Grain and Gristle is one of the new residents that offers up German-esque comfort food and quality brews.  Think homemade pretzels and spicy mustard, smoked kielbasa, mussel frites, and a fair share of potatoes and cabbage.

During my visit, I happily devoured the samplings offered on Steve’s Cheese board, fingerling potatoes, and the braised pork shoulder.  I highly suggest the spring onions while they’re still in season!  They also feature a rotating tap that highlights some of the best of the region.  The inside of the space is warm and inviting.  The bar area is the central feature of the room and is surrounded by a long, live-edged maple bar; a great addition to the space.

The newest tenant on this corner is Pok Pok Noi.  Chef Andy Ricker has brought the original Pok Pok shack menu to NE Portland and I am more than grateful.  The menu includes 12 Thai dishes, all executed with great care and detail.  The space inside is small with a handful of stools available at the bar.  There is additional seating on their back patio but the intention is for this to be a small, friendly space mainly concentrating on counter-service and take out.  Please note, Pok Pok Noi is cash or debit card only.

Though the fare can run a tad pricey, I laid down $33 at lunch for 2, but the quality is high and I have never left hungry.  The standout dishes are Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings and the Khao Man Som Tom.  The wings are addictive and feature juicy chicken wings marinated in fish sauce and palm sugar, deep fried, tossed in caramelized Phu Quoo fish sauce and garlic and then complemented by a small Thai salad.  Spice lovers can request to kick this one up a notch to really feel the burn.

The Khao Man Som Tom is a sweet shredded pork dish with fried shallots and cilantro served on a warm bed of coconut rice.  This is accompanied by the green papaya salad which is delicious and sweat inducing – a warning for the spice averse.   You can wash all this down with any number of tasty drinking vinegars, Thai teas, or soda. If you have saved room, Pok Pok Noi also serves dessert.  You’ll find your standard mango with sticky rice but for the daring, you have the opportunity to consume durian – though you may lose your dining companions.

Prescott Village also houses Tiga, a dark neighborhood bar that serves up craft brews and spins music by a variety of local DJs.  It’s a good neighborhood standby and favorite local haunt for many in the area.

Extracto Coffeehouse has also taken up residence in this small business pod.  This space is much smaller than their Killingsworth location but the coffee is the same – amazing!  Baristas are friendly and they roast a nearly perfect cup of coffee.

If you’re feeling the need to beat on something, check out Revival Drum Shop.  This small, locally-owned spot is your one-stop shop for all things drumming.  You’ll find some cool vintage drums here as well as anything your kit could need.  All levels are welcome to come in and browse or just hang out and talk drums, really.

Need a trim?  Check out Headquarters, a barbershop that is also tucked into this corner.  Friendly folks are always outside and you can often find people playing chess inside.

As you can see, it’s easy to spend quite a bit of time and money on this crave-able NE corner.  So, what are you waiting for, go check it out for yourself and see what else you can find:

NE 15th Ave and NE Prescott

If you’re looking for a great place to meet friends for a leisurely beer and burger, Breakside fits the bill.  This brewery fills a needed void in the Vernon neighborhood. The back story to Breakside’s opening is the envy of many a beer lover, I’m sure. Friends and owners, Scott Lawrence and Tony Petraglia, quit the corporate life to pursue that which they knew and loved: beer. They dreamed of opening a pub and thus fled the cubicle world to start a brew pub of their own.

A few months shy of their one year anniversary, Breakside is still doing just that, quite well.

Stop by on a Wednesday evening when they’re offering their small batch night and try one of their new experiments. This past Wednesday featured a Sake Ale, brewed with sake yeast, fresh cedar tips, and fresh ginger. Any of their other house brewed pints is sure to satisfy as well.  With a constantly rotating tap, your palette is guaranteed not to become bored.

The food at Breakside is equally good. I recommend the Breakside Burger, lauded as the Cadillac of burgers. This delicious offering of beef is injected with Rogue River Blue Cheese, creating wonderful creamy, cheesy bites – think gourmet Juicy Lucy.  The burger is then topped with roasted wild mushrooms and caramelized onions.

The rest of the menu is vast and varied, as are the prices. You’ll find your standard bar-fare, with several selections amped up a notch: Rogue Smokey Blue waffle fries, deep fried pickles, fire roasted jalapeno poppers, homemade soups, fried calamari, and more. All pair perfectly with a cold brew.

All in all, Breakside is a great neighborhood hangout – dog-friendly (outside) and local approved and they’re all about supporting their community. My Portland State group held a fundraiser here last summer and they could not have been more accommodating.

Stop by and check it out for yourself!

Breakside Brewery
820 NE Dekum St

Hours
Weekdays: 3pm-11pm
Weekends: 12pm-11pm

It’s hard not to love a good happy hour and the Hawthorne District is harboring a great one: Gold Dust Meridian.  The atmosphere is both energetic and inviting with dim lighting, smiling patrons, helpful staff, good music, and booths for those seeking privacy.  I’ve been here a handful of times and have yet to be disappointed.

The happy hour itself combines quality, affordability and convenience – as it runs 7 days a week from 2-8pm.  You have your normal discounts on wells and pints.  However, I highly recommend diverting from the happy drink menu and indulge in one of their deliciously concocted cocktails.  Being a whiskey gal, I’m a big fan of the Blackberry Blinker, a NY throwback featuring rye whiskey, blackberry nectar, and grapefruit.  Gold Dust Meridian also includes local spirits in their cocktails where possible.  Cheers to local distilleries.

The happy hour menu food selections are also a win. The arancini comes in threes and is a tasty start to your evening. These saffron risotto balls are also stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella, and topped with a spicy marinara sauce.

The Trio is a big plate of comfort and could easily be considered an entree due to its size. The Trio offers up a classic grilled cheese sandwich with Tillamook cheddar and swiss on parmesan crusted sourdough bread. It’s accompanied by soup and salad which is more than filling.

The regular menu is pretty affordable as well and features some worthy contenders. You’ll find all the Portland standbys: mac & cheese (add bacon!), a cheeseburger with onion rings, and wings with your choice of pineapple teriyaki, Jamaican jerk, or smoked jalapeno bourbon sauce – a tough choice.  Vegetarians have plenty of options as well, such as a normal but good arugula almond salad, roasted red pepper dip, chevre crostini with wild mushrooms, and a few others.

Regardless of the menu you choose, you’re not going to pony up more than $9 per plate.  Happy hour food tops out at $6.

Gold Dust Meridian is a great place to meet friends or take a date, I’ve done both.  The music can be a bit loud if sitting at one of their regular tables, so grab a booth and cozy up with your special someone for a fun night.  They also have outdoor seating and a secret grotto that has me longing for those warm summer nights.

Gold Dust Meridian
3267 SE Hawhtorne Blvd
Happy Hour
7 days/2pm-8pm

One awesome benefit of scouring Concordia Real Estate is that we get to stop in at the Kennedy School every once in a while.

The Kennedy school is a NE Portland mainstay for residents and a must visit location for visitors.  Renovated by the McMenamin brothers in 1997, this former elementary school is sure to bring back some memories.  Catch a movie in the old gymnasium, grab a bite to eat in the Courtyard Restaurant, or roam the halls sampling the beer selection from the five bars scattered throughout the school.  Rebels and misfits will feel at home in the Detention Bar whereas straight shooters may want to head to the more refined Honors Bar.  The school also functions as a hotel, replete with well appointed and charming rooms.  There is a soaking pool on the grounds as well.

I was previewing homes in NE Portland today and stopped into the Kennedy School to grab a bite to eat.  As with all McMenamins establishments the Kennedy School is chalked full of great art.  Check out some of the pictures I took of the artwork and grounds:

12►

Ready to be a kid again?  Have a blast!

736 N.E. 33rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97211

Local: (503) 249-3983
Elsewhere: (888) 249-3983

This new addition to the Pearl District, created by Micah Camden of Yakuza fame, is a welcome stop in a premier location.  Little Big Burger serves up nice & juicy 1/4 lb beef sliders on a tasty brioche bun.  You can add local cheeses, such as swiss, chevre, cheddar or bleu, and there’s even a veggie burger option.

The sliders are simple, with minimal toppings making them small yet satisfying.  At only $3.50, it’s well worth it.  It should be noted that they will cook their burgers medium, unless otherwise noted.  Medium well with just a hint of pink was perfect for me.

I also sampled their fries which are enhanced with truffle oil.  Little Big Burger’s homemade ketchup was also a delicious pairing.  This sweet stuff actually contains just a bit of sriracha for a nice kick to the tangy sweetness.  Add soda or a root beer float and this is a nice local fast food pit stop.

The only downside is that the restaurant is super smokey, so I opted to bench it beside The Armory and grin as passerby enviously eyed my delicious little burger.  Small in size, big on taste.  Stop by during non-peak times and avoid the lines.

Little Big Burger
122 NW 10th Ave

Open Daily
11am – 10pm

]]> http://www.portlandoctopus.com/little-big-burger/feed/ 0 http://www.portlandoctopus.com/hood-river-hops-fest/ http://www.portlandoctopus.com/hood-river-hops-fest/#comments Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:50:14 +0000 jean http://www.portlandoctopus.com/?p=7822 It’s October in Portland which means it’s time to get your beer on. Since September is hops harvest month it’s only natural that beer events, Oktoberfest or not,  abound this time of year.  This weekend is no exception!…

Portland Food Adventures provides us with an opportunity to not only sample a chef’s best offerings but enjoy dinner with them as well!  Here’s how it works:

Each limited ticket dinner starts off with a private multi-course dinner at the chef’s restaurant.  Joining you will be the chef as well as other dinner guests, think family-style dinner.  You’ll get to hear inspiring food stories, kitchen horrors and wonders, as well as ask the chef those questions you’ve been dying to ask.

In addition, the chefs will also let you in on their Portland foodie secrets – the places they recommend to friends and family, where they shop, dine, wine, and more.  Some will even introduce you to the proprietor of one of these establishments.  It’s worth noting that dinner guests will not leave empty handed as everyone will be given up to $50+ in coupons to visit the mentioned P-town hot spots.  Pretty nifty.

The next Food Adventure will be held on Wednesday, October 13th and showcase chef Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen.  No doubt it will be a delicious evening.  For more details, click here!

The cost of each dinner is $99 and includes gratuity.  An optional wine pairing will set you back another $24.

Check out Portland Food Adventure online for more information or to purchase tickets.   Space is limited, so act fast!

Cheers!

The goal is to bring together the best that the lower east-side has to offer, in terms of food and beverage.  Judging from the participants, they look to be up to the task.  You’ll have a full course of offerings to partake in – appetizers, entrees, small bites, desserts, cocktails, and local spirits.

Here’s a brief peak at the culinary line-up:

Alma Chocolates
Beaker & Flask
Bunk Sandwiches
Biwa
Laurelhurst Market
Meat Cheese Bread
Noble Rot
Olympic Provisions
Steve’s Cheese Bar
Tabla Bistro
Xocolatl de David Chocolates
Clive Coffee
Deco Distilling
New Deal Distillery
Organic Nation
&
More!

Not only will these chefs be showcasing the best that they have to offer but proceeds will benefit the EcoTrust Food and Farms Program.  The initiatives of this project enable our local schools to feature local products in their cafeterias, provide nutritional education, promotes food-based & agricultural learning opportunities, cooking skills, along with composting and recycling.  Definitely a worthy cause!

The event runs from 6-9pm and includes live music, raffles, a new brewery room, and more.  If you’d like to stay up late, the Jupiter Hotel is offering an Indulge Hotel Package.

Details:

Indulge @ the Jupiter Hotel
800 East Burnside

Cost:
$40 for regular admission
$60 for a VIP Pass

Visit their official website for more details here!

Mum’s Kitchen serves South African Indian food.  There is a very large Indian population in South Africa, where Mum is from, and their fusion of foods and spices create some seriously delicious dishes.

Mum has been cooking since the age of 6 and found culinary success in her native South Africa before making her way to Portland.  For a complete bio, click here!

One of the things I really like about this place, aside from the great food, is how Mum runs the cart.  Curious about a specific menu item?  Or several?  Mum will whip up a fresh sample for you to taste.  Usually before you have a chance to even ask.

I was especially excited to see her  Roti Rolls on the menu.  Having just returned from Uganda I have been craving chapati, which is the Central/East African equivalent of roti.  It’s basically unleavened flat-bread.
Mum kicks this traditional accompaniment up a notch by creating a delicious burrito with her roti.  Stuffing it with curried vegetables, chicken or pork and cabbage.  It comes in an order of 3, which is fine as you’ll undoubtedly eat it fairly quickly.

I also tried the sampler platter so I could taste a little bit of everything off the menu.  This includes chicken curry, spicy garlic pork and cabbage, samp, chicken briyani, and an eggplant dish.  Delicious!  A lot of it is quite spicy too, which I really loved.  If you’d like to take some of that wonderful spice with you, Mum actually packages and sells her spice mix.  Nifty.

If you’re feeling lazy and wanting a good dinner without the hassle, Mum’s Kitchen is also available for carry-out.  Just call ahead and they’ll have your order waiting for your arrival.  This puts Mum’s on my take-out rotation, even though it’s a bit out of my way.  Not only is it that good but it’s also reasonably priced.

Stop by Mum’s and sample your way into spice heaven!

Mum’s Kitchen
3441 N Vancouver
(Corner of Vancouver & Fremont)

Hours
Monday – Friday  7am – 6:30pm
Saturday 10am – 6:30pm

]]> http://www.portlandoctopus.com/mums-kitchen/feed/ 0 http://www.portlandoctopus.com/is-there-a-beer-of-the-eastside/ http://www.portlandoctopus.com/is-there-a-beer-of-the-eastside/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:07:05 +0000 Anna http://www.portlandoctopus.com/?p=7725 On the weekends I work at a bar, which is located in the Nob Hill neighborhood, in Northwest Portland. There, I have the opportunity to serve many different types of folks beer. However, whenever anyone orders…