Portland Food Questions

[Ye-Ye Girl]

Good Lord - I proofread everything but the heading - it should read "BBQ," not "BBW." D'oh!

The Dude and I have a wedding to attend in southern WA this Saturday, which - much to my consternation - is causing us to miss Klink and Batgrrrl's Going Away Party.

That being said, we're heading down to Portland Friday morning to hang out, and have lunch and dinner. I've been reading Portland-related posts here on eGullet, as well as realgoodfood.com and other websites with relevant information. I think we've decided to try out one or more of the wine bars for dinner, but we're still undecided about lunch.

Re: the wine bars, we were thinking of trying out Noble Rot and/or Navarre, since they're near each other. I've read comments, and both sound good. But is there a clear-cut favorite between the two among those who've been to both? And if so, why do you consider one better than the other? I've also seen that Wine Down isn't far from these two, but the word on the street hasn't been as favorable as for the other two. Please let me know if that information is wrong, and I'd be happy to throw that on the list as well.

Re: lunch. Hmmm. We'd like to go fairly inexpensive, and The Dude is hankering after BBQ. A review of Yam Yam on realgoodfood.com sounded good to him (for the ribs and fried okra), and so does another place we ran across called Clay's. We've also entertained trying out Canita (I think that's correct), for the Cuban food and mojitos, since it's still supposed to be pretty warm. And, BBQ and mojitos notwithstanding, The Dude is pretty open to suggestion, so if I mention something to him as being particularly recommended for lunch, he's generally willing to try it. We'll be in a car, so we can travel, but would rather stay within 10 miles or so of downtown. So...any feedback on these places or other good lunch spots would be much appreciated!

Thanks -

Jen

Edited July 28, 2003 by Ye-Ye Girl (log)

[LaurieA-B]

We've also entertained trying out Canita (I think that's correct), for the Cuban food and mojitos, since it's still supposed to be pretty warm.  And, BBQ and mojitos notwithstanding, The Dude is pretty open to suggestion, so if I mention something to him as being particularly recommended for lunch, he's generally willing to try it. We'll be in a car, so we can travel, but would rather stay within 10 miles or so of downtown. So...any feedback on these places or other good lunch spots would be much appreciated!

Pambiche! While Canita (same owners, very similar menu) is right downtown, Pambiche is very close by car. I have lunched at both and they were both great. While I like Canita, I love Pambiche. The ambience is very pleasant; it is smaller, on a nicer street, with outdoor tables. Canita is more slick and had a business lunch crowd. The food is very cheap and so good. Be sure to try the drinks. I especially love the banana shake. The desserts are gorgeous, but I've never managed to sample them (servings tend toward ample). Jim Dixon's review

[KNorthrup]

I agree 100% that the food and atmosphere at Pambiche are better than at Canita. However, unless it's changed lately, you cannot get a mojito at Pambiche. It is still beer and wine only. Canita has a full bar. Also less of a wait. So those are your trade-offs.

Do not have the personal experience to help with Yam Yam's vs Clay's nor with Noble Rot vs Navarre.

[Jim Dixon]

That Yam Yam's review is a couple of years old (I'm trying to go back and date all the reviews, but it's going slowly), so I can't say what it's like now. One of my boys likes it, but Clay's, at least the last time I was there last year, is also good. Campbell's, on SE Powell just east of 82nd, is probably the best BBQ in town.

Both Navarre and Noble Rot are customers....but I see the difference as one of focus. Noble Rot is mostly about the wine, but the food is really good, too. Navarre is a quirky little restaurant that happens to fit the 'wine bar' category better than any other pigeonhole. That said, I eat at Navarre more often, maybe because the menu's a little more exensive but it could be because I want something particular (the watermelon and arugula salad, for example).

Since they're only a block apart, you might as well hit both. Then walk a little farther north on 28th and check out Tabla, a new spot that's more restaurrant, but with small plate prices.

I haven't eaten at Wine Down, but I hear the food doesn't stand up to the other places. Pambiche is fabulous, and if they haven't got the liquor license yet, have a sangria. Esparza's Tex-Mex is another great spot in the same neighborhood.

On Friday night there may be crowds, so either go early or be prepared to wait. Of course, you can always walk between the different places to find the shortest wait.

Jim

ps...if you're still in PDX Sat, drop by the Farmers Mkt near PSU for the artisan bread festival.

[bankchef]

I found that in Portland breakfast is the meal to eat (probably because I was at the restaurant I worked at every afternoon and evening). Cup and Saucer in the Hawthorne district is cheap and fantastic. So is Zell's at 13th and Morrison.

[Ye-Ye Girl]

Wow, bankchef, you must've read my mind, because I was about to post and ask for good breakfast ideas. We originally were going to stay Friday night in the small southern WA town where the wedding is, but decided instead to stay in Portland, since the wedding isn't until later on Saturday.

Sounds like Zell's isn't toooo far from where we're staying (near Lloyd Center), so we might give that a try. But we're open to other breakfast suggestions as well. And now we can try to make it to the Farmer's Market - yay!

Edited for ambiguous use of prepositional phrases.

Edited July 30, 2003 by Ye-Ye Girl (log)

[KNorthrup]

Since you're on the eastside, I'd say J&M Cafe, near OMSI, for breakfast. Although Bijou Cafe is a quick, free MAX ride downtown. My personal favourite, as well as that of most friends and relations, is Kornblatt's.

[bankchef]

Weekends are insane at the Bijou but if you can get in go for it. Also, Saturday is the big artisan festival at the farmers market. I'll be coming down from WA to check it out hoping to get some contacts for products for my place.

[bilrus]

Bankchef,

do you have a link to info for the Market. My wife is going to be in town next weekned and would be interested in the artisan festival.

[Jim Dixon]

Portland Farmers Market

The Summer Loaf is historically the busiest day of the season (something like 25,000 people last year), so come early. And be sure to walk though the market and check out all the bread vendors before buying. There are smaller artisan bakers like Olive Mountain, Wild Horse, and Ken's that are here every week and make great handcrafted bread, but one of the ironies of the bread fest is that several of the bigger industrial bakers come as well and sell cut-rate loaves that are in no way "artisanal."

My favorites include Ken's (including the Normandy apple bread he only makes on Saturday) and Olive Mountain's round, whole grain loaf with the funny name I can't remember.

I'll be there, too, so stop by and say hello...

Jim

[bankchef]

Great message. What other items do they have besides bread? I'm hoping to meat some cheese makers. I'd like to carry all local cheeses in my restaurant (The Bank @ Saginaws in Elma, WA). This will be my first time there, I'm new to the Pacific NW.

[Jim Dixon]

Welcome to eGullet, bankchef...

There will be several cheesemakers at the market, including Oregon Gourmet Cheese, makers of incredible camembert, and Juniper Grove's goat cheeses. You'll also find a few fishermen selling directly (wild salmon, halibut, and Oregon albacore in season now), a couple of rancers (grass-fed beef, lmabm and pork), and Greener Pastures chickens form near Eugene (the livers, which sell out quickly, are the best I've ever had).

And of course lots of produce.

See you there.

Jim

[bankchef]

Hope to see you there.

[trillium]

River Run Farm (the grass fed beef people) actually will not be at this week's market. And I'm assuming that "lmabm" = lamb. I buy it from SuDan farms and it's fantastic.

regards,

trillium

[Jim Dixon]

I'm assuming that "lmabm" = lamb

You mean you've never eaten lmabm?

Jim

[trillium]

I've been deprived. If we ever have a pdx egullet thingy you'll have to bring some and fill me in on the finer points of eating lmabm. It needs lots of olive oil, right?

regards,

trillium

[Jim Dixon]

It needs lots of olive oil, right?

of course....

Jim