Rio 2016 Olympics specials in Portland

Today kicks off the 2016 Summer Olympics, also known as Rio 2016 since it is being hosted in Rio de Janiero, Brazil this year. Officially running from August 5 – August 21, besides the ability to admire the best athletes in the world while watching the Olympic events everyday, this time also offers a couple Rio 2016 Olympics specials here in Portland.

I have mixed feelings about this year’s Olympics, which before opening have been rocked by stories reflecting the corruption in Brazil, of doping, and of corporate and Olympic sponsors and the Rule 40 blackout rules. I worry for the physical safety and health (because of Zika virus and contaminated water) of those in the Olympics. Yet at the same time, I have to watch. I have many summer memories of how mesmerizing it is to watching these literally world class athletes in peak condition swish through the water (or into air into the water via diving) in the various aquatic events, which are my favorite of the summer Olympic sports.
Courtesy IOC Media: NANJING, Aug. 23, 2014 (Xinhua) -- The multi-exposure photo shows Wu Shengping of China competes during the Women?s 10m Platform competition of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 23, 2014. Wu Shengping advanced into the final. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
Courtesy IOC Media: NANJING, Aug. 23, 2014 (Xinhua) — The multi-exposure photo shows Wu Shengping of China competes during the Women?s 10m Platform competition of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, Aug. 23, 2014. Wu Shengping advanced into the final. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

I also always make sure to catch the Opening Ceremonies (they play at 8 PM today on NBC) as it gives the host country a unique opportunity to highlight and educate the world on their culture and history, and the sheer scale of the various “scenes” of the show numbering hundreds and the entire cast numbering thousands. My favorite remains the Beijing Olympics in 2008 – I remember when I was watching them I was also specifically in Portland to interview for jobs that would finally allow me to move to Portland. The fun tongue in cheek ones in London in 2012 were also fantastic – what will Rio bring this year?

I wonder if it will include a nod to their gauchos – and that brings me to Brazilian food, naturally, to go with these Olympics. My highlights are from a Southern Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao, and from Southern American inspired restaurant LeChon.

All You Can Eat or Make Recipes with Fogo de Chão

I’ve highlighted Portland’s Fogo de Chão , an authentic Southern Brazilian churrascia, in a previous post where I highlighted each of their available meat options when they had their grand opening of their Portland location 2 years ago. Their fantastic offerings still are available for lunch on weekdays, dinner every day, and brunch on weekends, including their all you can eat salad bar / Feijoada Bar (traditional black bean stew with rice, fresh orange and yucca flour) with Brazilian side dishes, then you can choose to add on the fire roasted parade of meats carved table-side until you can’t take it anymore, or choose the Mango Chilean Sea Bass main dish if you are pescatarian.

Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items Fogo de Chao meat is carved tableside until you can't take it anymore, all you can eat! Fogo de Chao meat is carved tableside until you can't take it anymore, all you can eat!

I’m also a huge fan of their happy hour weekdays 4:30-6:30 PM because then I can munch on two of my favorite items from them: Picanha Sirloin Sliders, 4 bites of chewy gluten-free Brazilian take on cheese bread of pão de queijo turned into sliders with Picanha (prime cut of top sirloin) while drinking my favorite cocktail from them, and the national cocktail of Brazil, the caipirinha. They have quite a few pretty cocktails to enjoy so don’t overlook them for happy hour even if you aren’t hungry enough for a whole buffet meal. I like to order the Picanha Sirloin Sliders with the Crispy Parmesan Polenta Fries
Fogo de Chao offers a surprisingly excellent choice of unique cocktails Fogo de Chao offers a surprisingly excellent choice of unique cocktails Fogo de Chao Picanha Sirlion Sliders, 4 Pao de Queijo Sliders with Picanha during happy hour in the bar Fogo de Chao Picanha Sirlion Sliders, 4 Pao de Queijo Sliders with Picanha during happy hour in the bar Fogo de Chao happy hour dish of the Crispy Parmesan Polenta Fries

Fogo de Chão has generously shared their recipe for their caipirinha, as well as creating a great resource guide to Brazil with their Fogo Guide To Brazilian Cuisine that includes

  • additional Authentic Brazilian at-home recipes (like yum, for their pão de quijo) in case you want to make some of your own Brazilian themed Olympics party at home
  • language lessons like common Portuguese phrases ranging from greetings to Cheers with pronunciations you can hear
  • Etiquette lessons and inside tips from when is the best time to dine in Brazil to tipping guidelines and even where to sit at the dinner table

LeChon’s “What the Chef is Eating” Brazil menu + Olympic Tapas

The South American-inspired restaurant LeChon begins screening the Olympic events starting today, August 5th and will continue throughout the 21st! They will also be offering a special “What the Chef is Eating” Brazil menu, which will be served throughout the course of the Olympics which is displayed on the chalkboard by the front bar to the right daily, and they also have a special Olympics Tapas menu.

I’ve highlighted some of their happy hour OMG deliciousness in a previous post, but here’s a look specifically at some of their Olympics specials. The portions you see are from a preview I attended with other bloggers so some were sample size.

Steak Tartare
Steak Tartare from LeChon Steak Tartare from LeChon Steak Tartare from LeChon

Cornmeal Porridge with honey chile spiced glazed pork belly, sweet corn, sugar cane syrup, vanilla oil,  I think I could have eaten three of these
Cornmeal Porridge with honey chile spiced glazed pork belly, sweet corn, sugar cane syrup, vanilla oil from LeChon

More delicious delights
Gotta loved gooey fried cheese empanadas from LeChon Gotta loved gooey fried cheese empanadas from LeChon Feijoada, with smoked sausage, kale, black beans from LeChon Special Rio Olympic Tapas from LeChon Special Rio Olympic Tapas from LeChon

The most fun Olympic Specials though are the cocktails that have incredible presentations – perhaps a hint of what is to come at the Opening Ceremonies?

This Rompe-hielo (Icebreaker) cocktail seemed to be the favorite of most of us, starring Aguadiente, watermelon juice, mint syrup, lime, and ginger beer comes in a ice sphere that is then broken
This Rompe-hielo (Icebreaker) with Aguadiente, watermelon juice, mint syrup, lime, and ginger beer comes in a ice sphere that is then broken from LeChon This Rompe-hielo (Icebreaker) with Aguadiente, watermelon juice, mint syrup, lime, and ginger beer comes in a ice sphere that is then broken from LeChonThis Rompe-hielo (Icebreaker) with Aguadiente, watermelon juice, mint syrup, lime, and ginger beer comes in a ice sphere that is then broken from LeChon This Rompe-hielo (Icebreaker) with Aguadiente, watermelon juice, mint syrup, lime, and ginger beer comes in a ice sphere that is then broken from LeChon
The Fogo Laranja (Orange Fire) cocktail with Leblon cachaca, orange juice, lime, cane syrup, Amardo di angostura, and flamed orange is the most dramatic, remiscent of the torch at the Olympics.
The Fogo Laranja (Orange Fire) cocktail with Leblon cachaca, orange juice, lime, cane syrup, Amardo di angostura, and flamed orange from LeChon The Fogo Laranja (Orange Fire) cocktail with Leblon cachaca, orange juice, lime, cane syrup, Amardo di angostura, and flamed orange from LeChon

The Empressario (The Entrepreneur) cocktail with Bacardi 8 year, Fino Jerez, Sugar Cane, Cola Syrup and finished with Mezcal Mist and Orange Peel looked impressive, though I didn’t get a chance to try it.
The Empressario (The Entrepreneur) cocktail from Lechon with Bacardi 8 year, Fino Jerez, Sugar Cane, Cola Syrup and finished with Mezcal Mist and Orange Peel The Empressario (The Entrepreneur) cocktail from Lechon with Bacardi 8 year, Fino Jerez, Sugar Cane, Cola Syrup and finished with Mezcal Mist and Orange Peel

Well wait, what’s that misty dish right? Ok, maybe this slightly spicy tuna poke wins for the star of the LeChon Olympics specials they are offering, they made a few a of these dishes for the group and I finished a third of this dish on my own… I didn’t even need the rice and plaintain chip accompaniment, just ate it with a spoon…
Rio 2016 Olympics specials in Portland, here a special dramatic spicy tuna with plaintain and rice chip accompaniment from LeChon
Rio 2016 Olympics specials in Portland, here a special dramatic spicy tuna with plaintain and rice chip accompaniment from LeChon Rio 2016 Olympics specials in Portland, here a special dramatic spicy tuna with plaintain and rice chip accompaniment from LeChon Rio 2016 Olympics specials in Portland, here a special dramatic spicy tuna with plaintain and rice chip accompaniment from LeChon Rio 2016 Olympics specials in Portland, here a special dramatic spicy tuna with plaintain and rice chip accompaniment from LeChon

Are you going to watch the Olympics 2016 in Rio? What is your favorite summer Olympic sport to watch? And have you been to Fogo de Chão or LeChon yet?

Disclosure: This meal was complimentary, but 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.

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Saint Cupcake Galore Grand Opening

Some sweet and savory shots from Saint Cupcukes Galore grand opening party on Friday Sept 16. The celebration offered free bites and beverages to celebrate their larger kitchen and storefront location, which also is more centrally downtown @ SW 12th and Morrison where there is regularly lots of foot traffic.

The atmosphere of people at the completely free event was buzzing and appreciative and supportive, with lots of Mmmms and smiles all around as people shuttled in and out as they ooohed at the visual presentations and the flavors in their mouths and sipped water, or complimentary champagne, beer or milk. It was never so uncomfortably packed that you couldn't enjoy yourself and find some available snacks to try- the staff magically always kept all the samples always stocked.

Examples of the delights: Toasted coconut cream mini-cupcakes and fudge on chocolate mini-cupcakes and bonbonbunbuns of cinnamon sugar covered light airy brioche bites (which sometimes you could catch them still warm as they were restocking) welcomed you when you entered.

On the counter were showcased more lovely cupcakes in regular size. Also to try were  savory offerings of Caramelized onion and gruyere pocket pies, Bacon Wrapped Crackers, Ham and cheese brioche buns.

My favorite so I went back for a second were the ham and cheese brioche buns. They remind me of the wonderful baked goods you can get so easily in Asia where apparently the European bakery has had a stronger influence… the caramelized onion and gruyere pocket pies were also high on my list. I don't know why there aren't more of these kind of offerings at all bakeries as they were so common in Asia. At least I can get a fix now knowing I just need to visit Saint Cupcake rather then fly across the world.

Someone mentioned how delicious the smoked chocolate chip cookies were (the flour is smoked) and I had heard about them in WWeek's spotlight, but I couldn't find them while I was there, although I tried several other kinds of cookies along the way so the journey was pretty satisfying. Also I made my friend put back her chocolate butter cookie so I could get the 3 hedgehogs together. They also come as dinosaurs. Hee!

It's just one of those places where you can't help but walk out comforted and feeling cheered up and happy, like a sophisticated version of browsing a candy store, and I'm certain I'll be back again and again. Even though I am not usually someone who enjoys sweets, the savories they have would be a great fuel in the morning or as a snack with your coffee during your day (even if you're vegan- they have vegan cupcakes!)- and what you see above is only a sample of what they are exploring now that they have a larger kitchen. As a tease, on their FB they have mentioned Fig bars with maple & sea salt, Pecan Pie bars, blackberry pocket pies, Saigon cinnamon rolls, vegetarian brioche tarts with onion jam, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, and green onion, Bacon scones with bacon/fig compote…

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