Tusk Weekend Happy Hour

May 2, 2018 by 4 Comments

I’ve raved about Tusk before, which totally delivers on the hype the food writers in media have given it with its fresh, seasonal, farm to table Mediterranean food.  Tusk only takes reservations for their dinner, or if your table for their brunch (served weekends only) is 8 people or more. But, anyone looking to enjoy Tusk there is double good news. First, in the past month or so, they have completely enclosed their outdoor patio. The end result is really increasing their capacity for seating and protecting you from the sometimes moody spring weather so the area is usable all year round. Secondly, there is now a Tusk Weekend Happy Hour. Instead of closing between brunch and dinner, they offer happy hour drinks and eats from 2:30 – 5 PM. Here’s a detailed look at their offerings.
Tusk Weekend Happy Hour, served Saturday Sunday 2:30-5PM between brunch and dinner. A great way to slip in between the brunch and dinner rush

First, drinks. Tusk will be offering a rotating menu of three special happy hour cocktails available only during weekend happy hour, and three wines by the glass (all under $10) as well as beer. Don’t worry – the full Tusk cocktail menu will also be available.
Tusk Weekend Happy Hour, served Saturday Sunday 2:30-5PM between brunch and dinner. They have 3 special cocktails available only during happy hour, though you can also order from their regular cocktail menu here Tusk Weekend Happy Hour, served Saturday Sunday 2:30-5PM between brunch and dinner. They have 3 special cocktails available only during happy hour, though you can also order from their regular cocktail menu here

The Mr. Kiss cocktail features Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, lime, tahini, ghost pepper, and chocolate. Despite the wide ranging combination, the cocktail flavors are pretty tame – mostly a little bit of lime and tequila citrus followed by a little savory from the chocolate and hint of heat from the ghost pepper, but not spicy at all, don’t worry.
Tusk Weekend Happy Hour, served Saturday Sunday 2:30-5PM between brunch and dinner. They have 3 special cocktails available only during happy hour, though you can also order from their regular cocktail menu here like here The Mr. Kiss cocktail features Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, lime, tahini, ghost pepper, and chocolate.

The Hazy Jane cocktail is one of their signature drinks and offers Reyka vodka, almond, house made basil syrup, ginger, lemon, rose, and yogurt. The end result is light and refreshing with just a little bit of creamy mouthfeel from the yogurt.
Tusk Weekend Happy Hour, served Saturday Sunday 2:30-5PM between brunch and dinner. They have 3 special cocktails available only during happy hour, though you can also order from their regular cocktail menu here. This is The Hazy Jane cocktail is one of their signature drinks and offers Reyka vodka, almond, house made basil syrup, ginger, lemon, rose, and yogurt. The end result is light and refreshing with just a little bit of creamy mouthfeel from the yogurt.

If you are looking for a non-alcoholic drink, definitely consider their iced matcha tea.
Tusk Iced Matcha Tea.
Foodwise, the happy hour menu is filled with a sampler of some of Tusk’s best dishes, not only priced lower but also are sized perfectly for filling your whole table with lots of little dishes to try everything. Make sure you also try everything with a little bit of the 3 condiments on the table of Aleppo chile oil, za’atar, and cumin salt, to see how they enhance the flavors of any dish.
Tusk Weekend Happy Hour, served Saturday Sunday 2:30-5PM between brunch and dinner with lots of favorite dishes at discounted prices and perfectly sized for filling your tables with one of everything to try it all Tusk condiments for every table - make sure you also try everything with a little bit of the 3 condiments on the table of Aleppo chile oil, za'atar, and cumin salt, to see how they enhance the flavors of any dish

Here’s a look at all the happy hour dishes – I’ve tried them all!
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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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California Artisan Cheese Festival Best Bite Competition

April 24, 2018 by 1 Comment

Believe it or not, my cheese Friday is not over yet after attending a blind tasting seminar, touring two cheesemakers, a cheese lunch, and a distillery as covered in my previous posts in part 1 and part 2 recap of my trip to enjoy the California Artisan Cheese Festival. After a couple hours break after this tour, my sister and I then went to an event called The Best Bite – A Tribute to First Responders. Then, on Sunday we went to the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace.
The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. Valette presented cheesesteak with Stuyt Dairy bacon cheese crisp, Stuyt Dairy cheese Whizz, pepper crusted beef tenderloin, pickled sweet peppers, and Stuyt Dairy cheese powder. The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. Valette presented cheesesteak with Stuyt Dairy bacon cheese crisp, Stuy Cairy cheese Whizz, pepper crusted beef tenderloin, pickled sweet peppers, and Stuyt Dairy cheese powder.
At the California Artisan Cheese Festival 2018 Best Bite Chefs category of the competition, Valette presented cheesesteak with Stuyt Dairy bacon cheese crisp, Stuyt Dairy cheese Whizz, pepper crusted beef tenderloin, pickled sweet peppers, and Stuyt Dairy cheese powder.
For the Cheesemonger Bite category, shown here is Oliver’s Market, Cellar Door Platters and Displays Julie Cassotta and Mike Rafter who used Northern Gold from Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Company to make a beer cheese

The Best Bite

This evening event brought together Cheesemakers, Chefs and Cheesemongers in a Best Bite Competition while paying tribute to first responders who risked their lives during California’s destructive fire storms in October last year. Several of the local heroes got to be judges, and there is also people’s choice award so attendees would get to vote for their winner in each category as well. I took photos of almost everything, both to share with you but also to remember what I ate and who made it for voting later! Photos are my notes!
The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending
Costeaux French Bakery offered a savory cheese twist with an all butter croissant rolled with three cheeses and lavender herbs, as well as another bread stuffed with blue cheese

So now on to my cheese adventures, continued!

The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending. Cypress Grove Cheeses was there The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending

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A look at Il Solito PDX

April 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I’ve been a fan of Chef Matthew Sigler since he arrived in Portland a few years ago – he’s been making my personal vote for best pastas in Portland. Recently, he made the move from Renata to open Il Solito, which is conveniently even more closely located to my house and by my favorite beer bar. They just opened this week on April 17, but I had a chance to try some of their dishes at a media preview, and I was there on opening night  paying my own way. Il Solito is located downtown, at the previous Pazzo space as part of Hotel Vintage, at 627 SW Washington Street. Here’s a look at Il Solito PDX so far. I usually wait a little bit for a new restaurant before I give my thoughts, but some places seem to be firing on all cylinders right away – Il Solito appears to be one of them.
A Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDX

The space has been updated to have lots of light and feel airy, but at the same time with plenty of nods with framed photos, plates, Italian tiles, a nod to Italian family and nonna, Michelangelo’s David- of Italian American classic restaurants. There is a cheeky bit of decor intertwined though- a perfect representation of the intent of the menu, traditional and familiar but also unexpected fun modern touches.
A Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDXA Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDX A Look at Il Solito PDX

I always have mixed feelings about whether to dine alone or with others. If I dine alone, then I don’t have to share the pastas – I never know which one is going to blow me away and that I want the whole dish. And there may be times I might appear just for a pasta dish. But, if I bring friends, then I can order even MORE food from the menu – there are sooo many dishes I have liked.
A Look at Il Solito PDX, bringing fine dining Italian that ixes Tuscany and Italian American and some modern touches to the table

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Txoko Experience with Urdaneta

April 16, 2018 by 2 Comments

I was pretty excited when I heard that Urdaneta was bringing back an instance of Basque Supper Club with the theme of Txoko! Going to txokos with his grandfather had inspired Chef Javier Canteras to open Urdaneta and create Basque Supper Club. Now it was coming around full circle as the documentary ”The Txoko Experience: The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques”, along with scriptwriter, Marcela Garces, was making a West Coast premiere showing at Urdaneta. The restaurant was closed for this private event on a Sunday evening, and the night included watching the movie in the restaurant, and then enjoying a multi course dinner of Basque cuisine. Here’s a look at my Txoko Experience with Urdaneta.

The Txoko Experience - movie and a Basque dinner with Urdaneta The Txoko Experience - movie and a Basque dinner with Urdaneta

Txoko (The “Tx” in Basque language is pronounced Ch, Cho-ko, with ch hard like the ch in in chocolate), is essentially a dining club that allows members to gather together in a space (often a restaurant kitchen and dining area) and cook and dine together outside their home, which are often apartments.

It’s more then just food though- the txoko is an escape from family to be with the community that only sees what you are good at cooking (or maybe you’re a good singer), regardless of what you do for your day job. It’s an environment of good food, good conversation, and apparently, also group singing. We didn’t sing at this dinner, but there was definitely the wonderful food and conversation and everyone attending and working was in excited, cheerful spirits.
The Txoko Experience - movie and a Basque dinner with Urdaneta The Txoko Experience - movie and a Basque dinner with Urdaneta

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