Restaurant Krebsegaarden

If you follow me on Instagram then you know via my Stories I’ve been extremely busy the past few weeks. Besides helping to organize a conference for 1200 people at work in my free time, work at my full time job (which is how I afford my dining out) ramped up, and then last week I was on vacation in Copenhagen! While abroad I visited many spots involved with art or food. The first I’m going to share with you is Restaurant Krebsegaarden.

Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen

Restaurant Krebsegaarden is a small restaurant with only 9-10 tables in a little building from 1803- the bathroom are down the stairs, no elevator in this cozy house like setting. They restaurant serves dinner only, and its menu is often inspired by the rotation of art and artists that is displayed on its walls as its other role as an art gallery. During my visit it was the works of Tomas Abrahamsson, who has exhibited with them since 1996.
Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen

The menu is limited with 3 starters, 3 mains, and 4 desserts available, but the most popular choice is the Tasting Menu in which smaller portions of those starters and mains are served so you can try multiple dishes. In my case, I opted for 2 starters, 2 mains, and the famous cheese plate dessert that was the biggest draw for me personally for this restaurant. I also opted for wine pairings with the courses, but asked for half glass pours since I was out on my own and wanted to responsibly make it back to my hotel ok. Homemade soft warm bread with butter and a sparkling Naveran Cava Blanc de Blancs Brut Especial was an excellent start. Seriously bread in Europe is soooo good!

Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen Naveran Cava Blanc de Blancs Brut Especial Restaurant Krebsegaarden in Copenhagen bread and butter

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Recap of the Zero Proof Dinner for Feast 2018

When the listing of the various event listings for Feast Portland 2018 came out in early spring, when I saw the description for the Zero Proof Dinner as part of the Feast 2018 Dinner Series it was immediately one of my top two choices of what I wanted to attend. I loved the idea of recognizing and celebrating sobriety – and the lineup of the chefs was impeccable. It was a dinner that not only would feature deliciousness from an all star list of chefs and probably an intriguing pairing of non-alcoholic drinks, but seemed like a dinner underscored with a message and meaning too. I had no idea as I was quickly clicking the next day to purchase my ticket (and ultimately sacrificing another dinner I wanted to attend because it sold out while I purchased this one) how right I would be.

This year Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon, Portland) pitched us a compelling idea: to bring together a group of nationally admired chefs who have chosen a life of sobriety and wellness within the restaurant world – where abuse of alcohol and substances is not only tolerated, it is often celebrated. Join Gabe and a group of friends he personally invited to showcase one of the most inspiring collaborations in our festival’s history. We welcome chef and television personality Andrew Zimmern (Lucky Cricket, Minneapolis), Southern trailblazer Sean Brock (Husk, Charleston), Israeli food pioneer Michael Solomonov (Zahav, Philadelphia), and our own hardest working man in Portland Gregory Gourdet (Departure, Portland) to bring front and center a growing global movement at Portland’s culinary festival. Even some of our most respected bartenders have shown they can work in this industry and be sober, accordingly, Evan Zimmerman (Knucklehead, Washington DC) will create a tasting menu of non-alcoholic drink pairings. Come experience how being sober has changed the way these chefs cook as well as changed their perspectives on food and life.

The surprise for me – and probably everyone – was how emotional it was to attend as a guest. Even though I do not practice a sober lifestyle, I totally unanticipated how affecting it was, and how it affects me still. After this dinner even hours later at another party, for the rest of the weekend festival every time there was a drink, and even this whole week every time there was a drink of alcohol, my awareness has been raised.

But to start, most of us had never heard of Blockhouse PDX, which is where the dinner (and several of the Feast Dinner Series dinners) were held. It is in a sort of hidden area of North Portland, but after entering through the doorway it becomes almost an escape as you become surrounded by the greenery of a garden from Pomarius Nursery and a large open chef’s kitchen. Although there were no walls so you were still dining al fresco, a roof structure over our heads would have protected us from the elements if it had rained (luckily it did not). The only minor ding on the atmosphere was the train tracks that surprised us!
Zero Proof Dinner for Feast 2018 Dinner Series, held at Blockhouse PDX with an al fresco dining area complemented by green gardens from Pomerius Nursery Zero Proof Dinner for Feast 2018 Dinner Series, held at Blockhouse PDX with an al fresco dining area complemented by green gardens from Pomerius Nursery
Zero Proof Dinner for Feast 2018 Dinner Series, held at Blockhouse PDX with an al fresco dining area complemented by green gardens from Pomerius Nursery Zero Proof Dinner for Feast 2018 Dinner Series, held at Blockhouse PDX with an al fresco dining area complemented by green gardens from Pomerius Nursery
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Shallow Seas Rosé and a Smoky Corn Side Dish recipe

It’s September 10, and I don’t know how the time flew by so fast! I hope everyone had a fantastic summer, and that we are enjoying these last long days of sunshine before we are back to Portland winter weather and getting the much needed rains after this hot and dry summer. I am trying to get in as many more days of dinners on the outside front porch as I can, and I have a really amazing rosé wine I’ve enjoyed a couple times that I wanted to recommend to you. The Shallow Seas Rosé from Real Nice Winemakers, is a local wine that has really stood out this summer from multiple rosés I have had – I’ve brought it twice to two different parties with many foodies as attending guests, and at both parties, it was a huge hit.

Shallow Seas Rose from Real Nice Winemakers

The Shallow Seas Rosé has an AVA that is 100% Willamette Valley, sourced from Hyland Vineyard, Olsen Family Vineyard, and Westmount Vineyard. I first had it in the spring where I brought it to a friend’s birthday party and we paired the wine with roast pig and other side potluck dishes, including my smoky corn side dish that I’ll share the recipe shortly.

Shallow Seas Rosé with roast pork and smoky corn? Yes, it is an unusual pairing I know but it worked because this rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling, and has a beautiful blush pink color. The Riesling grapes in the blend gives this rosé and extra acidity and minerality that paired well with the crispy skin of this Chinese roast pig  and smokey corn. These crisp flavors ground the slightly sweet strawberry and peach of the wine, and is what makes it stand out so much from most rosés and pair excellently with a wide variety of dishes. With an SRP of $18 it’s also incredible value too.

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Feast Fab Collab – and way to win tickets to Feast!

I have been attending Feast Portland for many years now, and am an enthusiastic supporter of the amazing 4 day food festival event that helps brings awareness and raise money for charitable partners fighting against hunger. Feast Portland also celebrates the delicious local bounty of the Pacific Northwest, ranging from producers of food products to those who transform ingredients into dishes on a plate or in a glass – restaurants and chefs and mixologists and more. Most of the events at Feast bring together various makers of food to collaborate to create a limited time offering for Feast. Of the 40+ events during Feast Portland, many are sold out, but there are still a tickets to some events, and there are ways to participate in Feast without a ticket, thanks to the Feast Fab Collab.

Feast Fab Collab 2018 Feast Mode Lager Beer (sold in cans) with 10 Barrel Brewing Co., a lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. $7.99 for a four pack of 16 ounce cans (so four pints), available at New Seasons Markets + Feast Fab Collab 2018 Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, available at New Seasons Markets = perfection

Now in it’s third year, the Feast Fab Collab is a collaboration of products you can purchase outside Feast – in this case you can find them exclusively at New Seasons Market. The food items are limited edition just for Feast, and created in partnership with famed chefs and food producers also participating in Feast. And, you’ll still be doing good – a portion of gross sales from all Feast Fab Collab items are donated to Feast Portland’s charitable partners to be part of the fight against hunger too. This year the partners are Hunger-Free Oregon and Urban Gleaners.

For 2018, the Feast Fab Collab items include

  • Feast Mode Lager Beer (sold in cans) with 10 Barrel Brewing Co., a lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. $7.99 for a four pack of 16 ounce cans (so four pints).
    Feast Fab Collab 2018 Feast Mode Lager Beer (sold in cans) with 10 Barrel Brewing Co., a lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. $7.99 for a four pack of 16 ounce cans (so four pints), available at New Seasons Markets
  • Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches with Maya Lovelace (of famous Southern Appalachian pop-up Mae PDX and coming restaurant Yonder) and Ruby Jewel. The two flavors of mini ice cream sandwiches (it says mini, but they are still palm sized – it is only mini in terms of the ice cream sandwiches at Ruby Jewel are usually even bigger!) include Maya’s Southern Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich with chewy cornmeal cookies from Bob’s Red Mill and strawberry buttermilk ice cream using strawberries from Oregon Fruit Products. The second ice cream sandwich is Grandma Mae’s Sweet Molasses Ice Cream Sandwich inspired from Maya’s grandmother molasses and apple butter sandwich cookies. If I had to choose between them, I prefer the strawberry one with cornmeal but really it’s just personal preference because I like strawberry and cream more then molasses flavors. Each sandwich is $2.99.
    Feast Fab Collab 2018 Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches, the Grandma Mae’s Sweet Molasses Ice Cream Sandwich with Maya Lovelace, available at New Seasons Markets Feast Fab Collab 2018 Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches the Maya’s Southern Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich with Maya Lovelace, available at New Seasons Markets
  • Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese. I’m serving it below exactly as they recommended it, very simply just grilled the sausage and sliced it up with fresh pasta, olive oil and some garden cherry tomatoes – sounds simple but it lets the freshness of the summer tomatoes and all the flavor of the sausage really stand out! Maybe in retrospect I should have wilted some spinach, but at this point the sausage was oozing cheese and I wasn’t going to wait any longer to eat it. A package of 12 ounces of sausage runs $8.99.
    Feast Fab Collab 2018 Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, available at New Seasons Markets Feast Fab Collab 2018 Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, available at New Seasons Markets

The beer and mini ice cream sandwiches are available now at New Seasons Markets in Oregon and Southwest Washington states, and the Olympia Provisions sausage will be available this Monday September 3, just in time for Labor Day bbqs.

All of these products will also be featured at the Friday and Saturday Grand Tasting Presented By New Seasons Market, who is the main sponsor of the two Grand Tasting events. Thanks to their generosity, I am raffling off TWO tickets to the Friday Grand Tasting event!

So here’s how you can win tickets –

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Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner

You probably know that I enjoy all beverages – cocktails, wine, and beer. I’ve been a fan of Alto Bajo, a bright, airy restaurant specializing in regional Mexican cuisine and located in the newish Hi Lo Hotel – and I’ve written about it previously as a great hidden brunch gem that takes reservations. I also really like its bar which specializes in tequila and mezcal, also as a hidden gem for classy drinks in a chic atmosphere that is suitable for a nice party of friends or coworkers where you can actually hear each other talk and fit comfortably in the lounge. So when I heard they were hosting beer dinner pairing their modern Mexican food with the beers of an award winning brewery, I was in for the Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner! If you are vegetarian or vegan, you should also know that Alto Bajo offered a vegan alternative for all the courses – I didn’t utilize it, but appreciated that they thoughtfully wanted to include non-meat eaters.

Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner menu

Since I last wrote about it, there was a change of chefs, and now Chef Bryant Kryck leads the kitchen. Some favorites of mine still remain, like the Mayan Sikil Pak at lunch and dinner. Chef Bryant has also increased the protein options. So although my favorite brunch omelette of theirs no longer stars huitlacoche with corn, local mushrooms and poblano cream sauce, now you can choose from fillings for your omelette (or burrito, or rice bowl, or chilaquiles, or other taqueria options) with smoked chicken thigh tinga, brisket barbacoa, pork shoulder carnitas, smoked truffled mushrooms, or red chili shrimp. I’ve been curious about the new menu, and got to sample some of it at this beer pairing dinner, while also seeing some of favorites still remain on the menu.

The Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner started off with a casual reception with Firestone Walker Pivo Pils, a German Pilsener, with Alto Bajo’s housemade chips and salsa roja and salsa verde at a central table where each person could help themselves. I am not ashamed to admit I went back twice. The chips and salsas are just as addictive as they were previously.
Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner, reception with Firestone Walker Pivo Pils, a German Pilsener, with Alto Bajo's housemade chips and salsa roja and salsa verde Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner, reception with Firestone Walker Pivo Pils, a German Pilsener, with Alto Bajo's housemade chips and salsa roja and salsa verde

The first Course was a pairing of Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion #10 American IPA with Pivo Pils braised beef short rib sope. This is not normally on the menu – Alto Bajo did this special dish utilizing beef short rib braised in Firestone Walker’s beer just for this event – and I appreciated that they thoughtfully did something one-off to both highlight the Luponic Distortion while also utilizing another Firestone Walker beer too as a thoughtful partnership.
Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner, a pairing of Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion #10 American IPA with Pivo Pils braised beef short rib sope Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner, a pairing of Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion #10 American IPA with Pivo Pils braised beef short rib sope Firestone Walker and Alto Bajo Beer Dinner, a pairing of Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion #10 American IPA with Pivo Pils braised beef short rib sope

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