BlueHour Portland

I have been a fan of Bluehour because of it’s warm, modern, elegant and romantic atmosphere  in the Pearl (250 NW 13^th Ave) for years. Unlike many dining rooms, they have tables that can provide a small measure of privacy because they aren’t too close together and rich ceiling to floor drapery helps divide up the space so you can feel some small amount of intimacy for your conversations and experience.
  

Usually though, I admit I pop in for happy hour. Recently, I was invited by Little Green Pickle with a group of other food bloggers to experience dinner, as well as get a little behind the scenes peek! Chef Kyo Koo welcome a few of us into his kitchen, and I was able to see the very neat and organized mise en place. I actually have lots of little saved containers similar to that for the few times I also do mise en place, which tends to be when I’m making multiple dishes or prepping but not actually cooking until the next day, and it was nice validation for me that it’s normal, and not anal.

Back in the kitchen, I observed the creation of a recently added seasonal salad to their menu by Sarah that boasts celery root, chicory, toasted hazelnuts, apple and fried sweet potato strings topped with deep fried kale. I secretly admired her adorable little silicon spatula. My silicon spatula is also one of my favorite kitchen tools. You can see in the background another small group getting the VIP treatment in observing the King Crab salad I think being made?

I also felt validated that I only recently bought salad servers (specifically, these cute Talisman Designs 12-Inch Solid Beechwood Salad Set that are sourced responsibly and adorably laser etched). Most of the time (ok, all of the time), just like Sarah, I toss the salad by hand! I need to up my game by storing homemade dressing in those squeeze bottle containers though and plating them in rings like that.

Isn’t that a beautiful salad? And, I loved the play of all the textures.

Bar Manager Gigi also talked through and supervised some of my fellow blogger ladies in making a cocktail called the Templeton Abbey with with templeton rye, canton ginger, lime, cucumber, and rosemary.

Here is the cocktail end result of the Templeton Abbey.

Other amazing cocktails at our table were the beautiful Bootsy Collins with vodka, rosemary, blackberries, lime and soda and this Paper Airplane cocktail with bourbon and Campari and Amaro Nonino and lemon juice.

Then it was time for our family style dinner. We started out with an amuse bouche from Chef Kyo Koo of toasted brioche with salmon and beet. Now here’s an idea that should be incorporated into any holiday party you throw- so easy to do but so classy!

You know you’re at a fancy restaurant when the bread service is brought to you individually with the waiter placing a bread out for you like a bread basket maiden/mister (served with salted room temperature butter. Thank you, I hate hard butter. Also, seriously look at Frances’ sexy eyes, so gorgeously distracting from the bread service…)

Next was an Heirloom Beet Salad with new zealand spinach, crispy shallots, nasturtium and crème fraîche. All of us raved about our love for beets. And can you get any more fancy to a salad then adding edible flowers?

Then, came a starter of Alaska King Crab with porcini mushroom, truffled amaranth, and shellfish emulsion. There needs to be more truffled amaranth in my life.

Chef Kyo Koo was pretty proud of the Haiga Rice being used in the ‘risotto’ that also included wild mushrooms, pine nuts, and acorn squash. First of all, risotto is such a go to comfort food in the cold days when you want to be fancier than mac and cheese or ramen. Chef Kyo Koo then elevated it with Haiga Rice, which is a rice from Japan that has slightly more fiber than white rice but not as tough then brown rice.

That dish was just another example of how Chef Kyo Koo likes to mash up ingredients and techniques and flavors from various influences in the world. Next was a dish of Hand cut Wheat Noodles topped with pork belly, prawns, heirloom carrots, and fermented black bean “bolognese”.

For a little palate cleansing next we enjoyed Netarts Oysters on the half shell with citrus mignonette, demonstrating a timeless classic.

I really enjoyed that little break as the next dish was the intense OMG SO GOOD, the rich and luxe entree of Smoked Duck Breast with sweet potato, savoy cabbage, and ginger sausage

The Salmon with swiss chard, radish, pine mushrooms was perfectly cooked.

And then it was time for dessert, including a Patisserie Plate (happy National Chocolate Day, which happened to fall on that day!),

and Dark chocolate porter cake with chocolate porter sorbet and a malted vanilla bean milkshake, and Cinnamon apple gingerbread tart with gelato

Bluehour changes their menu based on whatever is fresh, so the offerings are different from a visit even in the same month with updates in the ingredients being used. For instance, the heirloom carrots in the hand cut wheat noodles get switched out for zucchini instead.

Besides ordering a la carte, your table can also choose to get the Tasting Menu, which offers 5 courses including dessert for $58 a person, which is quite a bargain for a tasting menu.

They are also offering a special Thanksgiving menu that includes choice of first course, entree, and dessert at only $50 a person, which is quite a deal given that it is a holiday and the high quality of their dishes. The options are

Bluehour Thanksgiving Special Menu

Choice of First Course

• Foraged Mushroom Veloute with pimento dulce and parmesan
• Field Green Salad with heirloom carrots, red radish, and pistachios
• Little Gem Lettuce Salad with smoke salmon, buttermilk, and chives
• Spiced Potato Sausage with horseradish, Dijon, and bitter greens
• Butter Poached Wild Prawns with garlic, fine herbs, and toast

Choice of Entrée

• Roasted Turkey with herbed mashed potatoes, red Russian kale, and gravy
• Smoked Pork Loin with sunchoke bread pudding, escarole, coffee, and porcini jus
• Prime Rib with fried fingerling potatoes, mustard greens, and shallot jus
• Chinook Salmon with carmelized futsu squash, Brussels sprouts, and salmon caviar
• Handmade Orzo with Dungeness crab, broccoli, and sweet cream

Choice of Dessert

• Spiced Caramel Apple Torte with sea salt caramel, buttercream, calvados crème anglaise
• Butternut Squash Semifreddo with maple glazed pecans and ginger-white chocolate macaroons
• Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart with pear-brandy sherbert and hazelnut praline

What did you think of these dishes I described, is there one that really appeals to you? Have you been to Bluehour before and what did you think?

Thank you to Little Green Pickle and Bluehour for this amazing and unique experience of the behind the scenes peek and tasting such delicious things!

Disclosure: This meal was complimentary, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.