In the past couple years, Ive been enjoying the flourishing "Happy Hour" scene in Portland. I love reading about and trying out new places, stumbling on that lovely gem of a place you never knew existed, or sampling the menu of popular standbys. Its all good to me.
Sometimes when I'm really impressed by a combination of flavors or textures, my mind wanders to the inevitable question. "Why don't I make this stuff at home?" The answer can be very simple, "I rarely deep fry at home" or more complex, as in "Id have to do some research on the web to find out what seasonings traditionally make this dish so special.
I am always drawn to small savory dishes. Even if there were no such thing as Happy Hour Id prefer to order off the appetizer menu if I could get approximately the same thing. The smaller prices don't dampen my enthusiasm either. Over the last twelve months or so I've found some things that I can make to get that Happy hour feel at home. It doesn't mean forsaking the ambiance of a nicely decorated venue with music and good people watching. But it has added an upscale spark to some home meals that could have been otherwise ho hum.
One of the first things I did was research and duplicate those divine pickled beats and thinly sliced pickled purple onions. The web was my guide, and in no time at all I had a product that when coupled with greens and some nice goat cheese from Trader Joe's yielded a salad as lovely as any Ive had at a bistro. The one last touch that I had to master was making the omni present candied nuts to sprinkle around the top of the salad. This is also an easy process, and there are so many directions for it on line that it doesn't serve to enumerate them here. Suffice to say, Its very easy and you can make a weeks worth at a go if you want to.
Another delight that we encountered, and quickly replicated at home was the felafel's slider from Melt.
Felafel mix is available in packages, and its good. Its also easily got in the bins at Win co and is still darned good. We prepared the mix according to directions but shaped it into something more the shape of a thin chicken tender. These were so delicious and so easy that I took them for a camping dinner at the beach. On a soft roll, with lettuce and tomato they were heaven. So quick, and so easy. If you substituted a dressing made of avocado for the dairy based one we used it could be a wonderful vegan meal.
The last thing I've been doing religiously over the past year is cooking beans from scratch. So Many snacks are prepared from different beans. Hummas from garbanzos, gigantes from giant butter beans, and all types of delights from pintos and black beans. Since I made a vow not to bring canned food into my house a couple years ago, (because I am terrible at recycling and I don't want the sodium) I have been keeping my freezer stocked with these super ingredients. Mini bean and cheese taquitos? No problem. Fiery been dip? Easy as pie. Delectable black bean soup Cubano, or Congri? Quick as a wink.
I hear people say they don't have time to cook beans, or they don't know how. The secret is simple. Follow the instructions. Find a recipe that sounds good, and just do what it says. Especially the part about soaking the beans. They are not kidding. If I put them to soak before I go to bed, the next day they cook. Most cook about Two Hours. Thats about the time I spend doing the stuff around the house each week at some point or another. Its the perfect thing to do while you do the laundry or other things that would keep you home a couple hours. Then I let them cool, and the next day, when I have about 30 minutes, I grab them out of the fridge, measure them into snack size baggies, and load up gallon freezer bags with the sealed measured baggies full of beans. If you treat them gently, and wash them carefully zip lock bags can be reused multiple times before you fill them with garbage you don't want to compost and toss them. Ideally we would not buy plastic bags, but realistically, we don't always have big enough freezers to hold those hard to find one cup freezer containers. Plastic bags full of smaller portions seem to squish into the shape of the space available. I also freeze tomato sauce from the extra garden tomatoes this way, but that's another story.
There is no reason not to have things like a half dozen deviled eggs, good Brie, nice crackers, tiny toasts for Bruchetta made from that old baguette half you didn't get to, and lots of other goodies, once you start thinking about it. Most of the nicest savories are very quickly prepared while you wait for the news to come on, or that last load of towels from the dryer. With all the herbs and seasonings available in bulk at places like Win co foods, and Limbo on 39th Cesar Chavez Just south of Holgate, its pretty simple and inexpensive to have those world flavors we crave.
We all have that pretty dish or candle stick to dress the Happy Hour tray with. Its the perfect time to enjoy those pieces that don't really match anything else, but we keep them just because they have a pleasing quality. You can even find some sweet cocktail napkins at the thrift store, or better yet, stitch your own.
If I was going to splurge on one thing that is costly, in the sense of time, Id choose Pie crust. Very little in this world does not seem wondrous when enveloped in good pastry. Mini tarts and turnovers will make you seem like quite the home chef. If this is too daunting, mastering a simple foccacia, or sponge method pizza crust will elevate you to Saturday night star status.
So here's to Happy Hour, in all its diverse, flavorful glory, but also to trading an evening in occasionally for the evening out.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Tao of Off Beat
Once a month I veer off the path of the expected, the routine, into the world of "OffBeat". My friends may feel free to snicker here. Little I do in my professional life is expected or routine, and much less in my private life.
I look forward to the Third Friday of the month the way others anticipate Holidays. A week or so before, postings begin to appear on face book. Restless fan-participants and dancers chatting it up. More than that, a sort of reassurance. It seems like forever since the last time, but soon we will enter the enchanted Queendom of Dance, Costume and Friendship known as "OffBeat".
Altho its tempting to refer to the group as "offbeaters," the events creator, meteoric force and "Ringleader" Karissa Lowe doesn't like that phrase. Instead we are "supporters" if not performing. "Dancers" if performing. "Regulars" if one of the original group of several performers, and "family" in a general extended community way. The regular dancers are teachers of many of the supporters and dancers. Many of us claim more than one teacher among them The rest of the tightly packed crowd is made up of coworkers, partners, parents, daughters, and one very loyal Grandmother. Grandma Sylvia is Ringleader Karissas grandmother, sitting with Gary and Becky, Karissas parents, She is like that most favorite, beloved ornament on the family Christmas tree. It wouldn't be the tree with out that one special ornament.
Around Six PM The devotes start trickling in. At The Blue Monk, the lower level performance stage area is not open before six, so catching up begins at the bar as we wait for the portal to open. At first when you go down stairs, it seems like any other space, tables chairs, twinkly lights, barkeepers, music.
As more friends arrive, people arrange themselves in groups that follow a sort of unwritten pattern. If you arrive after Seven, space is very limited. A lucky person will have a friend saving a seat for them, the rest sort of drift into tiny spaces like sand in beach shoes. Before its too crowded, we place our food orders, get the first round of drinks in hand and gradually everything settles in to place.
Around Seven thirty the music is turned off, and the dynamic, beautiful, charismatic Karissa takes the stage, mike in hand. She will introduce dancers, offer quick down and dirty show etiquette for those unfamiliar with the nuances of Bellydance, like the correct way to tip. This may follow a call and response format "do we tip in the trunk?" "no" Do we tip in the Junk" "no". Throughout the evening, she introduces the dancers, jokes, following a ritual banter with the audience who interact with a reverent love force. She knows what they want, She has what they Need. She gives both, and always a little more, some unexpected twist, so that they will leave sated, but return like dying thirsty desert ramblers in time for the next installment. Its ok. It comes every month. Like Halloween, or your birthday. Its never enough.
The simple, but stunningly intuitive genius of Off Beat is this; In the world of BellyDance, what if there was a place where you could wear that one out fit, so over the top, so creative, so yet uninvented, that no one had seen anything like it before? Then what if you could dance your best belly moves to those couple songs that you secretly practice to in the privacy of your home, your guilty pleasures, from a fantastic sound system on a stage and your friends were there to watch, zagureet and howl supportively? Nirvana? Absolutely.
The rest of the equation is equally simple. When the non performers are all revved up from wonderful food, drink and all sorts of great music, the performers take a short break and Ringleader Karissa croons the most enticing words in my world. "All Skate". An "All Skate" is where really good dance music (you never know what this is gonna be, but it will be good) plays, and all the regulars who want to, get up and dance their brains out. Some times its the B52's sometimes a punk anthem, or rock classic. Music at Off Beat runs the gamut from ACDC to hip hop to classics and twenties style songs. What ever it is, you can find your groove joining the joyful dancing throng on the small stage, or on the dance floor in front. All Skate dance moves range from typical rock type eclectic, through swing type blues to the classic belly moves we all love.
Sometimes in the moments between performers, the crowd reverts to its preshow chatter. This is after all a pretty tightly knit group for its size, of 80 to 100. When this happens, Karissa makes the quiet coyote sign, if that's not enough she has been known to brandish her shiny silver flashing-lighted whirring noised plastic raygun trophy from the last Burning Man, in front of the mike and menace the crowd with pouty threats or a pirate joke. The thing is, while you want to catch up with your table mates, no one wants to miss a syllable of her funny, intelligent, irreverent banter. When she introduces each performer, you may learn something, no matter how well you think you know them.
At some point during the show the crowd sings "Happy Birthday" to the months birthday celebrants, and the show runs its little Off beat course with just enough unexpected highlights to keep every one really paying attention.
There are usually two all skate sets, and two long performance sets, made up of 3 or four performers dancing two to three songs each. Finally around 10:30, when you are horse from cheering, tired from dancing, full to the bursting of perfect drinks, olives, pizza, pasta, artisan breads, cheeses or beat spinach goat cheese salad, the evening comes to an end. The crowd is eased into the transition by Karissa as she signals the impending doom by saying "Get ready for some Pathos". The crowd moans emotively on cue, before they are summoned to the last group dance, then rounds of hugs, compliments, brief chit chat, and off in little groups into the night. Sometimes its fun to find the next place to dance, then another place for that last drink. Other times its nice to walk out into the evening mentally reviewing all the delicious moves, lux costumes, new hair arrangements, outlandish songs that worked, and just meander home through the night so full of satisfaction that nothing needs to be done or said. By morning tho, it will be like a growing gnawing loss, missed in increasing increments until the next third Friday of the month, when the talk will start, friends will gather, the portal will open and " The Queendom of "OffBeat" will hold court. We will be there.
I look forward to the Third Friday of the month the way others anticipate Holidays. A week or so before, postings begin to appear on face book. Restless fan-participants and dancers chatting it up. More than that, a sort of reassurance. It seems like forever since the last time, but soon we will enter the enchanted Queendom of Dance, Costume and Friendship known as "OffBeat".
Altho its tempting to refer to the group as "offbeaters," the events creator, meteoric force and "Ringleader" Karissa Lowe doesn't like that phrase. Instead we are "supporters" if not performing. "Dancers" if performing. "Regulars" if one of the original group of several performers, and "family" in a general extended community way. The regular dancers are teachers of many of the supporters and dancers. Many of us claim more than one teacher among them The rest of the tightly packed crowd is made up of coworkers, partners, parents, daughters, and one very loyal Grandmother. Grandma Sylvia is Ringleader Karissas grandmother, sitting with Gary and Becky, Karissas parents, She is like that most favorite, beloved ornament on the family Christmas tree. It wouldn't be the tree with out that one special ornament.
Around Six PM The devotes start trickling in. At The Blue Monk, the lower level performance stage area is not open before six, so catching up begins at the bar as we wait for the portal to open. At first when you go down stairs, it seems like any other space, tables chairs, twinkly lights, barkeepers, music.
As more friends arrive, people arrange themselves in groups that follow a sort of unwritten pattern. If you arrive after Seven, space is very limited. A lucky person will have a friend saving a seat for them, the rest sort of drift into tiny spaces like sand in beach shoes. Before its too crowded, we place our food orders, get the first round of drinks in hand and gradually everything settles in to place.
Around Seven thirty the music is turned off, and the dynamic, beautiful, charismatic Karissa takes the stage, mike in hand. She will introduce dancers, offer quick down and dirty show etiquette for those unfamiliar with the nuances of Bellydance, like the correct way to tip. This may follow a call and response format "do we tip in the trunk?" "no" Do we tip in the Junk" "no". Throughout the evening, she introduces the dancers, jokes, following a ritual banter with the audience who interact with a reverent love force. She knows what they want, She has what they Need. She gives both, and always a little more, some unexpected twist, so that they will leave sated, but return like dying thirsty desert ramblers in time for the next installment. Its ok. It comes every month. Like Halloween, or your birthday. Its never enough.
The simple, but stunningly intuitive genius of Off Beat is this; In the world of BellyDance, what if there was a place where you could wear that one out fit, so over the top, so creative, so yet uninvented, that no one had seen anything like it before? Then what if you could dance your best belly moves to those couple songs that you secretly practice to in the privacy of your home, your guilty pleasures, from a fantastic sound system on a stage and your friends were there to watch, zagureet and howl supportively? Nirvana? Absolutely.
The rest of the equation is equally simple. When the non performers are all revved up from wonderful food, drink and all sorts of great music, the performers take a short break and Ringleader Karissa croons the most enticing words in my world. "All Skate". An "All Skate" is where really good dance music (you never know what this is gonna be, but it will be good) plays, and all the regulars who want to, get up and dance their brains out. Some times its the B52's sometimes a punk anthem, or rock classic. Music at Off Beat runs the gamut from ACDC to hip hop to classics and twenties style songs. What ever it is, you can find your groove joining the joyful dancing throng on the small stage, or on the dance floor in front. All Skate dance moves range from typical rock type eclectic, through swing type blues to the classic belly moves we all love.
Sometimes in the moments between performers, the crowd reverts to its preshow chatter. This is after all a pretty tightly knit group for its size, of 80 to 100. When this happens, Karissa makes the quiet coyote sign, if that's not enough she has been known to brandish her shiny silver flashing-lighted whirring noised plastic raygun trophy from the last Burning Man, in front of the mike and menace the crowd with pouty threats or a pirate joke. The thing is, while you want to catch up with your table mates, no one wants to miss a syllable of her funny, intelligent, irreverent banter. When she introduces each performer, you may learn something, no matter how well you think you know them.
At some point during the show the crowd sings "Happy Birthday" to the months birthday celebrants, and the show runs its little Off beat course with just enough unexpected highlights to keep every one really paying attention.
There are usually two all skate sets, and two long performance sets, made up of 3 or four performers dancing two to three songs each. Finally around 10:30, when you are horse from cheering, tired from dancing, full to the bursting of perfect drinks, olives, pizza, pasta, artisan breads, cheeses or beat spinach goat cheese salad, the evening comes to an end. The crowd is eased into the transition by Karissa as she signals the impending doom by saying "Get ready for some Pathos". The crowd moans emotively on cue, before they are summoned to the last group dance, then rounds of hugs, compliments, brief chit chat, and off in little groups into the night. Sometimes its fun to find the next place to dance, then another place for that last drink. Other times its nice to walk out into the evening mentally reviewing all the delicious moves, lux costumes, new hair arrangements, outlandish songs that worked, and just meander home through the night so full of satisfaction that nothing needs to be done or said. By morning tho, it will be like a growing gnawing loss, missed in increasing increments until the next third Friday of the month, when the talk will start, friends will gather, the portal will open and " The Queendom of "OffBeat" will hold court. We will be there.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Safety and Comfort
Gathering my bags to exit the bus, I thanked the driver, wishing her good afternoon. She smiled and said "It is a good afternoon isn't it." I started to say that if only it were a little warmer, or the sprinkling spatters that kept my umbrella close at hand lessened it would be perfect. She seemed to read my mind,. "No Tsunami" she chided gently. "Its Good, ......."
That hollow, jagged, feeling of loss for gentle people, Shaken, Jolted, Swept away from their lives, lurched through my heart again. I have imagined, not purposefully, but with unbidden thoughts that will not be banished, walking on the road to work at my school, day dreaming about my family, my plans for the day. Then enduring an event so catastrophic that it would feel like the world as I understand it was at an end.
Its impossible to know what I would do. The thing is, we are like kids on a giant family bed. It shakes a little on that side, then a little on this side, it will be our turn eventually.
Can we prepare? As much as it is possible, by all reports the people of Japan are as prepared as you can be.
I remember back to pleasant Summer afternoons spent with our Sister City friends from Iwaki, Japan. They came visiting with middle school students as part of a cultural exchange. So gracious and friendly, so appreciative. The efforts we made to entertain and inform them of the areas charms were dwarfed by their enthusiastic enjoyment of each thing we did.
Those students would be in their twenty's by now. Some of the city officials and teachers retired, but I all ways think of them in the same way. Family members, speaking some common words, learning more every year. learning each others hearts, habits and personalities
If there was something I could do to show that I learned from them, as much as they had from us, I think it would be to exist in moments of safety and comfort intentionally. To appreciate perfect watermelon, kids laughing, a happy day at the Seaside, cool sandals on sale, a paper cup of tea offered with both hands by the friend who made it for you with the best they could offer at the moment.
This is not to say that they live only in the moment. Obviously, work is work and it always comes first. But when the work is done, I want to shrug off the unappreciative fog of complacency and see safety and comfort for what they are. I want to Be Very Grateful.
Off the bus, walking toward my destination, in my thoughts I thanked the driver, for the journey she had taken me on.
That hollow, jagged, feeling of loss for gentle people, Shaken, Jolted, Swept away from their lives, lurched through my heart again. I have imagined, not purposefully, but with unbidden thoughts that will not be banished, walking on the road to work at my school, day dreaming about my family, my plans for the day. Then enduring an event so catastrophic that it would feel like the world as I understand it was at an end.
Its impossible to know what I would do. The thing is, we are like kids on a giant family bed. It shakes a little on that side, then a little on this side, it will be our turn eventually.
Can we prepare? As much as it is possible, by all reports the people of Japan are as prepared as you can be.
I remember back to pleasant Summer afternoons spent with our Sister City friends from Iwaki, Japan. They came visiting with middle school students as part of a cultural exchange. So gracious and friendly, so appreciative. The efforts we made to entertain and inform them of the areas charms were dwarfed by their enthusiastic enjoyment of each thing we did.
Those students would be in their twenty's by now. Some of the city officials and teachers retired, but I all ways think of them in the same way. Family members, speaking some common words, learning more every year. learning each others hearts, habits and personalities
If there was something I could do to show that I learned from them, as much as they had from us, I think it would be to exist in moments of safety and comfort intentionally. To appreciate perfect watermelon, kids laughing, a happy day at the Seaside, cool sandals on sale, a paper cup of tea offered with both hands by the friend who made it for you with the best they could offer at the moment.
This is not to say that they live only in the moment. Obviously, work is work and it always comes first. But when the work is done, I want to shrug off the unappreciative fog of complacency and see safety and comfort for what they are. I want to Be Very Grateful.
Off the bus, walking toward my destination, in my thoughts I thanked the driver, for the journey she had taken me on.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, No Rain!
Finally, a Saturday exactly right for an adventure. Not too cold. Not Raining most of the day. Just Right! By mid afternoon we were carrying our coats as we walked through Portland's close in Southeast, looking at retro shops and turn of the century architecture.
Our urban hike began at 50th and Belmont. We headed down the gently sloping hillside toward the Willamette. Al tho it had been our plan to grab our first bite to eat at the food cart pod on Belmont just East of Slappy Cakes, We were lured in by The Horse Brass. We were not disappointed.
As usual, on a Saturday at the Brit style pub some were cheering the Futbol team playing on a big screen in one corner, while another group played darts across the room. Families, friends and couples lingers in the warm, dim nest like Bastion of Englishness whiling away the afternoon. As usual again, the food was perfect. We split the veggie-burger, a correctly grilled cheese graced lovely, on a platter with purple onion slices beautiful fully ripe tomato, and ruffly lettuce. Crispy just salty enough burning hot fries rounded out the meal. Some times its hard to leave that place.
As tho on cue, reinforcing my belief that every wonderful meal should be followed by a tiny bit of exquisite dark chocolate, we were thrilled to make the acquaintance of "Chocolate lab". A tiny, artists jewel box of chocolate delightfulness. There are all the usual items, truffles, shaped chocolates, etc, but the thing that just astounded me was when the sweet person tending the counter offered us a sample of the sipping chocolate. Ive read about this elixir, and its been on the list of things to try. I expected it to be silky, thick and dark deep chocolate luxe. It was all of that. It was having your mouth lined with something so rich you almost wished you didn't ever have to swallow it. But there were more sips to be had.
Fed, Satisfied, ready to roam we wend down to MLK, accross and East up Burnside. There are so many little businesses and shops it would be hard to visit them all, so we focused on the ones that carried mostly vintage clothing and the sorts of things you would find at crafty wonderland.
For some reason a number of places we had considered for afternoon coffee were not open, either closed early, or opening late. All that served as a real blessing tho, when we finally steped inside Crema on SE 28th and Ankeny, in Retauraunt row. I had been by it, in the past, never making a point to try it out. Now I know what Ive been missing. First, the Cafe Americano was just right. Second, You will not have an easy time selecting from the pastry case. Everything looks as though some one just baked it and popped it into the line up right befor you came throught the door. The baked goods are excelent, attractive, and taste exactly like you hope they will. The Suprise is the price. Each serving is plenty for an afternoon treat along with coffee or tea.
We split two items and were almost over full, but every bite was so good we could not stop. Our choices were the cranberry pinapple coffee cake, and the lime tart. The first was such a balance of bundt style cake, soft sweet cranberries and pineaple, that nothing could have made it any better. The second was a tart, its shell so fine and delicate I could not understand how it held the filling in. In the center, a dense but creamy filling that was like a white ganche. On top was a thick glaze of the most intense lime fruit, more like a citrus "curd" than anything else. The lime part was so wonderfuly tart, that if it had not been resting on the sweet center It might have been too zippy. As it was tho, the perfect balance made it a magic moment of pastry eating.
Leaving Crema, it was with a vow to return soon. Resuming our walk in the late afternoon sunshine, we enjoyed a violet here, a carved wooden porch roof curlicue there. Eventualy the day ended where it started, but with the satisfying awareness that it had been a Saturday exactly right for an adventure. The adventure had unfolded exactly right for us.
Our urban hike began at 50th and Belmont. We headed down the gently sloping hillside toward the Willamette. Al tho it had been our plan to grab our first bite to eat at the food cart pod on Belmont just East of Slappy Cakes, We were lured in by The Horse Brass. We were not disappointed.
As usual, on a Saturday at the Brit style pub some were cheering the Futbol team playing on a big screen in one corner, while another group played darts across the room. Families, friends and couples lingers in the warm, dim nest like Bastion of Englishness whiling away the afternoon. As usual again, the food was perfect. We split the veggie-burger, a correctly grilled cheese graced lovely, on a platter with purple onion slices beautiful fully ripe tomato, and ruffly lettuce. Crispy just salty enough burning hot fries rounded out the meal. Some times its hard to leave that place.
As tho on cue, reinforcing my belief that every wonderful meal should be followed by a tiny bit of exquisite dark chocolate, we were thrilled to make the acquaintance of "Chocolate lab". A tiny, artists jewel box of chocolate delightfulness. There are all the usual items, truffles, shaped chocolates, etc, but the thing that just astounded me was when the sweet person tending the counter offered us a sample of the sipping chocolate. Ive read about this elixir, and its been on the list of things to try. I expected it to be silky, thick and dark deep chocolate luxe. It was all of that. It was having your mouth lined with something so rich you almost wished you didn't ever have to swallow it. But there were more sips to be had.
Fed, Satisfied, ready to roam we wend down to MLK, accross and East up Burnside. There are so many little businesses and shops it would be hard to visit them all, so we focused on the ones that carried mostly vintage clothing and the sorts of things you would find at crafty wonderland.
For some reason a number of places we had considered for afternoon coffee were not open, either closed early, or opening late. All that served as a real blessing tho, when we finally steped inside Crema on SE 28th and Ankeny, in Retauraunt row. I had been by it, in the past, never making a point to try it out. Now I know what Ive been missing. First, the Cafe Americano was just right. Second, You will not have an easy time selecting from the pastry case. Everything looks as though some one just baked it and popped it into the line up right befor you came throught the door. The baked goods are excelent, attractive, and taste exactly like you hope they will. The Suprise is the price. Each serving is plenty for an afternoon treat along with coffee or tea.
We split two items and were almost over full, but every bite was so good we could not stop. Our choices were the cranberry pinapple coffee cake, and the lime tart. The first was such a balance of bundt style cake, soft sweet cranberries and pineaple, that nothing could have made it any better. The second was a tart, its shell so fine and delicate I could not understand how it held the filling in. In the center, a dense but creamy filling that was like a white ganche. On top was a thick glaze of the most intense lime fruit, more like a citrus "curd" than anything else. The lime part was so wonderfuly tart, that if it had not been resting on the sweet center It might have been too zippy. As it was tho, the perfect balance made it a magic moment of pastry eating.
Leaving Crema, it was with a vow to return soon. Resuming our walk in the late afternoon sunshine, we enjoyed a violet here, a carved wooden porch roof curlicue there. Eventualy the day ended where it started, but with the satisfying awareness that it had been a Saturday exactly right for an adventure. The adventure had unfolded exactly right for us.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Snow Day!
After starts and stops, fits and flits, the snow came. Sort of.
Martin, the tiny Innocent 20 pound kitten stretched under the covers looking up as if to say, "What now mom?"
The truth is, it was cold, and there was a tiny bit of white dusting, but it wasn't really, well, snowy.
Fixed the french press, and curled back into the blankets to think of how to spend the gift day. Nothing in the house was calling to me.
Then the phone buzzed. Sister Gal friend Liz , texting.
Thank God Most Gracious. Some one with the Desire for adventure and the willingness to set out in the snow non-event.
ETA times were coordinated, Make up was done, and we found our selves at the door of Jade Tea house in Sellwood.
Vee and I had been to Jade last week and found the Tea to be of the highest freshest quality. I was anxious to try the food. I was also in need of the severest economy.
For five dollars and fifty cents, I was in possession of the finest Hom Bao and big steaming cup of Lapsang Souchong tea I have ever tasted. NO EXCEPTIONS!
The bun itself was exactly spongy, puffy enough. just the touch of sweetness you want. Perfectly raised and steamed.
No kidding, it would not have fit in the palm of my hand if I had been the kind to measure. Liz, who has both traveled and lived in Asia was as stunned as I was by its enormous tender beauty.
The filling was fantastic. Tender flavorful veggies that were in large pieces but cooked perfectly, like those veggies your mom used to make around the pot roast when you were a kid, all resting up against each other tenderly, but still definable.
Liz had the Udon. It came floating huge, giant, shred-chunks of tender white chicken meat, along with lots of other other goodies.
After much sighing and wriggling from pleasure, we ventured on.
Hopping the Max to the Chinese garden from the Lloyd Center parking lot was Pure Genius.
NO ONE WAS THERE!
Except for the staff, and one other visitor, we had the place to ourselves!
As we wandered through the pavilions, along the pathways, it started to snow, swirling beautiful flakes. The white fluff circled the red and gold New Years lanterns that hang from every eve, and landed softly in the lake. Butter yellow Edgwarthia buds have begun to unfold. The scent entwined with the drifting floating flakes as they lowered peacefully from the sky. Liz remembered to try and get pictures, and by the end the flakes were so big that they even showed on our cell phone photos. We left, cold cold cold but happy. In the gift shop she found Two pretty Year Of The Rabbit book bags, and bought them, as she is a very sweet rabbit.
A warm up stop in Peets coffee by LLoyd Center. Then a brisk walk to Dava Beads on N.E. Broadway.
So many dreams to be had for any ones inner crafter. We mixed and matched, oohed and awed, made plans for hours of summer beading projects, and finally headed home.
It was a wonderful Snow Day. Just the best medicine.
Time spent laughing eating and exploring with a dear friend, who had the vision to see a different sort of snow day and invite me along.
Once at home, garden kitties were fed, jewel yams set to roast, Cuban style black bean and rice congri steaming on the stove.
Then time to reflect on the satisfying mood of this unique adventure.
Like receiving a special present that will never be duplicated.
Every moment was exactly perfect.
Martin, the tiny Innocent 20 pound kitten stretched under the covers looking up as if to say, "What now mom?"
The truth is, it was cold, and there was a tiny bit of white dusting, but it wasn't really, well, snowy.
Fixed the french press, and curled back into the blankets to think of how to spend the gift day. Nothing in the house was calling to me.
Then the phone buzzed. Sister Gal friend Liz , texting.
Thank God Most Gracious. Some one with the Desire for adventure and the willingness to set out in the snow non-event.
ETA times were coordinated, Make up was done, and we found our selves at the door of Jade Tea house in Sellwood.
Vee and I had been to Jade last week and found the Tea to be of the highest freshest quality. I was anxious to try the food. I was also in need of the severest economy.
For five dollars and fifty cents, I was in possession of the finest Hom Bao and big steaming cup of Lapsang Souchong tea I have ever tasted. NO EXCEPTIONS!
The bun itself was exactly spongy, puffy enough. just the touch of sweetness you want. Perfectly raised and steamed.
No kidding, it would not have fit in the palm of my hand if I had been the kind to measure. Liz, who has both traveled and lived in Asia was as stunned as I was by its enormous tender beauty.
The filling was fantastic. Tender flavorful veggies that were in large pieces but cooked perfectly, like those veggies your mom used to make around the pot roast when you were a kid, all resting up against each other tenderly, but still definable.
Liz had the Udon. It came floating huge, giant, shred-chunks of tender white chicken meat, along with lots of other other goodies.
After much sighing and wriggling from pleasure, we ventured on.
Hopping the Max to the Chinese garden from the Lloyd Center parking lot was Pure Genius.
NO ONE WAS THERE!
Except for the staff, and one other visitor, we had the place to ourselves!
As we wandered through the pavilions, along the pathways, it started to snow, swirling beautiful flakes. The white fluff circled the red and gold New Years lanterns that hang from every eve, and landed softly in the lake. Butter yellow Edgwarthia buds have begun to unfold. The scent entwined with the drifting floating flakes as they lowered peacefully from the sky. Liz remembered to try and get pictures, and by the end the flakes were so big that they even showed on our cell phone photos. We left, cold cold cold but happy. In the gift shop she found Two pretty Year Of The Rabbit book bags, and bought them, as she is a very sweet rabbit.
A warm up stop in Peets coffee by LLoyd Center. Then a brisk walk to Dava Beads on N.E. Broadway.
So many dreams to be had for any ones inner crafter. We mixed and matched, oohed and awed, made plans for hours of summer beading projects, and finally headed home.
It was a wonderful Snow Day. Just the best medicine.
Time spent laughing eating and exploring with a dear friend, who had the vision to see a different sort of snow day and invite me along.
Once at home, garden kitties were fed, jewel yams set to roast, Cuban style black bean and rice congri steaming on the stove.
Then time to reflect on the satisfying mood of this unique adventure.
Like receiving a special present that will never be duplicated.
Every moment was exactly perfect.
Monday, February 21, 2011
So Good To Hear From You!
It was so wonderful to hear from you! Glad you arrived safely.
I'm excited to learn more about your new apartment, for instance, is it new? I imagine lovely old buildings with pretty detailing in the windows and door sills, but realize I have no idea what it would be like to relocate to a country with such history.
It is also wonderful that the cafe around the corner has Wifi. Hope it also has great coffee and pastries, but its France....the odds are pretty good.
When you mentioned the smaller cups of coffee, I remember noticing the same thing in London. The Americans stood out, pacing around the city looking for big huge "to go" cups of coffee. I was also impressed with the less casual clothing styles. When you mentioned that you are not seeing the sagging sloppy pants and de rigure baseball cap I have renewed hope that its one trend they never import from the U.S.
On the home front, its been a busy week. The Chinese Garden is decorated in Red and gold lanterns for the New years. Certain budding plants are beginning to scent the air with promise.
Each walk reveals progress as the cities devoted home gardeners begin to clean up after the mucky, soggy, urban winter in the Willamette Valley. Still had time to notice a smattering of very early blossoms.
The news report says to expect a killing frost and possibly snow toward the end of the week, but its Oregon, So who knows. Even if they are gone after just a few short weeks, I was greatly cheered to see the blue of the tiny miniature iris peeking out between the violets that have gradually replaced grass in my front garden.
After our Belly Dance class on Tuesday, a few of us went out for a Day After Valentine's treet. We found our selves at Bastas in Northwest Portland. It has been on my list of places to try for a number of years, and did not disappoint. The atmosphere is attractive enough, soft lighting, rich colors, to lend a "special'" feel to the visit. They have happy hour from Five on till close, so it was affordable as well. Choni had a Ceaser Salad that was generous and fresh. Vee had Musseles in a broth that looked wonderful. They split the pork ribs, which disappeared quickly enough, and we also had one of the pizzas. I have to say, at five dollars for the dinner plate size serving, it would have been impressive even if it was not one of the best of the artisan crust pizzas I have ever had. This is going to seriously divide my attention with the seeded flat bread wood fired at the flavorspot. Previously there was no competion to my knowledge, but now.......Now my heart is torn. This crust was a combination of thin, crisp and soft at the right places. Topped with a garlicky olive oil, the thinest purple onion rings you could possibly imagine, a blend of grated white cheeses, and capers, it was heaven in every bite. On the menu it has anchovies, but the waitstaff seemed cheerful about leaving them off.
Dessert was lovely. A trio of delight as chosen by one of the artistic kitchen staff. Perfectly ending our sweet Late Valentines Girl Date.
We are looking forward to hearing more about your adventures, and I hope every moment is just as exciting as we imagined it would be. If you can, it would be exciting to see pictures of your new home and the other places you are enjoying.
I'm excited to learn more about your new apartment, for instance, is it new? I imagine lovely old buildings with pretty detailing in the windows and door sills, but realize I have no idea what it would be like to relocate to a country with such history.
It is also wonderful that the cafe around the corner has Wifi. Hope it also has great coffee and pastries, but its France....the odds are pretty good.
When you mentioned the smaller cups of coffee, I remember noticing the same thing in London. The Americans stood out, pacing around the city looking for big huge "to go" cups of coffee. I was also impressed with the less casual clothing styles. When you mentioned that you are not seeing the sagging sloppy pants and de rigure baseball cap I have renewed hope that its one trend they never import from the U.S.
On the home front, its been a busy week. The Chinese Garden is decorated in Red and gold lanterns for the New years. Certain budding plants are beginning to scent the air with promise.
Each walk reveals progress as the cities devoted home gardeners begin to clean up after the mucky, soggy, urban winter in the Willamette Valley. Still had time to notice a smattering of very early blossoms.
The news report says to expect a killing frost and possibly snow toward the end of the week, but its Oregon, So who knows. Even if they are gone after just a few short weeks, I was greatly cheered to see the blue of the tiny miniature iris peeking out between the violets that have gradually replaced grass in my front garden.
After our Belly Dance class on Tuesday, a few of us went out for a Day After Valentine's treet. We found our selves at Bastas in Northwest Portland. It has been on my list of places to try for a number of years, and did not disappoint. The atmosphere is attractive enough, soft lighting, rich colors, to lend a "special'" feel to the visit. They have happy hour from Five on till close, so it was affordable as well. Choni had a Ceaser Salad that was generous and fresh. Vee had Musseles in a broth that looked wonderful. They split the pork ribs, which disappeared quickly enough, and we also had one of the pizzas. I have to say, at five dollars for the dinner plate size serving, it would have been impressive even if it was not one of the best of the artisan crust pizzas I have ever had. This is going to seriously divide my attention with the seeded flat bread wood fired at the flavorspot. Previously there was no competion to my knowledge, but now.......Now my heart is torn. This crust was a combination of thin, crisp and soft at the right places. Topped with a garlicky olive oil, the thinest purple onion rings you could possibly imagine, a blend of grated white cheeses, and capers, it was heaven in every bite. On the menu it has anchovies, but the waitstaff seemed cheerful about leaving them off.
Dessert was lovely. A trio of delight as chosen by one of the artistic kitchen staff. Perfectly ending our sweet Late Valentines Girl Date.
We are looking forward to hearing more about your adventures, and I hope every moment is just as exciting as we imagined it would be. If you can, it would be exciting to see pictures of your new home and the other places you are enjoying.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Lift off!
I see you in my imagination. Lifting your shoulder bag, adjusting your hold on the suitcase handle as you work your way up the line to the counter. Guys are checking you out appreciatively. A woman on her own, flying out to make her new destiny.
I know you are nervous. Starting a fresh chapter in life is never with out challenge. As you move past the lines, airport cafes, seating area, and finally take your place on the plane, bravery wins over indecision. When the plane lifts off you know it was the right choice at the right time in your life.
Your friends are sending you wishes of joy and success. Maybe the ultimate success is right now. One of us has made it. Past the vague longing for someplace new and far away. Beyond the large stack of daily disappointments and petty cares we stack up as we slip into middle age. The Victory is exactly this; You are The One Brave Woman among us. The person who says "Now!...... I'm Going Now."
Over the last few months you set your life in order, put Stuff in storage, made your rounds of goodbyes. Now, for all of us still grounded in the every day humdrum world of obligation and duty there is triumph in your escape. Maybe one day it will be one of us. As you sail toward the Atlantic and on to Paris from Portland I see you in my imagination, drifting off to sleep as the plane flys toward a new morning.
I know you are nervous. Starting a fresh chapter in life is never with out challenge. As you move past the lines, airport cafes, seating area, and finally take your place on the plane, bravery wins over indecision. When the plane lifts off you know it was the right choice at the right time in your life.
Your friends are sending you wishes of joy and success. Maybe the ultimate success is right now. One of us has made it. Past the vague longing for someplace new and far away. Beyond the large stack of daily disappointments and petty cares we stack up as we slip into middle age. The Victory is exactly this; You are The One Brave Woman among us. The person who says "Now!...... I'm Going Now."
Over the last few months you set your life in order, put Stuff in storage, made your rounds of goodbyes. Now, for all of us still grounded in the every day humdrum world of obligation and duty there is triumph in your escape. Maybe one day it will be one of us. As you sail toward the Atlantic and on to Paris from Portland I see you in my imagination, drifting off to sleep as the plane flys toward a new morning.
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