Tremors

Foodsaver advises that you freeze the bread first and then vacumn seal it - that way it doesn't lose its shape. I missed this important detail when I first got my Foodsaver and the bread shrinked up in a really cool way and then when I defrosted them a bit later they came out great - reinflated and all. But MSG you are right - it is pretty fun to see the bread practically suck into itself!

In Portland, I like Escape and the New York, New York place on Barbur. I definitely tend towards thin crust and I judge all pizza places by their cheese slice. There is a rumor that Cathy Whims (formerly of Genoa) is opening an authentic Italian pizza place. The best pizza I have ever had was in Italy. Hopefully Cathy can bring that flavor here...

I would recommend the Dolphin Bay hotel in Hilo - the owner (John) is very cool and can tell you everything there is to know about the lava flow - he goes up there several times a week. Every room comes with a kitchen - but it is definitely not a luxury hotel like you'll find on the Kona side or North Kohala/Waikoloa. Rates are below $100 a night. But very clean and comfortable. He has lots of papaya and banana trees on the property and they are offered up for the guests in big bowls in the lobby. If you are looking to get to know some more local kind folks - stay there - otherwise in Hilo you can't go wrong with the Hilo Hawaiian. BTW - Bear Coffee is just down the way from the Dolphin Bay - for a nice walk and a good cup of coffee in the morning and a chance to hang with the haole locals. And if you are brave stop by Cafe 100 in downtown Hilo - where the loco moco was invented/created - they have every imaginable combination of loco moco - but it's not for everyone. BI Revealed can give lots of info on where to go etc. but I highly recommend seeing the lava flow wherever it is - and the Puna coastline is spectacular - albeit remote. In Waimea - the Waimea Deli is good for plate lunch - better than anything over at the Parker Ranch mall - and definitely skip the Parker Ranch Grill - go to Merriman's or Theibault's. Don't skip Tex's for the malasada experience - they are in Honokaa just off Hwy 19 - and it will be on your way to Waipio Valley which you shouldn't miss either. But the book can tell you all this.

Nick and other interested folks, I read this weekend that Williams/Buckman's is closing. I think the owner wants to travel or some such thing. It was in A&E on Friday. They'll be open for a couple more weeks - I think.

Lucky for me I live in Portland so I am pumped about your BBQ place, especially with all this great research! Where will you guys belocated and what's the potential start date? The West Bros. BBQ (now defunct) in Eugene had a great wall mural of a BBQ trip that the owners had taken with pics, map, etc. It was a great idea - maybe you can incorporate your trip as decor. It will get patrons salivating that's for sure. See ya as soon as you open!

Where is the Dive? I guess I should ask where was the Dive?

I tried Logans over the weekend and thought it was mediocre. No smokiness and the sauce (what there was of it) was not very tasty. I don't think he slow smokes his meat I think he grills it which is different and can be good if the rub is good but I didn't really catch much flavor from his rub. BTW we ordered the pork ribs - with the smashed potatoes and baked beans as sides. Both of those were not very good either - and sadly we had to add salt to everything for some taste. Never a good sign with BBQ. I am sorry to report that cause the guy seemed very nice and other customers there really were enthused about the food.

I bet the no photo policy is more common than you think. Take a look at Phaelon's food blog - he was shut down by Wegman's in NY from taking pics. Why would a huge food store like that care? No one knows but they apparently have a strict no photo policy. FWIW - without knowing who you were or your intent I guess I might be suspicious about a stranger taking pics at my place of business - I would ask tho before making you stop.

Jim, Congrats! I toast you every evening when I chomp into my Ken's bread dipped in your olive oil and sea salt. The best antidote to a long bike ride home from work! For those who have not met Jim - this is one of those times when the nice guy finishes first! Cheers!

Nick pretty much nails it on what to do - but wanted to add that Yamhill market is no more. Replaced by a real estate appraisal firm, a Bally's gym and various retail and foody places. But Portland offers so much more these days I don't think you will miss it.

It is round steak. I'm not a big sweet with meat fan but if you say this works for elk - I'll give it a try. Thanks and let me know if you'd like some.

I am just going to defend Laurelwood for a sec here. IMHO it is a vast improvement over McMenamin's. Sure if you don't want to eat with kids that can be an issue but the beer is way way better than McMenamin's and the food is a vast improvement as well. Maybe I'm just getting tired of McMenamin's but have you had a burger there recently? A hockey puck and a small one at that - their fish and chips have gone downhill - even their beloved fries are not as good as the ones at Laurelwood - the garlic fries are killer. Laurelwood is no gourmet shop but for what it bills itself to be - a kid-friendly brew pub - it is better than most.

Nick, I have a lot of elk passed on to me by a friend and I would gladly swap you for a recipe or a good Mexican way to prepare it. I suppose this exchange belongs off line but let me know. It wouldn't be a lot - maybe two or three 1.5 lb. pieces. Tremors

We like the breakfast at the 42nd St Cafe - it is owned by a former chef from the Shoalwater. I really dig their take on biscuits and gravy - it's a chicken based gravy - very yummy. Everything on the menu is good. It's on the main drag at S 42nd St in Seaview (a bustling suburb of Long Beach)!

I had that boar stew and I agree it is killer. We also tried what I think is a new dish for them - pulled duck in a lovely sauce - it was great. To be honest their ham, potato and cheese terrine is too dry and flavorless and I wasn't too high on their friend cheese dish. But their prices are good and I always find something tasty among their daily specials. And they always have good wines with good prices considering wine by the glass prices these days. Nick don't keep off the keyboard - your reviews insights, and food knowledge are really appreciated - just had to stick up for one of my favorite places to hang. Any chance we'll see you at the Hotcake House? Cheers

Nick, Jim wrote about Navarre when it first opened and mentioned the things he liked - among them the pumpkin fritters which from my experience they offer quite a lot. He also mentioned a few of the salad/vegetable dishes that I have noticed are usually on the menu. His posting is dated November 22, 2002 if anyone wants to check that out. I respect that you don't like Navarre but Jim and I among others do. I'm not meaning to argue but my impression from your post was that you just couldn't understand why Jim or anyone could like the place. I have explained why I like it and shouldn't we feel good about the places that for whatever reason we like? I should let Jim speak for himself but after your several posts about Navarre I was feeling bad about liking their food and what they offer. Anyways don't want to start a food battle but just offering a different take on Navarre.

Like many restaurants, I have my favorite dishes at Navarre - things I think they do very well - like their stews and slow cooked meats - yum. I personally really like the atmosphere - especially at the bar - its more like you are at someone's house and not at a restaurant. I also like Tabla a lot (that truffle pasta dish is very good) but I wouldn't eat there every time I go out (it definitely has a restaurant feel) - nor would I eat at Navarre every night - but it fits for me when I'm in the mood for both that kind of food and atmosphere. I think people have a thousand different reasons why they like particular places - I love the Hotcake House on SE Powell and I'm not alone the place is always crowded - but it certainly isn't for the quality of the food. Not intending to blast you Nick but I would be uncomfortable if I had to justify the many places I like to eat. I think the great thing about Portland now is that there is so much variety now when eating out. To fit every mood, appetite and particular taste.

Trillium I hate to split hairs as well but I'm a geographer by trade so I had to comment. The busy corner of Bybee and Milwaukie is considered Westmoreland. Sellwood is the 13th and Tacoma area. They actually abut each other - Sellwood ends when 13th makes the corner and becomes SE Bybee. Cheers

Raynickben, thanks for your thoughts on Two Brothers - have you ever tried their BBQ? I'm always hunting for good BBQ and would definitely go back if it is good. What do you order there? ExtraMSG - El Palmero - is that the place south of Tacoma on SE 17th? If it is - I've heard great things about it but I think it is El Salvadoran food not Mexican American. But I have friends who live in that hood and they love it so I'm sure it is worth a trip - if not for your current research project but perhaps to start another!

Chez Jose is very popular with families - especially the NE Broadway location - they have a "kids eat free" policy from 5 -7 pm. I love the place for the atmosphere in the bar and the really great service. They are friendly and very attentive - and they have a Happy Hour bar menu from 4 - 6 and 9 - closing (about 6-7 items for $1.95), we like to go after a movie and get in on the after 9pm cheap stuff. Their food isn't Mexican American in the Chevy's mold - they have a slightly more interesting menu - including a popular lime chicken enchilada, they include chipotle in a few dishes and their camarones are good. I like their black bean soup (which is on the bar menu) - their quesadilla's are nothing to write home about but are filling in a pinch. I haven't been to the newly reopened Burlingame location (rebuilt after the infamous Burlingame Grocery fire) - and I don't go to their outlet on Hawthorne (Chez Grill?) very often at all - a little out of my geographical arena. ExtraMSG - another place that is popular but I've only been once is La Cruda on 26th and SE Clinton. People love the salsa bar - and the food is cheap - I had a quick lunch there once and it was just fine for lunch - not sure it is in your Mexican-American genre tho. I know you don't drink but apparently their margarita's are really great. It's on one of my bike routes home and I like to ride by in the summer when the tables are outside and everyone is enjoying the PDX summer (and their margaritas!).

I really like Adobe Rose in the Westmoreland neighborhood. If they have the crab enchilada's as a daily special - it is really really good - no frills just a ton of crabmeat and some really good enchilada sauce. I have found their red enchilada sauce to be the closest to the stuff I've had in New Mexico and to when I make it myself at home. Esparza's red sauce doesn't taste this good. They have a small but good menu - and my friends from NM say it is the best New Mexican style food in PDX. Their hours are a little funky (I think closed both Monday and Tuesday and lunch possibly only on the weekends) and really only a couple of people run the whole show so if they decide to go on vacation - the place is closed. I ate only once at Two Brothers so this is a very limited judgement but I found the service to be really over solicitous and a little too much. When I ordered a regular margarita - the waiter kept trying to get me into the large (very large) but he did it in a really annoying way - I finally had to insist that I wanted just a regular. He kept up this sort of jokey manner all night - it made ordering laborious and not very fun. I am really easy on waiters cause I really respect the profession (ex-waitress myself) - and I'm not sure if he was flirting with us (table of 4 women) or just trying to be funny or what but with all the choice in Portland and the fact that the food was not overwhelming - well.... but ExtraMSG I'll be interested to see what you think of the place.

Extra MSG - actually interisland flights have gotten much more expensive in the past year or so (Hawaiian Air for one is on the brink of bankruptcy - not sure how Aloha is doing) - even for locals. There was an article recently in the NY Times (I think) that locals find it much cheaper to go to the mainland for vacation then to go interisland. I grew up on the Big Island and you could get a kamaaina rate but unless you flew pretty regularly it wasn't worth it. Also keep in mind that people don't make near as much on the islands as they do here on the mainland - it seems cheap to me now that I live here but it certainly didn't seem cheap at that time. I'm not sure why but we never went to the other islands except on very special occasions or a school trip. Also it was pretty great right where we were - why leave? I'm glad you are going to see the volcano - it is incredible - hopefully it will still be flowing. If not the Big Island is really a special place and you will have lots of good grinds and beautiful places to visit.

The only Campbell's sign I know of is a picture of the late Mr. Campbell and his wife. I think it's actually a great photo. I must be missing the sign you are seeing.

Keeping in mind that BBQ is a very personal thing but for me Texas does BBQ better than PDX. When I'm there I can't get enough. State Line, Salt Lick, I love them all. I think this is especially true of beef ribs and brisket which are my BBQ favs. I'm just talkin' meat here not side orders - I save my calories and appetite for the meat. In PDX Campbell's is at the top of my list. I like Yams Yams as well - Cannon's is very inconsistent - I used to live very close to Cannon's and some nights it was good - some nights I didn't bother finishing it. Not sure why it was inconsistent or why it didn't work for me. Does anyone remember Tom Brown - he did BBQ out of a van and boy do I miss him - that was some good BBQ.

Does anybody in oregon remember Beer Beer - the generic beer - that was the worst but it was cheap. French beer absolutely sucks. We were touring around France in 98 (World Cup) and bought a case cause we were astounded to find a case of beer for like $1.60 (back in the days before the Euro) - well it wasn't worth a nickel. If you put it on ice so it got really really cold - the first sip was edible but every sip thereafter was torture. I can't remember the name of it (something Germanic like Heidelfreiburger) but it made Bud seem like champagne.