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 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.

The prepaid entrance to Peter Cat for June is $45, which includes one drink (cocktail, beer, wine, sake) and a bento tray of snacks. This is not meant to be a full meal – at one of the Nodoguro dinners this might be a single or two course listing at most.  Each of these is probably only a few bites. However, it’s  included as part of your Peter Cat lounge experience to give you a literal sample of Nodoguro. Also, unlike Nodoguro, you get cocktails at Peter Cat – with a regular Nodoguro dinner there is only wine and sake available, no cocktails.

In the tray I tried, the beautiful presentation of izakaya snacks included (and is subject to change)

• Yellowtail sashimi with shiso, aged soy sauce
  
• Oyster with spring onion and citrus
• A Russian inspired seaweed salad with Russian carrots and sweet poached kelp. This dish is a nod to Chef Ryan Roadhouse’s wife, Elena Roadhouse, and her heritage growing up in Far East Russia which has many similarities to the food in Japan
  
• Salmon roe cured in soy sauce on rye bread. This is another sweet nod to Elena – instead of the traditional roe on rice, Elena taught him this now frequently utilized and simple way to serve up roe
  
• Shredded burdock with a “duck ham” that is seared and brushed with sesame oil and sweet soy sauce
  
• A take on fish and chips with cod and crispy sunchoke. The cod is cured in sake leaves, then smoked
  

Peter Cat does not have a full bar – they have a very curated selection of liquors, and a special cocktail list of 3-4 designed by famous local Portland bartender and consultant to many successful bar programs (and author of Cocktails on Tap) Jacob Grier.

I was able to sample a bit of all 3 cocktails. The lightest and most refreshing one is the Calpico Punch, their take on a citrus cocktail without using a juicer or shaker. Here, Jacob’s Calpico Punch takes inspiration for Ryan’s own experience in Japan in observing office girls drink Calpico (a popular soft drink that is milk flavored) in cocktails sort of like a shochu highball. Jacob’s version uses real milk to start a ferment for a day which is then strained and mixed with green tea, yuzu, sugar, Novo Fogo cachaca and Cocchi Americano, an apertif wine that makes this very easily quaffable.

In another example of Russian influence on Peter Cat, the next drink on the curated cocktail menu features Polugar – Russian’s original vodka from the 19th century using wheat and distilled in pots. This was made illegal so now Polugar is now made in Poland, and here in Peter Cat’s version of a martini, mixed with Dolin Blanc Vermouth and Centerba liquor serving sort of like bitters here.

The final of the 3 cocktails highlights Japanese whisky – in this case, Suntory Toki, and in a very unusual mix brings the Suntory Toki together with amontillado sherry and Birkir, a liquor infused with birch from Iceland. This is definitely the strongest flavor of the 3 cocktails.

The bar also has a few Scotches, Bourbon, a special reserve aged rum (El Dorado 15 year), and Fernet available.

As I stated, this is just an experiment at first to see how the pop up goes so is subject to tweaking during June and after June. An a la carte beverage and food menu will also be available besides the beverage program which is what I focused on, I’m not sure what kind of other food may be available.

However, I do love the idea of a more accessible way to get to Nodoguro – I myself haven’t been for a while because tickets sell dizzily fast, and since I’ve been so much I also want to let other get a chance to have the wondrous, experience that is Nodoguro. I hope this detailed look of what Peter Cat is (as of June 2018) is helpful!

If you were going to create your ideal bar or lounge, what would be the signature drink of your dream lounge? What music would you play? If you ask me, I would have some super smoky cocktail and totally play crooners and slow songs only that show off voice and I suppose also sorta count as jazz/easy listening?: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, etc.