Eggs Benedict at Zell’s Cafe

I am not sure how I missed the memo on the fact that Zell’s Cafe offers some of the best eggs benedict in Portland. This oversight has been corrected. Now I know why some of the ladies in my Pulse PDX Zumba class are regulars here. And, now I wanted to share that option in case you are looking for a nice eggs benedict to spend time with your mom or because you’re a mom- but genius, they have this everyday, not just Sunday, so you can avoid the brunch lines. 

Zell's Cafe, Portland Zell's Cafe, Portland

Yep, Zell’s serves breakfast everyday, so you don’t have to wait for weekend brunch at this neighborhood spot – you can get this any day. And, coming on a weekday means a much calmer atmosphere and no wait. Make sure you check out what specials they may have for breakfast on the chalkboard.

Zell's Cafe, Portland Zell's Cafe, Portland

Shortly after you are seated, you are greeted with complimentary little biscuity scones with butter and raspberry jam as they quickly and efficiently understood our immediate need for coffee. Nothing says being mothered as much as immediately being fed these complimentary biscuity scones upon arrival, like a buttery hug to you mouth and tummy.
Zell's Cafe greeting of complimentary mini biscuits with butter and jam Zell's Cafe greeting of complimentary mini biscuits with butter and jam

They have other offerings- waffles, pancakes, German pancakes, lots of omelettes and hashes, and what I came for, the famous Eggs Benedict. I had mine actually as Eggs Florentine, so that instead of Canadian Bacon I had spinach and tomato.

I think the photos speak for themselves.

Zell's Cafe's Eggs Benedict, which I had Florentine style wtih Bay English muffin, Canadian bacon was switched out for spinach and tomato, hollandaise sauce, served with potatoes. Zell's Cafe's Eggs Benedict, which I had Florentine style wtih Bay English muffin, Canadian bacon was switched out for spinach and tomato, hollandaise sauce, served with potatoes. Zell's Cafe's Eggs Benedict, which I had Florentine style wtih Bay English muffin, Canadian bacon was switched out for spinach and tomato, hollandaise sauce, served with potatoes. Zell's Cafe's Eggs Benedict, which I had Florentine style wtih Bay English muffin, Canadian bacon was switched out for spinach and tomato, hollandaise sauce, served with potatoes. Zell's Cafe's Eggs Benedict, which I had Florentine style wtih Bay English muffin, Canadian bacon was switched out for spinach and tomato, hollandaise sauce, served with potatoes.

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Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria

Are you traveling to the Oregon Coast? Going to or passing through Astoria?

Let me share one of my favorite places in Astoria: the Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe. If the parking lot for Pig ‘N Pancake is full and there is a line out the door, consider going down just 5 minutes further to this gem. You can gaze at all the goodness of the menu on the chalkboards and the baked goodies lined up like treasures in the L shaped case as you approach the register, where you will order, pay, and get a number to get your food and drinks delivered and then bus your own table. Here’s what we had on our Saturday morning visit (same morning as the Fort George Festival of the Dark Arts, but that’s a future post).

exterior of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order

Yes, the banners do say Pastries to Die For and Bread to Live For. We had 3 different pastries while we were there in Astoria for Valentine’s Day weekend/FODA and they were all moist, flavorful, and could easily use the adjective “to live for”. Let’s take a look at what’s behind the case. Is that a Savory Croissant that includes pesto, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, asiago cheese, and egg? Did that not even last 24 hours in my possession? Yes.
Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order. Including a Savory Croissant that includes pesto, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, asiago cheese, and egg

What, Cubes of Deliciousness (gluten-free, it uses tapioca starch and potato starch, but contains hazelnuts)? F and I agreed after devouring one that the name is completely correct. And holy moly look at the size of the scones and rolls (ranging from mini  to regular size Cinnamon Walnut to Cardamon Almond) and Almond Bear Claws…
Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order. Including these gluten free Cubes of Deliciousness

Don’t worry, they have plenty of beverages for you to enjoy with your food, including various caffeines from $2-6 or smoothies, various lemonades and ice tea, kombucha, even beer or wine by the glass. Seating includes tables as well as a children’s play area with little couches and toys, and also some seats at a counter by the window to gaze out at the sea just a couple blocks downhill.
All the beverages at the cheery and homey Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe are written on the chalkboard above the register Interior of Blue Scorcher Cafe

Our breakfast included Almond Milk Mocha, fresh rosemary lemonade, and OMG this super moist merely $3 Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake, SO good. So DELICIOUS.
Almond Milk Mocha in all it's beauty at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria, Oregon This super moist chocolate cake made with apple sauce at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria, OR. SO good. So DELICIOUS. This super moist chocolate cake made with apple sauce at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria, OR. SO good. So DELICIOUS.

And oh, just this lil plate of French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup.
Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup

We’ve only been to Astoria twice, but both times we stopped at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, and I’m pretty sure every future trip, we will also be stopping in. Blue Scorcher is open every day, 7 AM – 3 PM. To give you fair warning, this is a worker owned co-op so the people who serve you may vary on the knowledge of what’s in any of the food item if they were not involved in making it.

Everything here is sourced to be organic and mostly local. Everything is also vegetarian, so even on their pizza of the day or reuben, there will be no meat (the reuben is made of tempeh). If you are looking for big portions at a good value, you should go back to wait in line at Pig ‘N Pancake. It is a cafe so it might be hard to accommodate big groups, and there are times, just like any cafe, that you may be sitting at a 4-top and share the space communally (it’s seat yourself).

If you are in Astoria, definitely consider stopping in!

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Tasty and Alder Highlights

Back in 2013, purchased a ticket to my very first Portland Food Adventures eating extravaganzas. What Chris puts together is a special dinner that includes the chef coming out to introduce/discuss the dish, each course comes with a pairing, and at the end we each receive an envelope of gift certificates to encourage us to continue our food adventures at picks for eats by the chef. I highly recommend each and every food experience he puts together both for the excellent food and the outstanding atmosphere of the great people you can meet at these gatherings.

That first one I attended was for right before the opening of Tasty N Alder with John Gorham. I loved my experience, and the fact that during that special dinner I got to try and realize I enjoyed so many options (rather than just an entree or so at a time) made me very confident that this restaurant worked for me.

Tasty n Alder restaurant area Tasty n Alder restaurant space, kitchen bar seating Tasty n Alder restaurant space, bar seating Tasty n Alder restaurant space, bar seating

Since then, I can’t even exactly recall how many times I’ve been to Tasty N Alder. I thought I would list my Tasty and Alder Highlight of some of my very favorite things since it’s now the 2 year anniversary of that first experience for me. Specifically, my top things that I insist you must order when you visit.

1. Bloody Marys. Any of them. Below you see the Cuate Mary with chili infused tequila, tomato, pimenton, and calabrian chili, and then another offering called the Dockside with gin, kummel, tomato, old bay, and shrimp. Both were kickin! I’ve had many other delicious cocktails from the bar here, including three Grown Ass Milkshakes that are alcoholic ice cream dessert drinks, so don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to bloody marys.

The Cuate Mary with chili infused tequila, tomato, pimenton, and calabrian chili at Tasty n Alder The Dockside Mary at Tasty n Alder with gin, kummel, tomato, old bay, and shrimp

2. As a dinner  starter, if you are willing to get your fingers a little messy get the Blaze’s Smoked chicken wings. When I attended the Portland Food Adventures dinner, I got to hear from John Gorham the story about how he had these wings at a big get together and hired Blaze after eating these wings.
Tasty and Alder Blaze's Chicken Wings at dinner as a starter are messy but delicious

3. For a less messy start, the Radicchio​​​ with bacon lardons, manchego & six minute eggs is amazing, and you don’t often hear me praise salads. This is available on all their menus throughout the day, be it brunch, mid day, or dinner. It’s one of my top favorite salads in Portland.
Tasty and Alder famous salad, the Radicchio salad with bacon lardons. manchego. six minute eggs Tasty and Alder famous salad, the Radicchio salad with bacon lardons. manchego. six minute eggs

4. Any steak or duck is good, a version is always on the menu at brunch or dinner. When friends are looking for steak but want an alternative to the plated Steakhouse entree experiences at Ringside, Laurelhurst Market or Urban Farmer, the meats of Ox and here at Tasty and Alder are always my recommendation.  That’s because they are cut to be served family style so that everyone can feast on multiple cuts of meat family style.
Tasty and Alder offers lots of meat dishes at dinner that are steakhouse quality but in a format that is tapas style for sharing family style Tasty and Alder offers lots of meat dishes at dinner that are steakhouse quality but in a format that is tapas style for sharing family style

This is the Duck Duck Steak available at Brunch, where it’s served medium rare with an egg and duck fried crispy potato wedges.
Tasty and Alder brunch dish of Duck Duck Steak Tasty and Alder brunch dish of Duck Duck Steak

5. For a dinner side, get the Skillet Corn Cake at dinner.
Tasty and Alder's buttery skillet corn cake side at dinner Tasty and Alder's buttery skillet corn cake side at dinner

6. It is listed as a starter on the dinner menu, but I also like eating the Goat Cheese Dumplings Arrabiata as a side with the meats here.
Tasty N Alder  Goat Cheese Dumplings Arrabiata

7. The best option to eat on the Mid Day Menu between 2-5:30 (aka brunch and dinner) besides the already raved about Radicchio salad, is the Buttermilk Fried Chicken
at Tasty and Alder, the best option to eat on the Mid Day Menu between 2-5:30 (aka brunch and dinner) besides the already raved about Radicchio salad, is the Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Last year, after surprising Portland residents with listing the Oregonion 2014 Restaurant of the Year as no restaurant at all but the concept of restaurant pop-ups, the next article of dining note was the list of five best new burgers in Portland.  I guess they define “new” pretty broadly since the Number 1 burger from Tasty and Alder, has-been  open and offering that burger for a year and a half almost at the time of the article.
Tasty N Alder burger, composed of Cascade Natural Chubut cheese and bacon, with a hazelnut romesco sauce and housemade pickles. Tasty N Alder burger, composed of Cascade Natural Chubut cheese and bacon, with a hazelnut romesco sauce and housemade pickles. alt=

But, I can’t say the burger isn’t tasty. The Tasty N Alder burger is composed of Cascade Natural Chubut cheese and bacon, with a hazelnut romesco sauce and housemade pickles.
Tasty N Alder burger, composed of Cascade Natural Chubut cheese and bacon, with a hazelnut romesco sauce and housemade pickles

I don’t think it ascends to the height of the Toro Bravo burger, whose burger also boasts romesco and bacon, and I personally like the Manchego cheese better than the Chubut. Not sure how much it matters, as both are the creations of the Gorham empire of restaurants though. The Tasty and Alder burger is available at both brunch and dinner, but not mid-day – which is fine, because if you really want a sandwich get the Steakhouse Sandwich with Cascade Natural smoked coppa steak with fried onions & horseradish instead.
Tasty N Alder Steakhouse Sandwich with Cascade Natural smoked coppa steak with fried onions & horseradish Tasty N Alder Steakhouse Sandwich with Cascade Natural smoked coppa steak with fried onions & horseradish Tasty N Alder Steakhouse Sandwich with Cascade Natural smoked coppa steak with fried onions & horseradish

At just 2 years old, Tasty and Alder has settled into executing good dishes without the mad rush of people and lines that it had during its first few months. The only time I’ve seen a line now is on brunch on the weekends, but that’s easily avoidable since they serve that brunch menu everyday they are open.

Meanwhile, I continue to jealously look at the recaps of other Portland Food Adventures that I don’t get to attend, even though I just went to one (and recapped) a few weeks ago featuring Chef Ben Bettinger at Simpatica. Chris is expanding his Portland Food Adventures to now go abroad with the Ataula Chef Jose Chesa. I love and fully support the idea of a food vacation I don’t have to plan! If you get a chance I highly recommend trying a PFA experience to see the fun of these food parties yourself, and the maybe new regular stops you may learn about from the food adventures.

Have you been to Tasty n Alder yet, or any o the Gorham restaurants? What are your favorite dishes at them? 

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Fri Bake Sale + Sat Zombie Brunch at the Original Dinerant

Did you know that every year, The Original Dinerant hosts a Zombie Brunch? This year, that brunch falls this coming Sunday, October 27th from 7:30am-3pm! The staff will be all dressed up as zombies but seemingly moving at normal service speed (check some of the photos here from 2012 on the FB page), you can dress up too if you’d like. Eating wise, some options to consider include

  • Bloody Marys (DUH of course). Besides Original’s original bloody mary, did you know that they also have a Smoked Tomato Bloody Mary with smoked tomato and smoked sea salt, and a Beef Jerky Bloody Mary with with house-nitro-infused beef jerky vodka?
  • REDRUM Cakes, apparently Red Velvet Pancakes topped with Bananas Foster.
  • If you’re feeling a wee devilish, ask for their Frittata Diablo—an eggy, spicy chorizo-roasted pepper-melted mozzarella dish. Other brunch options from their regular brunch menu include Elvis Sighting (french toast, bacon, banana mousse, peanut butter sauce), Creme Brulee French Toast, Cornmeal Bacon Waffle with bacon lardons, seasonal syrup, oregon honey butter, and you can add Put a Fried Bird On It aka add on a buttermilk fried chicken breast to any of their pancake/toast/waffle menu options! My weakness are eggs benedict options, and they have a Dungeness Crab Benedict, but also an intriguing Cobb Omelet.
  • The Face Eater, their version of The Zombie cocktail.

Yes, the Face Eater. And they shared the recipe!

Ingredients

  • 3/4 ounces White Rum
  • 3/4 ounces Malibu Rum
  • 1/2  ounces Clear Creek Pear Brandy
  • 1/2 ounces Indio Spirits Marionberry Vodka
  • Cranberry Juice
  • Amareno cherries, speared for a bloody visual effect
  • salt to rim

TOMORROW,  The Original is hosting a Fall Bake Sale that is all treats, no tricks, from 11am-2pm featuring delicious house-made treats, including Gluten-free and Vegan! The Fall Bake Sale is cash only and all proceeds – that’s right, every single dollar- will benefit Cascade Aids Project, the  oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The Cascade AIDS Project helps people put their lives back together; to secure housing, find essential medical care and deal with the countless issues that make the difference between giving up or getting up and going on. A very worthy cause. And, come on. Bake Sale!!!

I work in Beaverton so won’t be able to make the bake sale… but if I was going to the brunch with you, what would you order?

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Feast Portland 2013 Recap Day 2: Imperial PDX Media Breakfast, OR Grand Bounty Tasting, Cookbook Social

Disclosure: I was granted a Bloggers Pass for Feast Portland 2013, and asked to help promote Feast but they did not require that I write this post and I am not otherwise being compensated.

Here is my Feast Portland 2013 Recap of Day 2, Friday September 20, 2013

Imperial PDX Media Breakfast

A media breakfast at Imperial, thanks to my Portland Bloggers pass, at Imperial. Today, except for the Cookbook Social, my Bloggers Pass helped me through into events. The breakfast buffet at Imperial was amazing, including Irish Coffee, Bloody Mary, incredible smoothie, a bacon jam on frybread, and a sesame pastry with cream cheese stuffed inside! I don’t know why having breakfast/brunch at Imperial has never occurred to me, but it  is on my list of recommendations now!

Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013 Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013 Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013 Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013 Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013 Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013 Imperial PDX Media Breakfast for Feast Portland 2013

Local Products between Speaker Series courtesy Whole foods

Local products for snacking in between Speaker Series events, courtesy Whole Foods, highlighting various local producers.
Local products for snacking in between Speaker Series events, courtesy Whole Foods for Feast Portland 2013 Local products for snacking in between Speaker Series events, courtesy Whole Foods for Feast Portland 2013 Local products for snacking in between Speaker Series events, courtesy Whole Foods for Feast Portland 2013

Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting at Pioneer Square

Some pictures from the Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting, when a booth happened to not have others in front of it so I could get a good shot or I wasn’t awkwardly balancing my wine glass with a sample and no hand was free for the camera. I sort of which they had one of those cocktail trays that has a stem holder- recyclable of course, though I think would keep something like that!
Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013

In a genius marketing idea, you could get an airbrushed or temporary tattoo at the Pear Booth!
Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 In a genius marketing idea, you could get an airbrushed or temporary tattoo at the Pear Booth! Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 In a genius marketing idea, you could get an airbrushed or temporary tattoo at the Pear Booth! Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting for Feast Portland 2013 In a genius marketing idea, you could get an airbrushed or temporary tattoo at the Pear Booth!

The Lee Brothers on the Kitchenaid Stage were so charming that the audience didn’t even mind they did not go into the details of their demonstration of oyster peanut stew until 15-20 minutes in because we were so enjoying their stories. I also got a chance to catch Naomi Pomeroy, who totally okayed warming up butter for a dish by squeezing it in your hands (she was doing a demo of a corn souffle). Meanwhile, Whole Foods offered screen printing of the color of your choice on a reusable bag declaring support for “Eat as Promised”.
At Feast Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting Kitchenaid stage, the Lee Brothers were so charming that the audience didn't even mind they did not go into the details of their demonstration of oyster peanut stew until 15-20 minutes in because we were so enjoying their stories. At Feast Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting Kitchenaid stage,Naomi Pomeroy advocates squeezing butter in your hands to warm it during prep for her corn souffle demo! At Feast Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting Whole Foods offered screen printing of the color of your choice on a reusable bag declaring support for Eat as Promised

Cookbook Social

I also visited the Cookbook Social, where many of the authors had provided a sample or two of food from their book (if applicable) and it was surprisingly intimate in being able to just chat with them for a spell! I hope they bring this event back next year. Ha ha, I took photos of Joe Yonan’s kimchi deviled eggs were amazing (though spicy) and none of him- though I now have his autographed book!
Cookbook Social for Feast Portland 2013 Cookbook Social for Feast Portland 2013 Cookbook Social for Feast Portland 2013 Cookbook Social for Feast Portland 2013 Cookbook Social for Feast Portland 2013 Cookbook Social for Feast Portland 2013

Disclosure: I was granted a Bloggers Pass for Feast Portland 2013, and asked to help promote Feast but they did not require that I write this post and I am not otherwise being compensated. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own, and I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences regardless of whether they were complimentary or not. 

Also check out my recap of Day 1 Sandwich Invitational and Day 3 High Comfort

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