Archives for October 2017

Travel Tuesday: Jelly Belly Factory Tour

My recent visit to San Francisco unfortunately coincided with the Wine Country wildfires, so I had to pivot on some of the excursions I was planning on doing with my mom while my sister was working. Particularly I tried to think of things to do that were indoors to avoid possible poor air quality. One of the destinations that I ended up choosing to take my mom was the Jelly Belly Candy Company, and try out their free Jelly Belly Factory Tour and do some shopping for candies she could take to relatives in Thailand. It was more of a trip for her since she loves candy, but I think I ended up having just as much if not even more fun. It was much cooler then I thought it would be for someone like me that loves the idea of sweets but doesn’t love eating sweets. There’s a lot that go into making a Jelly Belly bean!

Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Fairfield, California, entrance area Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Fairfield, California, cafe area

The location of the Jelly Belly in the Bay Area is out in Fairfield, which is north towards Napa, and also happens to be across the street from an Olive Oil and Vinegar tasting room and also the Budweiser Tasting Room, so you can make this a productive day excursion for the one hour drive. If you’re staying by Napa, consider it to take a break from wine. We only stopped for the Jelly Belly Factory Tour, which I’ll share here.

It’s best to visit on a weekday because then you’ll see the machines working with the people running them, vs when it is not operating on weekends or holidays. Overall, I recommend going to the Jelly Belly Factory Tour because it is cool to learn how the jelly beans are made and prepared for sale, and Jelly Belly really strives for a mix of efficiency with machinery but also relies on people for quality every step of the way. The workers seemed happy – several waved at me and smiled, and I’m not a cute kid on a tour. Though I think the paper hats they require you to wear the whole tour are both silly (so non functional) and cute.

Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Fairfield, California: the rainbow of 50 flavors and more of Jelly Belly Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Fairfield, California: the rainbow of 50 flavors and more of Jelly Belly

I am all for technology and progress I don’t believe it means completely displacing people out of jobs, though it may mean changing the job description to work with the technology. As fascinating as automation is, seeing it paired with people too is heartening – and if you come on a working factory day you’ll be able to watch that interaction.

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Rucker’s Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap

Every year, the restaurant Le Pigeon steps away from it’s French technique meets Northwest free spirited attitude and foie gras fine dining for a special Halloween celebration where the restaurant and it’s chefs and menu dress up as a new character. This year for Halloween 2017, the theme was Food Network mainstream American a la Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and it’s blond fiery Guy Fieri host. Since most of you were not part of the two intimate dinner seatings for, here’s my Rucker’s Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap so you can still feel like you were there, at least through my eyes.

Rucker's Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap Rucker's Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap
Rucker's Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap Rucker's Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap Rucker's Bitchin Kitchen Photo Recap
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A Visit to Radar Restaurant

There is a wonderful restaurant that just celebrated its 5 year anniversary on North Mississippi which is totally under the Portland food buzz radar – and that restaurant is Radar Restaurant. Radar does offer the rare reservations taken brunch, but in the meantime I visited and enjoyed tasting some of their evening snacks and dinner items with a few other media people recently. Here’s a more detailed look at Radar – a humble neighborhood gem with warm service and great food. You can feel a lot of the love from the owners who carry on connections to their parents and past within Radar’s walls in multiple ways.

The space inside is warm with brick and a view into the open kitchen from pretty much anywhere. The bar top looking onto the kitchen uses wood that comes from their farm.
Radar Restaurant on North Mississippi, Portland Radar Restaurant on North Mississippi, Portland

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Travel Tuesday: Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco

If you have seen my Instagram posts, you know I’m still a little giddy from my visit to the Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco with my mom (who normally lives in in hometown of Chicago) and my sister who lives in San Rafael. Both my sisters and my mom had also visited the Museum of Ice Cream in Los Angeles, but I hadn’t been able to join in, so I was happy to hear that they were opening up a second location of this pop up museum in San Fran.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco, cotton candy
The tickets sold out in a flash but I was super lucky in not only getting into the website but getting the perfect weekend when my mom would be in town and one of a few weekends my sister didn’t already have booked until 2018 (seriously, her schedule…). And, we got tickets for the first entrance at 11 AM (they are timed tickets) which incredibly let our group of the first 12 ticket holders in line be the first into every room and almost felt like a private visit since other groups didn’t catch up to us.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Franciso

If you haven’t heard of the Museum of Ice Cream (or MOIC) before, it started out its initial incarnation in New York, and then closed and opened up in Los Angeles. While the Los Angeles run is still going on in LA after several extensions, a second location in San Francisco also opened, and is the newest incarnation. Each location is a little different, though the theme always includes lots of samples of ice creams and a sprinkle pool. When it comes to each individual room themes and how they are set up and what sweet artwork they feature though, they may vary.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco

Here’s a look at the rooms in the San Francisco version. Be aware that if you come, you must already have purchased tickets ahead of time (none are available at the door). There is only one restroom area and it’s in the middle of the museum, and when you go through the museums you can only go forward, not back to any rooms you have previously left.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco

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Headwaters Brunch

I’m going to share one of my brunch secrets – Headwaters PDX, a place that is never too crowded for brunch so I’ve easily walked in (they serve brunch both in their main restaurant area and their lounge area by their bar so have large capacity). PLUS they take reservations! It’s only been almost exactly a year since they opened and I’m not sure if not everyone knows they offer brunch. Whatever, this all adds up so it’s perfect when you have out of town guests and want to stick to a schedule and not have to wait around so you can get going on your way to other weekend adventures. The atmosphere is classy and the service has always been impeccable for anytime I stop in. Weekend brunch is available Saturday and Sunday 8 AM – 3 PM and they also serve breakfast on weekdays.

Start with a brunch cocktail – of course I always recommend a bloody mary. The Headwaters Mary version offers lemongrass green chili vodka and housemade bloody mary mix, horseradish, and Steigl Radler
Headwaters Brunch - Headwaters Mary, lemongrass green chili vodka and housemade bloody mary mix, horseradish, and Steigl Radler

But, my other favorite and highly recommended cocktail for your consideration is the Never Too Early brunch cocktail with aged rum old fashioned, averna, coffee syrup
Headwaters Brunch - Never Too Early brunch cocktail with aged rum old fashioned, averna, coffee syrup

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