Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant

April 21, 2022 by Leave a Comment

As a fan of Tournant, I was beyond enamored of the announcement of their Full Moon Dinner Series for this year. For these dinner experiences, they would bring together “nature, food, art and ceremony as the full moon rises over Oregon’s wine country”. The series selected four full moons to celebrate: the pink moon in April, strawberry moon in June, sturgeon moon in August, and harvest moon in September. The pink moon in April was the one that resonated with me, and I attended the inaugural dinner of the series, the pink moon dinner on April 16.
Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn

Tournant is well known for their partnership with fisherman (particularly for signature fresh shucking of oysters by for you), farmers, foragers, and combining peak seasonal ingredients with open fire cooking over an outdoor fire pit. I’ve enjoyed every multi-course feast they have prepared over the years and many meals, never been disappointed, and frequently wonder at how they keep coming up with new recipes and ideas to highlight ingredients time and time again. So the fact they don’t announce the exact location of the dinner until closer to the event didn’t bother me at all – note that the dinner settings will vary. For the Pink Moon Dinner, about a week before the dinner they announced in email to those with tickets the venue would be at Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn.
Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barnPink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn

We were warned ahead of time to dress warmly as historic barn is not insulated, as well as bring proof of vaccination. I know Tournant has set up their long dinner tables totally open in the elements before – in fields, in the woods, along the sands of the ocean or rocks of a river, even on the snow directly – breathtakingly beautiful events every one (you should look at the photos in the link). But still I was just grateful there would be cover in case there were April showers, and cold winds since literally earlier in the week Portland area had been experiencing snow and random hailstorms.
Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn Pink Moon Dinner with Tournant took place at the winery Dominio IV in Carlton, inside their historic and renovated red barn

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Miracle Pop up in Portland at Bacchus Bar

December 21, 2019 by Leave a Comment

You can enjoy getting into the Christmas spirit at the Miracle, a Christmas cocktail pop up bar. This international pop up has landed in Portland inside the Bacchus Bar in the lobby of the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland downtown this year. Here’s a look as we head into the final stretch to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day!
Miracle Pop up in Portland at Bacchus Bar Miracle Pop up in Portland at Bacchus Bar Miracle Pop up in Portland at Bacchus Bar Miracle Pop up in Portland at Bacchus Bar

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Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails

March 26, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Have you ever wanted to just relax with a cocktail at home after a hard day – but then you don’t want to deal with the hassle of concocting it by pulling out the multiple bottles, the fresh juices, the shaker, the measuring and mixing? And then you have to start all over again after you finish that one drink when you want your next? Now you can make easy cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, who wondered why can’t having a cocktail be as easy as opening a bottle of beer or wine – and then created 5 answers for the question.

Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails

I didn’t know what to expect when I went to their tasting room on the near East Side to try their mini cocktail flight with snack pairings for an influencers event last week (I was not paid to promote them). I thought these pre-made cocktails in a bottle may lean on the sweet side, or not be very alcoholic so that I’d end up with more “mixer” then cocktail. I was impressed when I was proved wrong, I really liked the experience and the products, and that’s why I’m sharing the story with you. Their tasting room is part of Distillery Row, and part of the Portland Distillery Row passport program too. They are new to the Portland drink scene – they just opened in December 2018.

Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails

I didn’t know what to expect when I went to their tasting room on the near East Side to try their mini cocktail flight with snack pairings. I thought these pre-made cocktails in a bottle may lean on the sweet side, or not be very alcoholic so that I’d end up with more “mixer” then cocktail. I was impressed when I was proved wrong.

Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails

Here’s what it will look like if you try one of the mini cocktail flights with pairings at the Straightaway Tasting Room. The snacks may vary from my favorite pairing, which were the hazelnuts with the Old Fashioned, to ginger popcorn with the Cosmo or more.

Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails. Try their mini cocktail flight paired with snacks at their Tasting Room, part of PDX's Distillery Row Easy Cocktails with Straightaway Cocktails, offering premade shelf stable cocktails. Try their mini cocktail flight paired with snacks at their Tasting Room, part of PDX's Distillery Row

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Cocktail Classes with House Spirits Distillery

April 26, 2018 by 3 Comments

Have you ever had spirits from House Spirits Distillery? You may have enjoyed these local spirits in cocktails around Portland without even knowing it. Besides offering a distillery tasting room where during a visit you can try tastings of their liquors, at their tasting room you can also try their whiskey, spirit, and cocktail flight (or try a particular cocktail individually). You can also join in one of their free distillery tours. But did you also know they offer special cocktail classes? Having attended one myself, I can highly recommend it as you will get your money’s worth in learning at least 5 types of cocktails and making them hands on and tasting them, as well as the rest of the knowledge you will gain when you attend the cocktail classes with House Spirits Distillery.
House Spirits Distillery offers tastings of their liquors but also their cocktails in a cocktail flight or individually, try a distillery tour for free, or sign up for a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth with cocktail classes at House Spirits Distillery House Spirits Distillery offers tastings of their liquors but also their cocktails in a cocktail flight or individually, try a distillery tour for free, or sign up for a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth at cocktail classes with House Spirits Distillery

For instance, for my class, which was called the Bitter Truth and centered on learning, trying, and using bitters, I was able to make multiple cocktails as you’ll see below. The cocktails centered around their Westward Whiskey, Volstead Vodka, Krogstad Aquavit, and Casa Magdalena Rum, so we got to try cocktails with all the liquors. Here’s a look at the setup before we messed it up making drinks – you can see my “Welcome House Spirits Cocktail” also in the video from my Instastories. Tip: wear comfortable shoes because you will be standing making cocktails during the entire class.

We started with a simple classic recipe dramatically named here, The Cocktail- basically an Old Fashioned. This simple start also is when we talked about how much is in a dash, how to know stir and when to stop stirring (stir for 20 seconds with back of spoon to the glass sides, and the glass should feel chilled), and tips on how long simple syrup lasts (4 weeks!) and freezing lemon juice in ice cube trays.
House Spirits Distillery offers tastings of their liquors but also their cocktails in a cocktail flight or individually, try a distillery tour for free, or sign up for a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth House Spirits Distillery offers a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth. Our first drink that I made was this Classic Cocktail, basically an Old Fashioned, so we could focus on technique and facts about the bar equipment.

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Uncle Nearest Whiskey

August 15, 2017 by 5 Comments

You may have seen on my Instagram and Instastories that I and several other lucky people were fortunate to take part in the exciting debut release of Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey in Portland in July. This is a new national whiskey brand inspired by “the best whiskey maker the world never knew, Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green'” and which hopes to help get his name and story to more people. If you’re wondering what this is all about, let me share the story and how you can try it – both as a drink, but also in a few other special Portland collaboration products!
Uncle Nearest Whiskey Uncle Nearest Green- the greatest whiskey maker the world never knew now being honored and getting his name to be known via Uncle Nearest Whiskey

The Story Behind Uncle Nearest

First of all, who is Uncle Nearest?
By the Creek behind the Preacher's house, Nearest Green turned water into Gold. Uncle Nearest Whiskey drink cocktail called Tennessee Gold, with Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey, Honey, Lemon
By the Creek behind the Preacher’s house, Nearest Green turned water into Gold. Uncle Nearest Whiskey drink cocktail called Tennessee Gold, with Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey, Honey, Lemon
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