July 22, 2015

July Fourth (and second)

@ town fireworks

It should surprise no one that this overgrown kid is in love with fireworks.  I usually try to get to as many shows as I can every July.  This year was no exception, even if I'm not sure that I succeeded.  We hit an old school car show, food trucks and a local wing spot on Thursday prior to the town fireworks show (yay for walking distance fun!), and then the local teen center--- err, froyo shop.  I'm pretty sure the average age of the clientele that night was 12.  Including the three of us "adults".







 On Saturday, we hit the local private beach shows and accidental bonfires.  [Inedible] crabs and a very edible roast pig were also involved.

Caught a crab.
Sunset.

Over 20 private shows.

Not zoomed; they were that close.  Is my hair on fire?



Chicago


7 days, June, Chicago, just pictures, no words:

WOW BAO.  all caps.

Walk to class.
Cubs v. Dodgers.  4 hotdogs were eaten.
None were the one we were looking for.  Cubs lost.


Lawry's Prime Rib.  "Not every cut is guaranteed a bone."

Slurping Turtle Ramen.  Thanks Yosh!  Meal 1 of 12 that day.

The Signature Room.  Drinks with a view.
This is becoming a tradition for us.

Navy Pier.  See me?

Jetsons' carpark.

Enroute to Wrigley Field.  The driver was just
as terrified/ amused as we were.  Thanks, Uber.

Dan Ryan, looking thoughtful.

Soft shelled crab at Joe's.  Here, we learned the art of poaching
a first-come, first-served table.

Portillo's dipped beef.  Oh my god.

Shaw's.  Fun atmosphere, but not as good as Joe's.
EXCEPT: best stuffed olives EVER.

Shaw's:  This was good, actually.

My first pride parade!  Everyone's celebrating the Supreme
Court decision!  

The Signature Room.
Again, the art of sniping a seat.

Get in line.  For the elevator.

The view from the top.

Left Coast Portland

Bridge of the Gods.
As all my reader (haha.. aww, sad) know, I'm a major fan of Portland, Maine.  Last week, I had the opportunity to explore a bit of the Pacific Northwest.

I was expecting Portland, OR to be full of hipsters, yuppies, tons of green space, coffee, great restaurants, and pretty much a crunchy version of Disney World.  After 24 hours in Portland, I was pretty well convinced that I had taken the wrong plane and been let off in New Orleans.  


Voodoo donut.  I didn't finish it.
The Differences
1) Temperature is lower in Portland
2) More Starbucks locations
3) No mobile bachelor parties 
4) Fruit.  The fruit is amazing in Portland.

The Similarities
1) Great restaurant scene
2) Live music
3) A river runs through/ alongside it
4) Significant population of young homeless
5) Similar architecture.  Low slung bungalows abound
6) Tattoos, piercings and casual dress.
7) Oil, balsamic and hot pepper stores abound


Pupusas and Asian people.  
That's not me.

Anyway, we spent Saturday exploring Portland.  We crossed the Steel Bridge spanning the Willamette River to get to Voodoo Donuts, which featured a long line and so-so donuts.  That was a little disappointing.  Afterward, we spent some time at the Portland Saturday Market to check out the crafts and food stands.  We ended up getting some Pepper Pinot Beef Jerky and a pupusa.

Afterwards, we walked to the PSU Farmers Market, where we were treated to luscious blackberries and samples of salmon, peaches, cheeses, and oils. What an awesome time!  From the Farmers Market, we caught an Uber to Washington Park, were we explored parts of the Japanese Garden and the International Test Rose Garden.

After all of that nature, we walked to Parish for some oysters, drinks and gizzards (yum!), visited Powell's, walked  to the Lan Su Chinese Gardens to do some cultural exploration, and worked up our appetites by walking back over the river to the hotel to freshen up before dinner(s).

Chinatown

We decided to head over to EaT for happy hour oysters.  Along the way there, we passed The People's Pig, one of the chicken spots I'd researched prior to the trip.  We vowed to return after oysters.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, when we arrived at EaT, we realized it was the sister restaurant of Parish and had nearly identical menus.  Save the turtle soup.  Turtle soup was had.  It reminded us of Bermuda fish chowder, down to the added sherry.  

Turtle soup at EaT
Appetites mostly intact, we walked back to The People's Pig, where we partook of their famous smoked fried chicken.  What a great little place!  Located next to a fairly rustic-looking urban garden, its smokers were nestled among the recycling bins.  Inside the slow-slung building was a giant oven, tattooed cooks, a fantastic playlist, and absolutely, positively, no air conditioning.  


The People's Pig
The smoky goodness inside.
The People's smoker
After chicken, we headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest.  I mean Bamboo Sushi. We had more food!  Apologies for the lack of pictures of actual food.  Total step count for the day: 24,614

Rice man @ Bamboo.
Not adults.  We are not adults.

Sunday morning, after a technical emergency that resulted in the loss of almost all of our pictures from Saturday, we picked up a rental car and headed to Columbia River Gorge area.  Multnomah Falls was the first on the list.  The hike to the top was invigorating, but not very rewarding.  Yeah, that's it.
View from the bottom
Top of Multnomah Falls.
Looking over the edge. View from the top: 2/10.

Midway up Multnomah, I think.
I forget.  I'm a terrible tourist.

 Then we went to visit Herman the Sturgeon and the Cascade Locks.

Old man Herman.
Herman's spawn
Salmon candy at the locks.
Dam.
Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center after-hours.
 On the way home, we took advantage of the sparser crowds and visited Bridal Veil Falls.
Bridal Veil Falls

Sunset.





Thursday, July 16, 2015

Seattle Eats! Smart Catch Dinner: sustainable, delicious, magnificent

If you haven't heard about Smart Catch, you're missing out!  From sponsor Vulcan's website: "Smart Catch is a program designed to increase demand and availability of sustainable seafood by working with chefs and restauranteurs. Smart Catch is working with chefs because they have the potential to make a significant impact in sustainable seafood.

The idea and initial funding for Smart Catch came from Vulcan Founder and Chairman Paul G. Allen, a long-time ocean advocate and explorer."

The program launched in Seattle this summer, and nine of the Seattle area's best chefs helped to kick off the program by showing their stuff at a four-night series of pop-up dinners at Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park.

To no one's surprise, these dinners sold out in less than two minutes.  I was lucky enough to score four seats, giving two to our local host.

The dinner we attended was curated and cooked by none other than Chef Ron Anderson of Tom Douglas Restaurants and Chef Bobby Palmquist of the Walrus and the Carpenter.


The Menu.
The Venue.

Local Cider
First Course: Scallop
Second Course: Pacific Cod Ceviche

Third Course: Sockeye Salmon
Fourth Course: Cure Pollock

Sugar Cookie Dessert

Chef Ron

Chef Bobby