Tasty Lake Oswego Brunch

One of the casualties of 2020 in the Portland food and beverage scene was the end of the Tasty restaurants: Toro Bravo, Tasty N Daughters, Tasty N Alder, and Plaza del Toro. It was a sudden end where one week they were doing so much good working with nonprofits and offering pay it forward and free food bags to feed people with financial concerns during those initial shock of Covid-19 shutdowns. Then came a mix of seemingly outbursts of frustration of the times, and poor choices of words on both sides, that ultimately led to the end of the Toro era under the Gorhams. Other restaurants without the Tasty or Toro in the name were sold off, while it seems the Tasty/Toro portion is being redirected by a couple former employees and bolstered by new blood via former baker from shuttered Bar King, opening anew under the name Tasty, out in Lake Oswego. They open in that space starting with previews this weekend and official open July 1, but last weekend I had a chance to reminisce with old Tasty classics and try new tastes as they popped up for a Tasty Lake Oswego brunch temporarily at the old Bar King space.
Popup of Tasty Lake Oswego at the former Bar King space Tasty Lake Oswego Smoked Trout Board with cherrywood smoked trout, 8-minute egg, horseradish cream, onion dip, kettle chips, rye crostini, house pickles, and it is perfection with the assortment of salty, creamy, crunchy, sour, a little spicy, savory.

If you were a fan of the Tasty N Alder brunch the Potatoes Bravas, Bambino Plate, Bibimbap Bacon and Eggs, Steak and Frites, Tasty Steak and Cheddar Eggs, Tasty Mary and Dim Summore cocktails, are back. From dinner menu the Low Hush Puppies with jalapeno honey butter are back as are also, thankfully the Radicchio Salad. From Tasty and Bravo and Tasty and Daughters returns Shakshuka and Biscuit Sandwich. During my visit, I had the Tasty Steak and Cheddar Eggs with corn cake and jalapeno honey butter, and a taste of my friend’s Hush Puppies, and both were wonderful. Tasty Lake Oswego Tasty Steak and Cheddar Eggs with corn cake and jalapeno honey butter Tasty Lake Oswego Tasty Steak and Cheddar Eggs with corn cake and jalapeno honey butter Tasty Lake Oswego Low Hush Puppies with jalapeno honey butter

[Read more…]
Signature

Brunch at St. Jack’s

New to Portland since mid-March is a decadant brunch in NW Portland/Slabtown area – and they take reservations! Head on over to Brunch at St. Jack’s. I have tried a lot of the menu thanks to a couple brunch dates with friends – and so I’m sharing with you my recommendations.

One thing I should note is that brunch is only available Sundays, and from 10 AM – 2 PM.

The menu offers several Pâtisserie options like croissant and cinnamon roll that look like buttery perfection. There’s also a yogurt parfait with cashew coconut granola, so I suppose if you are looking for a light breakfast you can go with a pastry and yogurt.

I’d rather if I had to go light (which I won’t…) order the Avocado Toast myself – it comes with a poached egg, arugula, and curry hollandaise and option to add crab.

A side of butter lettuce salad with avocado, radish, and dijon vinaigrette is a nice counterpoint to a lot of the rich dishes.

Brunch at St. Jack's: A side of butter lettuce salad with avocado, radish, and dijon vinaigrette is a nice counterpoint to a lot of the rich dishes.

You’ll possibly be tempted by the Crepes Suzette with orange, Grand Marnier, and whipped ricotta, they are sweet if you want a sweet entree instead of savory. They were initially conceptualized as Flaming Crepes Suzette but dialed down now to no flames and no caramelization, which I think would have helped the dish. If you are someone that likes french toast, or somehow have room for dessert, maybe this dish is for you.

Brunch at St. Jack's: Crepes Suzette with orange, Grand Marnier, and whipped ricotta

You’ll notice two meat egg cheese carb options tempting you on the menu: the egg sandwich with foie gras boudin, cheddar, braised greens, bearnaise on an english muffin, versus the fried chicken croque madame with brioche, gruyere, mornay, and fried egg:. Between the two I vote for the egg sandwich as the braised greens combination with the sausage are better balanced then the fried chicken croque madame.

Brunch at St. Jack's: egg sandwich with foie gras boudin, cheddar, braised greens, bearnaise on an english muffin. Brunch at St. Jack's: egg sandwich with foie gras boudin, cheddar, braised greens, bearnaise on an english muffin. Brunch at St. Jack's: egg sandwich with foie gras boudin, cheddar, braised greens, bearnaise on an english muffin.

Be prepared to want to nap after finishing either dish. Here’s a look at the Fried Chicken Croque Madame.

Brunch at St. Jack's: fried chicken croque madame with brioche, gruyere, mornay, and fried egg. Brunch at St. Jack's: fried chicken croque madame with brioche, gruyere, mornay, and fried egg.

My favorite part of the St Jack’s Brunch were their cocktail offerings. They of course have a bloody mary that is decent though didn’t stand out to me as special. They also offer a light and fluffy cocktail called Up & Atom that is a nod towards an Orange Julius with its mix of aperol, orange juice, egg white, Perre Ferrand dry curacao, and soda water.

Brunch at St. Jack's, St. Jack Mary with Ketael One Vodka, housemade mix, lemon, Montreal Salt rim Brunch at St. Jack's brunch cocktail of Up & Atom that is a nod towards an Orange Julius with its mix of aperol, orange juice, egg white, Perre Ferrand dry curacao, and soda water.

My pick if you like mezcal is the smoke and coffee flavors of the cocktail called Boomtown that brings together Union mezcal, Liquor 43, cold brew, maple, Lolita coffee liqueur, and cream.

Brunch at St. Jack's brunch cocktail of Boomtown that brings together Union mezcal, Liquor 43, cold brew, maple, Lolita coffee liqueur, and cream

Do any of these make you interested in going to brunch – which dish or drinks?

Disclosure: I tried some of these dishes and drinks gratis thanks to being a +1 to the first day, but I also have gone back on my own and purchased my own items to try and decided to share this because I genuinely do love it. St. Jack’s is definitely one of my top 5 restaurants that I like to recommend in Portland anyway! As always, I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

Signature

Alto Bajo Brunch

We’re rounding the corner to the end of January, and as the dark winter days are now getting shorter, I thought I’d give you still a little more color for your breakfast or brunch. Alto Bajo is a restaurant in the new boutique Hi Lo Hotel (in fact, Alto Bajo is Spanish for High and Low) offering a blend of Northwest with Oaxacan cuisine for weekday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a weekend brunch. All of the seatings take reservations, including brunch.

The hotel and restaurant are new, so still seem a bit under the radar on the Portland scene. I really like their twist on brunch, so wanted to highlight it here for you. Otherwise, I’ve been here for drinks a couple times – getting drinks in the Hi Lo very cool lobby area is a classy way to start a night out downtown. Alto Bajo does not have its own bar, and so the drinks are shared between this lobby bar and the restaurant.

Hi Lo Bar inside the Hi Lo hotel Hi Lo Bar inside the Hi Lo hotel Alto Bajo cocktail - margarita Alto Bajo cocktail

[Read more…]

Signature

Headwaters Brunch

I’m going to share one of my brunch secrets – Headwaters PDX, a place that is never too crowded for brunch so I’ve easily walked in (they serve brunch both in their main restaurant area and their lounge area by their bar so have large capacity). PLUS they take reservations! It’s only been almost exactly a year since they opened and I’m not sure if not everyone knows they offer brunch. Whatever, this all adds up so it’s perfect when you have out of town guests and want to stick to a schedule and not have to wait around so you can get going on your way to other weekend adventures. The atmosphere is classy and the service has always been impeccable for anytime I stop in. Weekend brunch is available Saturday and Sunday 8 AM – 3 PM and they also serve breakfast on weekdays.

Start with a brunch cocktail – of course I always recommend a bloody mary. The Headwaters Mary version offers lemongrass green chili vodka and housemade bloody mary mix, horseradish, and Steigl Radler
Headwaters Brunch - Headwaters Mary, lemongrass green chili vodka and housemade bloody mary mix, horseradish, and Steigl Radler

But, my other favorite and highly recommended cocktail for your consideration is the Never Too Early brunch cocktail with aged rum old fashioned, averna, coffee syrup
Headwaters Brunch - Never Too Early brunch cocktail with aged rum old fashioned, averna, coffee syrup

[Read more…]

Signature