Nodoguro’s Peter Cat Pop up Lounge

It’s hard to believe that it’s now been four years from when I first I was introduced to Nodoguro at their first pop up at Yakuza Lounge (which I had recapped here). Many dinners later, they are still going strong now in their permanent space customized (with a lot of DIY) by them, and they are starting a new pop up concept – Nodoguro’s Peter Cat Pop up Lounge. Here’s a look at what that offering means.
Nodoguro's Peter Cat Pop up Lounge featuring jazz on vinyl and curated cocktails by Jacob Grier. Reservation must be made at their site for specific date/time and prepaid beforehand and includes a tray of snacks as shown and a cocktail Nodoguro's Peter Cat Pop up Lounge featuring jazz on vinyl and curated cocktails by Jacob Grier. Reservation must be made at their site for specific date/time and prepaid beforehand and includes a tray of snacks as shown and a cocktail

Nodoguro’s Peter Cat Pop up Lounge utilizes their back lounge area only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, after their other ticketed dinners. To come to Peter Cat, you also need to make a reservation/pre pay for a ticket online, just like their dinners – this helps them manage the capacity of that lounge for now, which fits maybe 12 people. What dates are available on the ticket page of their website under the Peter Cat tab. Right now this is an experiment for June, so we’ll have to see in July what this may look like. Also check the page often – sometimes you’ll find cancelation tickets available from people who had date/time conflicts come up.

The name Peter Cat is taken from Haruki Murakami’s own Tokyo Jazz bar which he owned before he became a writer and even probably was in while writing a couple of his books – he named the bar after his pet cat I believe. You may recall that their Haruki Murakami themed dinner previously was one of the most well received (well, of many beloved dinners). In homage to that Peter Cat, Nodoguro’s Peter Cat Pop up Lounge also will be playing jazz on vinyl, and is meant to be cozy. Expect seating to probably be at a communal 8 top table, or at a couple lounge chairs and a couch with tray stands.
Nodoguro's Peter Cat Pop up Lounge featuring jazz on vinyl and curated cocktails by Jacob Grier. Reservation must be made at their site for specific date/time and prepaid beforehand and includes a tray of snacks as shown and a cocktail Nodoguro's Peter Cat Pop up Lounge featuring jazz on vinyl and curated cocktails by Jacob Grier. Reservation must be made at their site for specific date/time and prepaid beforehand and includes a tray of snacks as shown and a cocktail

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Avocado Month Specials at Pine Street Market

June is California Avocado Month, when California Avocados are at peak availability. So to celebrate, here’s a look at the Avocado Month Specials at Pine Street Market from June 1-30. Pine Street Market is a food hall located in downtown Portland which is like the next level food court – picture a common dining area in the center, but nine micro-restaurants rather then the usual fast chain places you’d find in a mall. Half are participating in Avocado Month.
Avocado Month Specials at Pine Street Market for June 2018: for all of June only, Olympia Provisions Public House Annex will offer Oregon Bay Shrimp Roll with California Avocado which includes Olympia Provisions Andouillie sausage topped with Oregon Bay Shrimp, California Avocado, red onion, jalapeno, shredded lettuce, aioli, old bay seasoning and bread & butter pickles served on a bun

Pine Street Market is one of two food halls celebrating Avocado Month in conjunction with California Avocado Commission – the other is Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market, where Sari Sari Store, DTLA Cheese, Golden Road Brewing Company, Horse Thief BBQ, Olio GCM Wood Fired Pizzeria, Prawn, and Ramen Hood are getting into the avocado specials Here in Portland at Pine Street Market, you’ll find serving California Avocado Month specials Bless Your Heart Burger, Checkerboard Pizza, Olympia Provisions Public House Annex, and Wiz Bang Bar.

Sari Sari Store and Wiz Bang Bar additionally are sharing a special recipe highlighting avocado: Chicken Adobo and California Avocado Fried Rice Topped with Pickled Vegetables from Margarita Manzke of Sari Sari Store, and from Kim Malek of Wiz Bang Bar, get the recipe for Wild Berry Frozen Yogurt & California Avocado Lime Fudge Parfait. Or take it easy (I did…) by instead of making the recipe just going straight to the source, at least for June!

Avocado Month Specials at Pine Street Market for June 2018: for all of June only, Bless Your Heart Burgers is putting together a special version of the cheeseburger stacked with North West Natural Beef, Bacon, California avocado on the Martin’s potato roll, with Duke’s mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, sweet onions, homemade pickles and house made ranch

What I love about Pine Street Market (and Grand Central Market) is how easy it is to do a food crawl and try different foods from different vendors, all in one place. You go to the counter of each restaurant to place your order and usually get a number of some sort or pager so you know when to retrieve your dish or they will bring it to you. Don’t hesitate to go to multiple storefronts to place your order and have a couple of numbers at your seat- I have! Here’s how to enjoy the avocado month specials at Pine Street Market.

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Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Ilani Chimichurri Recipe

As we move from spring to summer, thoughts turn to outdoor parties and firing up the grill for corn, hot dogs, burgers, and steaks! Ever since Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Ilani Casino and Resort opened, I’ve been looking for an excuse to go all the way there to Ridgefield, WA (about a 30 min – 1 hour drive from Portland depending on traffic). When they were offering a Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Cooking Class, I had the rationalization I needed – I could share tips to you for Memorial Day. Specifically, there was an amazing chimichurri recipe which they served and gave me the recipe which I now pass on to you too.

Excellent wine choices available at the Michael Jordan's Steakhouse Ilani Casino and Resort Excellent wine choices available at the Michael Jordan's Steakhouse Ilani Casino and Resort: Duo of Grass Fed New York Strip and Filet Mignon at a special dinner: the Filet Mignon

So I and a friend (who had the car) drove up and enjoyed a decadent meal with the high quality meats of MJ Steakhouse. This location in the Ilani serves lunch and dinner daily, as well a brunch only on weekends though really – you’re here for the steaks aren’t you?

Since I was going for a special event, I didn’t order off their menu – but if I did, I would totally start with Garlic Bread with Rogue creamery blue cheese fondue.

After that though, I dedicate the rest of my stomach only to the steak, wine, and mashed potatoes please.

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Jake’s Grill and Anderson Ranches Lamb

Jake’s Grill is one of those classic Portland restaurants offering its American food menu of steaks and seafood as part of the Sentinel hotel (previously the Seward Hotel, and Elks Temple, and then later the Governor Hotel. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places). Although it is owned by McCormick & Schmick’s, Jake’s still maintains a lot of autonomy over its sourcing and menu. For May, they are featuring special Pasture to Plate menus utilizing Anderson Ranches Lamb. Here’s a look at my favorites of the Jake’s Grill and Anderson Ranches Lamb dishes.
Jake's Grill and Anderson Ranches Lamb Pasture to Plate specials menu: the grilled center cut lamb ribs with curry sauce, pomegranate molasses, and saba glaze Jake's Grill and Anderson Ranches Lamb Pasture to Plate specials menu: a roasted rack of lamb with spring vegetables, washington cherry chutney, and mustard lamb demi-glace

Anderson Ranches has been in the lamb business for 5 generations, and is located in the Willamette Valley. Their lamb is 100% grass fed and free range. Their flock are fed no antibiotics, growth stimulants, feed addictive and growth hormones. They graze on free range pastures on rolling foothills and open fields to roam and eat what they like and grow at their natural pace. Anderson Ranches farming uses sustainable practices and practices complementary to raising sheep such as the sheep helping with seed crop or weeds that control growth for trees or for other farmers to reduce need for herbicide. Supporting Anderson Ranches is supporting a thoughtful local business.

Meanwhile, Jake’s Grill is then taking their great lamb product and utilizing it in both traditional and in creative dishes. If you think you don’t like lamb because it’s gamey or you think lamb only comes so red and medium rare, you will be very pleasantly surprised at the huge range of options they’ve come up here between Jake’s Grill and Anderson Ranches Lamb.

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Meadowlark Portland Dinner Spring 2018

I’ve attended many Meadowlark Portland dinners with chef duo Jen and Emily – from For the April 22, 2018 spring Meadlowlark No #30 dinner, the inspiration for Chefs Jen Datka and Emily Park came from the idea of handcrafted and locally made casatiello, a traditional bread studded with cheese and cured meat, and a dessert of . As has been true since last year, all the dinners of this pop up supper club for social justice always benefit a cause. This dinner was no different – all proceeds benefited OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon.
Meadlowlark Portland Dinner No #30 April 22, 2018 All the dinners of this pop up supper club for social justice always benefit a cause and the food and drink emphasize rustic, handcrafted cuisine and local ingredients. Meadlowlark Portland Dinner No #30 April 22, 2018 All the dinners of this pop up supper club for social justice always benefit a cause and the food and drink emphasize rustic, handcrafted cuisine and local ingredients. Here, for this dinner one of the highlights was the giant loaves of housemade casatiello, a traditional bread studded with cheese and cured meat - pancetta, cacio di roma, and green garlic

I’ve enjoyed many dinners with them before which I have recapped on this blog previously – from a Seollal Koraen New Year Dinner to Apericena Springtime Sicilian Cocktail Party to their a Breaking Bread party with Nostrana. For this dinner, it was my first time learning about OPAL and their work
Meadlowlark Portland Dinner No #30 April 22, 2018 All the dinners of this pop up supper club for social justice always benefit a cause and the food and drink emphasize rustic, handcrafted cuisine and local ingredients. Here are Chefs Emily Park and Jen Datka

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