Dave Knows Portland

Portland Poutine Turns 2!

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Foster Burger PoutineFrench fries. Cheese curds. Gravy. We have much to learn from Canada.

Two years ago Heather and I launched Portland Poutine. The site is our homage to Portland versions of Canada’s curious culinary treat, poutine.

In the past year we’ve discovered, and reviewed, several new poutines. Most recently we stopped in at Foster Burger to try a couple poutines – the regular menu now features six different varieties! Last February, we finally made it to Gravy during a weekday lunch hour to try their gravy fries – which are not on the weekend brunch menu. In November we were delighted to discover that the new Hawthorne Hophouse offered poutine with the tastiest vegetarian gravy yet.

And stay tuned! Several poutine purveyors are on our list, including Bunk Bar‘s Fries w/ Debris Gravy and Bunk Cheese, and the Gravy cheese fries with italian pork sausage gravy at the Sunshine Tavern. Whenever a new bar or restaurant opens in Portland my first query is whether or not they offer poutine.

Thank you for reading, and please consider offering your own reviews – we accept contributions!

Foster Burger Adds Poutine to the Menu, We Review It

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Foster Burger PoutineHeather and I made a special trip to Foster Burger (5339 SE Foster) last weekend to check out the new menu (pdf). Normally a restaurant’s launch of a new menu wouldn’t dictate our weekend plans, but this was different. Foster Burger now offers six kinds of poutine!

Heather filed the review this afternoon:

You know what makes a poutine even better? When you don’t have to share it. Among the half dozen selections on Foster Poutine’s new menu (pdf), I was happy to just get the original, no frills poutine with fries, curds and gravy.

Dave got the Arleta Poutine, Foster Burger’s take on the traditional poutine Galvaude with roasted chicken and peas. I’m sort of not into peas. But Dave will pretty much put peas on anything. ANYTHING. So he was in pea poutine heaven. We each had our own plate and I ate every last bite.

Read the rest at Portland Poutine!

Trader Vic’s: A Preview

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Update: Trader Vic’s grand opening takes place Monday, August 1, 2011.

Trader Vic's PortlandSpending much of the summer in Astoria has its drawbacks – like not being able to attend the Trader Vic’s media event! But friend-of-the-blog Rick (of Beerdrinker.org, and @m8ryx on Twitter fame) gamely stepped into the breach – and provided the review below – thanks Rick!

Trader Vic’s, as you no doubt know, is an upscale chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants – with tiki lounges! Portland’s Benson Hotel sported a Trader Vic’s for about 30 years, but the spot sadly closed in the mid-90s. They’re giving it a go once again, this time in the Pearl District, at 1203 NW Glisan St. (i.e. corner of NW 12th and Glisan).

Tiki is not just a bar. Tiki is a culture. It’s a history and a philosophy. Tiki brings together elements of alchemy and magic to create a feeling of escape. That is what I felt tonight. When I walked through the plywood doors of the almost-finished Trader Vic’s, I was drawn in. The wood finish, the thatch, the umbrella drinks with their wonderful sweet tang, they have a way to relax you, and melt you into the surroundings.

Chef Broderick gives a tour of the kitchen
Chef Broderick's favorite dish is the bone-in ribeye with wasabi-thyme
The centerpiece of Trader Vic’s kitchen is a large clay oven fueled by logs of white oak, alder, and cedar. Chef Michael Broderick was kind enough to give me an introduction to some of their dishes and techniques. The oven runs from about 800 degrees at the bottom to 500 at the top and turns out some delicious morsels of meat with a hint of smoke pretty quickly.

The bar is pretty well stocked with a selection of rums that I’ve never heard of. A few of us ganged up on the bar manager and talked him out of a few tastes of some top shelf stuff. The Zaya was great. It was a very sweet, almost tootsie roll caramelization up front, with an amazingly dry finish on the backside.

In addition to straight pours, the bar was kind enough to roll out three standard beverages for our event. The classic Mai Tai (by lore, created by Mr. Vic himself), Nelson’s blood, and a cucumber-infused martini by Heather, somehow related to the modern classic Thatch. Another bit of lore, Nelson’s Blood is named for sea captain Horatio Nelson, who was honored by being put to rest in a rum barrel, then to honor him, the sailors drank the rum that flowed from the cask, inventing the drink and naming it for the great captain.

Located in the heart of the Pearl District at 12th and Glisan, Trader Vic’s is well situated to draw in crowds to its moderately upscale slice of paradise. I’ll probably see you there after the crowds die down a bit, which will probably take awhile.

Trader Vic’s Portland’s grand opening is August 1. Find them on the web (they have a blog!), on Facebook, and follow @TraderVicsPDX on Twitter.

Mississippi Street Fair (9-July-2011)

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Mississippi Street Fair 2011The 10th annual Mississippi Avenue Street Fair takes place Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10am until 9pm – on North Mississippi Avenue, of course, between Skidmore and Fremont.

This is still my favorite Portland street fair. Only five blocks from Skidmore to Fremont, you’re guaranteed to run into your friends amongst the 30,000 or so other festival goers.

“Grandfather” Leonard Smith’s BBQ Rib-Off contest is unique to the festival, and is back again this year. And there’s a Craft Beer Garden, food carts, and other great restaurants. Moloko will be celebrating 5 years with a special street fair anniversary party.

Five stages feature 36 bands throughout the day.

And of course over 100 local vendors will be on hand offering their wares, causes, and notions.

Read my posts about previous Mississippi street fairs to see how much fun it is: Mississippi Avenue Street Fair 2010, 2009, and 2008.

Visit the Mississippi Ave website for the press release, fact sheet, entertainment schedule, and more, and see you on July 9th, 2011 on Mississippi!

Pine State Biscuits Birthday Blowout (7-May-2011)

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Pine State BiscuitsJoin the Pine State Fellas at the NE location (2204 NE Alberta) for the Pine State Biscuit Biscuit Birthday Blowout on Saturday, May 7, 2011 starting at 2pm.

Live music will be provided by the Wheeler City Ramblers, Honey Wars, and Dolorean; Hopworks and Fort George will be pouring from the guest taps and cocktails will feature House Spirits spirits. And you won’t want to miss the biscuit eating contest! Wind down the evening on the patio where Wet Hot American Summer and Cannonball Run will be shown.

$25 covers your food and drink and entertainment. 20% of proceeds will be split 50/50 between Sisters of the Road and Mercy Corps!