Tag: Portland

Weekend Finds 1:25:14

January 25, 2014February 7, 2017

Well, friends, it has been a long week. An emotionally tiring, physically exhausting week, full of phone calls and to-do lists. But it’s finally the weekend, which means weekend finds.

1. Toast and more at Trouble Coffee

Trouble Coffee in the Bay on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Not only does Trouble Coffee serve toast. It also serves coconuts.

This article starts out about the new toast crazy (funny, I read it while enjoying a large piece of toast slathered in lemon curd at The Sugar Cube), but then winds its way into a story about community. I really like the story of this coffee shop and it’s owner, Giulietta Carrelli. Also, I like that she has freckles tattooed on her cheeks.

2. Gougères

Gougères on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Little perfect light bites of cheese.

All I want to do is make gougères. And I have everything in my fridge to make them. So, you ask, why am I writing this and not currently stirring together large amounts of butter and cheese? I ask you the same thing.

3. The Salted Peach

The Salted Peach on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — I love how Dylan caught the flour in the air as Caitlyn was flouring her dough.

I don’t know if I’ve told you about my friend Caitlyn before, but I find her to be rather impressive. She went to culinary school for baking and pastry, and now works around Portland. She has this blog, the Salted Peach, and I love her writing – it is guaranteed to make me smile. Her most recent post for a S’more Tart has some of the most gorgeous pictures (which her boyfriend Dylan takes). I told them if they ever want to get me a present, they can give me a print of the picture above.

4. To remove or not to remove garlic germ?

On removing garlic germ from David Lebovitz on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — While we still may not have a certain answer, we’re a little closer.

I have always wondered whether or not you should remove the green garlic germ from garlic. And while you can really do whatever you want, this post from David Lebovitz seems to get us a little closer to at least understanding what that green germ does for our mouths.

5. Salted Rose and Honey Pie

Rose and Honey Pie from Adventures in Cooking on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Tell me that doesn’t look so delicious.

I still can’t get over this blog. And this recipe is not helping. I love a gentle rose flavor in some dishes (my dad made a rose water and harissa fish dish once that was incredible), and this pie looks so beautiful and sweet.

Restaurant Review: Boxer Ramen

January 16, 2014February 7, 2017

The other day, after a trip to the library and a few hours in a coffee shop attempting to plan our trip to SE Asia (we’ve gotten a little further, at this point, and have narrowed it down to northern Vietnam, and have even booked tickets), Jonah and I were hungry. Very very hungry. We were near the library in downtown Portland, and needed something relatively quick and relatively cheap and completely delicious. It was a cold sunny day, and Jonah wanted pho. I started thinking noodle soup, and Boxer Ramen popped into my head.

It’s not pho, but it is really good ramen. The restaurant is inside the New Union way shopping arcade, so it’s pretty much what one would call a hole in the wall. A few larger tables, a few deuces, and a bar, all with stools, line the brightly colored space. And there are 4 options (well, 6, if you count the sides). Sometimes I hate when there are so few options – I feel like I don’t really have any choice at all. But here, it seems to work. There’s the standard, the spicy, the mushroom, and the vegetarian curry. Jonah went for the spicy red miso, and I went for the standard tonkatsu-shio. We decided to skip the sides, though I have heard good things about the okonomiyaki tots.

The food came within about 5 minutes, and we immediately started slurping down our noodles and broth. The soup was rich and warm, and so perfectly what we both wanted. The ramen noodles were really light and tender – not as stiff as some I’ve had in the past. The broth was perfectly savory, a tiny bit almost creamy, and felt perfectly viscous, not too thin, but not too thick. There was a delicious slab of pork belly floating in the soup, which was a nice textural addition, as well as lots of green onion.

As far as ramen in Portland goes, this place is definitely the tops. I can imagine if I worked downtown, this would be a go to lunch spot (though my guess is that there’s a line at lunch time), and it makes a great pre-Living Room dinner too. I can’t wait to go back.

Weekend Finds 1:12:14

January 12, 2014February 7, 2017

I am writing this at 10 pm on Sunday night. I am failing at weekend finds. Oof.

But hey, my mom and sister were here this weekend (we had a fantastic dinner at my place of work, Firehouse), I celebrated Jonah and our roommate Johnny’s birthdays, and worked. So you know what? It’s ok that I’m writing this at 10 pm on Sunday. That’s just fine.

1. Note to Selfie

Note to Selfie article on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — The picture that will always remind me of my friend’s New Year’s Eve wedding in Seattle.

I really liked this article about documenting our lives by John Dickerson on Slate. I feel like people get and give a lot of flack (including myself, all the time) for tweeting/facebooking/texting/instagramming, and while I understand a lot of the point – those people who are on their phones for an ENTIRE MEAL are ridiculous – there is something to be said for allowing people to observe and think and be present in their own way. I often feel embarrassed about photographing food, and very judged for it, but I want to remember those little moments, and sometimes a picture of a croissant reminds me of a frosty morning with my family.

2. Where the locals eat in Portland

"Where the Locals Eat in Portland" on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Eat like we eat.

A short article with a short list of “where the locals eat in Portland” from USA Today. I’d call it correct – I love all of these places. Specifically, if you haven’t been to Ned Ludd or Aviary, go sooooooon! (Also see cheap eats in Portland under $10.)

3. Cardamom Roasted Plum Ice Cream

Cardamom Roasted Plum Ice Cream on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Doesn’t this make you want summer, too?

Is it summer yet? Ughhhhh. I want to make this ice cream from Fork Spoon Knife. Right now. Now now now.

4. 10 Best Budget Bourbons

10 Best Budget Bourbons list on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — It’s time to get my (budget) bourbon on.

I think, tentatively, I have become a whiskey drinker. These days, I prefer bourbon, and while I’d love to go buy some really nice stuff to drink, I’m still a beginner. And cheap. So I’ll stick to this list of budget bourbons over on Serious Eats, thanks.

5. Grown up tater tots

Grown Up Tater Tots on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Yum grown up tater tots!

These grown up tater tots look really wonderful. Tom Douglas serves something similar at one of his restaurants (maybe more than one, I can’t remember) in Seattle, Lola. I’ve always wanted to try making a version, and this might be my ticket. Also, I love their suggestion of pairing this savory, garlicky snack with a sweet beverage like cocoa.

Weekend Finds 1:5:14

January 5, 2014February 7, 2017

Wow, I had trouble writing that date. I think around New Year’s my brain has trouble figuring things out, and reverts back to whatever year it was two years ago. In this case 2012. Oof. Weekend Finds! This week, free of holiday treats for the first time in a long time.

1. Galette Des Rois

Galette Des Rois from David Lebovitz on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Galette Des Rois from David Lebovitz

Jonah’s birthday is tomorrow (!!!) and I thought it might be fun to try this traditional French Epiphany dessert for him (our plans also include dinner at Apizza Scholls with friends, then hopping across the street to Sapphire Hotel for drinks). Plus, it doesn’t even look that hard. And David Lebovitz is a genius.

2. SE Asia here we come!

Southeast Asia on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Southeast Asia trip planning

It has been confirmed, we are going to SE Asia at the end of March/beginning of April. I think we’ve decided what region we’re going to, but I’m going to wait to tell you. I wouldn’t want to jinx or spoil it! More details to come!

3. The Importance of Acid

The Importance of Acid on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — The Importance of Acid

Whenever I am asked to taste a dish and see if it needs anything (by my parents, Jonah, roommates…), my answer is almost ALWAYS acid (second most popular response is salt). It is really incredible what difference a squeeze of lemon can make, which is why I like to always have a few laying around the kitchen.

4. Getting thyme off the stem

Thyme Tips from the Kitchn on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Thyme Tips from the Kitchn

I recently made more of the sea salt, thyme, chocolate chunk cookies (for a cookie exchange at work before the holidays), and while I love love LOVE those damn cookies, taking the thyme leaves off the stem is such a royal pain in the patootie. And I generally feel this way about thyme. I love the flavor of it, I love using it, but it’s so annoying. So I was pretty excited when I came across this little tip to make it easier to use thyme.

5. New Years Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions on Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — What are you New Year’s Resolutions? Watch more fireworks?

I have a few. 1) Cook more new things! 2) Drink more green smoothies, they’re delicious and healthy. 3) Start painting again. 4) Learn more about my readers. Who are you? Where are you from? What do you like to cook? Is there something you’d like to see more of on my blog?