Top Pot

If snacking on Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland wasn't enough, Viv and I stopped by Top Pot Doughnuts in downtown Seattle for good measure. Hey, if it's good enough for Rachel Ray... Yum-O! Okay, if I haven't already lost you there, please keep reading. If you are wondering what exactly is Top Pot and what sets it apart from any other doughnut shop, it's all in the name. Yup, as the story goes, the founders of Top Pot had originally purchased a decrepit neon sign from an old Chinese restaurant named Top Spot. However, as it lay rusting in their backyard, the sign began to deteriorate. While it was being transported for restoration, the "S" fell off; thus leaving behind "Top Pot". The result was a doughnut shop that made their delicious doughnuts by hand, not by machine such as Krispy Kreme.

My first taste of Top Pot was courtesy of Vandelay. I really like how big they are. Eating a whole Top Pot doughnut is no easy feat, especially the Cinnamon Roll. Furthermore, the doughnuts are not heavy, despite their size. One thing I do not like about Krispy Kremes is that they are incredibly sweet. Well, Top Pots are not exactly bland; but they are not overly sugary. As we were in a rush to hit the Seattle Premium Outlets before heading home, we quickly got a dozen doughnuts to go.

We made it across the border pretty quick due to the Nexus pass; however, we waited quite long at the Massey Tunnel. For the life of me, why would they have a carpool lane for 3 people change into a 2 person carpool lane after Highway 17 is beyond me. If I had known, I would've taken the carpool lane! Anyways, we stopped by Vandelay's house along the way and returned the favour of some yummy Top Pots.

The Good:
- Doughnuts are large
- Texture is soft, even the next day!
- Not crazy sweet

The Bad:
- As with any good doughnut, they are not cheap

Salumi

The reason why we left Portland so early was we needed to arrive in Seattle by 10:45am. Why the precise time? Well, the place we were visiting consistently has lineups around the block unless you are one of the first few to arrive. The place is Salumi which happens to be Mario Batali's father's deli. I often wonder if we blindly flock to these places because they are famous for being well, famous. Salumi has been featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and the Food Network. Are the sandwiches there really that good or is it merely hype? Well, Viv and I put that theory to the test as we successfully arrived at Salumi by 10:45am. It was so plain on the outside, we actually drove right by it the first time. Again, we were lucky to get a parking space right across the street and took our time strolling across the street into the 2 person lineup. Yes, we were 3rd in line, not bad considering that I hate lineups.

With exceedingly high expectations, we entered the deli with money in one hand and not really all that much appetite since we only finished breakfast less than 3 hours ago. My sandwich of choice was the Prosciutto, Figs and Goat Cheese on Ciabatta. Viv decided on the Muffo. To our dismay, the sandwiches were premade (albeit probably not too long ago). The server merely walked into the cooler and fetched them for us. For a $9.50 sandwich, I'd expect freshly made. The result? Chewy bread and cold ingredients. And as for those ingredients, if you look at the pictures, there wasn't much of it either. I do understand that a few slices of prosciutto go a long way since it is quite salty. However, if you are only going to stuff my sandwich with a few slices, please do not charge me almost $10.00. Don't get me wrong, Viv and I truly enjoyed our sandwiches. The combination of flavours were well-balanced and unique. I thought the saltiness of the prosciutto was perfectly offset by the sweet figs and smooth goat cheese.

The bottom line is that I liked our sandwiches from Salumi despite the price and that they were not freshly made right in front of me. However, in my opinion, Salumi is over-hyped. For nearly $10.00, I did not feel that we got good value. And this is taking into account the quality of the ingredients and the well-designed flavour combinations. But if you want, Salumi is still one of those places you have to visit at least once to see for yourselves.

*Note* - follow up visit can be found here.

The Good:
- Well-balanced and tasty sandwiches
- It's one of those "have to experience" places
- Quality ingredients

The Bad:
- Expensive for what you get
- Pre-made sandwiches for $10?
- You need to lineup

Tin Shed Garden Cafe

Well, our little visit to Portland is coming to an end. Today we are heading back home to Vancouver, BC. We woke up extra early so we could squeeze one last meal before we left. We made it out to the Tin Shed Garden Cafe out on Alberta Ave right when it opened at 7:00am. I'm really liking the vibe out here on Alberta Ave, there are some cool places to eat here. If you want something a bit different, this is the street to check out. In fact, our first meal in Portland during this trip was at the Grilled Cheese Grill which is only a stone's throw away from the Tin Shed.

Normally, I wouldn't imagine waking up so early for no good reason. But you know how dedicated I am to my craft! Since it was a rainy morning, we didn't get a chance to sit out on the patio. Looks like we had escaped the rain in Vancouver and now we were just about to escape the rain in Portland. The Tin Shed prides itself on using as much organic and sustainable ingredients if possible. Furthermore, their belief is to be human first, business second. I definitely agree with this statement because Viv and I felt right at home here. Our server was friendly in a casual-as-a-matter-of-fact manner. I particularly liked how everyone can just help themselves to a cup of coffee or tea with a cool looking mug.

For eats, I had the "You Gotta Have It" breakfast. It's essentially 2-eggs with a buttermilk biscuit, Shed potato cakes or cheese grits. For $2.75 more, I added a chicken-apple sausage. Simple, but satisfying, the breakfast was a little different than your regular bacon and eggs. I particularly liked the grits, partly because I don't get to eat grits a whole lot and it was fluffy as well. Atop the perfectly scrambled eggs was a light tasting and a bit sweet chicken sausage.

Surprisingly, Viv ordered a pretty heavy meal - The Good Dog which consisted of potato cakes topped with sausage, jalapeno, bell pepper & onion scramble, smothered with cheddar cheese, salsa fresca, sour cream & green onion. Look at the picture, that is one large plate of food! Believe it or not, Viv finished it. I sampled some of it and it was a good mix of salty, spicy and a bit sweet. This is essentially a hash on steroids. A good value at $8.00.

Our early breakfast at the Tin Shed was a great last meal as we left for Seattle shortly after. The food was solid and the prices were reasonable. The service was sincere and friendly. In fact, our server gave Viv an extra tea bag and paper cup for the road. Add to the fact that the restaurant itself oozes character, you have a winning combination at the Tin Shed.

The Good:
- Honest service
- Good portions
- Reasonable prices

The Bad:
- Limited seating inside when the weather is bad

Kenny & Zuke's

While in Portland, it would not be complete without a visit to Powell Books. A bookstore? Yes, but this is no ordinary bookstore. Think of something that is bigger than some main libraries. Powell Books occupies 4 separate buildings that take up a whole city block. From the outside, you'd never know it. Honestly, it looks quite modest with it's dated exterior and signage. It's a whole new world once inside. We were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the place. If you were looking for a book, you'll probably find it here. I wasn't really intending to buy anything; but I walked out of there with a discounted "No Reservations by Anthony Bourdain". It was half-priced! Anyways, we planned to eat at Kenny & Zukes which was conveniently nearby. I've been here before for breakfast with Costanza and Snake; yet I never did get to try their sandwiches.

Viv and I actually made it for their Happy Hour menu, which has a few items discounted by $3 - $4. We weren't really all that hungry since we had just finished some Jamba Juice and lunch at Adina was only 4 hours ago. But I didn't travel all the way to Portland and not eat! I was going to eat until I couldn't eat no more! That probably explains my choice of the Meshugaletta. The mush-a-what? It's actually their largest sandwich consisting of pastrami, salami, roast beef, turkey and Swiss tucked in 3 slices of bread. Oh yes, there was no doubt in my mind I was going to eat that sandwich! Alright, I didn't actually end up finishing it. I struggled to down half of it. It reminded us of the Woody Allen from Carnegie Deli in NYC; however, the Woody Allen was even bigger with no bread in the middle. I really liked the combination of meats (like who wouldn't? oh wait, a vegetarian!). Combined with the tangy relish, this sandwich delivered. Add to the fact I got a pint of beer for $2.50, I was a happy man.

Viv was a little less ambitious and ordered the Pastrami Sandwich and a plate of Fries from the Happy Hour menu. A fantastic value at $7.25 and $2.75 respectively. Despite the price, there was no shortage of thick slices of tender pastrami shoehorned between 2 slices of rye. The slices were so thick, Viv had a tough time eating the sandwich. No matter, at the very least, you know they were not stingy with the meat. The pickle on the side was not very good, it was salty and limp (insert joke here). Served with a ridiculously large bowl of ranch dip, the fries were very crispy, if not a bit over salted. We had to shake off all the kosher salt, it was stinging our tongues.

We walked away from Kenny & Zukes quite full and with half of my sandwich unfinished. Knowing how we were going to eat again tomorrow morning, I struggled to finish the meats in our hotel room. Sure it was $14.75; but honestly, that was a lot of food. Kenny & Zukes satisfied my deli cravings and more so.

The Good:
- Good meats and lots of it
- Reasonable prices
- Great Happy Hour menu

The Bad:
- Just could be me, but the pickles were not very good

Jamba Juice

My first taste of Jamba Juice was back in 2003. I was in San Francisco visiting my cousins and they were raving about a fruit smoothie. Hey, I'm a carnivore, no fruity drinks for me! Well, I had to eat those words because one sip of the silky blended sweet and a bit tart concoction, I was hooked. How could something so simple be so good? After all, it is just a mix of fruit, yogurt, sorbet, juice and a "boost". I can make this at home! Well, I have tried making it at home, it's just not the same. Usually something so good is terrible for your health. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that each cup of Jamba Juice contains 2 - 4 servings of fruit! Wow, something that I loved to drink and satisfied part of my daily fruit intake. However, tempering this enthusiasm, the amount of sugar in a Jamba Juice is not exactly good either.

Alas, there is no Jamba Juice in Canada. Nada. We have Jugo Juice and Booster Juice. Admittedly, I am warming up to these copy-cats; but I still love the original. This is probably the "I like the place that made it first" affliction. No matter what the reason, I love Jamba Juice and I couldn't go to Portland without having one. Of course there are closer locations to me than Portland; but I was at Lloyd Center already and it was right in front of me when I walked in. They have overhauled their menu and there are many new items available. However, their "classics" are still available. My favourite is the Lime Sublime. I like my drinks tart. Today, we had the Pomegranate Paradise which consisted of pomegranate juice, strawberries, mangoes, peaches and ice. It was pretty good, but I still like my Lime Sublime. I only wish I could get it in Vancouver!

The Good:
- Drinks are blended well and are packed with fruit
- It is a healthy alternative to a Slurpee (but much more expensive)
- The premise of satisfying your fruit intake and a healthy "boost" sounds good

The Bad:
- It is expensive, but you pay for what you get (fruit and fruit juice)
- With the regular drinks, there is a no shortage of sugar

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