A Picnic with Giraffe Goods

August 2, 2019 by 6 Comments

I was blessed a few months ago to winning an Instagram contest Giraffe Goods was holding in the spring for photos of cherry blossoms. Because of my schedule I wasn’t able to claim my prize – a picnic for two with their Japanese grab and go deli food – until recently. I added some additional items that I purchased to my prize to fill out my picnic (as well as using my own blanket and plates and a few toys I had), and here is the delicious result of a picnic with Giraffe Goods.
A Picnic with Giraffe Goods, offering Japanese grab and go deli food in Portland

If you are looking for items to put together a picnic on the beach, after a hike, or just at the park, I can’t highly recommend this enough as a unique selection. Giraffe Goods is located inside the international home goods store, Cargo. You can also find some of Giraffe Good’s products inside Sterling Coffee Roasters and Bar Norman.

Probably the most famous offering that Giraffe Goods offers are their sandwiches. They offer an egg salad sandwich, katsu sandwich, or get a combo of half of each.
A Picnic with Giraffe Goods, offering Japanese grab and go deli food in Portland. Probably the most famous offering that Giraffe Goods offers are their sandwiches. They offer an egg salad sandwich, katsu sandwich, or get a combo of half of each. A Picnic with Giraffe Goods, offering Japanese grab and go deli food in Portland. Probably the most famous offering that Giraffe Goods offers are their sandwiches. They offer an egg salad sandwich, katsu sandwich, or get a combo of half of each.

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The Star Pizza in Portland

July 26, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Deep dish pizza recently arrived in the Pearl District via The Star Pizza in Portland, an offshoot of the San Francisco darling Little Star and second location The Star on Grand (a mainstay of the Eater’s Essential Pizzas of the East Bay list and ranked #1 for deep dish pizza in the Bay Area on one list). The Star Pizza Portland’s specialty is Chicago style deep dish and thin crust pizzas with signature cornmeal crust.
The Star Pizza in Portland - ALL-STAR deep dish pizza with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella The Star Pizza in Portland - ALL-STAR deep dish pizza with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella

As a Chicago transplant, I do think The Star’s deep dish pizza stands up to the buttery tasting cornmeal dough, though not quite as buttery and cheesey as the Chicago originals – but the plus is they use more cornmeal so you could even say this is a “healthy” pizza. Yeah I’m going with that? It is still Chicago deep dish inspired enough to be hella tasty and satisfying, so overall the Star Pizza in Portland is worth a visit. Here’s a deeper look from my 3 visits so far.

When you first enter The Star Pizza in Portland, you can’t help but notice the dramatic Bar with its mural and inviting cushy bar seats with a supportive back.
The Star Pizza in Portland - located in the Pearl The Star Pizza in Portland - located in the Pearl

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Ice Cream at Kozy Bar

July 22, 2019 by 3 Comments

At the end of last year, a cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe opened in downtown Portland called Kozy Bar. It specializes in sugar free treats using a sweetener made from rice. Everything they offer uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar.
Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar.

There are many flavors of the ice cream bars available at Kozy Bar. Note that all their ice cream comes in ice cream bars – no scoops are available, though I hear the owners are exploring what they might be able to do with soft serve. Even vegan flavors are available.
Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar.

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Line and Lure and Live Music

July 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

When people think of casinos, they think of usually the lights and sounds of the slot machines, the padded green tables and sound of shuffling cards or the roulette wheel. Me, I think of the food. It’s true in Vegas, one of the premier destinations in the US for eating I think – and it’s true at the nearby to Portland Ilani Resort and Casino. Don’t let the Ridgefield Washington location put you off – it’s 30 minutes or less drive from Portland. I want to go there to eat. In particular, I’m a fan of Line and Lure Seafood Restaurant.

Line and Lure may be most known by those in the know with their brunch buffet, available on weekends. It’s where I’d take my parents or other relatives if they were in town. But there’s more reason to come- for instance come enjoy the calmer vibe at happy hour or at dinner. You can enjoy Line and Lure and Live Music every Friday & Saturday from 6-10 PM: see the schedule here. The musicians are local, and in a good sign, it also helps bring in some local regulars along with the casino members. And now that better weather season is here dine out on their patio with firepit to start out a casino date night.

They have multiple lovely libations, but my favorite is both a drink and a snack: their Admiral Bloody Mary in concocted with their housemade bloody mary mix and Tito’s vodka, crab leg, prawn, bacon, pepperoncini, olive, onion, spicy pickled bean, fresh lime 
Line and Lure and Live Music Line and Lure and Live Music

Start with a seafood forward appetizer like Dungeness Crab Claws served your choice of either chilled on ice or steamed. Basic preparation but the best ingredients show off the fresh tastiness of the crab.
Line and Lure appetizers of DUNGENESS CRAB CLAWS with your choice: Chilled on ice or steamed

But, don’t afraid to go with a lot of prepared flavors – like the complex layered starter of the BBQ Shimp and Griddled Corn Cakes with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce.
Line and Lure starter of BBQ SHRIMP & GRIDDLED CORN CAKES, with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce Line and Lure starter of BBQ SHRIMP & GRIDDLED CORN CAKES, with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce

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Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore

July 16, 2019 by 1 Comment

While I was in Singapore during my 4 days, I had a wishlist of all the hawker centers and within those multiple stands I wanted to visit. Of course then reality hits that I get tired from multiple stops a day, and I’m not as hungry as I hoped. I am going to give you the benefit of my wishlist and why each hawker center is unique as well as provide you my tips in my full guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore.
Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore - Hai Shan Roasted Chicken Rice, Char Siew and Roasted Pork Rice dish from Tiong Bahru Food Centre Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore - Hai Shan Roasted Chicken Rice, Char Siew and Roasted Pork Rice dish from Tiong Bahru Food Centre

Hawker centers are a possibly dying phenomenon in Singapore. Many of the hawkers are getting on in years. The oldest hawker in age was profiled here– she is 90 years old and still going! Many stalls will close when the current owners pass as their children will not be taking over. Some of this may be intentional as they want a better life for the next generation, and better education doesn’t usually lead to a hawker life. But, it is also a great loss that many recipes will be disappearing.

Many people are rightfully concerned whether there will still be the same thriving hawker centers for the next generation. Even if it endures with government help, it is doubtful that the insanely cheap prices being offered now can continue as food costs and rental costs of spaces rise. If you visit Singapore, don’t miss your chance to visit hawker centers while you can to try some of these original generation of stalls.
Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore - Tiong Bahru Char Kway Teow (Stall #02-11) to meet Mr. Tay Soo Nam, who started frying noodles at the age of 24 and although isn't doing the cooking now (he leaves it up to his daughter and husband) is still manning the hawker stall at 90 years old. The only dish to get here is the Char Kway Teow with chinese sausage, fishcake, cockles and beansprouts. Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore - Tiong Bahru steamed buns from Tiong Bahru Pau

Now, let me share my biggest tips for visiting hawker centers based on my experience visiting ones in Singapore recently, as well as previously in Thailand.
Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore - stand at Tekka Centre Guide to visiting Hawker Centers in Singapore - stand at Tiong Bahru hawker center

Tips for Visiting Hawker Centers

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