Pechluck, Author at Pechluck's Food Adventures

Macarons from Nuvrei

December 7, 2012 by Pechluck 2 Comments

I went to Nuvrei Patisserie & Café in order to purchase some macarons to share at work. Macarons are one of the items Nuvrei is famous for (some have called their version best in all of Portland), and these Parisan style flourless almond based treats are filled with a variety of flavorful creams and custards.

What I didn’t expect that now that they have moved from their basement location which had given it a secret bakery feel (as if you were walking into a commercial kitchen that baked for other restaurants and catered and you were purchasing their goods on the side- Ota Tofu also has that feel) to now a spot on the first floor, how utterly sweet and charming the storefront cafe now is, and how inviting it is to want to linger over coffee or tea. It’s also given them opportunity to expand their offerings.
Macarons from Nuvrei, Nuvrei Patisserie and Café

I chose to get an assortment of macarons. Their variety of flavors include their

Caramel au beurre sale (salted buttery caramel! My fave of what I tried!)
Italian pistachio with light vanilla butter cream (my second favorite of the box)
Framboise with oregon raspberry preserve
Fruit de la passion with vanilla passion fruit custard
Citron with lemon lime and orange zest folded into buttercream
Rose et Fraise with pure rose and Oregon strawberry preserve
Espressio with Coava espressio and white chocolate custard
Chocolat with Valrhona chocolate ganache

Macarons from Nuvrei, Nuvrei Patisserie and Café

As I was waiting to select my macarons, my eyes kept being drawn to the other wonderful baked items they had showcased. And so that’s how I “accidentally” also ordered a Bagel Sandwich.
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baked goods from Nuvrei, bagels, croissants, scones, muffins, macarons, macaroons, bagel sandwich, danishes, cookies, biscuit, brioche, sandwiches, Nuvrei Patisserie and Café

It starts with a choice of bagel here as part of a Fried Egg sandwich that includes fontina, tomato, frisée and dijon butter and cream cheese. I went with the asiago cheese bagel, but other options of their bagel, made with home made pretzel dough, were cheddar jalapeno, honey oatmeal, everything, onion, sesame, salt, poppy seed, or plain.

Fried Egg sandwich that includes fontina, tomato, frisée and dijon butter and cream cheese, Nuvrei Patisserie and Café

I took a bite and just couldn’t put it down and stop until it was all done and maybe shook the sandwich bag for any crumbs or smears to lick the paper clean. There are a variety of other bagel sandwiches, as well as various croissant sandwiches be it for breakfast, which they serve all day, or such as one for lunch that caught my eye that has avocado and Oregon bay shrimp, apricot creme fraiche, dill and butter lettuce.

They also have just “regular” croissants (regular, chocolate, almond, or chocolate almond), scones (blueberry blackberry, lemon poppy seed with lemon glaze!), muffins, danishes, cookies, bacon cheddar biscuit or berry brioche, not to mention a whole bunch of other hot and cold sandwiches varying from your croque monsieur or madame to one with roasted and pickled beet with chevre arugula and truffle oil on their bread…

My goodness the menu is big enough for a whole tri-fold menu that would rival any restaurant, not a tiny cute cafe with only a couple tables and lovely window counterbar for people watching. And each option is irresistible you will be so torn what to get. Everything is clearly thoughtfully created with love and high quality and European craftsmanship.

I’m glad I don’t have to live too close to these temptations and that this is totally out of the way to go to work, or I would be their daily and this would be part of my routine. As it was, I had to go early when they opened to get them before heading to Beaverton for work, and it was totally worth it thanks to that sandwich even before I got on the trolley to get to the Max. I already hope to visit again (and maybe twice…) as after next week, I’ll be on vacation from work for the rest of the year!

They are open 7-5, and are an amazing little breakfast and lunch destination that just takes you from a gray dreary day in Portland to a mysterious gray dreary day in Paris, and seems to remind you of opportunity as it whispers “aren’t you ready for adventure and romance? let’s go!”

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Restaurant Review Tagged With: bagel sandwich, breakfast sandwich, egg, Fried Egg sandwich, macarons, macrons, Nuvrei, Pearl District, pretzel bagel

Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

December 5, 2012 by Pechluck 6 Comments

I didn’t know how much I liked brussels sprouts until I had these at a elegant dinner at a restaurant, and a few days later I was looking up how to make these myself. And, it turns out it is incredibly simple.

Ingredients (serves six as a side dish):

1 1/2 pounds of brussels sprouts
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons of maple syrup
Optional: 1/2 cup of hazelnuts

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut all the brussels sprouts in half. If you can, buy them on the stalk as shown as they stay fresher and I think taste better than when they are purchased removed. Cut the stems off and remove any yellow or brown outer leaves. When I bring these home from the farmers market boy were they a heavy “bouquet” to carry across my arm as I walked up the hill like I was crowned a pageant winner…
Toss the brussels sprouts with the olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper- the best way to mix this is honestly by (clean obviously) hand to make sure it is all distributed to all your sprouts.
On a baking sheet tray that is lined with foil or parchment paper (the tray will get messy from the caramelization process), spread all the brussels sprouts so they are all even and flat.
Put in the oven and after every 15 minutes, turn over the brussels sprouts to even out the browning. After 45 minutes or so, they should be fork tender. Optionally, you can add hazelnuts in the last 10 minutes to toast them to add some crunch to your brussels sprouts dish

I know I said these could serve six as a side dish, but I have also totally made these as a lazy weekend lunch and eaten these just by themselves too!

Filed Under: Cooking, Food and Drink, Portland Farmers Market Tagged With: brussels sprouts, maple roasted brussels sprouts, recipe

Munchen Haus

December 2, 2012 by Pechluck 1 Comment

The Munchen Haus Bavarian Grill and Beer Garden is the direct competitor of Leavenworth Sausage Garten that we had visited a couple days earlier. Naturally, this means they are across the street from each other (one at 636 Front Street, and Munchen Haus at 709 Front Street) so that you can actually sit in one and look across to the other. Munchen Haus has more history here, being open longer while Leavenworth Sausage Garten is a newcomer that opened in 2011, so it isn’t surprising that you will often see patrons naturally heading here thanks to previous experience and good word of mouth from here.

The offerings are essentially the same- close to a dozen sausages on a toasted bun, even served on the same blue and white checked paper in a plastic basket. Besides the classic bratwurst, kielbasa, bockwurst, currywurst, beef frank and the vegetarian wurst (both Munchen Haus and Leavenworth use Field Roast sausage for their veggie sausage option), Munchen Haus also offers an organic turkey dog, a chickena and garlic sausage, and a jalepeno and cheddar sausage.

Munchen Haus is more self-serve, handing you a coaster buzzer so you know when to go to the open pick-up area to get your finished order, rather than bringing it to your table based on your order number. But the grilling happens right there in the open so you can also watch with your hungry eyes if you wish. Their seating space is all outdoor, just like Leavenworth Sausage Garten, and additionally includes an upstairs area but less warmth as they have less heating lamps. Overhead ones are placed over the tables on the first floor (although they have one cozy blazing fireplace near the pick up area as well).
Munchen Haus, Leavenworth WA

Munchen Haus also offers a buffet of toppings including a dozen mustards, and the varieties are different than Leavenworth Sausage Garten. Here, the mustard flavors lean more classic, including three kinds of beer mustards (München Haus Amber Ale, München Haus Porter, München Haus Brown Ale mustards, all using local Icicle Brewing beer).
Munchen Haus, Leavenworth WA

I tried the Hans’ Jalapeno and Cheddar sausage with champagne honey mustard on the left and porter mustard on the right, and in my opinion mustard wise I have to hand it to Leavenworth Sausage Garten. Execution wise, the bite and warmth of how they grilled the sausages
gives Munchen Haus the advantage over Leavenworth Sausage Garten.
Munchen Haus, Leavenworth WA

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Restaurant Review, Travel Tagged With: beer garden, bratwurst, leavenworth wa, munchen haus, mustard, sausage

Mists and the Mountains in Leavenworth, WA

December 1, 2012 by Pechluck Leave a Comment

Mists and the Mountains in Leavenworth, WA- watching the mists roll in

But then on Monday, the day we leave, of course it is beautiful and clear and we can really see the mountains… You can really see the difference in atmosphere in Leavenworth between these two extremes, and it was sort of fun to see the town both ways in just this long weekend visit.