Through numerous international trips with my drinking partner in crime, Tony, I have had the privilege to sample wine from some amazing wine regions around the world: Tuscany, Mendoza, Porto, Hunter Valley, etc.

But humble brags aside, I am starting to become quite fond of the wines that have been coming out of the vineyards in our home state of Oregon. Prior to moving to the Pacific NW roughly four years ago, I had zero knowledge about Oregon’s world-class wine region.

With more than 700 Oregon wineries, 1,000 vineyards, and 72 grape varieties, the state is quickly becoming a premier travel destination for wine-lovers around the globe. And with the recent discovery of my love for Pinot Noirs, I have been exploring more and more of Oregon wines in recent months.

One thing I discovered through my “research” is that you don’t have to take a day (or weekend) trip to wine country to sample Oregon’s best wine. Lucky for us city dwellers, there are a handful of exceptional wine bars and tasting rooms right here in Portland that will give you a taste for what makes this state such a wine-centric destination.

To help out other wine lovers living in (or visiting) Portland, I have compiled a list of the best places to drink Oregon wine in PDX… Enjoy!

Woven Wineworks

Fun fact: Woven Wineworks, a family-owned winery (and Oregon’s First Certified Craft Winery!) located at the Covey Ridge Vineyard in Banks, Oregon, just opened their Portland tasting room in the heart of downtown over July 4th week.

What used to be a divey sports bar has now transformed into a beautiful basement tasting room with large booth seating (for groups), private event tables, and a spacious wine tasting bar. Woven Wineworks Co-Owner, Elaina Joy, operates the tasting room and is a blast to chat with about all things Oregon wine!

Being conveniently located next to numerous restaurants and theatres, the Woven Wineworks tasting room is the perfect place to sample WW’s delicious wines (mostly Pinot Noir with some tasty Rose, Cuvée, and blends mixed in!) before a big night out.

Garagiste

Garagiste was recommended last year to me by Erin at Platings and Pairings. This place advertises to come in for “WINE/FOOD/BEER/CAKE”…

Yeah, I don’t need much more convincing than that.

After working in the buzzing San Fransico restaurant-scene for 25 years, husband and wife duo, Jan-Marc & Barbara, settled down in Portland (about a decade ago) for a more relaxing lifestyle where they now focus their energies on making wine — right out of their two-car garage!

In 2009, Jan-Marc Wine Cellars launched with just shy of 400 cases produced, and by 2013 grew to one-thousand cases packed in their same little garage winery. All of Jan-Marc wines are now featured at Garagiste Wine Bar… alongside food, beer, and cake!

What I love about Garagiste is that they are super flexible with their flight tastings. For example, you can sample a few wines or sample the entire line of their whites and reds. Just be sure to do all of this wine tasting with a side of cake! Barbara’s chocolate and carrot cakes are out-of-this-world good.

Function PDX

Ron Acierto hosting a private wine tasting dinner at Function

Function is a cute little pop-up shop & event space on the busy strip of NW 23rd street. They are always doing intimate tasting events featuring Oregon winemakers, microbrews, and chefs. Function even hosted women winemakers from around the state for the entire month of March for their “Women of Wine” Month (in honor of Women’s History Month)!

Follow Function on Instagram for up-to-date event information at their pop-up.

Oregon Wines on Broadway

Late last year, I visited Oregon Wines with wine aficionado, Ron Acierto, after being recommended to the place by Catherine at Ten Thousand Hour Mama. It’s a small and intimate wine bar in the heart of downtown. The service is fantastic and the ambiance is very casual, making it the perfect place to grab a glass after a busy workday.

As a bonus, they focus on Oregon Pinot Noirs so if you are a Pinot fan, this is the place for you!

Oui! Wine Bar + Restaurant at SE Wine Collective

While I have previously written about SE Wine Collective, I wanted to give them another shoutout since revamping and opening their eatery, Oui!

As a recap from my previous article, SE Wine Collective is a community urban winery and wine bar featuring an extensive wine menu of wines made both here in Oregon and outside the state. I find the ambiance in here to be perfect for a romantic date night and the staff here is always super knowledgeable about their featured wines from their SE Wine Collective winemakers, as well as under the radar wines from around the region and globe. Whenever I come here, they know exactly what wine I will love!

Even better, the Oui! food is fantastic. The menu is always changing, but I had an unbelievable dining experience here for both Valentines Day this past year and at their collaboration dinner with Visit California and “California Dream Eater”.

Looking to branch out from the land of Oregon Pinots? Try these great Portland wine bars with great international options:

1856 Bottleshop & Bar

With a great selection of both Oregon and international wines, 1856 Bottleshop is a fantastic place in the NE quadrant to grab a bottle, or sit and have a glass (or three!). As an added bonus, they also are pet-friendly, so you can sip your wine with your pooch by your side!

1856 also is home to the Sunday School wine classes on select Sundays. Run by wine geeks, Mallory (Manager of 1856 ) and Martin (wine columnist for the Portland Mercury), these classes are designed for wine enthusiasts that prioritize learning about wine on a Sunday over going to church… AKA, my kind of people.

Each class comes with a glass of wine, a tasting flight of the wines you will be educated on, and materials, such as class notes and hand-drawn maps, which can be taken home for later reference.

I came here with Meredith Davison for their Sparkling class (part of their Summer Series of classes) and had an absolute blast.

Park Avenue Fine Wines

I came here for a Gamay wine tasting lunch during Feast 2017 and immediately fell in love with the place. Park Avenue Fine Wines is a beautiful and spacious bottle shop with a vast selection of both Oregon and international wines. This place is huge, so if there’s an obscure wine on your shopping list, chances are Park Avenue has it!

Enoteca Nostrana

Fan of Italian wine (and food)? Enoteca Nostrana is the place for you!

Nostrana’s 40-seat sister wine bar just opened this past April and features Italian small plates and diverse wine flights. This place is on the pricey side (with some half-glasses in the $13 price range), but definitely worth the splurge on a fancy date night out. As an added bonus, this wine bar is STUNNING.

Canard

Wine tasting and oyster sampling with Mary of The Kitchen Paper at Canard

Another a sister bar to Portland’s famous Le Pigeon, Canard is THE place to be for French food and wine enthusiasts. This uber casual eatery is the perfect place to stand around a table with a crowd of your friends (Canard can get packed!) and sample some amazingly unique French plates (think Uni Toast and Foie Gras Dumplings), slurp down oysters, and taste some incredible French wine and champagne.

Your turn: What are your favorite Oregon wineries and/or wine bars in Portland? Please share in the comments below!

If you are curious about the world of Oregon wines, I would also recommend getting your tickets today for Feast 2018 (taking place September 13-16th), which will have some fantastic food events happening throughout Portland highlighting some of Oregon’s finest wineries. Just take a peek at their lineup of wineries! 

The post Best Places to Enjoy Oregon Wine in Downtown Portland appeared first on LandingStanding.

Let’s face it, we take brunch in Portland VERY seriously.

We are a city full of people that do not hesitate to stand in line for two hours for the best fried chicken & waffles in town. We are also a city full of obnoxious food snobs that do not think it’s insane to pay $15 for a biscuit sandwich as long as it reads “scratch made” or ” homemade” on its menu description.

Brunch at Verdigris

In fact, we take our brunch to such an extensive degree that Portlandia dedicated an entire episode to this obsession.

And to be honest, all this brunch hype is 100% validated. We have a TON of restaurants in Portland that absolutely kill it in the brunch department.

But with all these great options, how do you choose which brunch spot is worth your money… and worth the wait time you will likely be faced with?

To help, I have shared my five favorite PDX brunch spots below, along with some honorable mentions and places I still want to try. I hope you enjoy… and please leave a note in the comments sharing some of your favorite brunch spots in Portland! I am always on the lookout for new places to try.

Without further adieu, here are my top picks for the best brunch in Portland:

Bar Casa Vale

2018 is already off to a great start with one of my favorite dinner spots, Bar Casa Vale, having recently launched their new Spanish-inspired weekend brunch.

Executive Chef Jacob Harth’s brunch menu is complete with boozy brunch cocktails and sinfully delicious dishes including a variety of Cazuelas, warm cinnamon rolls, and fried chicken & churros. As a bonus, since everything is served tapas style, you can order a plethora of dishes to sample.

BCV Lamb Cazuela 

Tin Shed

As a new dog mom to my studly Golden Retriever pup, Noodles, I am always on the lookout for pup-friendly cafes and eateries in Portland.

Tin Shed to the rescue!

It also just so happens that this Northeast watering hole is walking distance for me and Noodles. At Tin Shed, they let you sit with your dog out on their tented patio and even have a special menu for Fido! Noodles favorite pup dish is their Banana ice cream made with yogurt, peanut butter, and bananas. I actually tried it once and it was mom approved.

As far as their human food goes, Tony always opts for the Good Dog plate (think eggs, potato cakes, and a biscuit smothered in a house-made chipotle aioli) and I am always switching things up by trying their different scrambles.

Controversial opinion: I also think Tine Shed has some of the town’s best biscuits and a great Bloody Mary.

To top things off, their wait staff is super friendly and awesome at managing the crowds that lineup around the block on Saturdays and Sundays. They give you free coffee while you wait (even in to-go mugs, so you can stroll down Alberta during your wait) and will give you a 15+ minute grace period to get back to your table once it’s ready — which is perfect if you end up leaving the area or going for coffee elsewhere in the neighborhood during long waits.

Screen Door

Screen Door IS the iconic brunch spot in Portland… and honestly, it lives up to the hype.

I have been to Screen Door numerous times and every dish I have tried is on point. Yes, you want to go take a nap afterward, but that is what makes a great brunch, right?!

Some favorites include their famous chicken & waffles, the bananas foster french toast (some of the best french toast I have ever had), and the PRALINE BACON… This stuff is crack. Just order multiple plates for the table.

Screen Door’s famous Fried Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffles

Warning: Portions here are huge, so you could easily split a dish with someone else (especially the chicken & waffles).

Pro tip: Brunch lines here are insane, so I would highly suggest going to Screen Door on a weekday here to avoid the lines, or go with a large group on weekends and make a reservation (allowed for parties of 6 or more).

HunnyMilk

Eating brunch at HunnyMilk is a dream come true for those brunchers that lack decisiveness… especially before their morning coffee. This 100% describes me. Whenever I go to brunch, I cannot decide between savory or sweet dishes. And yes, I realize how much of a first world problem this is, but I digress…

But at HunnyMilk, you can have your cake and eat it too! For $22, you get access to their pre-fixe menu which allows you to choose a drink, a savory item, AND a sweet item off their menu.

Their menu is always changing, but my favorites were their breakfast quesadilla and their carrot cake waffle. And you DO NOT want to miss their rich and sinfully yummy hot chocolate!

Platter of goodness at HunnyMilk

As an added bonus, everything is served on tin trays, which is a unique touch! Basically, eating at HunnyMilk is like eating in the cafeteria as a kid… except elevated and a bazillion times better.

Verdigris

I came here for a blogger brunch a couple years ago and was immediately blown away. Verdigris is a small, elegant, and contemporary restaurant, serving up French-inspired Northwest dishes.

Fancy table linens aside, owners Johnny and Kristina Nunn know how to make you feel warm and cozy on a lazy weekend morning. Their brunch dishes, such as the Spanish Chorizo Scramble and the 60 Minute Eggs with Duck Fat Fried Hash Browns, are the perfect balance of elaborate and timeless.

Brunch aside, I also recommend their epic burger, made with 6oz of ribeye (say what?!) and served with grilled onions, special sauce, and their perfectly seasoned house fries.  If you want to get fancy, you can also get add-ons like Gruyere, house-cured bacon, a fried egg, and even foie gras butter. Tony and I were BIG fans…

Fancy burgers at Verdigris

Honorable Portland Brunch Mentions

Danwei Canting – If noodles and dumplings are your brunch thing (they are the best salty hangover food in my opinion!), Danwei Canting should be on your brunch radar. They open at 11 on weekends but have some incredible fried chicken dishes, house-made noodles, burgers, and other Chinese home-style dishes.

Danwei Canting’s Lamb Burger

Boke Bowl – Same as Danwei Canting, Boke Bowl is a hangover cure haven. I did a blogger event at their Westside location last year and loved oh-so-many of their dishes. Their steamed buns were a personal standout! Their Westside location also offers Dim Sum every Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Dim Sum fun with @thekitchenpaper at Boke Bowl West

Portland Brunches I Still Want To Try

Lechon – I have dined at Lechon numerous times over the past several years for dinner and happy hour, and also attended several of their Sunday Suppers. EVERY SINGLE time I have eaten here I have left dazzled. From their food to their cocktails to their service, Lechon is 100% nailing it. As far as their brunch goes, I have heard it is the best of all their meals.

Challenge accepted.

Lechon’s boozy Mung Bean Punch

Proud Mary – PM is a new brunch hotspot that recently opened in Northeast Portland (my hood!) and is getting a lot of positive hype from Portland foodies and brunch-goers. Needless to say, it’s high on my list!

Wares – Located in the iconic Portland Zipper building, this counter-service restaurant features Asian-fusion dishes including ramen and small plates. Where I hear they really excel though is their brunch. During their brunch, you can order everything off their regular menu plus several of their brunch-focused dishes (like their Egg Benedict rice bowl and their Turkish eggs). Sign me up!

Pearl Tavern – Here’s what I do know: 1) Pearl Tavern is conveniently located in — you guessed it — The Pearl. This makes for a perfect location for brunch on the weekends because there is so much to do and see in the area post-brunch when you need to walk off all those calories. 2) I went to the Pearl Tavern once just for a Bloody Mary and it was solid. 3) I also went there for lunch with some gal pals and everything was very tasty. So why wouldn’t their brunch be awesome as well? Stay tuned…

Girls lunch at Pearl Tavern

I would love to hear from you: Who do you think has the best brunch in Portland?! Please share in the comments!

The post My Five Ride Or Die Places For The Best Brunch In Portland appeared first on LandingStanding.

This year marked my third year attending Feast Portland — and what a crazy weekend it was! With  134 chefs, 31 wineries, 15 breweries, 11 artisans, and 12 distilleries featured, I was a very full (and admittedly buzzed) gal for four straight days.

Some of the food I experienced during this extravaganza was some of the best I have consumed in Portland… Which leads me to one conclusion: There are countless restaurants I still need to visit in this foodie-centric town.

So, in case you’re looking for new places to add to your date night list, I have you covered below. And I figured the best way to share these new discoveries is through a food diary of my adventures (and misadventures) from the weekend.

Without further adieu…

Wednesday

Feast Portland 2017 took over the Southeast neighborhood of Portland on Wednesday night, September 13th, to kick off the four-day food festival, starting with a killer Little Italy party co-hosted by Williams Sonoma, OP Wurst, and Ava Genes.

Photo credit: @FeastPortland

As with any Feast Portland event, there was, of course, a photo booth, which I unabashedly hogged with my friends for a solid 20 minutes while everyone behind us in line glared and rolled their eyes…

Some might say we were taking too much time behind the camera, but I like to think these line-goers just had squad envy. I digress…

BUT the award for the best treat of the night goes to the fresh, melt in your mouth, sliced right in front of your face Porchetta at OP Wurst! I didn’t take a picture of my heaping plate of pork because… well, that would have slowed me down from consuming it.

Thursday

Each year, Feast Portland hosts its main event, Sandwich Invitational. This year was no exception to the usual debauchery of this carb-heavy celebration.

Long story short, every sandwich I tried was delicious. The sandwich combos were incredibly inventive (who woulda thunk that bologna would be so good stuffed between two old-fashioned donuts?), I stuffed myself silly and internally battled with at least five of the Seven Deadly Sins by the close of the evening.

But the winner in my heart at Sandwich Invitational was Rick Gencarelli’s (of Lardo) Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich with thick cut bacon, honey butter, sweet pickles, and Duke’s Mayo.

Photo credit: Carly Diaz

This sando was GOOOOOD. It was the perfect balance of salty, spicy, and sweet. I had to go back for seconds… It’s a shame my stomach didn’t agree with this aggressive decision.

Friday

So, Friday rolls around. I am hungover. After Sandwich Invitational, the thought of putting more food in my stomach sounded *meh*. But no one likes a quitter, right?

So there I am dragging my disheveled ass down to Feast’s Grand Tasting event in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Luckily, I had my partner in crime, Tony, with me to help put a pep in my step. We spent the beautiful sunny afternoon tasting all the wine and beer, sampling all the countless treats, and talking with all the countless food artisans from across the Pacific Northwest.

It was delightful and I was back in the Feast game.

After several hours of perusing the stands, Tony and I were DONE. But as we were headed out of the Grand Tasting tent, I noticed one booth I had yet to drop by – Rally Pizza.

They were showcasing one of their famous frozen custards. This one was a Boysenberry Crisp Concrete made of vanilla bean frozen custard, boysenberry preserves, and a brown sugar oat crisp topping.

Photo Credit: Alan Weiner

Upon first glance, this custard looked a little too healthy for my liking… the berries threw me off. But I’m so glad I decided to go in for the sample. The custard was both indulgent and refreshing at the same time. Maybe the drive to Vancouver, WA (where Rally Pizza is located) is worth the trip!

Saturday

After Thursday and Friday, I needed a break. It was back to salads for lunch and copious amounts of water and tea.

But this didn’t last long. Feast Portland is, after all, ONCE per year!

So, after I was done detoxing, it was time to retox.

Bollywood (along with Eater and Washington Wines) hosted that nights after party, which was an absolute blast. There was obviously A LOT of wine, delicious tropical drinks from Shipwreck, and bites from killer chefs around town.

My favorite bite of the night though goes to Hot Yai’s Goat Curry. This stuff was bursting at the seams with spicy umami flavors and was warming to the soul. If I could eat this curry every day and twice on Sundays for the rest of my life I would die a happy lady.

The curry didn’t photograph well… or maybe I just consumed it too fast to grab a photo! #sorrynotsorry

Sunday

Controversial opinion: As much as I love desserts, doughnuts have never been my jam. I blame it on marketing in the entire doughnut industry. Having it labeled as a “breakfast food” all my life has really turned me off from the doughnut experience. I am more of a savory breakfast kind of gal — minus the occasional french toast, pancake, cinnamon bun… okay, my beef is maybe just with doughnuts.

BUT at the “Because Breakfast” Fun- Sized event on Sunday, General Porpoise Doughnuts (based in Seattle) was serving up the most succulent chocolate and marshmallow cream-filled doughnuts.

What made these so spectacular was that they weren’t overly sweet (which is why I shy away from most filled doughnuts). Plus, the chocolate marshmallow cream was chock full of mini bittersweet chocolate chips that added a touch of flavor and texture to the perfectly fluffy doughnuts. Even after four days of binge eating, I was contemplating going back for seconds of this doughnut… too bad they ran out early in the day!

Overall, it was an amazing four days of Feast 2017 and I already cannot wait for next year’s Feast Portland — happening September 13-16, 2018. ‘

MARK YOUR CALENDARS PEOPLE! 

The post The Belly Diaries – The Best Things I Ate (& Restaurants You Must Try!) From Feast Portland appeared first on LandingStanding.

Whether you are a local or have visited Portland, it’s probably no surprise when you hear that Portland has earned the reputation (for consecutive years!) as the best food city in the U.S.

Don’t agree with the critics? Let the debate begin!

Regardless of skeptics’ opinions on the matter, Portland (and really the entire state of Oregon) has ONE HECK of a food scene.

In the spirit of Feast 2017 kicking off in just one week, I decided to ask a few local industry experts what their favorite food and wine events are in the city and throughout the state. I hope these foodie folks below inspire you to visit the area or explore more of what Oregon has to offer…

So, if you love food and wine and live in the Pacific NW, don’t miss out on these indulgent annual events!

Feast Portland

Photo Credit: Feast Portland

“Feast is one big playground for foodies, that’s only open once a year! We provide the outline, our chefs and partners bring their creativity and then our attendees get to ride all of the rides. It’s like Christmas morning for us and hopefully for everyone who attends as you never quite know what to expect at Feast, but it’s always new and exciting.”

– Carrie Welch, Co-Founder of Feast Portland and President of Little Green Pickle & Jannie Huang, Owner of Little Green Pickle

P.S. I have written A LOT about this legendary annual event, so be sure to check out my Feast posts here to learn more:

• It’s That Time of Year Again – Get Ready for Feast 2017!
• My Portland Food Bucket List: A Feast Portland Round-Up (The 2016 Edition)
• My Portland Food Bucket List: A Post-Feast Round-Up
• A Food Lover’s Dining Guide To Portland, Oregon

International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC)

Photo Credit: IPNC

“I moved to Oregon in 2004 to help start a small family-owned winery in the Eola Amity Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. Coming from the flat lands and corn fields of the midwest, I immediately fell in love with the Oregon wine country.

Fast forward through the last decade. I have built a career in Portland’s thriving food and wine industry. From tracking current releases, to barrel sampling, to private wine tours with vineyard managers, winemakers and owners, there is so much to learn about Oregon winemaking.

There are only a few stand-out wine events that my wine colleagues and I look forward to. IPNC is one of them. If you love Pinot noir, you have to experience this event at least in once in your lifetime. While many different wines from around the globe are opened, the lion’s-share of the wines are from Oregon wine country.

“It’s about the LOVE of Pinot Noir.” And when you inevitably do fall in love, there is no better place than the Oregon wine country to experience that love to the fullest. Every year you’ll be able to celebrate your love again. Lunches in the vineyard, wine lectures, viticulture updates, and wine dinner parties are held throughout that last weekend — ‘Mid Summer in July.’

It’s also a celebration of the people in our wine community. As a volunteer sommelier, I was reminded of how much I enjoy the camaraderie and the shared dedication to this amazing work of humans and nature.

One of the best events of IPNC is the Salmon Bake. I think of salmon and Pinot as our native foods, each part of traditions that are uniquely Oregon. Guests line up for blocks before the gates open. Then there is an immediate scramble towards the ancient Oregon white oak on the Linfield College campus. On a perfect summer evening, guests feast of the quintessential foods of our region.

Photo Credit: IPNC

There is an IPNC tradition where guests are invited to bring their own wines. You should be so lucky to be sitting next to one of these connoisseurs (many of them walk from table to table to generously share their wines and their stories), or a grand cru producer from Burgundy, or a new producer with their first from California or any of the Willamette Valley AVAs. You will be amazed at the number of different styles of Pinot noir you taste throughout the night.

As a volunteer sommelier, there is another party behind the scenes with fellow volunteers. One vivid memory from this year was opening a bottle of Dusky Goose Pinot Noir that was heavier than my body weight (Kidding, but look at the photo!). 

Life is all good because I just tasted an incredible wine from Flaneur and the first vintage Maysara Wines produced. I turned around and a fellow volunteer offered me a sip of an old Burgundy that’s no longer available in the market. He specifically tracked me down to make sure I got a sip of something so pure, a red juice that’s been sitting in the bottle for more than 30 years. It’s the memories of these shared moments that will bring us back.

These are the moments of a lifetime.”

– Ron Acierto,  Curator and Wine Director at Pinoynoirpdx

Portland Monthly’s Country Brunch

“For years Portland Monthly’s Country Brunch has brought the pages of our magazine to life and transported our readers to the ultimate brunch destination. This event is chock-full of brunch bites prepared by the city’s most beloved chefs, and a Bloody Mary Smackdown that brings out the best of the best mixologists. But for our sixth annual Country Brunch, we wanted to shake things up, and live up to the country part of the event’s title… so we transported 600 food and day-drinking enthusiasts to the ACTUAL country for Portland’s favorite meal.

Parkrose’s Rossi Farms is the city’s oldest farm venue and was the perfect setting for Country Brunch. In addition to the stellar chef lineup, (including Besaw’s, Fifty Licks, Fried Egg I’m In Love, La Moule, Lauretta Jean’s, Pine State Biscuits, Prasad/Harlow, Seastar Bakery, Verdigris, and Vivienne) brunchers could visit goats and chickens, play giant Connect Four, buy flowers, honey, and terrariums at our pop-up farmers market, hop into a Western jail photo booth, picnic on the lawn, listen to tunes from the Bylines, and sample Bloody Marys (this year Olympia Provisions was our judges’ favorite).

Portland is known for its many food events, but none are as authentically local–and true to our city’s culture–as Country Brunch. We look forward to many more years of brunch in the country–without ever needing to leave the city!”

– Rachel Ratner, Events & Marketing Manager at Portland Monthly Magazine

Oregon Polo Classic

Photo Credit: Oregon Polo Classic

“Classic Wines Auction, recognized as one of Wine Spectator’s top ten charity wine auctions, partners with the Hidden Creek Polo Club in West Linn, Ore., to bring the Oregon Polo Classic to food and wine enthusiasts around the region. Typically held in late July, the two-day event features a Family Day and a 21-and-over Championship Day making the event accessible to polo lovers of all ages. Guests of the Oregon Polo Classic will enjoy exciting polo matches, delicious local wines, a decadent lunch, the whiskey and cigar lounge, and a time-honored polo tradition, the Champagne Divot Stomp.

The 2017 event featured wines, beer and spirits from Ponzi Vineyards, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Taittinger Champagne, Crater Lake Spirits and Buffalo Trace Distillery, as well as tastings from Erath Winery, Goodfellow Family Cellars, Moffett Family Winery and Willamette Valley Vineyards, among others.”

– Jane Wiley, Account Coordinator at Lawrence PR

Your Turn: What is your favorite food and/or wine event in the region? Please share in the comments!

The post Don’t Miss These Oregon Food & Wine Events! appeared first on LandingStanding.

September is a month not to be missed here in Oregon. To start, the weather here is spectacular – minus the 100 degree heat coming our way this week… global warming is REAL people.

But September also marks the month of the annual food festival, Feast Portland!

Feast is a 4-day foodie event that brings together the country’s best chefs, tastemakers, wineries, breweries, and distilleries all under one roof… the “roof” here being the city of Portland as there are numerous Feast events spread throughout the city from September 14th – 17th.

And since we’re 2 weeks away from this foodie extravaganza, I wanted to give you a rundown on what to expect at each Feast Main Event this year. As an almost 3-year veteran to Feast, I consider myself a pro.

Photo Credit: The Kitchen Paper

If you have tickets, you’re going to want to read this to prepare your belly and liver. And if you don’t have tickets, you might want to scoop up some last minute tix… trust me, you won’t want to miss these events!

Sandwich Invitational:

Photo Credit: Michael Kraus, Feast 2016

#SandoSmackdown takes place at the iconic Rose Quarter (home of the Trail Blazers and Winterhawks). This year, 19 chefs will be put to the test when they put together some crazy delicious spins on the classic definition of “sandwich.”

Voting for your favorite sandwich is part of the game (one chef will earn the championship trophy) and fat pants are HIGHLY recommended.

Throw down some epic cocktails, exceptional craft brews, and fine wines, all while tasting some of the best sandwiches the good ol’ US of A has to offer.

See a list of all the participating chefs here:

Pro tip: Take things slowly at Sandwich Invitational. It’s incredibly easy to overdo it here…

Let me paint you a scenario: Tony attended Sandwich Invitational with me back in 2015. With clear eyes and a full heart, he went FULL STEAM into this event. Eager and hungry, Tony went into beast mode and proceeded to eat 14 SANDWICHES (?!?!)… long story short, he whined a lot about his inevitable bellyache, left the event early, and didn’t get out of bed the rest of the weekend. He may still be recovering 2 years later.

#FAIL

Pace yourself people… you have been warned.

Grand Tasting

Photo Credit: Alan Weiner, Feast 2016

This will be my 3rd year attending the Grand Tasting and I am pretty darn pumped! The Grand Tasting takes place both Saturday and Sunday at Pioneer Courthouse Square and celebrates all that is awesome about the food and drink culture here in Oregon.

Enjoy sipping on wine? They have countless Oregon wineries pouring only the best!

Like a good beer? There will be 10 breweries and cider houses to keep your glass full.

Lover of food? Well, obviously they will have A LOT of this.

You can expect 80 vendors, including renowned chefs, vintners, brewers, bakers, cheesemakers, and food artisans from the Northwest and across the country… Do you need any more convincing?!

Some stands I am DYING to check out: QuickFish Poke Bar, Nicky USA, ALL the winery stalls, NOLA Doughnuts, and of course… Salt & Straw!

GO people.

Night Market

Photo Credit: Alan Weiner, Feast 2016

I attended Night Market last year and it was far and away the best experience I have had at Feast. Just like 2016, this year’s 2017 Night Market (held at the beautiful Zidell Yards, with fantastic evening views of the city!) will be Latin American themed.

Expect chefs putting out all the stops with vibrant Latin dishes, over the top decorations, and dance-inducing music pumping throughout this awesome outdoor venue.

A few featured chefs not to be missed: Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton of OX Restaurant, Scott Ketterman of Crown Paella, and Jenn Louis of Ray… Oh heck, just hit ’em all up!

Pro Tip: Lines get CRAY, so go early to try and beat the crowds. Also, go in with a plan. Prioritize which chefs you want to check out and be sure to check these out early. Better yet, if you go to Night Market with a buddy, you two can divide and conquer by standing in a couple lines at once. Two birds, one stone… Then, once you have hit all your “top picks”, wait until later in the evening (when the lines die down) to check out some other booths.

SMOKED

 Photo Credit: Aubrie LeGault, Feast 2016

I have YET to go to SMOKED, but my fingers are crossed to be able to attend in 2018… This year is going to go by painfully slow!

Tickets to SMOKED always sell out almost instantaneously, but for good reason. Just read their event description below:

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, there’s Smoked—Feast’s over-the-top take on the backyard cookout of your wildest imagination. It all goes down at The Fields in the Pearl District, where there’s grass under your feet and the iconic Fremont Bridge providing the backdrop. When the sun dips behind the Forest Park, the glow of giant flaming grills lights the way as 22 world-class chefs serve up the amazing and the unexpected. There’s a noteworthy array of cocktails, fine wines and craft beers to cool it all down, too. It’s every carnivore’s smoky dream sequence—but you’ll be fully awake, wandering from grill station to grill station in a meat-fueled blissful state.” – Feast Portland

… Ugh, my FOMO is already kicking in.

This year you can expect chefs from Langbaan, The Country Cat, Bamboo Sushi, Toro Bravo, and so many more!

Just like Night Market, SMOKED has some WILD lines, so prepare accordingly.

Brunch Village

Photo Credit: Feast 2016

Controversial opinion here: Portland may not be known for it’s Italian, Pizza, Cheesesteaks, BBQ, or any other cuisine/nibble that so many other U.S. cities are famous for…

But we DOMINATE brunch. And take it VERY seriously.

Enter Brunch Village.

Brunch Village is held each year on the Sunday of Feast weekend, which is when I am pretty much tapped OUT for the weekend. But if you have paced yourself properly all weekend, this event is not to be missed.

Expect some amazing egg dishes, biscuits galore, and pastries and desserts to make even Parisians salivate.

This year they have an incredible chef lineup at Brunch Village, such as Maya Lovelace from Mae (I hear her fried chicken is BOMB), Sam Smith from Tusk, and… wait for it… Christina Tosi from Milk Bar in NYC!!!!

To wrap things up, I hope this article has pumped you up for Feast 2o17 or has at least inspired you to get tickets if you haven’t already done so. Many of these Main Events I listed above are already sold out, but Feast also has some fantastic smaller events, dinner series, and drink tank events worth checking out: feastportland.com/category/all-events/

Mangia people!

Photo Credit: Alan Weiner, Feast 2016

The post It’s That Time of Year Again – Get Ready for Feast 2017! appeared first on LandingStanding.

Now that Tony and I have settled into Portland, Oregon (going on three years now!) we have made it a priority to take at least one big international vacation each year… because once you have the travel bug, it never really dies.

These vacations allow us to explore countries we haven’t checked off the list, and allow us to break away from the numerous wedding weekends and camping trips that seem to endlessly book up the rest of the year.

So, this year Tony and I were racking our brains on where to travel to next. Some usual suspects got thrown into the mix: Mexico, Greece, and Ireland to name a few.

But we wanted something different.

During our 2012 trip, we heard Portugal get brought up numerous times on the road from other like-minded travelers we met. Everyone raved about this charming (yet non-touristy) European destination.

And since 2012, the rumors of Portugal travel continued to come in – yet it didn’t seem to be a destination that had yet to catch on with the masses.

We didn’t know much about Portugal, but knew that it was:

• Rich in 15th and 16th century history and architecture
• Has delicious food
• A world-class wine destination

… We obviously had to give it a go!

While the food and wine in Portugal didn’t match Spain or Italy (in our opinion), it came pretty darn close. Not to mention, Portugal is cheap… DIRT cheap.

To end my ramblings, here are some of our favorite food & wine spots we hit up in both Lisbon and Porto.

I hope you decide to add Portugal travel to your list before it starts becoming popular!

Okay, let’s do this…

Portland:

Lechon’s Portugal Sunday Supper Series (Portland, OR)

Wait, what? Why is Portland on this list?

I know, I know. We were so eager to try Portuguese food and wine that we couldn’t even wait until our flight… So, the NIGHT BEFORE we departed PDX, we checked out the Portugal Sunday Supper at Lechon.

Since last year, the vibrant South American restaurant, Lechon (located on SW Naito Parkway), has been hosting Sunday Suppers. On select Sundays throughout the year Executive Chef, Jaco Smith, and his talented culinary team create a multi-course feast testing out new global cuisines for a family-style supper open to the public.

As an odd coincidence, the Portugal themed Sunday Supper just happened to be the night before we left for our trip to Portugal. Call it serendipitous… call it a little too eager. Bottom line, we went and it was fabulous!

Lechon was packed for the Portugal Supper. Hungry Portlanders gathered around  large tables for their six-course menu that showcased authentic Portuguese dishes (and cocktails) with a modern twist.

Among my favorites were the the Roasted Peri Peri Chicken and the Portuguese Spaghetti in a spicy red sauce tossed with fresh clams. YUM!

If you live in Portland and haven’t checked out one of Lechon’s Sunday Suppers, do yourself a service and book one ASAP. They are incredibly tasty and imaginative dinners – and very reasonably priced. Plus, for every attendee, Lechon donates $5 to a charity of their choice.

Lisbon:

Time Out Market

Popular with both locals and tourists, Time Out Market is a MUST SEE in Lisbon if you’re a foodie (like me!).

This famous gourmet food market has some amazing food stands run by some of Lisbon’s most famous chefs (with even Michelin Star chefs running pop-up shops here). We came to Time Out for lunch and had the most incredible bowl of fresh shrimp in wine butter and perfectly grilled octopus with roasted garlic rice.

While you are at Time Out, check out Manteigaria for some pasteis de nata (a famous Portuguese dessert). This place is rumored to have the best pasteis de nata in town… and I stand by this rumor. We had our first pasteis de nata experience at Manteigaria and it was magical! The warm mini egg custard pastries came right out of oven and practically melted in my mouth.

While you are indulging your sweet tooth at the Time Out Market, you should also check out the Santini ice cream shop.  This stuff is the real deal. They are rumored to have the best ice cream in Lisbon, and had TO DIE FOR coconut ice cream with gobs of real coconut shavings mixed in… heaven!

Park Bar

Recommended to us by our friend Dan, this is a fun hipster bar located on the top of a rundown parking garage in the Barrio Alto neighborhood.

From street level, you can take the sketchy garage elevator up to the highest floor in the parking garage, THEN proceed to the stairs for a few extra flights to the top… and here awaits a beautiful oasis: Park Bar.

While the drinks here are nothing to brag about, the views this place has of Lisbon are top notch! The patio area is PACKED and everyone is trying to get a seat overlooking the city, so be prepared to stalk the first-come-first-serve spots on their patio.

A Taberna de Rua de Flores

We dined at A Taberna de Rua de Flores on our final night in Lisbon and it was our favorite meal during our Portugal travels… BY FAR. When we were researching where to dine in Lisbon, all four travel blogs I read recommended this place, so we had to go!

This place is extremely tiny, with only 11 or so tables and looks extremely rustic and simple in its decor. But do not be fooled. This place churns out Michelin-quality food. Their focus is Portuguese dishes with a modern, Asian twist served tapas style. The chalkboard menu changes daily (based on what local ingredients are available) and is very seafood heavy.

They recommend ordering a couple dishes per person, so it’s best to go with three or four people so you can sample as much as humanly possible. Tony and I actually chatted with a fun girl from San Francisco while we were waiting for a table and the three of us ended up dining together!

Pro tip: Go early… like, super early. A Taberna de Rua de Flores does not take reservations and this place always seems to have a crowd of hungry tourists outside it eager to get a table. At 6:30 on a Wednesday night we got on a two hour wait list, and they were turning people away for the night by the time 8:30 rolled around. Also, the guy working the door is so friendly and will bring you drinks outside while you wait. Or, you can go to the bar at Le Consulat down the street for a pre-dinner beverage….

The bar at Le Consulat

This bar was recommended to us by the waiter from A Taberna de Rua de Flores and it was awesome! It’s located on the second floor of the Le Consulat hotel and overlooks the quaint plaza below. The entire old-timey decor in the bar reminded me of a jazz bar straight out of New Orleans.

This bar caters to all boozers, as it has both a dedicated cocktail bar in the front of the bar and a wine bar in the back. It was the perfect compromise destination for me (the wine lover) and Tony (the cocktail guy). The cocktails here are wonderful (Tony had a whiskey one that I am still dreaming about) and their wine list is small, yet delicious. We found the entire staff to be very attentive and helpful here too.

Apparently the new restaurant opening at this hotel will also be operated by the owners of A Taberna de Rua de Flores… I guess I’m just going to visit Lisbon again!

Porto:

Douro Valley – Lab Portugal Tours

Pro tip: If you are making a trip to Porto DO NOT MISS out on visiting the Douro Valley wine region. Tony and I have been to numerous wine regions across the globe (#notsohumblebrag) and this one by far was the most spectacular.

To start, what other wine region specializes in Port?!

Secondly, this wine region is STUNNING. With vines terraced up the steep hills and the Douro River snaking through the valley, you will find it hard to put your camera down to sip on your many glasses of delicious Port.

We splurged and did a private wine tour with Lab Portugal Tours and would do it all over again if we had the chance – 100% worth it.

Our driver and tour guide for the day, Miguel, picked us up at our Airbnb in Porto (an hour and a half drive from Douro Valley) and took us to four incredible wineries during our NINE HOUR wine tasting.

We sampled some amazing ports throughout the day and discovered how much we truly love Tawny port! Our favorite winery along the way was Fonseca – both for the quality of the Port wine and the beautiful scenery.

This was by far the most memorable day of our trip.

Restaurante Flor dos Congregados

Recommended by Michelle of Hummingbird High, Flor dos Congregados is one of the oldest restaurants in Porto, specializing in “slow Portuguese food.” The ambiance here is so cozy and romantic and the entire staff was incredibly friendly.

Not to be missed: The smoked chorizo… and really any cut of meat!

Intrigo

Recommended to us by the bartender of The Wine Box wine bar (another spot I would highly recommend!), Intrigo is a newer restaurant in Porto and has AMAZING views of the Douro River – and is tucked away from the main tourist drag that runs along the waterfront. The place was empty when we came here, so we were able to dine out on their patio, which was perfection. The service was great, the food was solid (and reasonably priced!), and the ambiance was on point.

Graham’s Wine Cellar

This place is WORTH the hike up the hill. Boasting unparalleled views of the Douro River and all of Porto, Graham’s Wine Cellar (built in 1890) has delicious Port that you can enjoy on their giant terrace. We can here for one tasting… two hours later, we were 3 glasses (and two cheese plates) deep. We never wanted to leave!

Kopke Port House

As soon as you get off the Ponte Luís I Bridge, you will see Kopke – The oldest port cellar in Porto (originally opened in the 1600s). Kopke is very famous for their Vintage and aged Tawny Ports. The tastings here aren’t cheap (mine was $22 euros), but they give you a TON of wine (I had 5 samples, which equaled about 3 full glasses). They even did a chocolate pairing with the wines, which I was a humongous fan of!

Be warned: They did not skimp on their pours, or their portions of chocolate. Give yourself a couple hours here… drink wine, eat chocolate, and be merry.

Wine Quay Bar

Even though this is in the heart of the touristy waterfront, Wine Quay place is anything but. It’s such a cute little wine bar with a great selection of all kinds of wine, in addition to Port. They only have a few tables here, and their outdoor seating is competitive, so I would recommend coming during the off hours. They even give people squirt guns to battle the hungry seagulls circling the bar.

Note: It was closed during our Porto trip, but we also heard great things about the waterfront restaurant/bar, Bacchus Vini.

I hope you find this foodie guide helpful as you plan your Portugal travels. In the Comments, please let me know if you have any questions, or if I missed any Lisbon and Porto hot spots!

The post A Portugal Travel Food Guide appeared first on LandingStanding.

May is a magical, magical month here in Oregon. This month kicks off Oregon Wine Month, the official state-wide month dedicated to all things wine. Throughout this month wineries, tasting rooms, bars, and restaurants are opening their doors to showcase the quality and diversity of the region’s best wine.

In the spirit of celebrating my favorite beverage (besides coffee!), I wanted to put together a list of my favorite places to drink wine in Portland and the surrounding area. With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to kick back and enjoy a glass with great company at one of these hot spots:

Portland

Division Wines – Tony and I spent this past year living in the Richmond neighborhood and Division Wines became our favorite local hangout. Division Wines was previously just a bottle shop (selling over 800 bottles), but roughly a year ago, they opened up a wine bar off to the side of the shop. Here at the bar, you can order full glasses, half glasses, and wine flights from their small and curated wine list. What I love is that they are constantly changing their wine menu, so each time you come here, you can try new featured wines. The owners and staff are so knowledgeable and friendly and will nerd out over their wine, while letting you taste any wine you’re curious about. I always love to sit at the bar and chat it up with whomever is working behind the counter.

Photo credit Division Wines

Division Wines also serves fantastic cheese and meat boards. It’s the perfect place to grab a pre-dinner drink and snack before a night on the town.

SE Wine Collective – Just kitty-corner to Division Wines is SE Wine Collective – a community urban winery and wine bar featuring an extensive wine menu of wines made both here in Oregon and outside the state. The staff here will always help you pick the perfect wine, and the ambiance in here is idyllic for a cozy date night.

Photo credit SE Wine Collective

Pro tip: Come hungry to SE Wine Collective because their food is out of this world! You would never think it, since the focus here is wine… but every single dish they serve is damn good. My current favorites are the popcorn, asparagus & ricotta toast, pea salad, and the lemon orecchiette.

M Bar – This used to be my go-to watering hole in the Northwest! This place is Sterling Coffee Roasters during the day — and while it’s a bar at night, it has the delicious smell of roasted coffee beans in the air around the clock. It’s open late 7 days a week, and they have an incredible happy hour deal from 6-8pm, which is on the later side for happy hour in Portland. My favorite deal is their $3 off wine glasses, with some glasses starting at $6. They only ever have 2-3 reds, whites, and rose’s on the menu at any given time, but each one is carefully curated and outstanding.

TeSoAria – The TeSoAria Winery is located Roseburg, OR, but their tasting room is conveniently located on North Williams Ave here in Portland if you cannot make the trek out to wine country. As a girl that loves full bodied red wines, their Bulls Blood and Barbera is where it’s at.

They have an excellent selection of wines, a great outdoor seating space (perfect for summer nights), and their staff is amazing! Whenever I come here, I admittedly end up drinking WAY more than planned… Their staff is so energetic and enthusiastic to have you try their wine, how can you say no?!

Photo credit via Platings & Pairings

They also have Pizza Tuesday and other great events, although I haven’t been to any yet.

Thelonious Wines – Located in the heart of downtown/the Pearl, Thelonious Wines is a great new wine bar and bottle shop that opened in July of 2016 by sommelier couple, Kelsey Glasser and Alejandro Marchesini. They only carry 100 or so wines, but their tasting menu is extensive and the space is full of light and very cozy… Just think if your living room had a wine bar attached to it!

I came here with a group of girlfriends and it was the perfect spot to grab a glass of wine after work. They even have the mythical orange wine on their menu!

Photo credit Eater PDX

Surrounding Area

Aniche Cellars – If you’re in the Hood River area for a day trip, stop at the family-owned Aniche Cellars just across the river in Underwood, WA… You won’t regret it! The winery and tasting room is situated on the top of a hill overlooking Hood River and the Columbia River. Not only is their wine delicious and the staff casual and fun (a tasting with them is always a blast!), but ambiance here is on point.

Photo credit via 2 Travel Dads

Come here in the summer, do a tasting of their wines, purchase a glass of your favorite wine, sit out on their patio, and take in the beauty of Oregon!

Angela Estate Wines – Located in Dundee, OR, Angela Estate Wines is the perfect stop in the heart of wine country. They offer delicious pinots (i.e the wine what has made Oregon wine country famous!) and their staff is extremely entertaining throughout the entire tasting experience. I had the pleasure of visiting the tasting room with a few of my girlfriends and the Little Green Pickle team, and the General Manager, Jessica, did our tasting… she was wonderful and so funny.

Shenanigans with the PDX blogger ladies at Angela Estate Wines

Some other great PDX wine spots to check out for Oregon Wine Month (and beyond!) are ENSO Urban Winery + Tasting Lounge and Coopers Hall!

What are your favorite places to drink wine in Portland & Oregon? Please share in the comments!

The post Celebrating Oregon Wine Month – The 8 Best Places To Drink Wine appeared first on LandingStanding.

South America holds a special place in my heart.

Prior to our trip around the world in 2012, I had never visited South America, but it was the first continent we would visit on our trip.

Leading up to our trip, Tony and I planned an aggressive itinerary to see as much of the continent as we could.

From exploring our very first South American city (Santiago, Chile), to hiking Patagonia, drinking wine in Mendoza, enjoying everything involving red meat in Buenos Aires,  taking in the beautiful scenery of the Bolivian Salt Flats, to hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu…

We crammed A LOT into our three months on the giant continent. The countless plane trips, bus rides, day hikes, and shared hostel rooms wore on Tony and I, but we left each destination enriched by the total cultural immersion.

One thing that stood out through our South American travel was the amazing cuisine in every country we visited. Whether we were eating fresh ceviche in Lima or Guinea Pig in Cusco, we were constantly mesmerized by how seriously each region took their unique food culture and how intentional everyone was with the cooking and preparation of each dish.

This is why I was delighted to talk with Jaco Smith about his very similar itinerary on his recent trip to South America. As Executive Chef of the South-American gem, Lechon (located in Portland’s downtown waterfront), I had a feeling that Jaco’s South trip to South America was full of amazing food stories.

Tony and I have been privileged to dine at Lechon on several occasions, and each time we are impressed by how Jaco beautifully utilizes Northwest ingredients in both traditional & contemporary South American dishes.

Before opening Lechon, Jaco (having learned his cooking techniques in his home country of South Africa) dedicated himself to studying Francis Mallmann’s “Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way”, and it really shines through in his work. But Jaco didn’t stop his learning there. This recent trip he took to South America was an educational trip to better understand the culinary techniques and food culture in this part of the world (all of which influences Jaco and his staff here in Portland).

I hope you take a chance to read his drool-inducing tales from his South American trip below. After learning about his experiences traveling through Peru, Chile, and Argentina, I am eager to go back to South America and to experience this gastronomic continent the “Jaco way”…. enjoy!

Enter Jaco….

The Fuego

For the past couple years I have studied South American cuisine and have read many cookbooks. Deep inside me was this burning desire to experience more and to travel to South America to understand where the food originated, the culture and the cooking methods. I felt it was necessary to take the journey to South America to fully understand everything. When I watched Anthony Bourdain’s show on Lima, Peru I told myself, “I need to travel to South America”. I wanted to walk throughout the markets, taste the ingredients and observe the cooking methods.

Lechon’s Chef, Arthur Dulin, and I flew down to South America from Portland in January 2017. We both did not know quite what to expect, but one thing was in common: To learn more about the food and ingredients and have a cultural experience.

There was this excitement as we boarded the plane on the quest to learn and absorb everything possible. One thing for sure was that we wanted to fully understand “The Fuego” (the fire). What is different about the cooking methods and how do these methods change throughout South America?

@jacosmith100

Our first stop was Lima, Peru. Anthony Bourdain’s travel images reflect as we drive through downtown Miraflores in Lima. I was getting so excited about what we were about to experience. A first stop was lunch at a local sandwich cafe. The variety of fresh, refreshing fruit juices set me back in time, as it reminded me of juices we had growing up in South Africa. The bread ( Pan con Fraincais) was unlike any bread I had ever had. It was a crusty round bread roll and soft inside. All the varieties of sandwiches were simple, but perfectly executed and delicious. I had a pork sandwich with sweet potato that was to delicious. On the side salsa criollo and a couple sauces are served to add to your liking.

That same afternoon, we drove to the coast and watch the fisherman unload their catch of the day and to discover a few markets.

@jacosmith100

Next up was the famous ceviche everyone had told me about. We went to a local restaurant where most of the famous soccer stars stop in for their favorite Peruvian fare. The restaurant was packed at 3 pm, and I was certain we had come to the right place. The fish ceviche was perfectly prepared with the freshest ingredients and perfect amount of lime juice.

The very first dinner of 2017 was at Maido, a nikkei restaurant that is a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. As we were greeted and led up the staircase, there was a brief pause when we got to the top of the staircase. Our hostess, welcomed the kitchen staff by saying, “Maido”, and the entire kitchen repeated this back in unison. I knew then and there, that this was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. We were seated and I was mesmerized by the attention to detail and how beautiful the restaurant was.

@jacosmith100

The food was incredible and the beautifully presented dishes were flawless. The flavors were perfect and Maido told a beautiful story of the influences of Japanese settlers and their cooking techniques in Lima many years ago. Maido is recognized as one of the top restaurants in the world.

Our final food experience in Lima was at Restaurant Amaz. A restaurant that focuses on using Amazonian ingredients along with Peruvian cuisine to highlight the story of the influence of ingredients from the Amazon.

@jacosmith100

The cocktails were as amazing as the food. I had the traditional dish Causa before, but I will be honest… This was the finest, most delicious Causa I have ever had. It was a lovely chilled mashed purple potato with shrimp and plantains. The combinations of the dish were perfect and beautifully presented. So was the duck cooked in chocolate and achiote. The restaurant taught us all about the different vegetables, fruits and proteins available in this part of the world. I was fascinated to learn that there are 17 different varieties of potatoes in Peru.

Our journey ended in Peru and we were off on a short flight to Santiago, Chile. What a beautiful city that hustles and bustles each day. The Spanish settlers were evident with the beautiful architecture and parks. The city overlooks the stunning Andes mountains, and I could not help but think how amazing it must be in the winter. As daylight falls and the cooler temperatures drop everyone is out to enjoy the city. Many restaurants have outdoor seating, and patrons are out till past midnight dining at their favorite spots. As we sat listening to music till late at night, you observe what food makes possible in life. Food truly brings people together and build friendships and memories no matter where you are.

We wanted to dig deeper into the cuisine of Chile. Where did it all start many years ago? Restaurant Peumayen did exactly that. It was an Ancestral experience like I have never experienced before. Beautifully decorated with a stunning indoor patio, I did not know what to expect.

@jacosmith100

It exceeded expectations. The ” bread basket” was a board with 8 different breads. From the left to the right representing the breads from the most northern part of Chile to the very south. Each flavor was different and stunning in its own way.

@jacosmith100

We were truly taken on a culinary journey back in time, with the freshest local grains, nuts and ingredients. The river trout smoked with bay leaves and tree bark was the highlight for me. Closing your eyes and smelling the smoking aromatics table side, I could imagine myself sensing those same smells many years ago. A simple side with strawberries, radishes, kale and Lima beans was perfectly balanced. We walked away from Peumayen with a completely different understanding of how it all started.

@jacosmith100

The “Mercado Central” (or central market) in Santiago showcases all the beautiful ingredients in this part of the world. From the freshest seafood, every corner you take, the market is filled with patrons buying ingredients to cook a meal later that day. There are a variety of eateries in the market serving up some of the local favorites: Empanada’s, “Choclo” (a traditional corn and meat pie), as well as plenty of the freshest ceviche to name a few.

Don’t miss out on the Pisco, they are quite delicious. There remains the rivalry between Peru and Chile who has the best Pisco. As everyone has their own opinion and rightfully so, Chile wins hands down in my humble opinion.

Leaving the beautiful city of Santiago, a 30 minute flight a cross the Andes Mountains brought us to the wine capital of Argentina, the city of Mendoza. With the quiet streets on a Sunday afternoon stroll, I sensed that on Sunday’s it’s truly a day where everything just closes and time is spent with loved ones, family and friends. From the beautiful trees that cover the streets, Arthur and I started exploring Mendoza. Mendoza is rich with history of Italian and Spanish settlers.

Walking up and down the streets, we could not decide where to have dinner. We wanted to taste what everyone has been telling us about, the Asado. And there it was… The biggest “Parrilla” (grill) I have ever experienced with a selection to none. From Chicken, Beef, Pork, sausage and more, it was paradise.

@jacosmith100

With the crackling fire and the chefs cooking the perfect meal, we were reminded of why we came to Argentina. Still in the back of my mind was the “Seven Fires” of Francis Mallmann (world renowned Argentine chef) and the seven different cooking techniques he has introduced over the years. Over the course of my time in Argentina, I started to learn more about the “Seven Fires” as we were introduced to a variety of different cooking techniques.

For a late lunch, we went to a stunning Italian/ Argentinian restaurant called La Marchigiana. We were greeted and quickly it was announced to the kitchen that we are chefs from Portland, Oregon. We were honored to meet the chef Theresa Barbara, the oldest female chef in Argentina (she is in her late 70’s). Theresa came to Argentina from Italy and opened her restaurant 25 years ago. She was so proud to show us her kitchen, where they make fresh pasta, ravioli’s and showed us the traditional Parrilla burning so magically in the corner of the kitchen. One thing is for sure: That Italian cuisine has deep roots in Argentina.

@jacosmith100

I didn’t think our trip to Mendoza could get any better after our experience at La Marchigiana. To my surprise, it did.

Our Airbnb guests were so gracious with hospitality and invited us into their home to cook for us on the grill. They had a big Parilla set up in the back next to their courtyard. Our hosts went to the Mercado and bought an array of meats to cook for us.

As we share a traditional Yerba mate and drink through a metal straw, the feast is being prepared and “The Fuego” is lit. The cook for the night, Bruno, does not leave the fire for 1 minute as he carefully manicures the fire and places the coals under the grill — not too much or too little, but the perfect amount. He explains, “it will take 2 hours”, and we all watch in anticipation. He carefully seasons the meat with just coarse salt and nothing els.

After 1 hour a storm breaks down. Even as it rains, Bruno does not leave the grill unattended. As he moves the proteins on the Parrilla one last time, we were invited to sit down at the table. 12 guests at the table gather for the meal of a lifetime. Arthur and I thought we were on the Anthony Bourdain show.

The meal is started off with chopped iceberg lettuce and on the side diced tomatoes and red onions. The next course was morcilla and chorizo, and off course bread. Next were platters of meat proteins in different phases. It was simply sensational, perfectly cooked Argentinian Asado. It was what we had traveled to Argentina for. At the end of the meal we were in a meat coma, but it did not matter as we were so satisfied and happy. After the meal, the guitars and musical instruments filled the sky with music and singing. It was amazing! Our Airbnb hosts treated us like family with grace and open arms.

We finished our itinerary at Mendoza’s own central market. This market is inviting and stocked with beautiful artisanal charcuterie and prosciutto. It’s a chefs paradise to walk the market and admire all the butcher cuts to choose from as well as locally made chorizo sausage.

Our trip could not be completed without a trip from Mendoza across the Andes mountains by bus to Santiago for our return flight back to Portland. The journey takes around 7 hours, but with delays at the Chilean border, we waited 3 hours to cross. It’s a scenic drive through Argentinian wine country. Although it was close to 100F to the border crossing, the crossing itself is located at the very top of the snow capped mountains, where the wind chill drops temperatures to the low 40F. Once we made it through the border, we drove down the mountain and through the valley on the most roller coaster road down the mountain.

@jacosmith100

Our trip to South America was a culinary journey like I never imagined. Although we had a huge language barrier, patience and the willingness to communicate, friendships were made. It was the most enlightening cultural experience. If there’s one thing that I will carry in my heart, it’s that food, music, people and friendships unite us all, no matter where we travel in the world.

Jaco’s South America Travel Tips

• Sky Airways is very inexpensive to travel around South America
• CATA busses are extremely comfortable if traveling by bus
• Always remember you are a guest
• Be friendly and polite
• Pay the extra money to your cellphone carrier to have Internet and messaging
• Use Google translate. It’s very useful to communicate and speak slowly
• Airbnb works great
• Uber is the way to travel around the city and much cheaper than taxi’s
• Try and learn Spanish along the way
• Try all the different cuisines and be open-minded
• Absolutely eat an Asado in Argentina
• Drink lots of Pisco’s

The post The Fuego – A South American Travel Story By Lechon’s Executive Chef, Jaco Smith appeared first on LandingStanding.

I don’t know about you, but this time of year, Tony and I find ourselves bouncing around from one holiday gathering to the next. Whether meeting up for pre-Friendsgiving drinks (yes, that’s a thing), traipsing through the city on an ugly sweater holiday pub crawl, or  just wanting to  hunker down in a dimly lit bar with a festive drink in hand, the holidays have us taking full advantage of Portland’s vibrant Happy Hour scene.

With all the boozy wisdom I now have of this city, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to some of my favorite happy hour hot spots… after all, this is the season of giving thanks!

I hope ya check some of these marvelous places out over the holidays, or when you come to visit the city!

Park Kitchen (Happy Hour from 5-6) – I don’t typically make it downtown, but Park Kitchen warrants the trip. Their happy hour basically features most of the dishes from their regular menu, for a fraction of the price. The happy hour item not to be missed: the grilled pork terrine slider with Park Kitchen’s special (oh so special) sauce.

Park Kitchen also just launched their “One House” Gratuity Free concept to create more sustainable and rewarding positions for their employees… Now that’s eating and drinking you can feel good about!

Lauretta Jeans (Happy Hour from 5-7) – This magical Division St. pie place is right down the street from our place, yet I don’t come here nearly as much as I should.

Why is a pie place even on my Happy Hour roundup? Because they offer HAPPY HOUR PIE. Yup. Every day from 5-7pm, all their scrumptious pie slices are $3.50 a slice! You’re welcome.

Photo credit: Lauretta Jeans

Aalto Lounge (Happy Hour from 5-7) – Now, let me preface by saying that Aalto is not my favorite bar by any means. While the cocktails are mighty delicious here, I have never been a huge fan of their lounge-esque ambiance. But putting my anti-lounge sentiments aside, their happy hour menu has a $2 grilled cheese & tomato soup deal… $2 FOLKS!

M Bar (Happy Hour from 6-8) – I already featured M Bar in my first Portland Bars article, but it just holds such a special place in my heart. Not only do they have fantastic hours for their happy hour, but their ambiance is fan-freaking-tastic, and you can get a damn good glass of wine for as cheap as $3… and their pours are humungo.  I’ve made my case.

Lechon (Happy Hour Tues-Sun: 3p-6p; Monday: 3p-close) – Lechon in the SW Waterfront has some of the best cocktails in Portland, and their food is out of this world.

Photo credit: Lechon

The happy hour item not to be missed: their perfectly fried cheese empanadas with caramelized onions, monterey jack, fontina cheese, and ancho aioli.

Need more Portland happy hour inspiration? Let Eater’s handy map guide you: Portland’s Essential Happy Hour Deals

Love a good fireplace during the holidays? Obviously the answer is yes, because who doesn’t love a good fire during the holidays? Thankfully, my buddy Alex Frane has you covered with an entire roundup article over on Drink Portland dedicated to the best Portland Bars with Fireplaces.

In need of a night in? One of my favorite things during the holidays is a cozy night in, next to a warm fire, with a tall glass of wine in hand. But what to drink? While I’m not a huge Pino Noir fan, the whole rest of Oregon is… but I recently tried the Angela Estate 2013 Pinot Noir and loved it! This Pinot Noir recently was awarded the solo gold medal for Pinot Noir in the US at the 33rd Annual International Wine Challenge. At $48 it’s a bit pricey, but perfect for a holiday celebration or a quiet date night in.

Your Turn: What are some of your favorite places to enjoy happy hour in Portland? 

The post The Happiest of Happy Hours in Portland! A Few Of My Favorites appeared first on LandingStanding.

Well ladies and gentleman, it’s no surprise that Feast Portland 2016 was a pretty epic festival this past month. The 2015 festival was my first Feast experience, and this year was even better and more indulgent than last year (hard to believe).

As a recap, Feast takes over the city each September for 4 legendary days and showcases the innovation that’s transforming America’s food revolution, all while celebrating the culinary mecca of Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

After Feast 2015, I did a roundup article of all the restaurants I wanted to check out after the 4-day foodie festival came to a close. I didn’t get to all of these places yet (Departure and Meat Cheese Bread are still on my list to tackle), but I have a few more to add to the list after Feast Portland 2016.

Here’s is my new post-Feast Portland food bucket list:

Podnah’s Pit

The taco Podnah’s Pit served up at the Latin-inspired Night Market (hosted by USA Pears) was hands down my most beloved dish from the weekend. This simple, comforting, and fall-off-the-bone-tender beef rib taco, drizzled with hatch chili cheese sauce, raw onion, and cilantro had me coming back for seconds…. and thirds. The long line to wait for this puppy was 100% worth it.

Photo Credit via Oregon Live

Bullard (Doug Adam’s newest restaurant)

To start Feast Portland 2016 was the kickoff party at Jacobsen Salt Co.’s inner Southeast Portland headquarters (hosted in collaboration with Williams-Sonoma). During the festivities, Portland celebrity chef, Doug Adams, kept the bellies of Feasters full with his complete spread of all things Texas BBQ. Earlier that very day, Adams announced plans to open a restaurant of his own, Bullard, with a menu inspired by his Texas upbringing. So yeah, I’ll be checking Bullard out soon!

Coquine

Recently named as Portland’s Best Everyday, Michelin-Caliber Restaurant by Portland Monthly, Coquine has been on my PDX food bucket list for quite some time now. Now, I should have gone earlier this year prior to all their stellar PR, when things were probably a bit calmer at Coquine… but the crowds won’t scare me away!

At Feast’s OMG Smoked event, Coquine was giving out UNLIMITED quantities of their world famous cookies. Sadly, I was not in attendance at OMG Smoked, so there I was at home that Saturday night very jealous of all the Coquine cookies I saw popping up on my Instagram feed from lucky OMG Smoked ticket holders. #Regrets

Photo credit via Bakery Bingo

Xico

Xico made it to the top of my food bucket list during Feast 2016 for two reasons: 1) It’s right down the street from my new casa and 2) Their delicious Totopos served at Feast’s Night Market.

This snack was complete with fried tortilla chips, topped with chile de arbol salsa, cotija cheese, crema, lime, cilantro, and onion. The Totopos are regularly featured on Xico’s happy hour menu. After tasting these bad boys, I am just going to have to march my butt down there for their late night happy hour, as I imagine these taste even more magical after a buzzed night on the town!

Wiz Bang Bar

If you follow me on Instagram, then you probably know by now that I am pretty obsessed with Salt & Straw. So, you can imagine my excitement when they were dishing out Chocolate Tacolates at the Feast Grand Tasting event. These famed Chocolate Tacolates are featured on their menu at their new Wiz Bang Bar, located in Portland’s new Pine Street Market — a food mecca I have yet to visit in the heart of downtown.

And when I DO go to Wiz Bang, you better bet that one of my orders (yes, I will be ordering multiple treats for myself) will be their Salted, Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Concrete… Mic drop.

Special Mention: Lardo

While I have been many times to the sandwich lovers paradise, Lardo, I wanted to give Lardo a shout-out for the Denver lamb ribs barbacoa they passed out at the Night Market. Tony knows my love for all things lamb, and this dish was easily my #2 favorite item from the weekend. Tender, spicy, and distinctive, these ribs stole the show!

Photo credit via The Kitchen Paper

Happy eating folks!

Your turn: What other foodie places should I check out in Portland? I would love to hear whatcha’ got in the Comments! 

The post My Portland Food Bucket List: A Feast Portland Round-Up (The 2016 Edition) appeared first on LandingStanding.