Tasting & Complaininghttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.comA blog about everything weird that happens when you eat and drink in Shanghai China, or Portland Oregon, or wherever I happen to be.enTue, 30 Jun 2009 16:41:29 PDThttp://wordpress.org/?v=abchourly1http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.gifSome Rights ReservedPTFC2K9: A Whipping for the Ageshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/hj4JpAFmohI/Timbersstumptownmatch reportMinnesota ThundersoccerMarkovitchSun, 28 Jun 2009 07:14:36 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=992Jeeeez, am I late with this one. Pertinent news first, I suppose: the Timbers face the Montreal Impact today, 5pm at PGE Park. Be there. Even more Important, the Timbers face their nemeses, the Shittle Sounders, on Wednesday, 7pm, at PGE Park. That will be an event worth witnessing. Be there too. There’s also a scrimmageFriendly against some German team on Thursday.

A week ago Friday, when most of Portland was, to their chagrin, pulling the wool sweaters back out of the closet, 8,000+ fans gathered at PGE Park to see the Might Portland Timbers face the lowly Minnesota Thunder. The Timbers had played four games in the 10 days leading up to the match, and the Thunder had managed to put some wins together after a lethargic start to the season.

At the start of every match, all things are square. It didn’t stay that way for long.(...)
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]]>Jeeeez, am I late with this one. Pertinent news first, I suppose: the Timbers face the Montreal Impact today, 5pm at PGE Park. Be there. Even more Important, the Timbers face their nemeses, the Shittle Sounders, on Wednesday, 7pm, at PGE Park. That will be an event worth witnessing. Be there too. [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-a-whipping-for-the-ages/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-a-whipping-for-the-ages/Southern Barbarian-Yunnan food and Belgian beer?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/IzZEx-GrHKY/placeshanghaireviewSouthern BarbarianyunnaneseMarkovitchSun, 28 Jun 2009 03:26:10 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=969I’ve heard whispers about Southern Barbarian since arriving in Shanghai, rumors about a stocked beer fridge hiding delicious favorites like Brother Thelonious and my now missed Rogue brews, innuendo about deep fried honey bees and Yunnan Goat Cheese. There have been more than one botched attempt to dine there.
(...)
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]]>I’ve heard whispers about Southern Barbarian since arriving in Shanghai, rumors about a stocked beer fridge hiding delicious favorites like Brother Thelonious and my now missed Rogue brews, innuendo about deep fried honey bees and Yunnan Goat Cheese. There have been more than one botched attempt to dine there. (...)Continue reading Southern Barbarian-Yunnan food and [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/southern-barbarian/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/southern-barbarian/PTFC2K9: Whirlwhind Weekendhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/FfqasTthAOM/TimbersstumptownBlogtownmatch reportMarkovitchFri, 19 Jun 2009 07:14:30 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=975The Portland Timbers played 4 matches in under 7 days starting last Thursday: two US Open Cup matches, on either side of a weekend tour of the USL1 deep South, to play the top 2 teams in the USL, the Carolina Railhawks and Charleston Battery. A 9 game streak without a loss was on the line, as well as the Timbers’ opportunity to avenge last year’s debacle in the US Open Cup.

I’ll write up some comments about each game below the fold, but if you skip it, I want to get the major news out in front: the Portland Timbers will play the Minnesota Thunder tonight at 8pm at PGE park.


Oh, and I can’t keep quiet! The Timbers will mangle their most hated rivals, the Seattle Sounders in round 3 of the US Open Cup, July 1st at PGE park. It will be epic, BE THERE.(...)
Continue reading PTFC2K9: Whirlwhind Weekend

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]]>The Portland Timbers played 4 matches in under 7 days starting last Thursday: two US Open Cup matches, on either side of a weekend tour of the USL1 deep South, to play the top 2 teams in the USL, the Carolina Railhawks and Charleston Battery. A 9 game streak without a loss was on the [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-whirlwhind-weekend/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-whirlwhind-weekend/A rude awakeninghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/9c-le8t8d8A/MiscellaneousshanghaiconstructionpictureMarkovitchTue, 09 Jun 2009 17:16:06 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=931It started at 630 am.

on a Sunday.

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]]>It started at 630 am. on a Sunday. Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozhhttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/a-rude-awakening/feed/1http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/a-rude-awakening/PTFC2K9: Thunder and Lightninghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/RAFnvkdspwE/TimbersstumptownBlogtownmatch reportMontrealvideoMarkovitchSat, 06 Jun 2009 00:40:21 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=951Not a whole lot of people wanted to go outside on Thursday, and who could blame them–that was one hell of a storm. But the Portland Timbers had a game to play, and though many had to brave the elements to get to the game, the game itself was only sprinkled with steady rain.

The Montreal “Impact” had not lost in three games coming into Thursday’s match, after a slow start to the season (perhaps a hangover from their impressive run to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals) but the Mighty Mighty Timbers were unbeaten in seven games, including an impressive win against Vancouver last weekend.

Lightning, thunder or milk tycoons could not keep the Timbers at bay, nor could they keep the Timbers Army away.(...)
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]]>Not a whole lot of people wanted to go outside on Thursday, and who could blame them–that was one hell of a storm. But the Portland Timbers had a game to play, and though many had to brave the elements to get to the game, the game itself was only sprinkled with steady rain. The [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-thunder-and-lightning/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-thunder-and-lightning/PTFC2K9: Firing on all cylindershttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/QIgFSivKKEA/TimbersstumptownBlogtownmatch reportMarkovitchTue, 02 Jun 2009 00:27:57 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=927Portland’s most magical weekend—well perhaps its most family friendly magical weekend— was the perfect setting for a Timbers team to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, last year’s league champions and the only team who has beaten the Timbers this year.

I always like games against Vancouver because of the rivalry, the history, and the away support who make the trip down from Canada.  The old adage ‘enemies on the pitch, friends at the pub’ has always rung true with the ‘Caps fans, win or lose they’re the opposite of Shittle fans: polite and mostly good humored.  After all, we share one very important point: we fucking hate Seattle.

a href=(...)
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]]>Portland’s most magical weekend—well perhaps its most family friendly magical weekend— was the perfect setting for a Timbers team to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, last year’s league champions and the only team who has beaten the Timbers this year. I always like games against Vancouver because of the rivalry, the history, and the away support [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-firing-on-all-cylinders/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-firing-on-all-cylinders/Yeshari Xinjiangese Restauranthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/vd3OPzARhpQ/placeshanghaireviewXinjiangYeshariMarkovitchSun, 31 May 2009 19:50:42 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=918Our neighborhood has a lot of dining options, from alleyway noodle shops to (the only) Applebees.  Beyond a really exceptional  Euro/American breakfast place, we’ve got at least one of everything.  We’re lucky.  Our current favorite spot is Yeshari.  Yeshari’s walls are covered in pictures of, and murals depicting the Northwestern province of Xinjiang.Yeshari lunchWe eat here a lot for a few reasons: the yogurt here is fuckng amazing, and made in house.  The yogurt here is in half a roasted pumpkin.  Hell fucking yes.  That noodle dish in the foreground? Noodles Xingjiang with smoky tomatoes, garlic scapes, beef and what might be just one loooooong noodle.  Around dinner time they’re making the noodles fresh too.  That dish to the upper left?  Oven roasted eggplant in a spicy, oily delicious.  On the right? Uigher Lamb Wontons and Xingjiang beef and potatoes, both so inundated with cumin and coriander they dance as you chew.  Throw in that pot of Milk Tea.  Boy are we happy we learned how to ask for the sweet (tián) kind, not the salty (xián).  Not pictured, my favorite thing about this place, and Xinjiang in general–Sinkiang Black beer, the best beer made in China I’ve had so far.

I’m partial to other dishes there that aren’t in the photo, such as the mutton puffs; girlie loves the lamb kebabs on rods of red willow.  Also awesome: we’ve yet to be punished by the promised belly dancing.  I guess we don’t eat at peak hours.

Yum.

Yeshari Xinjiang Restaurant
147 Nandan lu (near Xujiahui station)
Xujiahui, Shanghai, PRC.

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]]>Review of Yeshari Xinjiang Restaurant in Shanghai, China.http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/yeshari-xinjiangese-restaurant/feed/4http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/yeshari-xinjiangese-restaurant/The Fat Olivehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/dndLuT6m8tc/placeshanghaiLuwanreviewthe Fat OliveMarkovitchSat, 30 May 2009 02:33:41 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=912I’m not very hip. I shower most days and try not to look too shabby from day to day, but I’m not one of the painted masses, clubbing the nights away and choosing restaurants not by the cuisine but by who else might be there.(...)
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]]>Review of the Fat Olive restaurant in Shanghai, China.http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/the-fat-olive/feed/4http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/the-fat-olive/PTFC2K9: Beachfront Points and Burnley Comethhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/Tap-xyw5kds/Timbersstumptownmatch reportPuerto RicoMarkovitchWed, 27 May 2009 07:50:58 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=934I’d feel guilty about not getting these match reports out sooner, but I waited long enough to have news to break!

The Portland Timbers headed for a weekend of games in Puerto Rico last weekend (sorry I’m late!) and played extremely well given the conditions (hot and muggy) and the stadium (crap pitch).

Also, the Timbers FO announced a friendly with Burnley, a Premier league bound Club, on July 25th.

Game notes and fun facts about friendlies, below the fold.(...)
Continue reading PTFC2K9: Beachfront Points and Burnley Cometh

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]]>I’d feel guilty about not getting these match reports out sooner, but I waited long enough to have news to break! The Portland Timbers headed for a weekend of games in Puerto Rico last weekend (sorry I’m late!) and played extremely well given the conditions (hot and muggy) and the stadium (crap pitch). Also, the [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-beachfront-points-and-burnley-cometh/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-beachfront-points-and-burnley-cometh/PTFC2k9: Crushing sadness, Thrilling victoryhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TastingComplaining/~3/oBQn6rl-190/Timbersstumptownmatch reportTimber HowieMarkovitchMon, 18 May 2009 08:07:58 PDThttp://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/?p=940Thursday’s game was cast under a shadow before it started: Hartmut Bless, a longtime Timbers Army member known as ‘Timber Howie,’ (I called him ‘The General’) passed away. Howie was always the first in the park, always standing in front of the same seat, and one of the kindest, most welcoming and encouraging people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.

Timber Howie from CulturePulp 26

Timber Howie from CulturePulp 26

The Army decorated his seat, and a moment of silence preceded the National Anthem. RIP Howie, We toast your honor.

Howie touched our hearts over the years, but I’m convinced he touched this game too.(...)
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]]>Thursday’s game was cast under a shadow before it started: Hartmut Bless, a longtime Timbers Army member known as ‘Timber Howie,’ (I called him ‘The General’) passed away. Howie was always the first in the park, always standing in front of the same seat, and one of the kindest, most welcoming and encouraging people [...]http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-crushing-sadness-thrilling-victory/feed/0http://www.tastingandcomplaining.com/2009/ptfc2k9-crushing-sadness-thrilling-victory/