Maupin, Oregon // Rafting the Deschutes River // High Desert River Outfitters: The Ultimate - all day experience //
Nope, never had a bad day in Maupin. I did however, have the worst ice cream known to man-
(Stay away from this place, Sage Photos & Ice Cream [?!?!])
For more information on booking rafting trips check out: www.highdesertriver.com
We’ll start with my favorite places…
[ Ken’s Artisan Bakery ]
Blood Orange
Lemon
Hazelnut <--- #1, although they are all amazing
Pistacio
Grapefruit
Salted Caramel
Suuuuuuuuper romantic story about the itty bitty pic above.
Surprise box, full of macarons at work, downtown Portland.
My very first in America actually. So good that I started shoving them in my mouth, crumbs all over my face and a Hansel and Gretel trail where I had been walking by. Mmmmm yum. Snuck away to a busy street. Someone leans in to kiss me (our first) and I frantically shake my head “Noooooooooooo!!” (Only because of the lovely hazelnut macaron still in my mouth).
Yeah. No matter. It was a delicious kiss, but besides that anecdote, Ken’s is by far my top choice for macarons in this city!
[ Pix Patisserie ]
This place is great and always fulfills our late night macaron cravings! They are open until midnight-1 am and have a slew of other pastries to choose from as well! Pix was voted best macarons in Portland one year, when they had a foie gras flavored one. Disturbing, but just one of many interesting flavors to choose from.
[ Whole Foods Bakery ]
Double Chocolate — tasted like a piece of fudge and had the same consistency.
Birthday Cake <--- fave
Pistacio
Strawberry Champagne <---- tied for fave
Raspberry
(PLATE NOT INCLUDED)
I enjoy all of these flavors, even the double chocolate despite it not being quite right in texture. The best way to eat these (besides sharing, of course) is to get a bite of the birthday cake and a bite of the strawberry macaron in one mouthful. STRAWBERRY BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!
[ New Seasons ]
Pistacio
Lemon
Chocolate
Coffee
These guys aren’t bad! They are a bit on the small side, wimpy macarons that just leave me wanting more. Not the craziest variety to choose from, just basics here that you can’t go wrong with.
[ Jade Bistro ]
Blueberry
Lavender
Coconut <--- probably the best of the bunch
Pistacio
The colors were so bright and jarring. Fun to pick out in the case, but the flavors matched the vibrancy of the color, except in an artificial way. I think this would fit the palette of many kids rather than anyone desiring a true French pastry; the colors alone screamed fake and made it unappetizing. Plus you can tell from the picture that the macarons are all different sizes, so I don’t think they’ve got the recipe down yet.
[ Fancy That ]
Pistacio
Chocolate Malt
Carrot Cake
Salted Caramel
Raspberry
Hazelnut
Again, all shapes and sizes of these macarons. Some of the most disappointing I’ve ever tried- If this had been a blind tasting I would have been unable to recognize what flavors I was eating (besides raspberry). The outside was basic for each one, and the filling aka sugared buttered added nothing special to distinguish one from another. The coloring was also pretty misleading. So if you like eating fancy butter… you know where to go!
[ NW Portland Cafe ]
Gold macaron? Yes please!
Lemon
Raspberry… Tasted like a pop tart! Delicious 🙂
These were more surprise work macarons (I prefer food to flowers anytime), and the description of where they came from was vague. I will forever dream of the pop tart macaron I had that day!
[ Elephants Delicatessen ]
I only tried one. First and last one. Should’ve known better than to trust a place that would leave their macarons out in the open refrigerator all day. They were too tiny for the price, bland, and also the wrong texture *probably due to the refrigeration* I may need to buy some and let them defrost for a bit before consuming, just to be sure…
There are a few major bakeries known for wonderful macarons that I have not been to yet
but as always, I will add them to my ever-growing food list.
While getting to know my bf he asked what I thought about Anthony Bourdain. I don’t think he was prepared for my rant…
AHHHHHHHHRGH that guy! What don’t I like about him. I want to travel with him. I wish I could go everywhere he goes (minus Ethiopia) and eat what he eats (minus Ethiopia). I like him so much I wanted to see him on his tour a few years ago and throw my homemade spam musubi on stage because I know he loves the fatty meat goods. Alas, it was in the month of July (notoriously hard to get time off at work), back then I lived an hour away from the city and already knew it was going to be too complicated to go.
My bf replied that he too enjoyed watching the vice laden chef and read that he was coming back to Portland in 5 months! He bought a couple tickets the next day, (although completely unbeknownst to me I assumed he had only bought one ticket for himself… Haha.)
[ . . . ]
Fast forward: Well dreams really do come true. The entire room welcomed the celebrity chef with a standing ovation. No, I did not throw anything on stage— maybe next time. It was fun to listen to Tony go off about the industry and hurl his rehearsed insults at a bunch of the food network stars. The most interesting part was the last bit of Q&A where you felt a more genuine sense of the man behind Parts Unknown / No Reservations.
Someone asked where he had eaten in Portland so far and it was as I figured. Probably pretty common with his busy tour schedule, he admitted that he hadn’t even eaten anything that day due to his late flight in and early jiu jitsu work out. Kind of sad except Bourdain had no problem bragging that he has the best job in the world and it happens to be very lucrative. Still you can’t hate the guy for being honest, I look forward to his new season where he visits Cuba again (10 years later) and wonder if he will ever make it to the middle eastern counties few people ever get to see.
Below are some pictures from Grassa, where we ate some fresh pasta right before going to the show.
October 2014 my mom and I embarked on our first European adventure together! We decided to visit four countries: England, Italy, France, and Switzerland over the course of three weeks. I planned and planned, made lists twice over and still felt like it could’ve used some tweaking once I was actually on my trip.
What I did wrong
1. I bought two external phone chargers - one from Target before I left, and a longer lasting one for the same price ($20) from an airport. Handy as it was I definitely didn’t need two of them, and it was annoying to keep track of recharging so many separate things (iphone, iphone chargers (x2), camera battery).
2. I purchased a dual socket adapter with all the international plug-in attachments… However, the design was ill conceived and would only allow one regular sized plug to be charged at a time. VERYYYYYYY inconvenient (see above) which was also purchased from Target (thankfully was able to return once I got back to the States).
3. I packed a pair of slippers (just in case I wanted them for the hotel showers… yeah), a pair of gladiator sandals (cute but hardly worn as it was full fledged fall in October), and a pair of brand new (not broken in one step) Keds for everyday walking. The first two were unused, the latter not actually very comfortable. Big no-no.
4. When in Rome… actually just Italy in general. I decided to enjoy a full diet of gelato on the daily, ignoring the very real fact that I am allergic to dairy and ended up getting sick: for about 10 days. Not my brightest moment.
5. Miiiiiiiiiiiiiight’ve needed a selfie stick. Would’ve gotten more pictures with my mom if we had longer arms 🙂
What I did RIGHT
1. Used a pair of fleece lined leggings as a layering piece when it was cold outside, as well as for pajama bottoms, keeping me warm and packed light!
2. Filled my carry on with clothes that not only mixed and matched with everything else, but that I could throw out after 2-3 wears, thus lightening my load as I traveled and making room for all the things I wanted to bring back.
3. Had all tickets printed in advance, organized in a little notebook with all the information for our flights and hotels which was easy to find at a quick glance-
4. Packed everything in a standard size structured duffle bag with wheels and a pull out handle. I could use the long strap around my shoulder, or roll it along like I did 99% of the time! Made life so much easier going through airports and such! This thing has been everywhere with me and I can’t imagine using anything else.
No better way to eat popcorn than with a pickle or two on the side!
RECIPE
Air pop 1/4 cup white corn kernels
Use a tiny bit of coconut oil or try sesame oil (tastes better)
Sprinkle some:
Garlic salt
Sriracha salt (anything on hand works)
Pepper (black/white/whatever)
Creole seasoning,
and a generous HANDFULL of Brewer’s Yeast flakes!
A simple recipe is just the salt and the Brewer’s Yeast;
I grew up eating it this way (my parents were hippies) and my friends at school would always say
that my popcorn tasted so good! This is the secret!
PS— Hawaiianize it by throwing on some SESAME FURIKAKE and you’ll have a real treat!
PSS— Also pour some mochi crunch in and it will be a legit local delicacy (jk)
Dear Anthony Bourdain,
I was intensely curious to watch this episode once I found out you were returning to Hawaii, specifically Maui.
I was horrified at your only commercial stop on my island:
Tasty Crust.
If I had been eating while watching I would have spit. Instead I was sitting there with my mouth gaping-
then after the shock wore off, laughing hysterically… Why? It’s in a slightly run down part of town (which I love actually) and happened to be my grandpa’s favorite spot. Chatting with him about where he wanted to eat or where he had gone for the day,
“Tasty Cruss” would come the reply, (in his Japanese broken English accent).
“TAAAAAAAAAASTY CRUST?!?!?,” all of us always exclaimed. Seriously?!
I’ve eaten there a handful of times. I’m not trying to blasphemy a local hangout, it holds great memories.
Do those memories make the noodles special? Not really. I recall them being extra curly, and yes fun to eat as a kid but a well done bowl of ramen? I think not- pretty basic stuff here!
I will be visiting home soon and sure enough am planning a trip back to Tasty Crust-
One, to see if things have changed or improved. Secondly, to remember my grandfather and continue on his
Tasty Cruss pancake eating legacy.
Thank you.
Viking Soul Food Cart >> Belmont St
Lingonberry juice… FTW, YUM!
Left>> Sweet Lefse Wrap
Rhubarb preserves, Portland creamy chevre & walnuts
Right>> Savory Lefse Wrap
Norwegian meatballs, goat cheese, gravy, sweet & sour purple cabbage
Both of these were great. The wrap itself was a nice texture, super thin with a nice chewiness to it that actually held up to the fillings— The sweet lefse was soooooo creamy and not super sweet which I enjoyed, but also had some crunch from the walnuts. The meatball wrap had salty and punchy parts with the pickled cabbage in there. I love getting all kinds of textures and flavors in one, so again both of these were really enjoyable! The two of us split these, and ate them back and forth; plate surfing at will. Best of both worlds really (and a bit of Valhalla)!
Closing in the near future but supposedly moving to a brick and mortar location— Yay we finally made it!!
Thanks to my Danish friend for introducing me 😉
Waschbear the cat, rides Rainbow the horse… aka Rainbear the comic duo was a little commission and Christmas gift for a friend- always a fun challenge to recreate a living being that can easily be compared back to the picture. Fun. This cat is unbelievable and I just had the privilege of spotting the reclusive WB in his native apartment habitat:
Apparently I forgot to post this finished piece here (maybe I just didn’t want to inadvertently ruin the surprise?) that I actually finished last December! Has that much time really flown by?! It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through 2015, and how much has changed in that short span—
The Gist
1. Feeling alive and truly content
2. Having my own place
3. New relationships <3
4. Planning trips and following through!
5. Living more minimally
I had a notion that this year was going to be a lot of change, I couldn’t say exactly what but so far I am happy to admit that I’ve never had a more positive outlook on life— so much to look forward to…
ONLY 170 days until Christmas!!!
I’ve heard Cash Rules Everything Around Me, and even been to C.R.E.A.M. (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me) in SF but I was superrrrrrrrrrrr excited to try the brand new, much anticipated: PIZZA / Rules / Everything / Around / Me!
Perfect day to sit outside and enjoy the summer ambiance… there was an exciting 10 minutes ogling the feud between Trimet/ angry bus riders, and a taxi sitting on the corner. There was some yelling and threats made- taxi driver doesn’t care. Even our host got pulled into the fray. The bus driver finally decided to use common sense and pass the immovable taxi.
On first inspection of the menu there were definitely pies that sounded good, but everything had just one aspect to it that I did not care for. It appeared to be rational combinations and then a twist: let’s throw this weird thing in there to be “innovative” and hip Portland. After being walked through our menu by our really awesome host we still needed more time. We were all so hungry, we got the Meatball (Appetizers called Hook on this menu) which had an Amish butter polenta, arrabbiata, fried shallots, and parmesan. It was really scrumptious 🙂 One meatball for each of us and it was a good thing too, that Rootbeer Flip drink was stiff!
Ended up trying the KALE pie (Entree AKA Chorus): Lardo, smoked mozzarella, onion, honey, chili ($17). Yes, that’s right HONEY. I’m not normally one to mix savory and super sweet on my dinner plate and this was (in the end) no different.
Woodfired pizza? Great. Flaky crust: awesome. Burnt flaky crust, no thanks!
This is no photoshop trickery, and no filters have been applied. Presentation is definitely a part of it, black has never been that appetizing to me. I will say that I thought the kale on top was tasty. But when I go out for pizza do I want a salad on the side? Heck no! Do I want it on my pizza dripping with honey? NO-
Will I be back? Honestly, probably not. Service a little slow, prices a bit much for a so-so pizza.
(503) 231-2809
“Cassis tutissima virtus”
Virtue is the safest helmet — family crest quote
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for -John A. Shedd
They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.
— Mexican Proverb
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it -Aristotle
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” -Dr. Seuss
At the end of the game, the king and the pawn go in the same box. -Italian Proverb
There are only two tragedies in life- one is not getting what you want, and the other is getting it. -Oscar Wilde
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Through all this ordeal his root horror had been isolation, and there are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematicians that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one. —
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. -Henry Scott Holland
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance -Aristotle
The day people stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them -Colin Powell
