Aramsey Spiced Brunch

I’ve been a fan of Ruchikala, the name of the food business of Kusama Rao, for years. Unfortunately with her time divided between Arizona and Portland we don’t get access to her food as nearly as much as I and many of her other fans would like given that was the main feedback from this meal (and pretty much all her others) from multiple guests. So, whenever you see an opportunity announced on her social media, be sure to jump at the opportunity!

For this particular popup she collaborated with another all female owned business, Public Provisions, who provided cocktails to go with the four courses for this Aramsey Spiced Brunch. Public Provisions  which is a traveling bar service run by partners Melanely Schmidt and Malia Meyers. Lucky for all of us, Public Provisions is also opening a bar where you can reliably enjoy some of their creative and fun drinks – more on this at the end!
Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions  Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions: Rogan Josh, a spicy lamb curry. Here, the long simmered spicy lamb curry is combined with black cardamom, kashmiri chili oil, salt cured lemon coconut mustard polenta with yogurt, saffron, clove, nutmeg and other spices.

For now, let’s take a look at this special Aramsey Spiced Brunch I enjoyed with four courses and four paired cocktails.
Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions

Course 1

The Bengali Breakfast Sando, with Panch phoron maple sausage, habanero carrot halva butter, and Kumi’s house sourdough english muffin with all sorts of spices like nigella seed, fenugreek.
Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions: Bengali Breakfast Sando, with Panch phoron maple sausage, habanero carrot halva butter, and Kumi's house sourdough english muffin with all sorts of spices like nigella seed, fenugreek Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions: Bengali Breakfast Sando, with Panch phoron maple sausage, habanero carrot halva butter, and Kumi's house sourdough english muffin with all sorts of spices like nigella seed, fenugreek
This was paired with an Indian spiced Bloody Mary that included sarina pudi, carrot, lovage, blistered jalapeno, sesame oil, and more spices as picked out by Kumi included toasted cumin. Of all the courses, all were spectacular but this was probably my vote for favorite if I had to choose.
Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions: Indian spiced Bloody Mary that included sarina pudi, carrot, lovage, blistered jalapeno, sesame oil, and more spices as picked out by Kumi included toasted cumin Aramsey Spiced Brunch with Ruchikala and Public Provisions: Indian spiced Bloody Mary that included sarina pudi, carrot, lovage, blistered jalapeno, sesame oil, and more spices as picked out by Kumi included toasted cumin

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First Look at Outer Darkness Donuts

From the creative minds who delivered deliciousness with fun and the embracing of wanting to try multiple tastes on the sample plate via Hunnymilk popup brunch is a new popup, Outer Darkness Donuts. They just launched last weekend on Sunday June 3, and here’s my first look at Outer Darkness Donuts. Similar to Hunnymilk, there are no reservations and it’s best for groups of 2 or 4 or no more then 8 maximum. Outer Darkness Donuts pops up only on Sundays, at Jacqueline (2039 SE Clinton St), from 8am-4pm.
My first look at Outer Darkness Donuts, which on offer here only on Sundays are dark roast drip coffees, fun mimosas, loose leaf tea, and only one food dish you can order: a flight of mini-donuts. My first look at Outer Darkness Donuts, which on offer here only on Sundays are dark roast drip coffees, fun mimosas, loose leaf tea, and only one food dish you can order: a flight of mini-donuts.

On offer here are dark roast drip coffees, fun mimosas, loose leaf tea, and only one food dish you can order: a flight of mini-donuts. You will get both savory and sweet bites, and I was very impressed by how each mini donut was a strong statement of flavors and beautifully presented like this is their regular restaurant, not that they are just taking over for part of a day.

Don’t be intimidated by the dark roast coffees – they had a great variety of sweeteners including local honey of course, but also find salted caramel, local honey, agave syrup, corainder dulce de leche, chocolate rum syrup, and nutella! Make any of these Irish coffees with an upgrade of Jameson and Baileys.
My first look at Outer Darkness Donuts, which on offer here only on Sundays are dark roast drip coffees, fun mimosas, loose leaf tea, and only one food dish you can order: a flight of mini-donuts.

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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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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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Tusk Weekend Happy Hour

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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