REPOST Americana Series Part III: PART I BEERVANA Exploring the Pacific NW with Gringo G ... Portland!

PART I WENT DOWN DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS BUT IS NOW BACK UP FOR MY READERS!

The Place: Portland, Oregon - Beervana

Gringo G’s Experience

Summary: Portland is a very interesting place. From the quirky hotel, to the converted old brew-n-view theaters to the gardens to the people the Gringo G Mexico City Foodie got to know there, Portland was worth every minute of Gringo G’s visit.

The Eats: First up is the Portland Saturday Market (which actually operates both Saturdays and Sundays from March through December 24 annually) alongside the Willamette River adjacent to Downtown Portland. The market has an astounding assortment of local food and craft vendors.

Between sessions browsing through local crafts, from vegan soap all the way through gourmet chocolatiers you can have local Thai, Indian food or even gourmet sandwiches … It is not only a decent place to eat some street food but a place to keep yourself occupied while you eat!

The second place the Gringo G visited is Bollywood Theater a restaurant specializing in Indian Street Food dishes from all regions of India. Gringo G got to try a few dishes while waiting to be seated in nearby Pok Pok. The fried Okra with a yogurt sauce and a fresh lemon was delightly light, crunchy and tasty and the Gringo's favorite. The dish with Samosas and a nice ball of garbanzo bean mix placed in a tamarind sauce was nice and tangy. The last dish with boiled eggs floating in a warm curry with nice rice was also delightful. 

Fried Okra with Yogurt Sauce

Curry with Eggs

Samosas

After Bollywood the Gringo moved onto Pok Pok, which it must be stated has become so popular that there can be up to a two hour wait (you can have drinks in their adjacent Whiskey Lounge Restaurant). 

No matter how long the wait the Northern Thai food is so outstanding that it will surely be worth the wait. The servers will encourage larger groups to eat family style (sharing all plates ordered amongst themselves) and it is a very nice way to dig into this fine food. The Gringo's party of 4 tried different dishes, one a wonderful noodle dish with coconut creme (very refreshing), another eggplant dish that was very interesting, Kaeng Hang Leh a wonderful pork belly stew that had a nice spicy curry broth and tender falling apart meat in the middle (very good but heavy) ... but despite the quality of these dishes the stars for the Gringo were far and away the corn on the cob with coconut creme slathered on top and the AMAZING Ike's Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings.

The patron next to Gringo's tables literally rolled his eyes back into his head when he first bit into the wings ... the Gringo thought this to be a bit of an exaggeration but once the Gringo bit into the wings he realized why the other guest reacted this way. They are very nice and crunchy on the outside with a perfect blend of fish sauce and other ingredients and if you ask for them spicy they get a little special red pepper kick! This dish was possibly Gringo G's favorite dish on a trip that spanned 6 cities, 4 different provinces and 2 different countries!

Ike's Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings

Coconut Milk Noodles

Kaeng Hang Leh

After an extremely filling and pleasurable experience at Pok Pok the Gringo decided to walk around the Division District of Portland (where Bollywood and Pok Pok are located as well as S&S) to build up his appetite up for dessert (the neighborhood was very nice) at Salt & Straw. The wait to get your ice cream at Salt & Straw was about 20 minutes with a line about 100 yards from the front door of the famed Ice Cream joint. It is, incredibly, also worth the wait if not just to be able to try  some very creative and different ice cream flavors. The Gringo loved the Strawberry Balsamic with Black Pepper and the flagship Sea Salt & Caramel flavors which were amazing and served in very big balls on top of the waffle cone. The Rasberry & Cucumber flavor that another person in the Gringo's group tried was very refreshing and interesting as well. An absolute must for those that have a sweet tooth or a dessert streak in them!

The Line

Strawberry Balsalmic with Black Pepper

Rasberry with Cucumber

The last place Gringo G visited on his visit in Portland was the LePigeon restaurant. A restaurant that uses local products to create French inspired dishes with exceptionally detailed execution. The Gringo G has mixed feelings about his experience at LePigeon as many the fresh dishes were incredibly well presented and executed, particularly the squab which was very nice (hence the name of the place) (see pics below) but the pork shoulder dish even though presented well was still very tough and hard to eat. At the high pricepoint LePigeon charges everything should be perfect and it was not. Regardless eating that squab dish again would be enough motivation to make Gringo G return for another try!

The Squab

Crab Cakes

A Little Wine!

The Salmon

The Lamb Shoulder

Portland Saturday Market

Bollywood Theater

Pok Pok

Salt& Straw

LePigeon

Hospedaje: Gringo G went straight from a long day of international travel to his pre-arranged lodging, The Portland Mayor’s Mansion, an old almost colonial-era mansion that is now a 4-room bed and breakfast nestled aside cozy Laurelhurst Park in Eastern Portland. The breakfasts cooked by the B&B proprietor Dick are amazing and prepared fresh every morning.

The B&B Mansion is actually in the National Register of Historic Places and its preserved Colonial Revival Architecture brings you back in time to another era and Dick really encourages his guests to sit around the house and enjoy the property during their visits. Very relaxing.

The Portland Mayor’s Mansion is highly recommended for anyone visiting Portland and looking for a quiet, moderately priced option away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Portland. Plus the breakfasts are downright superb!

PDX Mayor's Mansion

REPOST Comida Realmente Gringa III: Viajando con el Gringo G ... PARTE I BEERVANA Pacific Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA!

PARTE I SE BAJÓ DEL BLOG POR FALLAS TÉCNICAS PERO YA ESTÁ DE NUEVO POR MIS LECTORES!

El Lugar: Portland, Oregon - Beervana

La Experiencia Gringo G

Resumen: Portland es un lugar único con hoteles únicos y cines con sus propias cervezas hechas en casa, jardines exóticos y gente interesante que Gringo G, el Foodie de la Ciudad de México, conoció ahí. Portland valió cada minuto de la visita de Gringo G.

Comida: Primero mencionaremos el  Saturday Market (aunque en realidad funciona el sábado y el domingo de marzo al 24 de diciembre) en la orilla del río Willamette, a un ladito del centro de Portland. El mercado tiene una impresionante cantidad de comida local y artesanos.

Mientras rebuscas entre artesanías locales, de jabón vegano a chocolates gourmet, puedes comer platillos tailandeses, indios e incluso sándwiches de lujo. El mercado no solo es un buen lugar para comer comida callejera, sino que es bueno para mantenerte entretenido mientras comes.

El segundo lugar que visitó Gringo G es Bollywood Theater un restaurante especializado en comida callejera india de todas las regiones de India. Gringo G pudo probar varios platillos mientras esperaba a que le dieran una mesa en el cercano Pok Pok. Okra frita con salsa de yogurt y limón fresco, que fue deliciosamente fresca, crujiente y rica, uno de los favoritos del Gringo. El platillo de samosas y una agradable bola de garbanzos, sobre salsa de tamarindo, era sabroso y ácido. El último platillo con huevos cocidos sobre curri tibio con arroz fragante fue otra delicia.

Quimbombo con Salsa de Yogurt

Curry con Huevos

Samosas

Después de Bollywood el gringo se mudó a Pok Pok que, debemos aclararlo, se ha vuelto tan popular que puede haber hasta dos horas de espera (puedes esperar tomando algunos cocteles en el Whiskey Lounge Restaurant al otro lado de la calle). Pero no importa qué larga sea la espera, la comida del norte de Tailandia es tan extraordinaria que definitivamente vale la pena. 

Los meseros le recomiendan a los que van en grupos que coman como las familias tailandesas (compartiendo todos los platillos entre ellos) y es una manera muy agradable de conocer esta cocina tan refinada. El Gringo iba en un grupo de 4 personas y probó un plato con fideos fríos, crema de coco y piña, muy refrescante para el verano; otro platillo con berenjena; Kaeng Hang Leh, un cocido de la barriga del puerco con un curry muy picante y la carne tan suave que se deshacía en la boca, muy rico pero pesado. Pero a pesar de que estos platos eran fabulosos, los favoritos del Gringo fueron los elotes con crema de coco y las INCREIBLES alitas de pollo con salsa vietnamita de pescado. El cliente junto a la mesa del Gringo estaba literalmente con los ojos en blanco cuando le dio la primera probada a las alitas. Al Gringo le pareció que era una exageración, pero una vez que probó las alitas se dio cuenta porqué reaccionó así el señor. Eran crujientes por afuera y con una mezcla perfecta de salsa de pescado y si las pides picantes te ponen un poco de chile. Este platillo fue posiblemente el favorito del Gringo G en un viaje de 6 ciudades y 4 provincias y 2 países (sin exagerar).

Alitas Ike's Vietnamese Fish Sauce 

Tallarines en Leche de Coco

Kaeng Hang Leh

Tras una comida placentera y abundante en Pok Pok el Gringo caminó por el bonito distrito de Division de Portland (donde están Bollywood y Pok Pok) para hacer un huequito para el postre de la heladería Salt & Straw. La espera para comprar helado en Salt & Straw era de unos 20 minutos y se extendía unos 30 metros desde la entrada. Es sabroso y vale la pena para probar helados creativos. Al Gringo le encantó el de fresa con vinagre balsámico y pimienta negra, así como el “clásico” de caramelo con sal de mar, que era fantástico, servido con bolas bastante grandes sobre un cono de wafle. El helado de frambuesa y pepino que probó otra persona en el grupo del Gringo era muy fresco y aunque suena simple tenía su chiste. Una parada obligatoria para dulceros y gente con ganas de postre.

La Fila

Helado de Balsámica de Fresa con Pimienta Negra

Cono de Frambuesa y Pepino

El último lugar que Gringo G visitó en Portland fue LePigeon, un restaurante que usa productos locales para crear platillos de inspiración francesa con una presentación bastante agradable. Gringo G tuvo una impresión ambivalente con esta experiencia, pues varios de los platillos estaban de 10, especialmente el pichón (por lo menos le hizo honor a su nombre), pero el lomo de cordero aunque estaba bien presentado era muy duro, casi al grado de no poderse comer y para los precios que cobran debería estar perfecto, pero no fue el caso. Probar el pichón una vez más solucionaría las cosas para Gringo G.

El Pichón

Pastelitos de Cangrejo

El Vinito

El Salmón

Lomo de Cordero

Portland Saturday Market

Bollywood Theater

Pok Pok

Salt& Straw

LePigeon

Hospedaje: Gringo G llegó directo tras un día de viaje internacional a su hotel: The Portland Mayor’s Mansion, una mansión de principios de siglo XX que ha sido transformada en un hotel bed and breakfast de 4 habitaciones enclavado en la orilla del parque Laurelhurst, en el este de Portland. El desayuno preparado por el propietario del B&B, Dick, es realmente de lujo y se prepara de cero cada mañana.

La mansión está en el Registro Nacional de Sitios Históricos y su arquitectura casi intacta te hace viajar en el tiempo a una época en la que la vida era bella. Dick es un buen anfitrión y le permite a sus huéspedes sentarse a contemplar la casa durante sus visitas. Muy relajante y hermoso.

The Portland Mayor’s Mansion es altamente recomendada para cualquiera que visita Portland y quiere quedarse en una opción histórica, de buen precio, alejada del bullicio del centro. Además el desayuno está incluido y es muy, muy, bueno.

PDX Mayor's Mansion

Americana Series Part III: PART II BEERVANA Exploring the Pacific NW with Gringo G ... Portland!

The Beer: Gringo G loves good beer. So obviously a city nicknamed Beervana is like a playground for him … and let me tell you Gringo G definitely played a lot during his visit to Portland.

The first stop was at the Rogue Distillery and Public House in Downtown Portland. Rogue has become world famous for its West Coast style IPAs and has a very wide variety of different beer ... which can even be found in Mexico City (Beer Box, La Belga, etc.) so get on it Mexico City foodies ... plus the pub food is pretty decent at the Public House .. good for catching a game. Which is exactly what the Gringo G did when he watched the Argentina vs. Germany FIFA World Cup Final there.

IPA

Taster - Left to Right Oreganic, Chipotle, Brutal IPA, Hazelnut

The last two stops can be found by taking the breathtaking, winding drive along the Columbia River (made immortal in the opening scene of “The Shining”) to the town of Hood River. The breweries where Gringo G enjoyed some pleasant libations are Full Sail and Double Mountain both located in downtown Hood River overlooking the picturesque Columbia River Gorge.

Double Mountain Brewery has a wide-collection of West Coast Style hoppy beers and is famous for its nice take on the traditional IPA its India Red Ale which has a wonderful ruby color and is just as hoppy as any other beloved craft IPA. However, the Gringo's favorite was by far the Hop Lava West Coast IPA (Oregon has volcanoes and lava fields!!) ... it was a delicous blast of hops for the Gringo both at the Brew Pub and back home in the DF.  The pizzas served are artisanal and accompany the beer perfectly. The Gringo G's favorite was the pizza with green shallots, ricotta cheese and white truffles ... which was par excellence with the beet tasting he had there.

Wonderful Double Mountain Taster

NJ Style Pizza

Pizza with ricotta cheese, white truffles and shallots

Gringo G always represents the best ... Stone at Double Mountain!

Full Sail Brewery has both a wonderful view of the kite-surfing taking place in the windy Columbia River Gorge outside and a full-scale offering of traditional pub fare to accompany its wide assortment of beers. It even won the 2014 Craft Brewer of the Year award from Beverage World Magazine. The Gringo only had time to stop in, enjoy the view and buy a beer to pack in his suitcase ... which he will enjoy soon in his humble Mexico City abode.

What a beer journey it was in the Portland area … Gringo G truly found Beervana!

Double Mountain Brewery Webpage and Location

Full Sail Brewing Webpage and Location

Rogue Distillery & Public House Webpage and Location

Things To Do: 

Soccer, Footy whatever you want to call it:

Portland being Soccertown, USA and all it is appropriate that the local soccer bars represented a part of Gringo G’s visit … if you want to watch a Premier League match, or a Champions League match or an MLS match or even a FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina & Germany … it was one of the cities shown at halftime of the Final with its crowds watching the game.

Here is a list of links to the best of the best in Portland to catch a match and down a few cold ones while enjoying your footy:

Beulahland

4-4-2 Soccer Bar

Blitz Ladd

Smell the Roses:

The most common nickname for Portland (not the nickname Gringo G prefers, Beervana) is the City of Roses … no the city is not named after the famous Rose Garden Arena where the Trailblazers play … Portland is named after their world famous rose gardens which the Gringo had a chance to visit before the FIFA World Cup Final. The rose garden was amazing but the real highlight was the adjacent Japanese Gardens which was a veritable jungle of well-manicured plants and offered amazing views of Portland below and Mt. Hood in the distance … this is the best view in Portland!

Japanese Gardens Website and Location

Catch a movie … with beer and pizza!!:

Portland has several Brew-N-View Theatres where you can go from grabbing a slice and a craft beer all the way to having a full on gourmet four-course meal while catching a flick. The Gringo G went to the Laurelhurst Theater and was very satisfied with both the pizza and the beer. Nice way to pass an evening if I say so ... particularly with the nice bars in front of your seat that let you prop your beer and pizza while watching a Wes Anderson or Jim Jarmusch flick!

The Laurelhurst is one of the many establishments of the McMenamin Brothers that now have a cult following ... they have renovated historic buildings all over Oregon and Washington States and converted them into fun hotels, restaurants and movie theaters ... checkout the picture $5 turkish bath in the converted Catholic elementary school in Bend, Oregon (coming up in another episode) below.

Laurelhurst Theater Website and Location

Take a Hike:

Speaking of Mt. Hood it is well worth the drive up the Columbia River to visit Hood River and see the mammoth Columbia River Gorge (not just for the beer, not just for the beer … keep saying that to yourself Gringo) and then head up to Timberline Lodge (from The Shining) for a coffee or a meal and maybe a hike around the base of Mt. Hood.

Timberline Lodge Website and Location

In the end the Gringo really enjoyed his experiences in Portland and recommends a visit to anyone interested seeing a beautiful and unique city through the lens of a Mexico City Foodie!

Coming Next: Americana Series Part IV: Exploring the Pacific NW with Gringo G ... Seattle & Vancouver, British Columbia!