Dave Knows Portland

Dave gets out of town, builds a bonfire, puts Seattle on the top

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TimbersThe Portland Timbers and the Army made the trip north Saturday and came back with one shiny point. Despite the anemic Sounder fan support, visitors rarely win in Jet City. A draw is a commendable result, though disappointing to Timbers fans after the strong start to this season.

We got into Seattle a few hours before the game so we wandered around the city for a while. Traffic was big-city bad for a Saturday, the waterfront is a freeway, and Pike Place stinks of rotting fish. I’m glad I live in Portland. Though if the game were this weekend, instead of last, I would have liked to have tried the cheese.

Mile73.comNew, but already seasoned, Timbers fan Heather at Mile73.com has all the trip details, with photos, in her blog post  An Afternoon, A Full Tank of Gas, Chapter 5. She graciously transported four of us hooligans north, and then back to Portland safely. (If 80+ mph for 2 and a half hours on I5 is safe.)

March 22-23: Beer, Cheese, and Skateboards

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Spring has finally arrived, and with it my favorite part of the year: Festival Season.

That’s what I call it anyway.

By late summer every weekend has beautiful weather and copious cultural and neighborhood festivals.

But things start slowly.

Lucky for us beer, as it so often does, saves the day:

Spring Beer and Wine Fest

sbwf.jpgThis is the beer festival I’ve never gone to. The reason I’ve never gone is that it’s held at the Oregon Convention Center. (Whichever door and 1/2 mile long hall you pick when entering the behemoth, you always end up at the wrong end first; and may nearly enter a golf show before you locate your intended destination. Better signage would be helpful.) But this year I might give it a shot. Mainly because I’m intrigued by the concept of a tour de Cheese and the Island Times fest special from 3-5pm Saturday.

pastaworks150.jpgBut earlier in the day I hope to make it up to Hawthorne. The Pacific Northwest Cheese Project informs us that from 1-4pm Pastaworks is hosting several Oregon artisan cheese makers, with samples!

paranoid150.jpg
And if beer and cheese isn’t enough for you, Paranoid Park opens at Cinema 21 Friday and runs through the 27th. I usually wait until Netflix, but this is one movie I will make sure to see in the theater. Portland may appear in top 10 lists and the New York Times every day, but not on the silver screen.

A must-read from Mad About Movies for Gus Van Sant, and Portland, fans: Gus Is Us: A Filmmaker and His City

Rosebuds for 1/11/08

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For the second edition of the Rosebuds* I present to you an eclectic mix of Rose City related items.

*Read the inaugural post for a rosebud explanation.

October 5-7: Bougatsa and cheese, including feta

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Friday-Sunday

Greek Festival 2007 Feta, lamb, souvlaki, spanakopita, and don’t forget the koulourakia, diples, and bougatsa!

The last big festival of the Summer/Fall is also one of the best: Greek Festival 2007.

Those last three Greek items above were a mystery to me too, but fortunately the festival website provides a handy Guide to Greek Pastries:

Koulourakia
An all butter and egg braided cookie. Not overly sweet and good with coffee.

Diples
A delicate butter and egg pastry deep-fried and dipped in honey. Sprinkled with spices and nuts.

Bougatsa
A custard type filling in filo. Topped with honey, cinnamon and powdered sugar.

That sounds about right to me.

Saturday

The WedgeI’ll be at the farmers market at PSU Saturday to experience The Wedge: Portland Celebrates Cheese.

Meet cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, and taste a huge variety of cheeses. Events include workshops, presentations, and activities for kids.

From the press release:

More than 25 artisanal cheesemakers who hone their craft tucked away in rural and not-so-rural corners of Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Idaho and Utah will gather in Portland for The Wedge: Portland Celebrates Cheese . . .

Participants can taste some of the nation’s finest handcrafted goat, sheep and cow’s milk varieties and meet award-winning cheese makers and cheese pros who will share their handmade cheeses, recipes and stories about their craft.

Cheese blogging and other good stuff

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Next Saturday the Portland Farmers Market at PSU will host the The Wedge: Portland Celebrates Cheese. Cheese is one of my many interests, and the main reason I could never become a vegan.

With the big cheese event approaching I thought I’d share some of the cheesy local blogs I peruse regularly.

Pacific Northwest Cheese Project
This is the blog to visit for all the local cheese news and events in the Northwest, in addition to book reviews and stories about local cheese makers. This is the blog of record when it comes to Northwest cheese.

The Cheese (B)Log
Foster & Dobbs Authentic Foods (2518 NE 15th Avenue) and Curds & Whey (8036 SE 13th Avenue) are two of the best fromageries in town, but what sets Foster & Dobbs apart in my view is that they have a blog! Check it out for recipes, events, and featured cheeses and wines.

Good Stuff NW
Not strictly a cheese, or even a food blog, Good Stuff NW eponymously features stuff that is good in the NW. Cheese is well represented, however. Other sundry subjects include markets, travel, horticulture, restaurant reviews, and recipes. It’s a blog after my own heart.

Portland Food & Ink
Even less strictly a cheese blog, but a recent post does extol the merits of Sriracha Mac & Cheese. I also think the author has the best idea for a blog I’ve seen in a while; it’s a blog about restaurants, food, chefs & tattoos.