Jill-O

...as the drool drips onto my keyboard... If the folks at work knew, they'd be blocking me from viewing this, for sure!!! IT IS OBSCENE(ly good)!!! ;o) Gotta get over for some Q soon. Been away and missed those guys!

I've been there for an Axis Supper and "near" would be a relative term. ;o) They have a map link on their web page here near the bottom: Olive Mountain Baking at Scholl's Ferry Public House

Nick, Newton WAS right, but if he had some of those containers and some marshmallows, he would not have been outside under that apple tree, he'd have been in his kitchen playing with them! And Nick, my brother-in-law, when microwaves were a fairly new thing in the kitchen, tried various items in them...not HIS of course, but my mother's. The grape was only slightly amusing, but the egg...well, the egg, now THAT was impressive! All that remained of the shell was a very fine grit...and it took Marc about an hour to fully clean my mom's micro afterward. Wow, they have bags big enough to fit a cat inside? ;o)

Wow. Thanks for the 411 lala. These things happen, but I guess I'm kind of shocked. Oh well. Sayonara, Red Fox Bakery... I guess you can forget about that one, Al! You can get your baked goodies at Otis and Wildflower, I suppose.

I'd go to the Lincoln City part of the OR coast. It is an easy drive from Portland, about 1.75 hours. There are lots of rooms in Lincoln City, OR so you can usually find a cheaper room there as opposed to Cannon Beach and I think it is nicer than Seaside, myself. Just MHO, tho'. And yeah, I think if you have a day/night to spare from Portland, you should drive to the coast. I was just in Lincoln City with a friend and, as usual, had a great breakfast at the Otis Cafe at Otis Junction on Rte. 18 less than 5 minutes off of 101. Great huge cinnamon pecan rolls, eggs, fabulous homemade wheat and molasses breads, good iced tea, a nice fruit and cheese plate too. Everything comes like you order it, the service is great, and it is kind of a hoot to have to walk through the entire kitchen to get to the restroom. They also do lunch and dinner but it is most crowded for breakfast and it is a tiny place. After almost always just having breakfast at the Otis, I finally got to the Wildflower Grill. If you are in Lincoln City, you actually pass it on the right on your way to the Otis. We got there at noon on July 4th and had no wait and opted to sit outside on the deck. If it is in season, ASK TO SIT OUTSIDE!! I usally prefer to sit inside but the back deck is glassed around and practically wind-free and looks out at what appears to be a nature preserve. It is gorgeous. The whole time we were there we watched a blue heron, a duck and ducklings, red wing black birds, 3 other kinds of birds and enjoyed the water and lush vegetation. It was just fabulous. Friend and I ordered breakfast but the next table ordered lunch and got beautiful large salads and burgers and such. I'll be back to try that stuff another time - stuff looked great. Breakfast was really good, though. I had eggs over easy, ham (really good!), hash browns (good, and I prefer home fries) and shared a shortstack of blueberry pancakes (very yummy) with my friend who had the omelet (choose any 3 ingredients from a long list- she had bacon, spinach and swiss cheese) and hash browns. All of the food was very good and all of it came just as we ordered it. It is obvious that someone in the kitchen cares about what they are doing there. The portions are very generous and the prices similar to the Otis - not dirt cheap, but not outrageously expensive, especially for the coast - about $7-10 per person for a full breakfast, you can do it cheaper, though. The service was good and friendly and the atmosphere was fabulous and even if you sit inside, it is so nice and homey. It is an old house converted into a restaurant. They have a couple of rooms upstairs that are more private and you can reserve them for larger groups or, if they aren't reserved, have a more private and intimate setting for your meal. You can find them on 101 just past the Ryan Gallery on the left side of the road if you are coming into Lincoln City heading south. If you are heading out of Lincoln City going north toward Neskowin, it will be on your right a little bit past the Lighthouse shopping center (the one with the Bimart and Goodwill) as you head out of town. I think they are open for breakfast and lunch 7 days, but only serve dinner Tues.-Sat. - so check on that... There's a Mo's in Lincoln City (at the very south end) and in Cannon Beach and other places - I think their chowder is good, if you like a bacon-y and thick kind of chowder. I second the rec for the Blackfish Cafe in Lincoln City, fairly moderate prices for a casual upscale and good meal. Blackfish Cafe Also in Lincoln City is Kyllo's on 101 right on the water (at the "D" River wayside) with great views (think sunset dining) and has a really nice bar area - and the drinks are good, sometimes even great...and if there's a long line you can get anything on the menu in the bar area (at a table or at the bar). (Last time I splurged on a crab cocktail - worth the $9 or whatever it cost!) You'd probably be able to get away with $50-60 for two without drinks (or without dessert) at Blackfish. You could get close at Kyllo's if you chose smaller portions (lunch or light options served all day) and were careful ordering. The Seahorse Motel in Lincoln City is a nice place to stay that is on a bluff above the ocean with convenient access to the beach below, and they allow pets. They also do package deals with meals at the Blackfish and the Wildflower, and with admission to the acquarium in Newport.Seahorse Motel in Lincoln City Or, if you just want cheap, and not right on the ocean, try the Motel 6 and you can walk about 3 blocks for beach access. I just did a couple of fabulous hikes near Lincoln City this past weekend, feel free to message me through the site if you are interested in where. They were fairly short and easy (kids and fit seniors friendly) but gorgeous and nice way to burn off the cinnamon roll... ;o) There's lots to do in Astoria too (and the Crest Motel is a great place to stay there) but I don't have any food recs for you there. There have been some posts about places there recently, though, on the NW board at chowhound.com. P.S. - Anyone know if the Red Fox Bakery in Lincoln City is gone for good? They were closed and the windows covered with brown paper when I passed by over the weekend...

Dude, how the heck are ya? Hope the pox are a-healin'! I got your back, here's the link, from the 6/22 WW: Mama Mia Trattoria What's her bucket?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! The woman's name is LISA. (Lisa, as in Lisa Schroeder...) Think ya can remember that one?!

What Nick, and you're not craving a Royale with Cheese? Or a milkshake? ;o) Funny thing is, I also started with Andrew's list when I got to Portland. The old incarnation of it, I think, gave a description of what Andrew likes re: pizza and I realized we liked the same kind of NY-style pizza, so I knew it would be good. I find his reviews and recs to be right on. I know he posts on Chowhound, I don't know if he posts here...but if so, Andrew - your page still rocks, thanks for the great resource! Hmmm, favorites? As I said, L&B Spumoni Gardens for the whole deal (great Neapolitan as well as Sicilian and the spumoni is awesome)...and DaVinci's for the Sicilian (Neapolitan isn't bad, but it isn't the attraction). A good sign of a great pizza joint in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn used to be that they did NOT deliver (as in, they don't HAVE to - people will come to them). Both of these places have been in business longer than I have been alive (over 38 years for those playing the home game) and, unless things have changed in the last 3 years, they don't deliver. Though NY-style is my preference (and birthright!), when I lived in Chicago I embraced their style - the deep dish. (When in Rome, ya know?) There, I was a fan of Edwardo's (pepperoni and pesto - yum!). A lot of that had to do with consistency issues with a lot of other places and location (I didn't have a car when I lived there). You know, you can't really compare the two - NY and Chicago styles. You have to love them each on their own merits... Hey, any good deep dish places in Portland - so that folks who prefer the Chi-style can get their pizza groove on?

I haven't been to Escape from NY (I'm lookin' at you Nick!), although I kind of escaped from NY, myself! I really like Hot Lips' pizza. The only thing I don't like is that some of the toppings (while of the best quality), IMHO, just shouldn't go on pizza. Feta cheese does not belong on a pizza, sorry. Oy, and do not even let get me started on that Canadian bacon and pineapple crap. I know, it's my pizza prejudice, I own it. My favorite subset of NYC pizza is Sicilian pizza and Hot Lips' Sicilian crust is even better than a lot I've had in NYC (FYI, my standards are Brooklyn's L&B Spumoni Gardens and DaVinci's on 18th Ave, BTW). If only they 1- had slices of it available regularly and 2- didn't often top it with weird (IMHO) stuff. The Neapolitan stuff they make (the round, flat, thin kind) is really good too, though. I agree that Schmizza is OK in a pinch, and better than a lot of others, but it definitely isn't the best. If you're gonna investigate pizza in Portland, you gotta start with Andrew's site (his pictures are really great too!): Portland Pizza Joints

Well, that's different, then, eh?! ;o) heh. You're in a fabulous spot. Here's something to help you with your mapping: on the WEST side (the side you'll be on, the side where downtown and the Pearl are) north of Burnside the streets are alphabetically arranged (Burnside, Couch (pronounced cooch...um, yeah...), Davis, Everett, etc.) and you will be on NW (west of river, north of Burnside) Northrup near NW 20th. The Daily Cafe is about 10 blocks from your hotel and you are right near the Portland Streetcar line which will bring you right to the PSU Farmers' Market on Saturday. It is also close to a couple of restaurant-laden strips (I mean that in a good way) close by on NW 21st and NW 23rd. This city is very negotiable. Nothing is all that far away - you'll find yourself walking to most places, public transport is great, and the folks here are always willing to point you in the right direction. Our transit system's site is hereTrimet Transit if you want to get an idea of it before July. Oh yeah, and Powell's City of Books (the best bookstore anywhere) is on W Burnside and 10th...make time to stop by either there or at their Books for Cooks and Gardeners store on SE Hawthorne around SE 37th. FYI, as a service Nick has been posting their food-related sale books on his site at ExtraMSG

OK, I've only lived in Portland 2-3 years...where the heck is The Inns at Trillium Station?? Where is Trillium Station for that matter? Anyone else know? Daddy-A, where is this place? ...and how did you find it?! ;o)

I agree with Trillium - Hot Lips is really good pizza. I'm from Brooklyn, NY and spent about 5 years in Chicago...and I'm REALLY picky about my pizza. (...and no, Nick, I STILL haven't been to Escape from NY!) BTW, Hot Lips has a new place on the E side now, on Hawthorne near SE 22nd (closer to us, trillium - yay!). Has anyone been there yet? Although I haven't been to the one in the Pearl, I agree about the folks at the PSU location - really nice and cheery. If you frequent Hot Lips, ask for a punch card (they don't automatically give you one) - with every ten slices you buy, you get one free!

Daddy, at least your dollar will go a bit further here in OR as you'll only be paying tax on your hotel room, not on your food and other purchases! I hear your plea and understand about the exchange rate... You should definitely go to the PSU Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. It is an amazing bounty and there are lots of great things to eat there. Find the LOW BBQ stand and prepare to have your eyes roll up in your head in ecstasy, their meat is that good - beef brisket, pork ribs and lamb ribs. If you only want a snack and not a meal, they'll even sell you one rib! If you need some sweets and don't end up going to Pix Patisserie across the river (not just fabulous desserts, but great dessert drinks, incl. Lambics - on SE Division around SE 33rd) one night you're in town, stop by their place in the market...get a big strawberry with creme brulee in the center - two bites of heaven! The 28th and E Burnside intersection that Jim mentioned, in about a 2-3 block radius also includes: Tabla (nice for wines and small plates too, great duck!) and Pambiche (Cuban, very reasonable, the best empanadas and fabulous desserts) and Staccato Gelato. Another place that has great food and is a great deal is Daily Cafe (in the Pearl, on the W side - NW 13th and Kearney). I've only been for dinner, but I hear that they do a great brunch on weekends. Two can have a very good meal with local ingredients for about $50 + tip. There's even a great burger with yummy, copious amounts of fries on the menu for under $10. A short wine list has wines around $5-6/glass and between $20-25/bottle (or there are quaffs like a big bottle of Arrogant Bastard here, if you haven't had enough beer by then ;o) and the desserts here are pretty darn good too. Pho Van in the Pearl (W side) is a nice upscale Pho house (Vietnamese beef noodle soup and other specialties) that's pretty easy on the wallet and has good food if you are looking for an Asian option on the W side. Every one of these places is worth your hard-earned Canadian money, and we do thank you very kindly for choosing to spend it here. Just have plenty of dim sum before you leave BC, because there is no good dim sum down here. Period. Feel free to ask away, Daddy-A!

When the shrimp are very crispy, I just crunch 'em and don't worry about the shells. That usually includes s&p shrimp. When the shrimp themselves, though, aren't prepared to be really crispy, I don't find the extra crunch of the shells pleasant at all and I'll peel them. Pam, I can believe that shrimp sitting on a buffet would not be a great 'shrimp with shell on eating experience.' Usually it is a situation where only the end of the shell still attached to the tail is present, though. I'm not as thrilled when all the legs are attached (unless it is ALL really crispy - then it's no worse than soft shell crab). The only exception to this, for me, is when the shrimp is whole - meaning head on. Then it is often worth the trouble. I love that creamy rich tidbit you suck out when you pull the head off. Shrimp brains or pancreas or something, I suppose, but tasty! Anyone who takes pride in picking a lobster clean and getting all the good bits would appreciate it, I think. Hopefully, it also means that they are fresher because head-on shrimp have a shorter shelf life - I think that they have to be used within 48 hours or so. (after catching or thawing, I suppose)

Just thought I'd chirp in and let you know that Pacific Farms' site has lots of great info about fresh wasabi: Fresh Wasabi - Pacific Farms ...also some tasty sounding recipes! Never thought about it before, but wow, it would rock in a Bloody Mary, eh?

Woo-hoo! Add me to the long list of folks congratulating you. Good on ya, Jim! P.S. - I agree with 'em, it WAS a great piece!

Hi folks, I've been meaning to post this and here's a good chance... I found a few small used Le Creuset pots and pans at the Monticello Antiques Mall on SE Stark (near SE 86th Ave. in PDX...and didn't folks say that they would tag their threads with location names a while ago??). I couldn't believe it. Sitting on the floor of one of the stalls under a table was: a small saucepan with lid (#13), the combo small fryer lid w/saucepan(#14), and a small to medium sized skillet (#23?). They ranged in price from $4 to $5.95 and I bought them all - woohoo! All in good shape, all clean...and all in the the most horrible color I have ever seen - like a peachy kind of color. But who cares, right? I got 4/5 pieces of Le Creuset for about $20. Keep your eyes peeled at those kinds of places, my friends. (insert wide-eyed emotijiggy here) Look under the tables! BTW - does anyone know what the name of that horrid color is and when they discontinued it? Just curious and can't find any info at all about it online.

Hi folks, Longtime Chowhound poster but eGullet lurker...finally remedied that, as you can see. I went to Yam Yam's recently for the first time and I was disappointed. I ordered a rib dinner plate and I was apalled at the size of the serving for the price - pathetic, really. Four ribs and the 2 sides came in tiny containers smaller than dixie cups. The ribs were good, but not worth the price and though I agree that the mac and cheese is good, I could hardly tell because the serving was about 4 or 5 bites worth. The yams were tooth-achingly sweet. I want to try the Sunday brunch though because it looks like a better deal and the selection of foods sounds good. I'd also be willing to try it again on another night and order differently, staying away from the dinner plates. I go to Campbell's if I want BBQ these days and I am never really disappointed. I usually get the brisket there, though, I think it's better than the ribs, though the pork ribs are good (not great). The sides are always very good - my faves are the black eyed peas and the cole slaw - and the servings are so generous for the money that I can never manage to eat dessert there. I try to get there before 6pm or there is usually a wait. They are closed Sundays and Mondays, FYI. In a pinch, the rib tips at Cannon's (in the New Season's parking lot) are decent...most of the time. I know lots of folks who LOVE the Delta Cafe. So many that I have been there twice, thinking that I must have missed something the first time around...that and to just give it another chance...everyone has an off night, no? My meal the second time was as bad or worse than the first time! First time I had those awful ribs and my now ex had the fried chicken. Didn't like either of 'em. Service sucked, everything was over-salted, bad experience all around. Second time had the meat loaf. They should call it rosemary loaf as that was all I could taste (and it seemed an odd herb to be taking over my meat loaf in a joint like this). Everything else wasn't too good either. I'm done now, not going back. Don't understand why it is so popular. So has anyone been to the new Big Daddy's BBQ in the old At the Hop space on Hawthorne at SE 30th? I want to hear the scoop on this joint! Whew, long first post, but I covered 3+ places... ;o)