A Visit to Oma’s Hideaway

I have been a fan of the Southeast Asian dishes interpreted by Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly alongside wife Mariah since discovering them at pop-ups, then through the successful opening of Gado Gado. And here we are now with this outpost of a Covid-19 pivot of the parking lot of Gado Gado, a takeaway tent (named Oma’s Takeaway) that highlighted more street food, grown up now into its own brick and mortar location on SE Division of the updated name Oma’s Hideaway. The menu here is original in bringing his food memories from his grandmother/Oma and travels together with his own personal touches – its a food adventure you will enjoy whether you are familiar or unfamiliar with the original source inspirations of Chinese by way of Indonesia, Malaysia, and more.
Oma's Hideaway Oma's Hideaway

Cocktails are creative and one of a kind, created in collaboration with Eric Nelson of Shipwreck and then made real by Emily Warden. You can find librations like the wonderfully named “One Thing Led To Another” with tequila, lime, Oma’s ‘should be famous’ pickle brine and cucumber, or the “Oaxaca Meets Malacca” with mezcal, char siu glaze, Cynar, bitters, and five spice.
Oma's Hideaway cocktail of One Thing Led To Another with tequila, lime, Oma's 'should be famous' pickle brine and cucumber Oma's Hideaway cocktail of Oaxaca Meets Malacca with mezcal, char siu glaze, Cynar, bitters, and five spice

On the far right you can glimpse the Bellweather, a bright cocktail with smoke – starting scotch whisky, vanilla, citrus, ginger beer, and Laphroig spritz. I can also vouch for refreshing with a kick Oma’s Watermelon Smash, crafted with hibiscus tequila, watermelon, cucumber, basil and serrano chili. It’s seen here with the White Lotus, made with rums, toasted coconut, soursop, lime, and falernum. Go for full fun with their Moonage Daydream Slushee with tequila, Aperol, pineapple, mint, shiso, lime, and absinthe. You will also find jello shots alongside some zero proof options and beer and wine. You can also see a hint of the beautiful, I tell you beautiful, inside bar.
Oma's Hideaway cocktail of Bellweather, a bright cocktail with smoke - starting scotch whisky, vanilla, citrus, ginger beer, and Laphroig spritz Oma's Hideaway - I can also vouch for refreshing with a kick Oma's Watermelon Smash, crafted with hibiscus tequila, watermelon, cucumber, basil and serrano chili. It's seen here with the White Lotus, made with rums, toasted coconut, soursop, lime, and falernum. Oma's Hideaway - Go for full fun with their Moonage Daydream Slushee with tequila, Aperol, pineapple, mint, shiso, lime, and absinthe.

Roti Canai is a must order here. It’s always on the menu, and always so good. Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly has put a lot of practice and love perfecting the roti over and over and it shows. The flakey, doughy, perfectly textured flatbread is seved up with a sweet corn curry for dipping with turmeric pickle and puffed sorghum.
Oma's Hideaway Roti Canai is a must order here. The flakey, doughy, perfect flatbread is seved up with a sweet corn curry for dipping with turmeric pickle and puffed sorghum

[Read more…]
Signature

Gado Gado Pop up presents food of Bali

One of my favorite things about food is how when you want to travel and have a new experience but don’t have the time or funds to get on a plane or train or other kind of transportation to go afar, you can still travel with the cuisine. Gado gado is a popular street food Indonesian salad, and also the name of an Indonesian food inspired pop up here in Portland by Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly. Today, I am sharing a recent meal I went to where Gado Gado pop up presented the food of Bali. They collaborated with Shipwreck at this particular dinner to also provide some cocktails, but I am currently on a schedule where I have to take evening work calls, so I had to hold back (in fact I took the early seating specifically to make my work call!). Unlike other times it was also a cash bar that pretty much was also a hard cut off for me.
Gado Gado pop up presents food from Bali: Split pea tempeh with sweet soy and corn Gado Gado pop up presents food from Bali: halibut cheek bumbu Bali with padrons and herbs

In this case, they went full traditional for the dishes, and even though it’s still on my bucket list to one day get to beautiful Bali, for now I also hope you might consider donating to help since the devastating earthquakes in Indonesia, of which the aftershocks were also felt in Bali, a few days ago. As for Gado Gado, they have another upcoming pop up event already on the calendar: a brunch pop up at Guilder Coffee (2393 NE Fremont) on Tuesday, August 14th from 9am-2pm that will pair coffee from Sumatra, Indonesia with food that Gado Gado has described as including “shaved ice drinks, kaya toast, congee, rujak, Chinese sausage and more!! We are very pleased that this menu will have plenty of options for folks who are gluten free and vegetarian.” No tickets are needed for this event, just walk in.

Gado Gado pop up presents food from Bali

My dinner celebrating Bali did have a shaved ice dessert – lets’ take a look at my meal, which was all served family style with dishes arriving as they were ready, just like food often comes in Southeast Asia. Most of the people in Bali are Hindu, so you won’t see beef – and you will probably notice some Indian influences in some of the dishes. Also, like foods of Southeast Asia in general, you will find flavors that are spicy, a depth of umami with use of fish sauce, and seasonings that take advantage of chilis, spices, leaves, and coconut milk.
[Read more…]

Signature