Friday, Dec 30 - Ringlers
Heading downtown to the rawk show at the
Crystal Ballroom. My friends K and E are running late from the airport, so we agree to meet at the show. Which means I am eating solo tonight. I figure McMenamins will do the trick. Park, eat, and head upstairs for the show. Simple.
I walk inside, get a stool at the bar, and order. Greyhound and Chicken Caesar Wrap with Fries. Greyhound is OK. Sandwich wrap is OK. Fries are a bit soggy, as the always tend to be at McMenamins' restaurants. I should have gone with the salad. Anyway, I head upstairs, and get ready to rock.
Friday, Dec 30 - Lunch
Last office lunch of the year. I eat leftover pizza and blood oranges. Same as last night. We play a bit of hangman. We have our first ever hanged man (we are good at this game). Two, actually. Both were my puzzles. Clue: Award, Puzzle: Cup of Excellence. Clue: Author, Puzzle: Chuck Palahniuk.
Tonight? Sleater-Kinney, Steven Malkmus, and Quasi at the Crystal Ballroom.
Friday, Dec 30 - Coffee
Coffee at home. All out of half and half, but I do have heavy cream. Hey, it's the last work day of 2005, what's a guy to do?
Thursday, Dec 29 - Blood Orange, the Redeemer
I get off work late, I feed the gardener's cat, and I am tired. On the way home, I grab a pepperoni pizza from
Papa Murphy's. You know, they don't taste terrible. I doctor mine up with oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper.
I wash dishes while it cooks. I have
Lagunitas IPA with my pizza, and I watch the bonus DVD with extra features from the 1st season of Lost.
For dessert, I go healthy, with a blood orange. I had a few left over from when I made my tart last weekend. Very satisfying, and redeems me (somewhat) from the
unhealthy pizza I just ate.
Thursday, Dec 29 - Dockside
Slim E and I get chef salads from the Dockside. Thankfully, he didn't have a craving for Jack in the Box.
Thursday, Dec 29 - The Real OC
OC being Office Coffee, not the TV show. I get a call SUPER early this morning (5:40 AM), crisis at the office. I make it back home at 7:15 for a quick shower and to feed the cat. Then to the gardener's place to feed the chickens and her cat. Then, back to the office by 8:30. I am still the first person in. Make up a big pot-o-coffee, and get to drinking. As I may have mentioned before, we use Stumptown, but in a drip machine.
Wednesday, Dec 28 - Leftover Curry
Why is it that rice on day 2 is so nasty? Pasty, slightly hard, really unpleasant. It's obviously a lack of moisture. How unfortunate. How else can you have rice for your leftover curry at the office (again, I am open for suggestions). I get back to the office around 3, do a bit of computer work, and heat up the curry around 4. No photo, as you can see the dish 2 posts below.
Wednesday, Dec 28 - GBT
Co-worker MA called into the office this morning, and offered to pick-up fried egg sandwiches at the
Gotham Building Tavern. Fried egg, a little cheese, bacon, and (unfortunately) ketchup. Overall very tasty, although I wish the bacon had been a bit crisper, and no ketchup. Maybe butter instead, or a little hot sauce.
Tuesday, Dec 27 - Veggie Green Curry
I made a batch of green curry past on Monday, and used it tonight to make veggie green curry. The paste consisted of cilantro, serrano peppers, lemongrass, garlic, lime juice, coriander, cilantro, and salt. I only have a crappy little 'chef's
chopper' so the paste ended up more chunky than smooth. Any one have suggestions? Would a bigger, full size food processor have been better? HELP!
So, last night, I throw on a batch of jasmine rice and get to work on the curry. Olive oil in a pan, when hot, I throw in chopped onions and a little salt and saute until softer. Then, I mix in 2 tablespoons of the 'paste' and stir. Once it starts to sizzle, I pour in a can of coconut milk and crank the heat. I taste it, and it isn't spicy enough, so I toss in another tablespoon of 'paste' which seems to do the trick. Once it begins to thicken, I toss in some red bell peppers and snow peas, and pour over the rice, and chow. To drink, Lagunitas IPA.
Tuesday, Dec 27 - Dockside
Lady E and I get Dockside chef salads. Fine, as always. A little hangman, then back to work.
Tuesday, Dec 27 - Cafe
Drinking coffee, listening to
NPR's Morning Edition, and looking for flights to Paris.
Monday, Dec 26 - Calzone
Picking up a friend from the airport later. Horizonair.com shows the flight arriving late. I had planned to whip up some green curry for my friend upon their return, but they are going to eat at the Seattle airport during the wait. I had a little
pizza dough left, fresh mozz, and ricotta too. I chop up a bit of onion and tomato, mix in some salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper, and preheat the oven.
Roll and toss the dough in the air, dusting the counter and floor with a light layer of flour. Toss the dough on the pizza stone, spoon the filling onto half, fold, seal, and press. 10 min in the oven gives me just enough time to whip up a little tomato/cuke salad (olive oil, white vinegar, dill, oregano, salt, and pepper). Also, heat up a little tomato/basil/cream sauce to top it with.
Water to drink. Sorry the photos are so dark. I really hate the flash, and didn't want to crank the lights up in the house.
Monday, Dec 26 - Little Lunch
Thinking that a full breakfast of 2 eggs in the hole would hold me through until green curry tonight proved to be a false assumption. While taking Champagne to Cece's house and rescuing my camera, I was tempted with an offer of a bowl of soup. But, not just any soup, Caldo Verde (Portuguese Kale and Chorizo soup). Warm and tasty. Just what I needed.
This is apparently the national soup (maybe even national dish) of Portugal. Unfortunately, this is not my photo, and also, no Cece's soup, but a nice illustration of the dish nonetheless.
Monday, Dec 26 - Breakfast on a day off
Monday. Day after XMAS. Lady E is nice enough to let us take today off. I have two eggs left in the dozen I bought last week, and my friend the gardener has given me a dozen eggs in exchange for watching her chickens (who laid the eggs) while she is out of town. The eggs are all from Ruth (Bader Ginsburg), Mabel has stopped laying for the winter. At any rate, I figured I needed to finish the store eggs before moving on to the far superior eggs from Ruth.
I make an old childhood favorite, egg in a hole. First, though, I fry up the remainder of the package of Bar S bacon from yesterday. I pour out most of the grease (which I freeze and save for later use), but leave some to use for frying in place of butter. Here's how it works, cut a hole in a piece of bread with a glass (in my case, two pieces of bread). Put the bread in the pan and rub into the grease, making a little seal between the bread and the pan, then crack an egg into the hole. Flip once. Eat. It's sort of like eggs over easy with toast, but in one compact package. And, the bacon grease in place of the butter is sublime.
Please note, the photo above is not mine, as my camera is MIA (and hopefully over at Cece's). This photo is used without permission from the
MeatHenge blog... Yep, MeatHenge. Check it out.
Sunday, Dec 25 - XMAS DINNER
While I had planned to spend the entirety of today alone with Alma and a couple of DVDs (
The Agronomist and La Dolce Vita), I was pleasantly surprised to get a last minute invite from Cece for XMAS dinner with porkchop and Papa Cece. My plan HAD
been cajun pork calzone with a little salad and wine. Cece's option was better...
I get over to their place a little early, but the wine is already flowing, 2001
Anne Gros Vosne-Romanee "Les Barreaux"
and 2000
Kestrel Signature Edition Old Vine Merlot. I open the 2002
Keegan E-Block that I brought, and, flattery aside, it's the best wine on the table. We hang, Cece works on the food and refuses any help.
A little later, Papa Cece carves the birds, and daughter Cece plates them with roasted potatoes and haricots verts. Really, a lovely meal. The pheasants had been brined, the beans had tomatoes and spices, and the potatoes (cubed) were lovely.
For dessert, I brought a blood orange tart, which didn't show as well as I had hoped. It was my first attempt at this recipe, and I hadn't really planned to share the outcome with others. I think with the slightest bit of tweaking (more blood orange juice, smaller diameter tart pan), this could be a winner. Wine was 2003
Mt. Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling and 1971
Toro Albala Don PX Montilla Moriles. I left my camera at Cece's, it seems, so these last three posts will be delayed a little until I can get the pictures downloaded.
Sunday, Dec 25 - XMAS BREAKFAST
Did you know I love breakfast? No? Well, I do. Today is the big day,
Jesus' birthday (or not, since he was most likely born earlier in the year, if at all, but I digress...) so breakfast ought to be big, filling, and fatty.
This morning, I squeeze 3 big grapefruits for juice, make a big pot of French press coffee, and get to cooking. I make some REALLY buttery pancakes with walnuts and blood orange zest, and I cook up some
Bar S bacon (not sure if I have been through the whole bacon debate here, but I really like to eat hormone and additive free meats, that are raised humanely, free range, organically fed etc, EXCEPT bacon. Nitrate free bacon is no good. As I didn't plan enough in advance to order bacon from
Grateful Palate, I go with Bar S thick cut. Mmm. This stuff gets nice and crispy, like I like it, but still remains juicy. Quite a feat.). Al
so,
Vermont Gold Maple Syrup "Special Edition"
Grade A Light Amber (what some have called the Champagne of Maple syrups).
Fantastic. I'm full, and won't need to eat until dinner. I may even take a nap. Satisfaction.
Saturday, Dec 24 - Homemade Pizza
OK, so the crust came from New Seasons. I've never had luck making pizza crusts, and I usually don't have the time to wait for it to rise...
So, New Seasons crust, olive oil, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, hot sopressata, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
I also pull some wine from the cellar. I figure it's nearly Christmas, so I something nice is in order. As it is just me, I plan to have half a bottle tonight and the other half tomorrow. I locate a 1999
Chapoutier Cote Rotie 'Les Becasses." This, I believe, is the last bottle I still have from my trip to France roughly 4 years ago. I crack it open and immediately pour half into a 375 ml bottle and seal it for consumption tomorrow. Again, as it is the holidays, I pull out my fancy Riedel Syrah stem (you know, the one that is so big it looks like you can stick your head into it?). Pour a little and stick my nose in, and it is corked. At least it think it is. I keep smelling and tasting as the meal progresses, and the TCA aroma gets worse. Bummer.
Tuesday, Dec 20 - St. John's Pub
New feature here at Hungry T's, the ADC (anonymous dining companion). The ADC will not always be the same person or group of people, but may pop up at any time, may be fictional, may refer to me in the 3rd person, who knows. The following is the first post with an ADC, and to celebrate, there are 3 of them...
On the way home from a late night at work last night, I go to the
St. John's Pub (a
McMenamin's pub). I meet with not one, not two, but count 'em 3 ADCs. I get there a bit late, and there was a big plate of tater tots on the table. Not bad, overall. I order a greyhound, only to discover they are out of grapefruits. I get a hammerhead ale instead. As they had already poured the vodka for my drink, I get a free screwdriver along with my beer. There were several hot toddys around the table.
I ordered the stuffed burger, which is full of bacon, mozzarella, and BBQ sauce. On the side, a cup of peanut chicken soup. The ADCs get: a)Neon burger, b) and c) chicken sandwiches. No one but me wanted dessert, so we all pass.
Overall, not bad. I really want to like McMenamin's. Cool old buildings, but the food and drinks are always just so so.
Tuesday, Dec 20 - Yuck in the Box
Slim E really wanted to go to Jack in the Box today. I have completely sworn off fast food burgers, but I agree to ride along. I get a salad and curly fries (because a salad on it's own is just
too healthy). The salad was awful. Bacon ranch dressing, ranch seasoned almonds, croutons, grated yellow cheddar, 'bacon,' tomatoes, and lettuce. Very unsatisfying. I can't go back there again (except, maybe, for the ultimate sausage breakfast sandwich).
Tuesday, Dec 20 - Coffee at the office
I have to be in to the office hella early this morning, so there is no way I am going to be able to make coffee at home. And, we are out of coffee at the office. So, I let the driver in and run over to Stumptown on 3rd. Get myself a large cup to go, and get a half pound of Guatemalan ground for the office's drip machine. Do I find it a little embarrassing ordering coffee ground instead of whole bean? The answer is yes. I am a snob and a purist. You can all judge me now.
Monday, Dec 19 - Japanese
One quick note... one of my frequent dining companions has asked not to appear here anymore. Not that anyone reads this anyway, but I will certainly honor their request.
I check out the new Japanese place at the corner of N Denver and N Portland, Ukiyoe. Ukiyoe translates to 'pictures of a floating world,' but more commonly refers to woodblock prints. I try a few rolls (one tuna and one cucumber). I don't usually eat sushi, actually, I don't ever eat sushi, but my companion made me try them. A little wasabi and a little soy. To be honest, they seemed a little bland. Again, let me say I have next to no experience with sushi, so these may have been just fine.
I also had beef teriyaki with rice and veggies. I found them to be quite tasty. The edamame we ordered never showed up.
Overall, pretty good, but nothing to write home about.
Pictured above? Not what I ate, but what might be the best looking piece of sushi I have ever seen...
Monday, Dec 19 - Quiznos
As fast food sandwiches go, none are good. But
Quiznos is more acceptable than most. They are close to the office, not too expensive, and yes, they are toasty. I get the classic Italian. I actually purchased roast beef, cheese, and bread for sandwiches at the store last night, but didn't have time to make one this morning. Oh well. Chips on the side, and the 2003 Seis de Azul y Garanza from Navarra to drink.
Monday, Dec 19 - Coffee at the office
Slim E and I finished up the ground Stumptown coffee at the office this morning. I was hoping not to have to go in, what with the snow and all. Alas, thawing in the AM.
Sunday, Dec 18 - Homemade Pizza
So, I close off the back room of my house to conserve heat, 'cause that room leaks heat like nobody's business. Move the TV to the front, which I hate, but now it is by the fireplace, which will be nice when I want to watch a movie in front of the fireplace.
OK, so I decide to make up pizzas. I get enough for 2, but only make 1. Olive oil, basil, buffalo mozzarella, hot sopressata, salt, pepper, and oregano. Mmm. My last bottle of Lagunitas 'Censored' Ale and a bottle of
Lurisia bottled sparkling water. I watch little bits of the Duke basketball game, antiques roadshow, and a MSNBC critique of idiot Bush's latest speech.
Sunday, Dec 18 - Muu Muus
I catch the max to NW to watch
Sarah Silverman : Jesus is Magic. I grab lunch pre-film at Muu Muu's. I get the brutus smash (chicken sandwich with cheese and french fries all mushed into the bun) and a small side of fries on, eh, the side. Also, a pint of
Pelican IPA. By the way, the movie is really funny... as long as you aren't easily offended.
Sunday, Dec 18 - Coffee
No bagels, no eggs, SF is in Seattle, so I am just having coffee. Listening to
This American Life...
Did I mention how good the Panama Esmeralda Especial is? This is the expensive, special coffee I got with my gift card (Thanks to you, you know who you are!). At first, I was a little unimpressed. But every cup I have, I taste more and more complexity. Floral, spice, chocolate. I have enough beans for only one more morning. I am a little worried what will happen when I go back to the 'cheaper' coffee from Stumptown. Watch this space for details...
Saturday, Dec 17 - BBQ
I noticed, while out running errands Sat AM, that the new
Big Daddy's BBQ looked like it was finally open. I decide to check it out. I drive up, and sure enough, they are open. I order a pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw on the side. And then sit and wait. And wait. They end up giving my order to someone else by accident. I get home, and they have given me peanut coleslaw instead of normal coleslaw. At any rate, everything was delicious. Big, juicy sandwich, plenty of extra sauce at no extra charge, and the peanut slaw was pretty good, even though I would have been happier with the regular. And, well priced. I will certainly go back. They have a lot of TVs, so this might be my local sports bar. Perhaps SF and I will go and watch hockey one night.
Saturday, Dec 17 - Leftover curry
Made some fresh rice, heated up the leftover curry, and ate while watching episodes of Lat on DVD.
Saturday, Dec 17 - Coffee
SF heads out to Seattle today. I have a lazy day planned. I run a few errands in the morning, hit the bank, hit the post office to mail gifts for the fam to Mass, and to the store for half and half. Back to the house for tasty, hot coffee.
Friday, Dec 16 - Take-out Thai
I am running late to SF's house, so I pick up Thai from Thai Ginger. I get Masuman curry with chicken, which, it turns out, SF doesn't like. SF gets Pad Thai with Tofu, which I don't like. We eat our meals, and there are leftovers. Back to my place to watch NOW on OPB. We miss Bill Moyers.
Friday, Dec 16 - Dockside Salads
Lady E, Slim E, and I all get Dockside salads. And, play hangman, and drink wine. Nice Friday lunch.
Friday, Dec 16 - Coffee, bagel
I didn't have dinner last night, just no time. I am starving, and have coffee and a bagel before heading over to the doctor's office.
Thursday, Dec 15 - Leftover pizza
The rest of the pizza from Wednesday night.
Thursday, Dec 15 - Coffee, egg and tortilla
SF made us fried egg wrapped in a tortilla. I had coffee later.
Wednesday, Dec 14 - Take and Bake
Got off work late, was tired and hungry, and went for the easy option of take and bake pizza. Which I still contend isn't as bad as you think it is.
Wednesday, Dec 14 - Last of the Soup
Got a little cranberry/walnut roll and a lemon tart from the bakery on 23rd and Thurman,
St. Honoré Boulangerie . Had the roll with the last bit of the chicken soup, and the tart for dessert. Mmm.
Wednesday, Dec 14 - Another bagel sandwich
Same breakfast as yesterday. Coffee, bagel sandwich with fried egg and chipotle cheddar. I'm feeling a bit like a broken record.
Tuesday, Dec 13 - And yet again, more soup
Yep, leftover soup again, eaten while watching and episode of Lost on DVD.
Tuesday, Dec 14 - More Soup
For lunch, leftover chicken and rice soup. Still good.
Tuesday, Dec 13 - Bagel Sandwich
This morning, I am drinking a new kind of coffee. I got a gift card from some very kind friends, and decided to put it toward buying a half pound of the most expensive beans
Stumptown had. I got Panama Esmeralda Especial. Stumptown.com has this to say about my new coffee...
"Esmeralda Especial is grown on Finca Jaramillo owned and operated by the well-known Peterson Family. The coffee has an extraordinary character; like the Don Pachi Reserva, Esmeralda Especial is a Geisha variety which originates from Ethiopia. The cup has massive floral flavors (jasmine and fruit blossom) along with apricot, meyer lemon, mandarine orange, mango, bergamot, rose water and moscato d' asti wine."
Also, with my bagel, I fry an egg in olive oil, melt some Bravo Farms chipotle cheddar on top, and add a little salt and pepper. Great breakfast.
Monday, Dec 12 - Chicken and Rice Soup
SF is feeling a little sick. What else could I do but make a batch of chicken soup?? And, not that I wouldn't have done this anyway, but all organic ingredients for SF.
A whole chicken, carrots, onion, celery, parsley, long grain brown rice, salt, and pepper. Very simple, very easy to make, but amazingly satisfying. I sent a batch to work with SF for Tuesday, and I have some for lunch too.
Monday, Dec 12 - Martha's
I had to run to McMinnville today to both deliver and pick-up some wine. Cece and I met in Lafayette for burritos at Martha's, an old favorite from the wine bar day. Me? Beef burrito, wet, with rice. Cece, veggie burrito, dry, with rice and beans.
Monday, Dec 12 - Weekend Recap
Here it is, Monday morning, and I am drinking my coffee. No bagel. Here is what I ate over the weekend...
Sunday Night - Dinner at Cece's. Porkchop is there, as are J and B (who are leaving for NZ soon). SF attends the soiree with me too. We have champagne with pomegranate, New Mexican Brut Rose, and some Banyuls. To eat, polenta, pork loin, leeks, and banana coconut creme caramels. Yummy.
Sunday 'Brunch' - SF and I grab some food over at Violet's. I get an omelette with caramelized onions, bacon, and potatoes. SF gets potatoes with tofu, veggies and salsa.
Sunday AM - Coffee and This American Life with SF
Saturday Night - EP 10. See
http://www.edibleporn.com for more info (which will be posted within the next week).
Saturday Lunch - Meet up with CDC, get BBQ at Tennessee Red's in SE PDX.
Saturday AM - Has to have been coffee.
Friday Night - Leftover orzo while watching old episodes of Lost on DVD.
Friday Lunch - Lady E, Slim E, and I all forgot our lunch at home. Lady E buys bread, cheese, and salami from Pastaworks for us. We play hangman and drink wine (2001 Ribas Cabrera).
Friday, Dec 9 - Coffee
Running late. No time for coffee at home, no cash to stop and get coffee with, so I head straight to work where Slim E has a pot brewing. Black gold.
Thursday, Dec 8 - Orzo
SF heads over after work, around 7:30 ish. We make up a tasty batch of orzo with yellow tomatoes, fresh herbs, chicken, and lemon juice. Oh, and Parmesan cheese. Mmm. Hot chocolate for dessert. Two pots on the stove, mine with whole milk, her's with soy. Both with Valrhona chocolate.
Thursday, Dec 8 - Dockside
The crew headed down to the Dockside today, with some wine in tow (2003 St. Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape and 2001 Marti Fabra Masia Carreras). I had a honey bourbon bbq chicken sandwich with a side salad.
Thursday, Dec 8 - Coffee
Coffee at the office. Torrefazzione. Not sure where they got it. Not sure why we are off Stumptown. I drink it, but grudgingly.
Wednesday, Dec 7 - La Bonita
SF and I grabbed burritos at La Bonita on the way over to L's house. Mmmm. I haven't been here forever. Shredded beef burrito minus beans.
Wednesday, Dec 7 - Leftovers
Lunch today consisted of a baguette and the leftover salumetti and goat cheese from yesterday. Still fantastic.
Wednesday, Dec 7 - Bagel and Coffee
Patterns. Love 'em. Today, coffee and a bagel. It's the last bagel in this bag. Which is good, since the 'best by' date is today. Butter and salt. Listening to NPR.
Tuesday, Dec 7 - Take Out Thai Tonight
I leave work exhausted. Around 7:30. SF still has a final exam tonight, and Cece and I cancel our plans. I decide to get take out Thai at Thai Ginger on the way home. Pad Ga Prau with beef, somewhere between medium and spicy. Eaten with lots of water, as I am feeling a little dehydrated. Watched the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, then fell asleep on the couch.
Tuesday, Dec 6 - Treats from Pastaworks
Out making sales calls today. I decide to grab some tasty treats from Pastaworks SE for lunch. A salumetti from Molinari, some of Pastaworks garlic and salt focaccia, a bread stick, a Scharfenberger Nibby Bar, and two darling goat
cheeses. I am calling them 'goat cheese cherries,' since the fromagerie put little stems in them. One has an ashen coating, the other was dusted with herbs. Very satisfying, but I am sure not too healthy.
For wine, we shared 2003 Vina Mein, 2003 DeMoor Chablis, 2003 AL Muvedre, 2003 Sierra Cantabria Rioja, 2001 Sierra Cantabria Rioja Crianza, and 2004 Clonakilla Shiraz 'Hilltops.'
Tuesday, Dec 6 - Coffee/Bagel
Slow morning. Coffee and a bagel with butter and salt.
Monday, Dec 5 - Leftovers
Leftover penne/pesto pasta and a roast beef sandwich on a bagel. Incredibly unexciting.
Monday, Dec 5 - Dockside
No time to make lunch this morning. Dockside chef salad minus olives plus oil and vinegar. Wines are the rest of the bottle of 2001 Brickhouse Gamay from last night and a bottle of 2002 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc from Washington State.
Monday, Dec 5 - Coffee and Egg/Tortilla
Get up, wash dishes from last night's pork chop dinner, and make a pot of coffee. SF makes us fried eggs and cheese wrapped in torillas at her place a little later. Lionel Richie's 'Hello' is played by one of her roommates (from the vinyl, I believe).
Sunday, Dec 4 - Compromise
SF and I eat differently. She likes the healthy stuff, I like the tasty stuff. Tonight, we compromise. I make sage/panko/dijon encrusted pork chops and she makes beans and greens.
For the chops, I chop the garlic and sage, and measure out all the ingredients. Saute panko with garlic, sage, salt, pepper, and olive oil until golden brown. Remove from heat. Sear pork on both sides. Put a little dijon mustard on top of the pork, sprinkle a generous amt. of the panko mix on top, and put into the oven until done. Out to rest, and they are ready.
SF washes and cuts of kale and collards, sautes in olive oil, adds some black beans, and splashes a little bit of (bottled) lemon juice near the end of cooking. I bought fresh lemons, but she likes this particular bottling of lemon juice, and refuses to use the fresh stuff. Oh well.
The meal was great. Filling, tasty, and nutritious.
Oh, and the wine. 2001 Brickhouse Gamay Noir. Still vibrant, fresh, and tasty. SF was impressed by Doug Tunnell's organic growing practices.
Sunday, Dec 4 - Late coffee
I lay in bed way too long, listening to
This American Life. Today, there is a story from David Sedaris (can you believe the SF has never read any of his books?). I finally roll out of bed around noon. Coffee is a must, so I fill the kettle with water and put it on the stove. I do some dishes while it heats up. Since it is lunch time already, I heat a bowl of leftover pesto pasta from Thursday. Good and filling. Not at all fancy.
It appears that I left both my camera and iPod at the office Friday. I pull CDs out of a box in the basement. So far this morning,
Explosions in the Sky's "How Strange, Innocence (reissue),"
The American Analog Set's "Know By Heart,"
The Shins' "Oh, Inverted World," and just on,
Kid Loco's "
Jesus Life for Children Under 12 Inches." If you don't know this album, you should. Ultimately listenable and enjoyable.
Saturday, Dec 3 - Turkey Enchiladas
ST, who is SF's roommate, makes turkey enchiladas for us tonight. This is the LAST of the turkey in their house, and I am happy to do my part to make it go away. Green chiles, turkey, cheese, tortillas, wrapped and baked. Absolutely tasty. Also, a side of tomato/potato soup. Mmmm.
Saturday, Dec 3 - Big Breakfast
SH, LG, and I go to
Stepping Stone Cafe on NW 24th and Quimby for breakfast. SH and LG are moving to Seattle today, and they chose to share one of their last meals in Portland with me.
We all get basically the same thing, with just a few differences... 2 eggs and bacon. This comes with choice of bread and some potatoes. LG and I get eggs over medium, SH gets them over easy. I get whole wheat toast, SH gets sourdough toast (I think) and LG gets a biscuit. I get a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes on the side and SH gets 1 chocolate chip pancake on the side. Coffee all around.
After we chow (I over ate, yet still left food behind), I help them load the bulky stuff into their U-Haul truck (bed, couch, trunks, etc).
Saturday, Dec 3 - Coffee
No dinner last night. Met SF for happy hour, she had already eaten. By the time we left Mississippi Pizza, we were both exhausted. So, no food.
This morning, I am having coffee. I am leaving the house now to meet SH and LG for some breakfast. I'll report on that when I get back.
Friday, Dec 2 - 'Za Friday at the office
We are receiving a container of wine in from Spain today. Lady E. orders us a Hot Lips pizza to eat before it arrives. Half cheese, and half pepperoni and red onions. 2003 Joseph Voillot Pommard "Pezerolles," 2000 Finca Allende Rioja, 2003 Elderton Tantalus. Eat, drink, hangman, container.
Friday, Dec 2 - Egg in a tortilla
SF makes breakfast. Fried egg with cheese wrapped in a tortilla. Perfect. She adds a little nutritional yeast to hers. That, and a little cup of espresso and I am ready to face the day.
Thursday, Dec 1 - Making Dinner for SF
Tonight is the first time I am cooking for SF. Not just a little dish here or a little food there. We've done that before. No, this time I am putting together a full blown meal. It needs to be simple, yet full of flavor. And, not take too long. I am probably going to have to work late (and I do have to).
Pasta, I think. Easy, filling, and tasty. Not enough time to put together a tomato sauce and let it simmer though. Ah yes, pesto. And what with it? A grilled chicken breast with plenty of salt and pepper. Sprinkled on top, a little love from the pig, some crispy pancetta crumbles. Lady E. at the office called this adult bacon bits. She isn't far off, really.
To begin? Baguette and goat cheese (Cyrpus Grove's amazing Purple Haze, which contains fennel pollen and lavender). And, some olive oil. Also, a cuke sliced up and lined up on a plate with a dash of olive oil, a little squeeze of lemon, and a little pinch of salt. Tasty and refreshing.
Dessert is going to be sliced pear, but we never get to it. SF isn't too into sweets. "A wasted opportunity for nutrition" she says. For wine, a 2003 Joseph Voillot VV Volnay. Mmmm.
Music, Lightnin' Hopkins box set, one of my favorite CD sets to cook and eat to. Unfortunately, no photos exist of this lovely meal. Dinner, I think, is a complete and total success.
Thursday, Dec 1 - Lunch with Cece
Cece calls me, as she is in Portland for the day. We agree to meet for lunch. She picks me up at the office, and we go to Justa Pasta. I get 3 cheese ravioli with marinara and meatballs. She gets (I think) ravioli with garlic and chili oil, which looks delish. Cece drinks limonata, I get aranciata. Cookie for me for dessert. Coconut and chocolate chip. Tasty...
Thursday, Dec 1 - Caught up
Finally, all caught up. This morning, coffee, toasted bagel with butter and a little salt, eaten listening to NPR and filling out medical forms for my new doc. I haven't been to a doctor in like 10 years, so I figure it is time for a check-up. Forms turned in today, and appt. tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, Nov 30 - Take Out Thai
I should have headed over to Monsoon, but instead I just hit Thai Ginger (it is closer to my pad). Masuman Curry to go. Watch the Daily Show and the Colbert Report while eating, and then settle back and watch Lost.
Wednesday, Nov 30 - Sandwich for lunch
Bagel sandwich with roast beef and Bravo Farms chipotle cheddar, mayo and mustard, salt and pepper. Also, a little cucumber salad.
Wednesday, Nov 30 - Bagel and Coffee
I bought bagels last night at New Seasons. I also bought coffee. A light toasting, butter, a pinch of salt for the bagel and I am ready to chow. I make a sandwich for work and head out.
Tuesday, Nov 29 - New Seasons Sandwich
Finally get to New Seasons on the way home from work today. I need cat food and trash bags, and some food and coffee. I get all of the above, and since I am still trying to get my kitchen clean, I opt to buy a sandwich instead of making food at home. Curried chicken salad, Swiss, on sourdough, with pesto mayo, red onions, tomato, and lettuce. Tasty sandwich. I get home, put clothes in the washer, and unwrap my food. They gave me tuna salad instead of chicken salad. YUCK! I go back, and the happily fix the mistake.
Tuesday, Nov 29 - Dockside Salad
Haven't gotten to the store since returning from Florida, so no food in the fridge. What to do, you ask? Hit the Dockside for a chef salad.
Tuesday, Nov 29 - Coffee
Coffee, not enough beans, so not strong enough. Need more beans.
Monday, Nov 28 - Aussie Dinner
I am so behind on posting my meals. These will unfortunately be short...
The staff at work was invited over to our Australian importer's house for dinner. Sounded like a good plan. Apps were Parmesan cheese shortbreads, cheese, and pears. 1st course was crab cakes and a lovely little salad with lemon vinaigrette. 2nd course was lamb shank with polenta and gravy. Dessert was blue cheese with honey and pears. Wines were 2005 Primo Estate Mermaids Muscadelle, 2004 Rocky Gully Riesling, 2004 Pikes Riesling, 2004 Colonial Estate Chardonnay, 2004 Colonial Estate Semillion, 2001 Mount Horrocks Shiraz, 2004 Colonial Estate Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre, 2004 Colonial Estate Shiraz, and 2003 Hewtison Shiraz "The Mad Hatter."
Thanks CC!!
Heading downtown to the rawk show at the Crystal Ballroom. My friends K and E are running late from the airport, so we agree to meet at the show. Which means I am eating solo tonight. I figure McMenamins will do the trick. Park, eat, and head upstairs for the show. Simple.
