Dave Goes: The best block in Astoria

Man (and woman) can’t live on storm watching alone.

Saturday morning Heather and I drove up 101 to Astoria. My favorite block in my favorite town on the coast is the 1400 block of Duane Street, which houses both the Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe and the Fort George Brewery.

I ordered the Americano on my first visit to the Blue Scorcher months ago, out of fear their normal coffee wouldn’t be up to snuff (I’m eternally disappointed with the coffee at coffee shops). And that dry Americano was one of the best Americanos I have ever experienced. It was rich and aromatic and tasted like coffee should taste. Was it a fluke? The Americano I experienced this past Saturday was not quite as good as the first one, but it was still damn good (though to be fair I did not order it dry this time). I’m still afraid to order the coffee though . . .

We wandered around town for a bit after finishing the paper and our coffees, and then settled in at the Fort George Brewery (right next door to the Blue Scorcher) for lunch.

Fort George brews fantastic beers and serves respectable pub fair, but one menu item is particularly notable: the house made sausages. Less greasy and salty than you’d expect (they taste almost healthy), and especially delicious. The flavors of fennel and oregano; roasted garlic, basil, and white wine; and mushrooms (the sausage du jour was flavored with bolete mushrooms) really come through (and stick with you all day!).

Due to previous experience, we knew the shared sausage sampler appetizer was enough for both of us.

Heather enjoyed a Cavatica Stout, while I savored both the fall flavored Drunkin’ Pumpkin, and a fantastic Belgian Trippel.

All in all a very pleasant few hours at my favorite block in Astoria on a stormy Oregon coast Saturday.