Lunch at Restaurant Palaegade

Before the trendy but delicious Avocado Toast became popular here both for its visual appeal and tastyiness, there was smørrebrød. In Denmark one of the common traditional foods you will find is smørrebrød. These are open-faced sandwiches built on buttered dense sourdough rye bread – the word itself comes from the first two layers of butter (smør) and bread (brød) with the butter being the protective layer to ensure the bread does not get soggy. Then on top of that you’ll find additional layers that can run the gamut from herring to egg, mushrooms, roast beef, just cheese, and more. Many smørrebrød restaurants may offer a dozen to at some places more then 100 smørrebrød options! Smørrebrød is healthy, hearty and everywhere – I had my smørrebrød experience while on my trip last week to Copenhagen during lunch at Restaurant Palaegade.

Restaurant Palaegade offers 40 options of smørrebrød at lunch, and I picked to have lunch at Restaurant Palaegade because they are in easy walking distance from popular sites like Nyhavn, Rosenborg Slot, and Christiansborg Slot so it’s a perfect stop between visiting these three locations (I’ll talk about my visit to some of these attractions next week on my Travel Tuesday post). Restaurant Palaegade was my pick from a list of possible locations that also included Restaurant Schønnemann (old school place with more then 110 options!), Restaurant Kronborg (traditional cozy setting), and Cafe Gammel Torv (located in a cellar!). I liked how Restaurant Palaegade offered traditional as well as new takes on smørrebrød. They also had seats outside on the sidewalk, but I was too cold it turns out. Also, this was recommended to me by Gary the Foodie, so I had to try it out!
Restaurant Palaegade in Copenhagen offering traditional Danish smørrebrød. These are open-faced sandwiches built on buttered dense sourdough rye bread

I started off with a Snap – that is, a small shot of aquavit, and restrained myself from squeeing too much at the glass already set at the table even before I ordered. How can you not have a snap once you see this glass waiting at your place setting?
Restaurant Palaegade in Copenhagen offering traditional Danish smørrebrød and snaps - aka aquavit shots, like this

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Feast Fab Collab – and way to win tickets to Feast!

I have been attending Feast Portland for many years now, and am an enthusiastic supporter of the amazing 4 day food festival event that helps brings awareness and raise money for charitable partners fighting against hunger. Feast Portland also celebrates the delicious local bounty of the Pacific Northwest, ranging from producers of food products to those who transform ingredients into dishes on a plate or in a glass – restaurants and chefs and mixologists and more. Most of the events at Feast bring together various makers of food to collaborate to create a limited time offering for Feast. Of the 40+ events during Feast Portland, many are sold out, but there are still a tickets to some events, and there are ways to participate in Feast without a ticket, thanks to the Feast Fab Collab.

Feast Fab Collab 2018 Feast Mode Lager Beer (sold in cans) with 10 Barrel Brewing Co., a lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. $7.99 for a four pack of 16 ounce cans (so four pints), available at New Seasons Markets + Feast Fab Collab 2018 Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, available at New Seasons Markets = perfection

Now in it’s third year, the Feast Fab Collab is a collaboration of products you can purchase outside Feast – in this case you can find them exclusively at New Seasons Market. The food items are limited edition just for Feast, and created in partnership with famed chefs and food producers also participating in Feast. And, you’ll still be doing good – a portion of gross sales from all Feast Fab Collab items are donated to Feast Portland’s charitable partners to be part of the fight against hunger too. This year the partners are Hunger-Free Oregon and Urban Gleaners.

For 2018, the Feast Fab Collab items include

  • Feast Mode Lager Beer (sold in cans) with 10 Barrel Brewing Co., a lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. $7.99 for a four pack of 16 ounce cans (so four pints).
    Feast Fab Collab 2018 Feast Mode Lager Beer (sold in cans) with 10 Barrel Brewing Co., a lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. $7.99 for a four pack of 16 ounce cans (so four pints), available at New Seasons Markets
  • Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches with Maya Lovelace (of famous Southern Appalachian pop-up Mae PDX and coming restaurant Yonder) and Ruby Jewel. The two flavors of mini ice cream sandwiches (it says mini, but they are still palm sized – it is only mini in terms of the ice cream sandwiches at Ruby Jewel are usually even bigger!) include Maya’s Southern Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich with chewy cornmeal cookies from Bob’s Red Mill and strawberry buttermilk ice cream using strawberries from Oregon Fruit Products. The second ice cream sandwich is Grandma Mae’s Sweet Molasses Ice Cream Sandwich inspired from Maya’s grandmother molasses and apple butter sandwich cookies. If I had to choose between them, I prefer the strawberry one with cornmeal but really it’s just personal preference because I like strawberry and cream more then molasses flavors. Each sandwich is $2.99.
    Feast Fab Collab 2018 Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches, the Grandma Mae’s Sweet Molasses Ice Cream Sandwich with Maya Lovelace, available at New Seasons Markets Feast Fab Collab 2018 Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches the Maya’s Southern Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich with Maya Lovelace, available at New Seasons Markets
  • Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese. I’m serving it below exactly as they recommended it, very simply just grilled the sausage and sliced it up with fresh pasta, olive oil and some garden cherry tomatoes – sounds simple but it lets the freshness of the summer tomatoes and all the flavor of the sausage really stand out! Maybe in retrospect I should have wilted some spinach, but at this point the sausage was oozing cheese and I wasn’t going to wait any longer to eat it. A package of 12 ounces of sausage runs $8.99.
    Feast Fab Collab 2018 Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, available at New Seasons Markets Feast Fab Collab 2018 Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo + Ava Gene’s Owner Chef Joshua McFadden, a specialty Italian pork sausage spiced with garlic, fennel, chili flake, and stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, available at New Seasons Markets

The beer and mini ice cream sandwiches are available now at New Seasons Markets in Oregon and Southwest Washington states, and the Olympia Provisions sausage will be available this Monday September 3, just in time for Labor Day bbqs.

All of these products will also be featured at the Friday and Saturday Grand Tasting Presented By New Seasons Market, who is the main sponsor of the two Grand Tasting events. Thanks to their generosity, I am raffling off TWO tickets to the Friday Grand Tasting event!

So here’s how you can win tickets –

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Quaintrelle Happy Hour

I’ve always been a fan of Quaintrelle, and only regret that they are in a part of town I do not visit very often so I don’t go often enough. When I have some girlfriends looking to meet up, Quaintrelle is always one of the first that comes to mind that I recommend, thanks to the lovely beverages from Bar Manager Camille Cavan, and how the menu descriptions always include an experience descriptions of the flavors, not just a list of ingredients. Recently a chef shakeup replaced Chef Bill Wallender with previous DOC chef Chef Ryley Eckersley, and an update to the Quaintrelle Happy Hour menu. Now I think Quaintrelle’s happy hour may be among the most beautifully plated and fresh in showcasing Northwest products in Portland. Even if you don’t come to happy hour, you will be pleased to experience beautifully plated dishes showcasing the best of current seasonal ingredients at their peak.
Quaintrelle Happy Hour, Prohibition Punch, an ever changing daily punch inspired by a prohibition cocktail, for $6Quaintrelle Tomatoes, basils, ricotta, quinoa

You will find Quaintrelle happy hour runs every day from 5 – 6:30 PM, and on Sundays the entire evening (5-9 PM). If for some reason you are looking for wine instead of cocktails, consider coming on their Wine Wednesdays when they additionally offer 50% off bottles from a hand selected list (available all evening on Wednesdays). On offer for Happy Hour is always a Prohibition Punch, an ever changing daily punch inspired by a prohibition cocktail, for $6. If you don’t drink, ask for her seasonal mocktail – one visit this was concocted of cherry, mint shrub, lemon, lime, and ginger ale.
Quaintrelle Happy Hour, Prohibition Punch, an ever changing daily punch inspired by a prohibition cocktail, for $6

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A look at Il Solito PDX

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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Verdigris Brunch

There are lots of wonderful weekend brunch spots, but avoid the lines or waits but also checking out everyday weekday brunches available, such as Verdigris Brunch. This French influenced neighborhood gem is a great spot for eats and conversations with your friends and family. I’ve visited Verdigris for dinner before, but wanted to spotlight their brunch food too.

Verdigris Brunch, available everyday not just weekends. Croissant French Toast with Butternut Squash Compote, Chantilly, Walnuts and the other dish of 60 Minute Eggs and Smithfield Ham, Duck Fat Fried Hash Browns, Brown Butter Hollandaise

Here’s a look at what I think is their best savory dish, the 60 Minute Eggs, Smithfield Ham, and Duck Fat Fried Hash Browns with Brown Butter Hollandaise. It sounds heavy, but it is just the lightest thinnest slight of ham, and then the hash browns providing the base instead of a bready english muffin on this take of Eggs Benedict.
Verdigris Brunch, available everyday not just weekends. 60 Minute Eggs, Smithfield Ham, Duck Fat Fried Hash Browns, Brown Butter Hollandaise Verdigris Brunch, available everyday not just weekends. 60 Minute Eggs, Smithfield Ham, Duck Fat Fried Hash Browns, Brown Butter Hollandaise

If you prefer the sweet touch to your breakfast, then check out the Croissant French Toast with Butternut Squash Compote, Chantilly, Walnuts that brings you the french toast flavor but with the heft of croissant so it doesn’t get as soggy, thanks to the flakey outside layer and then the bonus of the softer buttery insides.
Verdigris Brunch, available everyday not just weekends. Croissant French Toast with Butternut Squash Compote, Chantilly, Walnuts Verdigris Brunch, available everyday not just weekends. Croissant French Toast with Butternut Squash Compote, Chantilly, Walnuts

Where is your favorite everyday brunch available on weekends?

As an aside, I went to Verdigris for Portland Dining Month – for $33 we got to pick an option from all 3 sections of the regular menu of starters, mains, and desserts. They run this special for more then March – and it does work with their whole menu so great for a dining party! Here are a few photos from that dinner where my dining friends and I enjoyed an amuse bouche of a saffron bouillabaisse and bread rolls to start, and then went on to our 3 courses…

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