Dinner at Tiffin Asha

April 12, 2019 by 5 Comments

Tiffin Asha was adored as a food cart from when it first opened in 2013, and in 2017 expanded into a brick and mortar restaurant in the NE Killingsworth in the NE Portland neighborhood. This now provides owner Sheila Bommakanti along with partner Chef Elizabeth Golay more comfort and space to show off South Indian food. Here’s a look at what a dinner at Tiffin Asha (open Thursday-Saturday, and also offering brunch on Sundays) can offer you.

Dinner at Tiffin Asha, food cart now grown up into brick and mortar in NE Portland Dinner at Tiffin Asha, food cart now grown up into brick and mortar in NE Portland

Start off with a beverage – such as a warm Chai with Nilgiri blue mountain black tea, spices,, or Banana Lassi with ripened bananas, lime, coconut, yogurt . They even have a their unique take on the Mango Lassi here with their Mango Almond Lassi with mango, creamy almonds, orange, tamarind, saffron

Dinner at Tiffin Asha, food cart now grown up into brick and mortar in NE Portland Tiffin Asha Banana Lassi with ripened bananas, lime, coconut, yogurt Mango Almond Lassi with mango, creamy almonds, orange, tamarind, saffron at Tiffin Asha

The menu is divided up into Tasters, Nibbles, Curries, Idlis, and Dosas, with additional add ons of chutneys, pickles, sides of sambar, dosa, idlies or rice or additions of gun powders always relevant to any of the menu choices.

Gun Powder? Yes, explosive housemade gun powders, eaten just like a chutney, served with unrefined sesame oil and idli pieces. These spice-blend condiments are very common in Southern India but not often seen in the US, so don’t miss out. Just sprinkle this on anything you want from the Tiffin Asha menu. You see below

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Good Coffee and Kolaches

April 2, 2019 by 2 Comments

When the much anticipated boutique hotel Woodlark Hotel downtown opened, besides the already well loved Oregon meets Texas meatcentric restaurant from Chef Doug Adams of Bullard, and the pre-Prohibition cocktail lounge of Abigail Hall as conceptualized by Jennifer Quist, the lobby also became the home to Good Coffee. Unique to this location you will find both Good Coffee and Kolaches.

Good Coffee and Kolaches in the Woodlark Hotel in downtown Portland Good Coffee and Kolaches in the Woodlark Hotel in downtown Portland

Good Coffee was recently featured as the best coffee in Oregon by Food and Wine Magazine for their 2019 list of best coffee in every state. The Good Coffee menu here includes the expected coffee drinks varying from regular filter coffee, single origin coffee, cold brew, espresso, cappuccinos, americanos and a wide variety of lattes from vanilla, maple and smoked orange, matcha, and spiced fig to almost a dozen Townshend Teas.

Good Coffee and Kolaches in the Woodlark Hotel in downtown Portland Good Coffee and Kolaches in the Woodlark Hotel in downtown Portland

If you have your coffee here rather then to go, it will be served in mugs by local ceramic artists like Margaret & Beau (the green mug you’ll see) and Mary Carroll (the pink mug). I love how these mugs feel and they have a pretty calming happy effect on me that puts me at ease. It’s yet another way the Woodlark shows how supportive it is of women by showcasing these women ceramicists. Besides Jen Quisty’s the Abigail Lounge named after women’s activist Abigail Scott Duniway and their cocktail menu of drinks with nods towards strong women leaders, Good Coffee offers The Founders Series of coffee drinks also named for women, including one called The Activist after Abigail.

Good Coffee and Kolaches in the Woodlark Hotel in downtown Portland. If you have your coffee here rather then to go, it will be served in mugs by local ceramic artists like Margaret & Beau (the green mug you'll see) and Mary Carroll (the pink mug). Good Coffee and Kolaches in the Woodlark Hotel in downtown Portland. If you have your coffee here rather then to go, it will be served in mugs by local ceramic artists like Margaret & Beau (the green mug you'll see) and Mary Carroll (the pink mug).

And now let’s talk about 75% of the draw for me for picking any coffee shop over the other – what they offer as bites to eat!

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Farmhouse Kitchen Thai for Portland Dining Month

March 21, 2019 by 1 Comment

Another week in March, another Portland Dining Month stop for the amazing deal of $33 netting me 3 courses – and sometimes more! For instance, at Farmhouse Kitchen Thai for Portland Dining Month, you get a free starter soup, and the starter gives you a taste of 2 different starters available on their regular menu. Here’s a closer look.

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First, I would highly recommend you make a reservation. It is definitely not a secret that the Portland Dining Month offering from Farmhouse Kitchen Thai offers a lot of variety with its 6 entrees to choose from. It is also a shrewd dollar value since those entrees are usually in the mid $20 range. So expect a packed house during peak times – if you try to walk in, you may have to wait an hour or so.

Second, you should expect that the service is going to be very functional, and forgive them for that. They are trying to serve everyone they can who comes to their door, which necessitates a lot of turnover at the tables. Sitting at a table towards the back of the house is a lot more calm then the boisterous tables at the front.

If you want to avoid the crowds, consider coming at slightly off times. I came at 8:15 pm and was never rushed out – in fact we got so caught up in conversation we were literally the last to leave the now closed restaurant as they prepared for staff meal. I saw another guest smartly order the Portland Dining Month menu but also order additional dishes to take home – I wish I had done that, even though all my meals for the next 2 days are already accounted for…

Ok, let’s get down to business. Although for the first course the official Portland Dining Month Travel Portland site lists that there are 5 options for the starter, when you get to the restaurant you actually have the choice of 3 combos. Each combo gives you tastes of TWO starters available on the menu. Each is plated individually and then put on a tray to make that duo for you, so I wonder if they would customize the duo for you on request. The default duos they offer are

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Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX

March 14, 2019 by Leave a Comment

For my next Portland Dining Month 2019 recap after my visit to Kachinka, this time I am sharing the goodness of my visit for Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX. Tapalaya is one of my top picks among all the restaurants offering dining deals during this month of March with its unique viewpoint of Cajun Creole Vietnamese food that she grew up with in New Orleans. For my other Portland Dining Month picks see my full list here.

Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX for March 2019 Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX for March 2019

For those of you who prefer the savory over the sweet, you are in luck- the 3 courses for $33 at Tapalaya are all savory, with 2 options for each course.

My first recommendation is to please make a reservation via OpenTable at the Portland Dining Month Travel Portland website. That is because by doing so, OpenTable will support the Oregon Food Bank. That means you will be doing good just by making a reservation!

Another recommendation is if you can, come on Tuesday like I did to enjoy the live music they offer. However, they background music they play even on the other days is lively and classic New Orleans, so understandable if you need to come on what works with your schedule. The Reggie Houston Trio that has been playing on Tuesdays for years will take you back to NOLA even if you have never been!
Live Music at Tapalaya PDX on Tuesday: Reggie Houston Trio

Just FYI, they have live music on Tuesday evenings even if it is not Portland Dining Month. You can also find live music during their brunch service on the weekends.

Not onto the Portland Dining Month menu at Tapalaya. For starters, you have the choice of Creole Caesar with radicchio, parmesan, crispy cornbread crumbs, Caesar dressing or the Crawfish Etouffee Nachos with cheddar, cotija, green onions, cilantro, Anh Luu’s 5-spice wonton chips
Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX, course 1 of Creole Caesar with Radicchio, parmesan, crispy cornbread crumbs, fried capers, Caesar dressing Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX, course 1 of Crawfish Etouffee Nachos with cheddar, cotija, green onions, cilantro, Anh Luu's 5-spice wonton chips

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Fimbul PDX Konudagur Dinner

February 15, 2019 by 1 Comment

Earlier this week I attended an instantiation of the Nordic supper club Fimbul PDX popup, offering Icelandic Cuisine. The theme of the dinner on February 12th, 2019 was to celebrate Konudagur, Icelandic Women’s Day. This holiday, as explained by Fimbul, “has deep roots in ancient Viking midwinter feasts celebrating Góa, the wife of the Winter King Þorri. We will be awaiting the first signs of Spring and celebrating the feminine energy with our tasting menu.”
Fimbul PDX Konudagur Dinner Fimbul PDX Konudagur Dinner

Besides the 7 course meal for $80, this dinner Fimbul PDX also offered a beverage pairing option that featured wine and spirits crafted by an all female lineup, and during the dinner a playlist of music of Icelandic female artists as we sailed through the tasting menu together.
Fimbul PDX Konudagur Dinner Fimbul PDX Konudagur Dinner

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