Food News
I didn’t think I’d ever get enough items for a decent news roundup, however, in the last few days, it has poured in:
Some links don’t need a long explanation. Three words: truffle ice cream. The blog is called Killer Clothes + Fine Cuisine. Interesting concept.
The Village Voice posted a list of “Overused Food Words” (hat tip to @mpredd). I have to agree with some of them: unctuous, toothsome, sammy, decadent and nosh all make me cringe. However, they forgot “yummy”, which is my number one most disliked word. It’s something a little kid would say, and, for me, destroys the credibility of any reviewer.
This brings up one of the hardest parts of food writing – coming up with new ways of saying something is “perfect”, or “terrific”. It’s easy the first 20 reviews, but then you run out of things to say. I actually have a list of words tacked to the wall. In spite of this, I still overuse the word “perfect”.
Now if we could just come up with a better word than “Foodie”. I like “habitual masticator” (real term by the way), but it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
Slate published their food issue today. My favorite article is on lard – “After decades of trying, its moment is finally here”. Author Regina Schrambling has the perfect description when she calls it “bacon butter“. Could the time finally be here when we see restaurant menus listing lard? “Covey Hill Whippoorwill sauteed in Spring Meadow Farm Lard.” Full disclosure: I’ve always used lard – nothing beats it – nothing! Chefs, start your fryers! Tortilla makers, rise up against the man! Grandmas making biscuits, beat the food police with your rolling pins!
People will probably say I’m being a PR tool today, but I’m only posting a few things that really stand out from the milieu:
After a long absence, ZAP, the Zinfandel Advocates & Producers group is returning to Portland. I used to LOVE a good zin, but that was in the early 80′s before so many became over-ripe sugar bombs. Recently, I’ve found a few which have actually gone back the other direction. Maybe people are finally coming to their senses. The ZAP zinfandel tasting will be here July 29th at the World Trade Center Plaza. More information here.
Northwest Resource Federal Credit Union is sponsoring free desserts at two local downtown restaurants. Buy a lunch and have a chance for a free dessert. The catch? Only ten will given out each day, and the server decides who gets them. Deliciously evil; I love it. More here.
Though there are lots of rumors floating around about restaurants being on the edge, the much ballyhooed restaurant meltdown has failed to materialize – yet. According to my list, openings have outpaced closings in 2009. I’m hearing more “circling the drain” rumors about one local restaurateur than anyone else, one who owns four restaurants.
On another subject, buckets of rumors revolving around Teardrop Lounge. I have confirmed that one of their servers/bartenders is leaving for (rumor) Lincoln, and chef Alyssa Gregg is leaving for parts unknown – we did an interview with her a year ago. Too bad, as she was doing a good job matching food and cocktails. Of course bartender Evan Zimmerman left a few weeks ago for the new Laurelhurst Market restaurant. Hmm. The final rumor is a doozy, but I haven’t been able to confirm it yet.
More attention for our food cart scene. Vendr.tv has been all over this week, filming at Ziba’s, Spella, Savor Soup, SE 12th, and more. There has been lots of twittering about food carts, but one area in particular is getting lots of attention – SE 12th st. and Hawthorne. I will admit, I’ve been going up there a bit too often. The parking lot at that corner comes alive at about 8pm. Whiffies Fried Pies usually sucks me in, as well as Potato Champion – poutine anyone? In all there are about eight carts. Standing in the middle of it all at 1am, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself just watching the people. This is the perfect bar food, and lots of people stop by on the way home from a night on the town. There is a listing over at the FoodCartsPortland site.
If you missed the James Beard special on OPB, Oregon Experience – A Cuisine of Our Own, you can view it online. It is an interesting film.
From MSNBC.com, “Restaurants cut prices to keep the lunch crowd”. They have found the sweet spot is keeping the lunch total under $10 per person. Interesting little article.
I think I got this tidbit off of Twitter, sorry if I missed crediting someone: OLCC now has an Oregon Liquor Search, which allows you to, um, search for liquor. If you are looking for something a bit exotic, the search will tell you which store has it in stock.
The New York Press published an article by Ethan Epstein on Stumptown Coffee. Though I agree with a couple of things he said, the article is so off base, it almost seems like satire, or perhaps trolling for page hits. Yes, Stumptown is beginning to get quite a backlash from their constant expansion, which in my opinion has diluted the quality of the brand, but this article is terrible – poorly researched.
WineGuyWorld has been on a roll lately with lots of wonderful posts. One of my favorites is his notes from a visit to Vij’s Indian restaurant in Vancouver BC. Vij’s is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, and I make the drive at least once a year with my primary excuse to have dinner there. Check out the pictures, including Spicy Ground Cricket Paranta with tomato-onion chutney and celeriac salad, which comes complete with crickets to sprinkle over the top.
We reported back in April that McCormick & Schmick’s was planning on closing their original restaurant on NW 3rd. Happened today. More at OregonLive
You’ve probably heard of Jane and Michael Stern, they do the Road Food books, and are regular contributors to The Splendid Table. In their latest book, 500 Things to Eat Before It’s Too Late: And the Very Best Places to Eat Them, they list the coffee at Portland’s Ristretto Roasters. Nice job! [note: Ristretto co-owner Nancy Rommelmann is an occasional contributor to this site]
Site news: the outdoor dining page has been greatly expanded, organized into geographic sections. To top it off, AngryPirate has made a Google map showing all of the included restaurants.
I’m just about ready to start posting The Steakhouse Project results. I will put up one a week until they are finished. I’ll try to have one out on Friday.
Best thing I’ve read all week, this from an online restaurant review: “The creme brulee had a hard crust I had to break through, like it was stale”. Another reader sent me a Yelp review, where the reviewer gave a place 2 stars because they got a parking ticket while eating dinner.
I’m sure I’ll remember a dozen other things as soon as I publish this post. Have a good week!
Food DudeComments
15 Responses to “Food News”Leave a Reply
Please support our sponsors
Donated advertisement
Stumptown as a brand seems stronger than ever. As for the coffee………
Though there are lots of rumors floating around about restaurants being on the edge, the much ballyhooed restaurant meltdown has failed to materialize – yet. According to my list, openings have outpaced closings in 2009. I’m hearing more “circling the drain” rumors about one local restaurateur than anyone else, one who owns four restaurants.
hmmm…Bruce Carey? opening or closing?
Re the Sterns’ new book: It also lists Sahagun, and the chowder at Norma’s in Seaside.
I believe the new restaurant’s name, to which Evan Zimmerman is going, is “Laurelhurst” after the adjacent neighborhood.
Anyone been there yet? We’re planning a visit since we’re close by.
No, Food Dude was correct, it is named Laurelhurst Market, after the convenience store that used to be in the same location. And, btw, it is seriously fabulous.
^ A pedant writes..I imagine it should be “Laurelhurst” with an “e” in the middle rather than FD’s post above which has(d) an “a” in the middle.
And double pedantically, it should really be called “Kerns Market”, as it stands just across 32nd from the mighty “gates of Laurelhurst”.
Laurelhurst may be a lovely place to live, but for eatin’, Kerns is where it’s at…
There are many businesses outside of Laurelhurst that use the name, just as Grand Central Bakery in Sullivan’s Gulch calls itself the “Irvington” shop.
Twitter: pdxfooddude
says:
Typo fixed.. thanks.
There is a topic about it in the forums, also more in the Steakhouse thread there.
http://www.portlandfoodanddrink.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=755
http://www.portlandfoodanddrink.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=744
Oh, my – I just had to say that creme brulee review is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
Laurelhurst Market is quite excellent. They have a few kinks to work out in regards to overall service, pacing, glassware but the food is amazing. Marrow bones, foie torchon, yeast rolls and Southern fried game hen. And that’s the tip of the iceburg! Go. Savor.
Not to mention the Rob Roy I had there was great. Good food & good booze. I’m glad i’m near by now that bbq season is in.
Just a suggestion on a new term for ‘foodie.’ My sister in law, who lives in Chicago and has a great sense of humor as well as a taste for great food, came up with ‘foodster’, fusing hipster and foodie. Seems fitting, because when I think of a ‘foodie’, images of older ladies who grew up with Julia Child come to mind. The new ‘foodie’ has a bit more of a hipster attitude these days, what with their vests, stingy fadoras, white belts and forearm tattoos. Foodsters rise up!
Speaking of annoying food terms, “impossibly” bugs me, as in, “impossibly tender pork shoulder”. Well, apparently it IS possible, because you’re eating it!
Looks like Bikini Coffee has gone tits-up (sorry).