Andina

Having woken up quite early for our day of shopping at Woodburn yesterday, this was our day to sleep in. I planned this long before we left for Portland and had made a reservation at Andina via Opentable. Hey, efficient and effective eating takes planning! This particular restaurant was recommended by Elizabeth Fuss (Lizzy Dishes Portland) and also happens to be the top rated restaurant in Portland according to Urbanspoon. As you can imagine, we had high hopes prior to our visit. This may be the kiss of death because it is not often anything ever lives up to the hype. Well, the Bacon Maple Bar at Voodoo sure did. You see, I'm still thinking about it!!!

Andina is located in the Pearl district in Downtown Portland. It's got this Soho-like vibe with its old brick buildings and converted warehouses. We had arrived a bit early and decided to take a short stroll around. Viv grabbed the camera and shamelessly started taking pictures of random restaurants. Uh... is this insane picture taking contagious? I even felt a bit uneasy about it. When it was time to head over to Andina, I hurried Viv along and away from her picture-taking. As requested in my reservation, we were seated at a window seat with excellent lighting. Good picture taking lives and dies by the availability or absence of soft lighting.

The menu at Andina is heavily focused on Peruvian tapas. There are a few entrees; but the thing here is to share. The tapas come in 3 sizes - small ($8.50), medium ($16.00) and large ($29.00). We selected 3 small tapas plates and one entree to share. First off was the complimentary bread which has to be probably the best we've ever had. Sure, the bread was soft with a perfectly crusty exterior. Yet, it was the 3 accompanying sauces that really impressed. The most mild sauce consisted of garlic and cheese. The medium sauce was a combination of passion fruit and chilies, while the spiciest was made up of Jalapenos, mint, cumin and garlic. Viv loved the tartness of the passion fruit while I couldn't stop dipping my bread into the spicy green sauce.

The Choros a la Chalaca was the first dish to arrive. It consisted of mussels cooked in white wine on the half-shelf dressed with tomato-corn salsa. Visually stunning, the mussels were absolutely scrumptious. A beautiful marriage of flavours and textures from the sweet crunchy corn to the tart soft tomatoes. A truly simple dish with complex flavours. From flavour explosion, we move onto something a bit more subtle. The Conchas a la Parilla or grilled diver scallop was a very delicate dish. A single large diver scallop rested on a garlic lime butter sauce hidden within fried onions. With this dish, we paid for quality over quantity. However, the one scallop was quite large. The scallop itself was barely cooked; if not a bit rare, which was perfect in this case. The delicate sauce complimented the naturally sweet scallop without upstaging it.

Our 3rd tapas was the Empanadas Caseras de Carne which were essentially fried flaky pastries filled with beef, raisins and Botija olives. Not oily and steaming hot, the empanadas were indeed flaky. The filling was soft and the flavours were well-balanced. The olives and raisins acted as effective flavour contrasts. The entree we selected was the Arroz con Maricos or seafood paella. With aji panca (Peruvian red pepper) infused rice, the dish was not devoid of seafood. A bounty of shrimp and scallops were nestled within the al dente rice topped off with 2 pieces of halibut. The rice was delicately seasoned while the shrimp and scallops were cooked just right. However, the halibut was a bit overdone and a bit bland.

I'm no expert when it comes to Peruvian cuisine; but if the food at Andina is any indication, I would like to sample more. The flavour profile of each dish was well-thought out and everything was cooked with attention to detail. The ambiance and decor helped enhance the dining experience while the service was top-notch. Did Andina live up to our lofty expectations? I would say unequivocally yes.

The Good:
- Great decor, ambiance and service
- Great tasting food
- A good selection of tapas

The Bad:
- Can get expensive if you order lots (if you are big eater, you will order lots)

Pambiche

Not too long ago, it was declared that I would eat more Latin food. Well, being in Portland, where there are a plethora of Latin restaurants, this was a great opportunity. After a long and excruciating 6+ hours watching Viv shop at the Woodburn Outlets, I was both hungry and bit annoyed. A man can only take that much of: "How does this look on me?" I originally had the restaurants for our Portland trip laid out on an itinerary. Unfortunately, we had lost it somewhere between Cafe du Berry and the outlets. No matter, I used my Blackberry and looked it up on Urbanspoon. Yes, that's right, the place was Pambiche.

Entering the address in my trusty GPS, we made our way to NE Glisan Street for some Cuban food. Our first glance at Pambiche revealed a brightly multi-coloured building complete with actual street seating. When I mean street seating, I mean that the tables flanked the sidewalk. That's correct, people walking by would have to stroll right through the restaurant. How cool is that? A very good attempt to emulate the atmosphere and authentic Cuban dining experience. We decided to share Jamon Croquetas to start. Like the name suggests, it was a combination of smoked ham and spices fried up as a croquette. They didn't look like much when they arrived; but the crispy coating revealed a soft and fluffy interior.

One dish that caught my eye was the Rabo Encendido, which is oxtail stewed in a spicy red wine sauce. It was served with white rice and corn fritters. Being oh-so-tender, the oxtail practically melted in my mouth. The red wine sauce was a perfect compliment to the fatty meat. The crunchy corn fritters acted as a nice treat on the side. Viv opted for the Lengua en Salsa which is a plate of tongue (thanks Kim) and tender pork in a creole sauce with raisins and almonds. It was served with Tostones, otherwise knowns as plantain chips. The flavours of this dish were pleasant; but curiously one dimensional. Viv thought it tasted mostly of tomato and not much else.

Whatever the case, we enjoyed our meal at Pambiche. You just can't beat sitting outside right next to idling cars! Kidding aside, the ambiance was excellent and the weather cooperated. Chalk this up as another unique experience.

The Good:
- Great outdoor seating arrangments
- Large selection of Cuban specialties
- Service was friendly (despite what others have said)

The Bad:
- A tad pricey
- Meat is a bit sparse

Cafe du Berry

Ah yes, Cafe du Berry. This is not the first time visiting this quaint place. Last year, I joined Costanza and Snake on a golf trip to Portland. We were directed to this out-of-the-way French bistro by the conceirge at the Avalon Hotel. It happened to be an excellent recommendation because we would have never known about it otherwise. Today, Viv and I planned to shop til we dropped at the Woodburn Outlets. Therefore, we needed to grab some breakfast along the way. Due to some intricate planning, Cafe du Berry was perfectly situated along our route to Woodburn. From the outside, Cafe du Berry looks more like a corner store than a French bistro; but do not let first impressions deceive you. Okay fine, when you first enter the place, it ain't too impressive either. Mind you, there is a nice mural on one wall and it's presented as nice as it possibly can under the circumstances. It is indeed quaint since it only has barely 5 tables inside and an outdoor patio.

Despite not being the most visually appealing restaurant, Cafe du Berry dishes up some really good eats for a modest price. Last time I was here, I remembered that the breakfast was both plentiful and rich. Today, I was hoping that it would be a little less rich because I didn't want to feel bloated while shopping. I guess my brain and stomach do not communicate effectively because I went for the Steak & Eggs. That's right, I picked the most filling meal. I guess "fruit salad" doesn't exist in my vocabulary.

Atop perfectly scrambled eggs, lay a decent-sized striploin smothered in Hollandaise. Great, my filling meal got just a bit more filling! Oh, but with every bite of each piece of juicy steak, I could savour the slightly tart and buttery Hollandaise. Pure heaven. The "hashbrown" was okay; but it wasn't as crispy as it looked and it was a bit bland. Nothing ketchup couldn't solve! I really enjoyed this dish except that the medium-rare steak I had requested was closer to medium. No matter, the steak was still extremely tender. Viv opted for the Salmon Benedict since she thought it would be "smaller". Well, if you call 2 English muffins underneath a whole fillet of Sockeye salmon topped with 2 perfectly poached eggs and a blanket of Hollandaise sauce "smaller". Although Viv is a bit indifferent towards Hollandaise sauce, she really liked this one since it didn't seem heavy. There was a good amount of tartness which probably balanced the richness of the butter and egg yolks. Underneath the sauce lay (sorry for the pun) 2 runny poached eggs. This is what eggs benny is all about! Despite being a tad overcooked, the Sockeye salmon was flavourful in a way only Spring salmon can dream about.

Another great breakfast at Cafe du Berry. It's definitely something different than the regular bacon and eggs in a truly interesting venue. Service is refreshingly sincere and friendly. Afterall, it's run by a husband and wife team, how much more personal can you get? There you have it, Cafe du Berry - good French food at modest prices.

The Good:
- Generous portions
- Reasonable prices
- Food made with care

The Bad:
- It's small, fills up quickly
- You ain't coming here for the decor

Russell Street BBQ

One of my favourite foods is good ol' BBQ. I'm talking about slow-cooked brisket, pulled pork and ribs. Mmm... ribs... So tonight, after a day of Grilled Cheese Grill and Voodoo Doughnuts, I was ready for a big plate of meat! The place I had in mind was Russell Street BBQ. As the name implies, it's on Russell Street in the Northeast of Portland. Honestly, I was a bit famished despite the aforementioned food I had eaten during the day. It was already nearing 8:00pm and I had to tear Viv away from her shopping at Target. My endless whining about being hungry finally saw us heading to dinner.

When we got to Russell Street BBQ, Viv did her best imitation of a bad Richmond driver and mashed the front tire against the curb. Luckily there was enough sidewall to prevent disaster on the rims. Still a bit annoyed, we crossed the street and headed into the restaurant. Greeted by the friendly staff, we were seated promptly. There was no doubt in my mind what I was ordering - The Meatapalooza! Choice of any 3 meats, cornbread and 2 sides, ah... gluttony on a plate... I wasted no time and decided on Pulled Pork, Brisket and Baby Back Ribs with Mac 'n Cheese and Fries as my sides. Viv wasn't in the gluttonous mood and only settled for the Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of Meaty BBQ Beans. Probably from being way too hungry, I foolishly chose the Killer BBQ sauce.

For $16.00, there was a good amount of food on the plate. As you can see, it filled the entire plate and most of it was meat. Our server placed a bottle of Killer BBQ sauce on our table just in case I needed more. Foolishly again, I doused my entire plate with it. Although it wasn't a pain-inducing spicy, the Killer BBQ sauce was indeed hot. Now onto the meats... Tender, yet still intact, each slice of brisket melted in my mouth (with a stinging sensation from the sauce). I've read a few reviews which complained that the pulled pork was dry. I'd like to say that yes, it's not the most moist pulled pork I've ever had; but with the right amount of sauce, it's excellent. I like my pulled pork this way because any softer, it would fall completely apart. I left the ribs for last because I have this inexplicable affliction which causes me to leave the best for last. The ribs were very good. They were tender without being mushy and plenty of meat was clinging to the bones. The only blip on the plate were the sides, the mac 'n cheese, it was gritty and tasted like flour. Looks like it wasn't mixed too well. Moreover, the fries were not as crispy as I would've liked

Viv's pulled pork sandwich was predictably good with crunchy coleslaw as a texture contrast. She loved the Meaty BBQ Beans, they were rich and smoky. Furthermore, the beans were all intact and retained a bit of texture. While we were devouring our food, our server checked on us and made sure our glasses were never empty. Although not mind-blowing, our meal at Russell Street BBQ was solid and reasonably priced.

The Good:
- Moderately priced
- Food is pretty solid
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- Some of the sides need some work

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Whilst waiting for the lineup at Voodoo Doughnut to die down, Viv and I headed up one block to Stumptown Roasters for some refreshment. Seattle has its Starbucks and Portland has its Stumptown. But most people would like to think of Stumptown as the anti-Starbucks. Whether that actually holds true or not, especially since Stumptown's corporate model seems a lot like Starbucks, there is indeed a difference. Just merely walking into a Stumptown location, you will notice that it's got this Bohemian thing going on. From the decor to the unique pieces of art on the walls, Stumptown does not have the slick, polished appearance of Starbucks. The location we visited was quite spacious; if not a bit too spacious. So few tables occupied the cavernous room which is a complete opposite of Starbucks. We particularly were fond of the plastic ducks chained to the washroom key. Despite being a real inconvenience while trying to open the door, the duck represents the attitude of Stumptown. It is what it is.

I'll be honest, I'm not much of a coffee aficionado, we'll save that distinction for Costanza and Vandelay. However, I do know what I like and what I do not like. In terms of Coffee, I do not like Starbucks. It's far too strong and bitter for tastes. Personally, the coffee seems a bit burnt-tasting. Not being a huge fan of black coffee, I went for the large Mocha. When they say large, it's pretty large. It came in a large pint glass. One sip and I was quite happy. It was neither bitter or burnt. Rather, the mocha was smooth and aromatic. This is how I like my coffee. Viv took a couple of sips and echoed the same sentiments. However, she did not really like her Queen's Ice Tea so much. She thought the flavours were too intense. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the chai flavour and ended up finishing it for her.

While enjoying our drinks, we admired the artwork, the ambiance and other people around us with DSLRs taking pictures of their drinks. Yah, we thought was odd too, it's usually just us! There was also a wall of magazines that people could peruse or purchase at the front of the store. A totally chill place to hang out before heading off to Voodoo Doughnuts!

The Good:
- Relaxing atmosphere
- Smooth coffee
- Not Starbucks?

The Bad:
- Haven't really thought of any

Voodoo Doughnut

Once you're featured on the Food Network, it seems like people will come flocking from near and far like a pack of groupies. In the case of Voodoo Doughnut, it surely appears to be the case. C'mon, why else would people line up around the block for fried dough? Ah, but hold on there, let's not get ahead of ourselves. So today, fresh from "snacking" on grilled cheese from the Grilled Cheese Grill, we headed over to downtown for some doughnuts featured on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations". We were lucky to park across the street from Voodoo; but there was indeed a lineup that almost spanned the distance to the end of the block. How desperate were we for doughnuts? Well, apparently not that desperate because we headed over to Stumptown Roasters first for some beverages. We lounged around until the lineup dwindled to around 15 people, then we got in line. I really don't like lineups and I try my very best to avoid them. This reminded me of the time when we lined up for Krispy Kremes - oh how times have changed!

Voodoo Doughnut is ever so unassuming from the street. If you weren't looking for it, you'd probably miss it. However, if you were on the Amazing Race 13, this was one of the last places during the final episode and trust me, you would be looking for it. Once inside, the place is an eclectic mix of things which really yells out an urban funkiness. No, not an odor funkiness; rather an anti-conformist and anti-establishment vibe. Right by the counter is a rotating display of all the favourites, which include the Voodoo Doll, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Cap'n Crunch and the most famous of them all, the Bacon Maple Bar. Wait a minute... Bacon? On a doughnut? Yes, don't you know by now? Bacon makes everything taste better. What do you think flavours your chowder, makes your baked potato and completes your burger? But of course I had to get one! I regret not getting a whole dozen of these bad boys! The maple glaze combined with the smoky crispy bacon is a match made in heaven. The salty and smokiness of the bacon helps offset the sweetness of the maple glaze. Add to the fact the actual doughnut is soft and almost fluffy, it's a study in texture contrasts. I spent the rest of my time in Portland dreaming about and craving the Bacon Maple Bar. The only thing stopping me from returning to Voodoo and getting more was the fact we still had quite a few doughnuts in our hotel room. Furthermore, I was planning to visit Top Pot in Seattle in a few days.

The tongue-in-cheek quotient is satisfied with the jelly-filled Voodoo Doll. It looks more like a chocolate Gumby in excruciating pain; yet like a voodoo doll, it comes complete with a pretzel stick impaling the poor thing. One bite into the doughnut and a rush of raspberry jam comes gushing out like the blood from a vampire's victim. The Ol' Dirty Bastard is a delicious concoction of crushed Oreo cookie with peanut butter drizzled on top. Chocolate and peanut butter together is always a good combination. So was it worth the lineup? You sure bet it was! Unless you don't like doughnuts, these fried gems are both creative and tasty. If you are the impatient type, then you could go visit the 2nd location out at 1501 NE Davis. But for me, I had to visit the original location. C'mon, it's been on the Food Network and the Amazing Race! Who said I'm a sucker for commercialism and shameless product placement?

The Good:
- Really original and interesting doughnuts
- Bacon Maple Bar, enuff said
- Doughnuts are large
- Open late

The Bad:
- Lineups
- Cash only

Grilled Cheese Grill

I've been looking forward to our little Portland trip for quite a while. No, this is not our first time in Portland; in fact, I've been here a good half-dozen times. The fact that Viv and I were going without the kiddies was the real reason for our enthusiasm. That meant more shopping and eating! You can't imagine how much more efficiently you can eat without the kids! We really made good time traveling south on I-5 and arrived in Portland around noon. We went straight to the Grilled Cheese Grill out on Alberta Ave.

Actually, I had all my meals planned out for the next 4 days. Hey, efficient eating requires advanced planning! With a little help from Portland's top food blogger, Elizabeth Fuss (Lizzy Dishes Portland), I lined up some real gems.

The Grilled Cheese Grill (GCG) is definitely what you call a unique experience. It is essentially a trailer in an gravel parking lot with picnic tables and a school bus. Yes, there is a converted old school bus that doubles as a dining room. Adorned with some really funky designs on the ceiling, the school bus has both booth seating and bar seating. Novelty? Yes, but it works, what a cool place to eat! The menu itself is quite simple - merely different variations of grilled cheese. Definitely something that everyone can make at home; but for some reason, the grilled cheese here is pretty good.

I went for the simple Kindergartner which is essentially a 2-slice grilled cheese. I added a fried egg and ham. It was a really basic sandwich; yet made oh-so-yummy. Nestled in between 2 perfectly browned pieces of bread were 2 melted slices of gooey real cheddar cheese, a runny fried egg and slightly grilled slices of ham. Completely messy to eat - it was delicious! Viv opted for a gourmet grilled cheese - The Jersey which consisted of sauteed mushrooms, Swiss and turkey on rye. Being a bit less messy to eat than mine, the Jersey was crispier and had a really good mix of flavours. Viv remarked it was more like a melt than a grilled cheese. No matter what you call it, it was delicious.

So why such a simple food, which can easily be made at home, become so appealing at GCG? First, the ingredients are good, so that's a start. Second, the menu is focused, so they are experts at making one thing. Third, how can you not like the venue? It's in a freakin' school bus! That's just plain killer! Also, the GCG is open until 2am on weekends, so you can enjoy some grilled cheese late when you have the munchies or completely in a daze while inebriated.

The Good:
- Really unique venue
- The grilled cheese is filled with goodies
- Who doesn't like grilled cheese?

The Bad:
- Not the best place when the weather gets nasty