Tues, Jan 31 - AM Tea
This morning, tea (black and green, organic, Earl Grey) and NPR.
Also, considering buying a little Savath & Savalas and Prefuse 73 online for my trip. Anyone have and experience with these groups and want to comment?
Mon, Jan 30 - Pasta Redeux
Tonight, pasta again. Last night, I thawed the last of a batch of Tomato/Basil/Cream sauce, and I figured I should eat it up before I leave town. Tonight, I have a spicy Italian sausage with the pasta and sauce (I had a spicy chicken Italian sausage last light, when I discovered New Seasons was out of the tasty pork version). No letdowns tonight. New Seasons has them in stock (although the gentleman behind the meat counter nearly gives me a chicken one by mistake. I correct him, and get the pork I want).
So here is how the dish comes together...
- Water on to boil in a big stock pot (I really hate crowding pasta. I'd rather wait a few minutes for excess water to boil than have my pasta clump together because I am impatient). A decent quantity of salt to expedite boiling, but also to help flavor the pasta.
- Sauce in a smaller pot to warm over low heat.
- One Italian sausage in a small omelet pan.
- When the sausage is done, cut it into slices, and put into the sauce to keep warm and moist. Also pour any excess oil from the sausage into the sauce for extra flavor.
- Boil the past until done.
- Strain pasta, put on a plate, pour sauce (including sausage) onto pasta, grate a bit of parm on top.
I eat while watching the Texas Tech/Kansas game. Ouch!
Oh, and for dessert, a mini Scharffen Berger Nibby Bar (you know, the one that has crushed cocoa beans?). Awesome.
Alma and turkey and giblets (a new flavor for her). She seemed to like it pretty well. This was a test, as I can buy a 12 can box (containing beef, chicken, and turkey) for cheaper than 12 individual cans. She like beef, she likes chicken, and now I know she likes turkey too.
Whew
So, it's been a while. Weird week...
Here are a few of the things I ate over the past 6 days...
Zeppoli at DiPrima Dolce on Saturday Morning (you know, they only serve them one morning a month, right?).
Double decker cajun spiced
shredded chicken nachos (cajun spice thanks to an ADC).
Linguini with tomato basil sauce and spicy chicken Italian sausage.
An asian chicken salad at Fire on the Mountain.
A couple of roast beef sandwiches.
Sorry for the
delay, I'll try to be better (at least until I leave the country on Friday).
Sun/Mon/Tues, Jan 22/23/24 - Catch-Up
Allright, catching up on the past 2 days...
Tues, Jan 24 - Coffee
Columbia La Balvanera, in a French Press.
Mon, Jan 23 - Lompoc 5Q
CC and I head over to the New New Old Lompoc (Lompoc 5th Quandrant) on N Williams/N Vancouver. I get a BBQ Pork sandwich. It's not that great. Sauce is more like a sloppy joe than BBQ. We ask for our fries extra crispy, and it's a good thing, 'cause they still came out a little limp. Beer was good, though. CC got a steak sandwich. It looked pretty tasty...
Mon, Jan 23 - Quiznos
Slim E and I head to Quiznos. I know, I know... I purchased food for lunches, and we had leftover soup from Sunday night, but I forgot it all at home this morning. I get the Honey Mustard Chicken with Bacon. Not bad.
Mon, Jan 23 - Coffee
I'm drinking Cup of Excellence Columbia La Balvanera this week, but to be honest, I think I am going to convert to tea in the morning (maybe you've noticed). It's easier to prepare, gentler on my stomach, and, I think, tastier. We'll see...
Sun, Jan 22 - Potato/Leek Soup
ADC is back in town, and she makes Potato/Leek soup and biscuits at my place. Mmm. And, there are leftovers, which I intend to bring to work, but will forget on Monday.
Sun, Jan 22 - Pizza
Slim E and I get beer and take and bake pizza to consume while we watch the football games. We watch the Steelers and the Broncos, and the roughly half of the Seattle game.
Sat, Jan 21 - EP 21
Yep, it's an EP night. Tonight's theme? Team Cuisine. Check out the
EP blog for details.
Sat, Jan 21 - RB Sand
Roast beef sandwich, Swiss, mayo, mustard, onion, tomato, salt, pepper, oregano. Salad of tomato and cucumber on the side. Watched some basketball (Duke v Georgetown and UCLA v W VA). Lagunitas Censored ale to drink.
Fri, Jan 20 - Vepadoe's Deli
Pouring wine at an account on Alberta tonight. Need a bite to eat before the event begins, as we will certainly be busy until 9. 'Round the corner is a new deli, Vepadoe's .
Vepadoe's comes highly recommended. I wander in and fill in the order form. Salami and Pepper Jack, Lettuce and Cukes, Mayo and Mustard. On sliced Grand Central Como. Not bad, but certainly not great. I could have easily made this at home. On the side, a small bag of Salt and Pepper Kettle Chips, and for dessert, a pumpkin/chocolate chip cookie (the best part of the meal, but then again, when isn't dessert the best part of the meal?).
Oh, they proudly proclaim that they use only Boar's Head meats (the finest Fred Meyer has to offer!). Eh. Not bad, if you are in the area and need a basic sandwich, stop on by, but not worth heading to Alberta for.
Fri, Jan 20 - Dockslide Salad
You can guess, from the title of this post, that I had a chef salad from the Dockside today. As did Slim E and Lady E. We also had what I have deemed the
Best Wine of the Year (Thus Far). Healthy and good.
Fri, Jan 20 - Brekky pt 2
Went with Lady E to the dockside, had coffee, pancakes, and bacon. Mmmm.
Fri, Jan 20 - Just Tea
This morning, just tea. I've got bread for toast, but just don't want to make it. Lazy me.
The tea is the same as usual, Stash Green and Black Organic Earl Grey.
Wed & Thurs, Jan 18 & 19 - Catch-Up
Allright, a quick recap of the past two days...
- Wed Brekky-toast and tea
- Wed Lunch - Turkey and Swiss sandwich from home, w/ Salt and Pepper Kettle Chips
- Wed Din Din - Leftover Red Light/Green Light
- Thur Brekky - Coffee (this morning, I confirm that I like tea better in the AM)
- Thur Lunch - Turkey and Swiss sandwich from home w/ curly fries
- Thur Dinner - out of groceries, I get Dig Daddy's pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw. They forgot the coleslaw in my take out bag, AND it was the worst pulled pork I'd had from them so far. Terribly unsatisfying.
Alma had beef, chicken, and ocean whitefish over the past few days... Sorry for the delay on this post, I'll try to be better...
Tues, Jan 17 - Red Light/Green Light
Tonight, I make red curry with green veggies, which I'm calling 'Red Light/Green Light.' No, I didn't make the curry paste from scratch this time. But, it was a lot faster. And spicier. I think I may have added a bit too much paste. In the mix tonight: chicken, onions, snap peas, green peppers, coconut milk, and red curry paste. On the side, a little cuke/tomato salad. And for dessert, a blood orange. I watch the Georgia/Kentucky basketball game on TV while I eat. Water to drink.
Alma got an entire can of Ocean Whitefish. She seemed really
REALLY hungry tonight. Now she seems really happy.
Tues, Jan 17 - Sammy at Lunch
I made lunch at home this morning. I actually remembered to bring it into work. Amazing.
Here's what's on my sandwich: Chipotle turkey, Swiss, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, oregano. On the side, a little salad of cukes, white vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and dill. Blood orange for dessert (even though I was terribly tempted to get some candy from the Hi Neighbor Deli).
Wine: 2004 Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha and 2003 Il Cuore Barbera (Mendocino County).
Tues, Jan 17 - Toast and Tea
Buttered toast, cup of tea. Paid some bills, listened to NPR.
Alma ate the rest of her can of beef.
Mon, Jan 16 - Burger
I am amazed at how much you can get done when you leave work at 4. I went grocery shopping, did laundry, did the dishes, and made dinner (and cleaned up after dinner too), all by 9:30. Amazing.
At any rate, I had a burger tonight. I got the 10% fat beef from New Seasons. On a kaiser roll. Here's how I prep the meat: form into a patty, pour on some Worcestershire Sauce, season with salt and pepper. Flip the patty and repeat. Cook (preferably on a grill, but in a pan tonight), melted swiss, onion, and tomato. A little ketchup, mayo, mustard. On the side, some Salt and Pepper Kettle Chips and some Lurisia Sparkling water. A blood orange for dessert.
Alma had beef as well.
Mon, Jan 16 - Mon Night Catch-Up
OK, 1st things 1st, I've put on the comment moderation function. I think we all know why. Friends, continue to comment and you'll certainly get on the blog. Others, I'm just trying to keep uncivil comments off the blog. Hope everyone understands...
2nd things 2nd, what I've been eating for the past two days. This'll be quick. Sorry!!
Mon, Jan 16 - SubwaySlim E and I go to
Subway for lunch. I hadn't been to a subway in maybe a year. Just as I recall, not at all exciting. From now on, lunch sandwiches will be homemade or Quiznos.
Mon, Jan 16 - TeaNever made it to the store for cream, so I use the last tea bag I have. Stash Black and green organic Earl Grey.
Alma had beef.
Sun, Jan 15 - India GrillI get lamb vindaloo. An ADC and I share garlic naan, raita, and veggie samosas. Tasty.
Sun, Jan 16 - Wild AbandonMost of EP and I meet up at Wild Abandon for a bite of breakfast before our coffee cupping at the Stumptown Annex (watch the
EP Blog for more info on cupping). I get Ginger's omelet, chorizo, green onions, cheese, hold the sour cream, please! Coffee.
Sat, Jan 14 - Pho
ADC and I head over to Killingsworth for some tasty beef noodle soup at Pho Jasmine. Broth, beef, noodles, and on top, cilantro, sprouts, basil, jalapeno, and fresh lime juice. So tasty.
Alma had beef.
Sat, Jan 14 - Salsa a la Gardener
Nachos again. I have to finish up the ingredients, right? Next week, healthier eating, for reals.
I am a bit low on salsa, but then it occurs to me that I have a back-up. Late in the summer/early in the fall, I lent my kitchen to the gardener (who has now made the blog twice in a week and will be getting a big head) for the purpose of canning. Me, not much of a canner, but I offer to help. She brings over empty jars, lids, and food to can. We can peaches, apples, salsa, and who knows what else. Big mess, sticky, but fun. And for my trouble? A couple cans of preserves from the gardener. One of those jars? Yep, you guessed it, salsa.
Today, I've got no onion, so the nachos are a bit plainer than usual. Cheese, salt, oregano, red pepper (ground, not flakes), and chips. And, a bowl of salsa. The salsa is good, but I tend to like mine limier and with mas cilantro.
Saturday, Jan 14 - Alma's back / Tea for me
Friday the 13th passed with no problems. I think it is the fact that I own a black cat, and that she somehow has provided me with immunity for any superstitious happenings. As a 'thanks' to Alma, and per a request from MANY for my faithful readers, her meals will again be recorded here for posterity sake. This morning, Alma had half a can of Iam's Chicken Formula. I wanted to sleep in this morning, but Alma REALLY wanted breakfast at 6:30. Her incessant meowing can get fairly obnoxious. Since I have cut down her food intake, I figured it was only fair to feed her on time. I get up, get her food out of the fridge, put it in a bowl, and crawl back into bed, where I go back to sleep for 3 more hours.
When I do finally get up at 9:30, I realize that I still have no coffee and no cream, so I go to my back-up, tea. Same as before, Stash Organic Green and Black Teas, Earl Grey. Listening to the Dirty Three as I drink and type. Really glad it is the weekend.
Friday, Jan 13 - l'Astra
I get a call from R and K, who I meet at R's office for a wine tasting. I get there late, the Barolo is almost gone, and the tasting had become a party. I am able to ferret out a glass or two, see some old friends and meet some new ones. Everyone is pretty hungry by 8, so we try to score a table at Doug Fir, which is naturally packed on a Friday night. Roughly an hour wait, and that is only for half our group. R has seen this new place, l'Astra, down the street and says he's been wanting to try it out. Always looking for new places to try, I agree.
We wander a few blocks down to 7th, behind Ozone Records, and find the charming little restaurant. Sitting outside are Ben and Shannon, who we are to discover are the owners (it turns out they used to own Sunday down on SE Holgate before opening l'Astra). They welcome us in. Turns out the close at 8, but they seem more then happy to serve serve 11 more covers. We all agree to tip REALLY REALLY well. I order one of the specials, chicken/pancetta ravioli with rosemary oil. The kitchen is somewhat open (let me back up, the space is VERY small, maybe 5 tables total) and as we continue to talk, I notice, out of the corner of my eye, that Shannon is rolling my pasta. Amazing. And, it tastes fantastic. The sandwiches that some of my neighbors get look killer, toasted in a great looking panini press.
I get coffee, as they are still fairly new and awaiting their OLCC permit. I also get a slightly sweet cream of walnut soup, which consists of poached pears, walnuts, riesling, and cream. Mmm.
The menus are typed on an old, manual typewrite which is proudly on display near the register. The menu changes weekly. And the music is great. All vinyl, played on an old turntable. The last record they put on is by one of my favorite bands,
Yo La Tengo.
Overall, I haven't been more pleased with a restaurant in quite a while. Good food, good company, good music. What else could you want?
Friday, Jan 13 - 'Za Friday
Ok, ok. I know I said I had killed pizza, but when the office is ordering up tasty Hot Lips, what's a guy to do? Since there are some non-carnivores among us today, we get one cheese and one housemade pep with onions. Seems like a good compromise.
I am always curious where the meat I eat comes from. It turns out the Hot Lips makes their housemade pep with pork from
Sara-Joes Pork Products in St. Johns, WA. These guys are the real deal. Sara and Joe DeLong moved to the family farm back in 1984, and were certified organic in 1993. This land has been in their family since the original homestead back in 1863. Here are a few of their practices...
- Raised in conditions that are environmentally friendly
- Fed grass, hay and grains raised in organic system without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
- Produced without the use of antibiotics or synthetic hormones
- Fed no rendered animal by-products
- Raised unconfined and humanely in small herds using progressive pasture grazing practices and careful manure management systems
- Processed in USDA Slaughter and processing houses with stringent quality control
Additionally...
- NO ANTIBIOTICS
- NO PESTICIDES
- NO HORMONES
- ALL FEED CERTIFIED AS HERBICIDE, PESTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE FREE
- NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS
- NO NITRATES, NITRITES OR MSG USED AS PRESERVATIVE IN FINISHED PRODUCTS
Nice, huh? Everyone should do it this way.
To drink, 2003 St. Cosme Cotes du Rhone 'Deux Albions,' 2002 Negra Nebbiolo d'Alba, and 2003 Venta Mazzaron Tina de Toro.
Friday, Jan 13 - Morning tea
So, I am out of both coffee and half and half. I failed utterly and completely to swing by Stumptown for more beans yesterday. I am craving my morning caffeine fix, and I decide that some tea is the prefect delivery vehicle. Stash Organic Earl Grey Green and Black tea. Mmm. I love me some bergamot.
What's bergamot, you ask? This from the
Wikipedia...
"The bergamot orange (Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia) is a citrus fruit, small and roughly pear shaped. The fruit, produced in Italy, is a cross between the pear lemon and the Seville orange or grapefruit.
The fruit is sour, and its aromatic peel is used to produce an essential oil that is used in Earl Grey tea, in perfumery, and in aromatherapy to treat depression. It is also used as a digestive aid. It was a component of the original Eau de Cologne developed in Germany in the 17th century.
The Bergamot orange is unrelated to the herb of the same name."
Thursday, Jan 12 - Zaytoon's and Nachos
I meet up with some old friends at
Zaytoon's on Alberta. It's my old friend B's birthday. EK, KC, BH, L, AL, B&M, the whole gang is there. A few beers, a lot of talk, wishes for a happy birthday. I'm there from 7 to 10 or so. Then I get hungry. I'm really tempted to eat there, but I know I have food at home, so I hit the road.
I get back to the casa, and make up a plate of nachos (see last night's meal for a rundown, since this is an EXACT duplicate of that meal). One of the problems of living alone is the food. It's hard to cook for one and not have to eat the same meal two, three, maybe more times in a row. This week it happens to be nachos. Next week?? Who knows.
Thursday, Jan 12 - Russell St. BBQ
Me thinks it is time for BBQ and Hangman. It appears that Lady E, Slim E, MA, and I will all be at the office today for lunch. MA is heading out to get her car looked at, and offers to pick-up food to bring back. But what to have??
Russell Street BBQ, that's what. I call the order in. 4 pulled pork sandwiches, all with Carolina vinegar sauce. Hush puppies with their addictive mustard dipping sauce. Coleslaw, french fried, potato salad, macaroni and cheese. Outrageous.
We eat, play some hangman, and drink some wine :2003 Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero, 2004 Tres Picos Campo de Borja Garnacha, 2002 Cascavel Cotes du Ventoux, 2003 Sierra Cantabria Rioja, and a few others that aren't springing to mind.
Thursday, Jan 12 - Coffee Quest 1:5
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente
$15.75/lb
OK, final entry on el Puente. I've been thinking of how to rate these coffees. A scale of 1-5 or 1-10. I think 1-5 is too limiting. I use this when tasting wine for work... 1-would NEVER buy it, 2-probably not, 3-indifferent, 4-probably yes, 5-HAVE to have it. Since all these coffees are Cup of Excellence coffees, you'd think they'd all rate at least 4 on this scale. So, I think 1-10 is the way to go.
el Puente gets a 6. It's good. Well balanced. Tastes great. But I am not sure it is so much better than the Guatemala I was buying for so long, and it certainly comes no where near the Panama Esmeralda Especial from a while back (which would have scored 9 or 10). Spend a few bucks less for the Guatemala. You'll be just as happy.
And thus ends round one of the quest. Up next? Watch this space in coming days.
BTW - Sunday, EP is heading down to the Stumptown Annex on Hawthorne for a cupping, where we'll be tasting 5 coffees the ways the pros do it. Watch for a full report.
Wednesday, Jan 11, Nachos
Neighborhood meeting runs late into the evening. I need food, and fast. I run up to the store and grab some food for Alma. I consider take and bake pizza, but I just can't. I also don't have the patience to wait on take out Thai. I grab organic yellow corn tortilla chips and some organic salsa. Also, some cheese (not organic, sorry). I get home, turn on the TV to try to catch the last half of Lost, and preheat the oven.
Here is my method for nachos...
-Preheat the oven
-On a plate, create a mound of tortilla chips
-Sprinkle on a generous amount of cheese (it holds the toppings to the chips)
-Add toppings (tonight: onion, red pepper, salt, oregano)
-Bake for around 7 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted and slightly browned
-Slide the whole mess from the plate that was in the oven onto a cool, virgin plate
-Dip or spoon salsa onto each chip (if you add salsa to the top, chips get soggy)
With more time, I would have made my own salsa, cooked some jerk chicken, chopped more fresh veggies, etc. As it was, not too bad. To drink, a bottle of Bridgeport IPA. I didn't get to see lost, but I did see Good Eats about vanilla beans. Man, that is a good show.
Wednesday, Jan 11 - Carrot Cake
No one at the office brought lunch. We order up a round of chef salads from the Dockside. I won't go into the details, as loyal readers will know about dressings, toppings, etc.
The real treat of lunch was dessert. I got a call from the gardener on Tuesday during the day, saying she had baked a carrot cake and couldn't eat it all (she corrected herself by saying she COULD eat it all, but didn't want to). Could she leave some on my porch? Certainly.
I'm not a big carrot cake fan, but this was the BEST cake I have had in recent memory. Fantastically moist, amazing frosting (which I have to believe was homemade), no raisins, extra nuts (I don't like raisins, I do like nuts). Everyone at the office had a bit, and all agreed it was the real deal, the best. Thanks to the gardener for her generosity.
Wednesday, Jan 11 - Coffee Quest 1:4
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente
$15.75/lb
Finally, some tasting notes. I'm sitting down with el Puente for the 4th time this morning. Still generally happy with it. Lets look at some specifics...
Acidity - This coffee has good acidity, not too much, but just enough to keep it interesting. Balanced without being obvious.
Aroma - Hints of currant, jasmine, and other floral aromas. A bit of chocolate too. Very tempting and lively.
Body - This will be the toughest to judge, as the half and half will certainly impact body. It seems creamy (duh), full, rich, but not too viscous.
Flavor - Good, well balanced, nothing stands out too much. Great, medium length, strong finish. No bitterness at all.
Tomorrow, the last of this batch of beans, and a final score...
Tuesday, Jan 10 - Patanegra
Finally, I get to eat at Patanegra. I work a bit late, and try to convince CC to meet me for happy hour somewhere. We agree to meet at Patanegra instead. CC gets the Albarino by the glass, I get the by the glass Txakoli. We get small plates. Here's the rundown...
- Tortilla Espana - potato, egg, onion. Tasty and satisfying.
- Carpaccio - raw beef (duh), oil, parm., and capers. Also tasty.
- Gambas al Ajillo - Garlic shrimp. The one dish I don't taste.
- Saffron rice - Delish.
- Croquettas - Ham and cheese. Mmmm.
- Rolled pork tenderloin w/ Cheese and Serrano Ham. I realize only when the dish arrives that the cheese is blue. I squeeze it out and eat the pork anyway. It is fantastic.
- Creme Catalonia - My first time with this dish. Not too different from creme brulee.
- Coffee to accompany dessert.
Patanegra, by the way, refers to a particular type of Spanish ham. See the photo of the pig above. This blurb from the Willamette Week...
"Patanegra is a fabled ham from black pigs who feed on acorns to produce a sweet, nutty taste, thanks to meat that's cured for 18 months in mountain snow. Unfortunately, the FDA will not yet allow this delectable meat into the country. So for the moment the restaurant's name refers to the name of [Ricardo] Segura's favorite Flamenco band and a Spanish idiom meaning authentic and "of high quality," as in "he's a patanegra kind of guy." Nothing could be truer about this bright gem of a place."
Tuesday, Jan 10 - Coffee Quest 1:3
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente$15.75/lb
OK. Still trying to get some notes on this coffee...
The beans from Finca el Puente have been lightly roasted by Stumptown, and are pretty dry, not much oil. I like that. Oily beans make a mess of my grinder. Oils develop as beans are roasted. Darker roasts tend to be oily, lighter roasts not so much. From what I have read, lighter roasts (less oil) tend to have a more distinct, acidic taste (I'm going to call it focused) while darker roasts (more oily) tend to be bittersweet. Oils contain a lot of flavor, and are volatile (hence the recommendation to keep beans in an airtight container).
I find it interesting that, like coffee, I also like wines that are more acidic, distinct and focused.
The photo (not mine) is of a ripening coffee branch. All berries on a branch do not ripen uniformly. Green = underripe, red = ripe, black = overripe. Good growers will go through and harvest the same branch several times to get only the ripe beans (again, there is a direct correlation with wine, were vineyard workers will make several passes through rows of vines to harvest only clusters that are optimally ripe).
Monday, Jan 9 - 'Za Overload
I think I have killed pizza. Tonight, I eat the leftovers from yesterday's pizza from Tom's on Lombard. I don't enjoy it. It wasn't that good in the first place, but at this point, I have no desire to eat pizza again for some time to come.
I watch part of
Insomnia (1997, Sweden, starring a very young looking Stellan Skarsgard [not the 2002 release starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hillary Swank]) as I eat. I am exhausted from work. I go to bed at 9:30.
Monday, Jan 9 - Kissy kissy
Slim E and I order
Hot Lips pizza today. It arrives around 2. At this point, we have nearly all of the wine from the container put away (another hour and it will all be done). It is our standard office pie, housemade pepperoni and onions. Mmm. 2002 Altos de Luzon and the rest of the 1998 Columbia Syrah from Sunday.
Unfortunately, these lips belong to no one I know.
Monday, Jan 9 - Coffee and cake
Got out of bed early in order to get to the warehouse early to receive a container from Spain. Slim E and I eat the leftovers of the epiphany cake (no almond found this morning either), which gave us enough energy to move 25 tons worth of wine. Coffee from home (cup of excellence) and coffee at work. Still no notes. I'll get to 'em. Not to worry.
Sunday, Jan 8 - Fortnight Dinner Club
Allright, new dinner group (I think that makes 3 now). Club Fortnight. We are going to meet (wait for it) ... every two weeks. CC, Porkchop, and me. Special guest, ADC, who knows, here and there. Tonight, it was the three of us and an ADC. Here are the rules: meet every two weeks, rotate hosting duties, guest brings wine and dessert, host does everything else.
Tonight, I make flank steak with chimichurri, ADC prepares potatoes, we have a mixed green salad with goat cheese, toasted walnuts (toasted by ADC), dried cranberries, and homemade dressing.
CC and Porkchop bring an epiphany cake and wine (a 2003 Priorat that was still tight and hard (maybe CC can fill in the producer for me?), a 1998 Columbia Signature Reserve Syrah (from my cellar, when it was determined that the Priorat was too closed), and a 2002 Francis Tanahill Gewurtz. Pasito).
I think it went incredibly well. Extra thanks to porkchop for manning the grill while I dished up salad and set the table.
Sunday, Jan 8 - Hangover
Lay around in bed all day. Order in pizza from Tom's Pizza up the street 'cause they deliver. Hot tea, Advil, and pizza, in bed. ADC, Alma, and me. NY Times crossword. Realxing. Nice.
Saturday, Jan 7 - Echo
An ADC and I head over to
Echo for food and drink. Me: greyhounds, ADC: vodka soda. Me: meatloaf sandwich with chips, ADC: mac and cheese and a salad. Tasty as always.
Afterwards, across the street to Billy Ray's for a beer and some Miss Pac-Man.
Saturday, Jan 7 - Bon Temps
CC and I head out shopping. I pick up a couple bowls at West Elm that are on killer deal right now (see picture to the right). CC buys a lot more than me. I refrain from buying a conical burr coffee grinder. Tough, but I have willpower, yes indeed.
We want to eat at
Pata Negra, but they are closed for lunch, which I figured. We head up to
Roux's Bon Temps deli, and both get the same thing, andouille po boys with coleslaw and chips. I get Boylan's black cherry soda, and she gets Bubble Up (a Sprite knock off). Delish. The gardener and the barrister join us for a snack, and I finish off the meal with a praline.
Saturday, Jan 7 - Tea
I've got no half and half in the fridge, and I don't want to run out to get any this morning. So, I'm drinking tea with caffeine instead of coffee. Stash Earl Grey with both green and black teas. Tasty. Back to coffee tomorrow. Promise.
Friday, Jan 6 - Lunch/Dinner
Quick post...
Lunch - Chef salad take out from the Dockside. 2004 Rutherglen Alliance (Marsanne/Viognier blend) to drink.
Dinner - Met MA for drinks and food at Binks on Alberta at 5:30. Some Lagunitas IPA and one of their small pepperoni pizzas. Not bad, not great. Good time, though.
Friday, Jan 6 - Coffee Quest 1:2
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente
$15.75/lb
Today, a little about the farm. BTW, this was the #2 ranked coffee in Honduras in 2005 (right behind El Ocotillo).
'[Marysabel] Caballero was born in a coffee producer family from the department of La Paz, after finishing college in the Capital of Honduras she moved to live at Marcala with her parents. There she met her husband Mr. Ezri Herrera a Guatemalan that worked in the chain of coffee. Motivated by their familiar tradition of growing coffee They both put their knowledge together and began to plant what now is one of the best coffee farms of Honduras. Currently Mrs. Caballero is a well recognized coffee producer in the country an due to the quality of her coffee her name is always in the lists of the best coffee of the region.' - COE web page
CC wants to know about grinders. 2 main types, blade and burr. This from about.com...
'Blade Grinders - Most inexpensive grinders use a metal blade to chop up the beans. The blade cuts up the beans, and you control the fineness by how long you let the grinder run. Unfortunately, the resulting coffee grounds can be uneven in size, leading to inconsistent brew quality. Another downfall, is that if you are grinding finely, and therefore leaving the beans in the grinder for a longer period of time, there can be significant heat created by the blades. This can give your final coffee a burned taste. These are fine grinders for basic use, but that's about it.'
'Burr Grinders - Burr grinders crush the beans between a moving grinding wheel and a non-moving surface. The positioning on the burr is what regulates the ground size, which allows for a more consistent grind. In the burr category, there are two different types. Wheel Burr - The less expensive of the two burr grinders. The wheel spins very fast, and these grinders can be noisy. The higher speed rotation make these grinders more messy as well. Conical Burr - The best grinders you can get are conical burr grinders. The burr spins slower than the wheel model, which makes them quieter and less messy. You can use a conical burr grinder for oily or flavored coffees and it's not likely to clog, like the other kinds of grinders. These are the best type, but you will pay the price for them.'
One thing that this doesn't mention (I heard this somewhere) that the faster and warmer the grinding, the more flavor and essential oils you lose. Guess what kind I want want.
KitchenAid has a nice tangerine colored one for about $100, but that's about as cheap as it gets...
OK, tomorrow, I will have some tasting notes... I can say preliminarily that the coffee is good, better than most I drink, but it does not beat the
Panama I had last week. That stuff was killer...
Thursday, Jan 5 - Lunch/Dinner
Late lunch and early dinner. I was SO full last night...
Lunch - Met Lady E at Higgins Bar for a late lunch. Scheduled time was 1, we rescheduled for 2, and I got there around 2:30. Not good if you are meeting for lunch and an annual review. It went well anyway. I got the Ground Sirloin sandwich (burger) with white cheddar. Lady E and I split a bowl of potato/bacon soup. She got the charcuterie plate, which included all house made salamis (bresola, lardon, fennel salami, etc.). I tried a few pieces, and was amazed. There is a reason Higgins is so well respected in Portland. The food is simply outstanding. I had a few glasses of Spanish Verdejo, Lady E had some Chardonnay and a glass of Cotes du Rhone. Lunch began around 2:45 and ended around 4:15. Back to the warehouse for a few minutes then out to...
Dinner - I had made plans to meet Aussie C at Roux for a sales call of sorts. We were going for dinner, but also to make an appearance. Brought a bottle of wine along for the wine buyer to taste, etc. I arrive late, as I have all day, and AC has a glass of bubbles. I get a greyhound. We spit the tasty butter lettuce salad, and they send out a crawfish pie for us. We also get a bottle of
2004 Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fume de Pouilly. Expensive and good, but not as good as the price might suggest. I get the cajun cassoulet, and AC gets the rabbit. We split beignets and chicory coffee ice cream for dessert.
Thursday, Jan 5 - Coffee Quest 1:1
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puetne
$15.75/lb
I feel like I should tell you a bit about my methods before delving into the coffee itself.
Pt 1 - Water
When I wake up in the morning, I hop into the shower. When out, I slather on shaving cream, and while it softens my whiskers, I put on a kettle of water. Here is my first potential issue. I should be using water that's been filtered or bottled (NEVER distilled, however). I'm using tap water. It doesn't have any off tastes, and I drink it, so it is not a major issue, but still... I bring the water to a boil while shaving. Once the coffee is in the pot and ready, I turn the heat off, and let the water calm down for around 30 sec. From what I can tell, adding boiling water to grounds is a bad move.
Pt 2 - Beans
I get good beans, and for this quest, I'll be getting some of the best (COE). But what about the grind? Each method of brewing coffee (French press, percolator, drip with a cone filter, drip with a flat bottomed
filter) requires a slightly different grind. French press, the method I use and the best for home preparation (in my opinion), requires a coarser grind that drip. I have a blade grinder. Admittedly not the best. A burr grinder would be better. I am shopping around for one now. Blade grinders work, but it's hard to get the grounds to the correct size, and then, the grounds aren't consistent in size. Burr takes care of all those issues. I spoon 6 teaspoons (not the measuring spoon, my actual eating spoons) for whole beans into the grinder and pulse until they look good, then dump them into the French press.
Pt 3 - Brewing
So, the grounds are in the French press and the water is rested and off it's boil. What next? I pour the water into the French press atop the grinds. The grinds form a sort of cap on top of the water. I stir them in and pour a bit more water into the French press to fill it up. At this point, I set the timer for 3 minutes. Then I position the plunger in the pot, depressing slightly to submerge all the grounds. When the timer runs out, I depress the plunger completely. Ready to drink. I think this is the only step of my method that is currently unflawed. One more note, for those following my method, get the coffee off the grounds right away, into a mug to drink, or into some sort of thermos of insulated pitcher. Leaving coffee on the grounds will diminish the flavor and increase bitterness (think of oversteeped tea).
Pt 4 - Preparation
I pour the coffee and the half in half into a mug simultaneously. I take a bit more dairy than most, I'd say, but that's how I like it. Yep, I am sure the dairy masks some of the flavors. That's a problem, but again, that's how I like it. The only thing I can say is that this bias will be consistent throughout the 'Quest.' Oh, and I am going to use the same mug every morning. Wine tastes different in different shaped wine glasses. Why should coffee be any different?
OK, now that I have typed all this, I have finished the mug I was going to write about, and I have the remainder of the pot in my travel mug to take to work. And I am running a little late. And I have a review this morning. Tomorrow, I will discuss the coffee itself.
Peace.
Wednesday, Jan 4 - My Quest - Preliminary Info
My Personal Quest for the Cup of Excellence. I'm going to try all the
Cup of Excellence coffees I can get my hands on from Stumptown. First, what is the Cup of Excellence? This from the COE web site...
'The Cup of Excellence is the most esteemed award given out for top coffees. These awards come from a strict competition that selects the very best coffee produced in that country for that particular year. These winning coffees are chosen by a select group of national and international cuppers and are cupped at least five different times during the competition process. Only coffees that continuously score high enough are allowed to move forward in the competition. The final winners are awarded the prestigious Cup of Excellence® and sold to the highest bidder during an internet auction.'
Wow. Each day, I'll tell you a little bit about the farms, backgrounds, environmental practices, etc. of the coffees and growers. The first dispatch from my quest comes tomorrow AM. Get ready.
Wednesday, Jan 4 - Supper of Leftovers
Well, it's a night for leftovers. I put on some new jasmine rice to cook, and finish the few Salt and Vinegar Kettle Chips left in the bag. Then I eat a little salad of the 2nd half of a cuke and my last tomato. When the rice is done, I heat up my leftover Cashew Chicken from Cha'ba. Later, I'll have some chocolate from last night. Not bad, though, for leftovers.
Wednesday, Jan 4 - Lunch at Caprial's
I left my leftover Thai food at home this morning. Lucky for my, I was making a sales call to
Caprial's Bistro. There is usually a bit of a wait to see Caprial, and I can gossip with my fellow sales reps who are also waiting. Today is no exception. Four reps are ahead of me in line, and one of them has a 'ride with.' I could be here for hours, and I must see Caprial today as she will be out for the next 6 weeks filming the next season of her TV show.
Behind me, CH, a friend and fellow rep arrives, and we agree to grab a table and get lunch while we wait. I order first and get one of the specials, flatiron steak skewers with ginger rice and peanut sauce. CH orders next and gets the same thing. We chose well. Meat was tender and flavorful, rice was good, and the sauce was spicy and lively. On the side, some of the Bistro's homemade bread. Delish.
We finish our meals before our turn is up, so CH wants to order more food. He gets seafood chowder, and I get 'Turtle Torte,' ganache, mousse, walnuts, caramel. Coffee on the side.
We finally get to see Caprial, and I place a new wine on the glass list. The wait was worth it.
Wednesday, Jan 4 - Coffee
I'm using the last of the coffee in my air tight jar (Guatemala, I think). Stumptown, French press, half and half, NPR. You know, the usual.
Tomorrow, I will have new coffee, and I will begin what I am calling 'My Personal Quest for the Cup of Excellence.' There's this coffee award (I think it is an award) called the Cup of Excellence. I am going to try all the Cup of Excellence coffees I can find at Stumptown and report on them. Watch tomorrow morning for Part 1 in my 'Quest.'
Tuesday, Dec 3 - The whole day
AM - Coffee at home
Lunch - Quiznos (I talked Slim E out of McDonald's). I get the Classic Italian with no olives.
Dinner - The real treat of the day. I am way out in NE PDX at Trader Joe's on Sandy, using up part of my gift card, and I realize two things...
1-I have no food at home.
2-I am really close to Cha'ba
Thai.
I drive up the hill, place my take-out order, and sit patiently (which is tough, because it smells SO good!). I get Fresh Rolls with Chinese Sausage, and Cashew Chicken, medium spice. I haven't had Cha'ba for at least 6 or 7 months.
The Fresh Rolls are just a good as I remember. Full of sprouts and herbs. They taste unbelievably fresh. Peanut sauce for dipping on the side. I am not sure the sausage adds anything, and might actually prefer tofu (gasp).
The Chicken Cashew is fantastic. Spicy, vibrant, delish. Water chestnuts, red and green peppers, hot Thai peppers, onions, cashews, and chicken. Simply amazing. I miss living so close to Cha'ba.
For dessert, Scharffen Berger Extra Dark Chocolate, clocking in at 80% (WOW) Cacao.
I drive by my old house, which the new owners have painted an ugly green.
Sorry the photos are so blurry...
Tonight, pasta again. Last night, I thawed the last of a batch of Tomato/Basil/Cream sauce, and I figured I should eat it up before I leave town. Tonight, I have a spicy Italian sausage with the pasta and sauce (I had a spicy chicken Italian sausage last light, when I discovered New Seasons was out of the tasty pork version). No letdowns tonight. New Seasons has them in stock (although the gentleman behind the meat counter nearly gives me a chicken one by mistake. I correct him, and get the pork I want).
Oh, and for dessert, a mini Scharffen Berger Nibby Bar (you know, the one that has crushed cocoa beans?). Awesome.
So, it's been a while. Weird week...
shredded chicken nachos (cajun spice thanks to an ADC).
Mon, Jan 23 - Lompoc 5Q
Mon, Jan 23 - Quiznos
Sun, Jan 22 - Potato/Leek Soup
Roast beef sandwich, Swiss, mayo, mustard, onion, tomato, salt, pepper, oregano. Salad of tomato and cucumber on the side. Watched some basketball (Duke v Georgetown and UCLA v W VA). Lagunitas Censored ale to drink.
Pouring wine at an account on Alberta tonight. Need a bite to eat before the event begins, as we will certainly be busy until 9. 'Round the corner is a new deli, Vepadoe's .
This morning, just tea. I've got bread for toast, but just don't want to make it. Lazy me.
Tonight, I make red curry with green veggies, which I'm calling 'Red Light/Green Light.' No, I didn't make the curry paste from scratch this time. But, it was a lot faster. And spicier. I think I may have added a bit too much paste. In the mix tonight: chicken, onions, snap peas, green peppers, coconut milk, and red curry paste. On the side, a little cuke/tomato salad. And for dessert, a blood orange. I watch the Georgia/Kentucky basketball game on TV while I eat. Water to drink.
I made lunch at home this morning. I actually remembered to bring it into work. Amazing.
Buttered toast, cup of tea. Paid some bills, listened to NPR.
I am amazed at how much you can get done when you leave work at 4. I went grocery shopping, did laundry, did the dishes, and made dinner (and cleaned up after dinner too), all by 9:30. Amazing.
Mon, Jan 16 - Subway
Sun, Jan 16 - Wild Abandon
ADC and I head over to Killingsworth for some tasty beef noodle soup at Pho Jasmine. Broth, beef, noodles, and on top, cilantro, sprouts, basil, jalapeno, and fresh lime juice. So tasty.
Nachos again. I have to finish up the ingredients, right? Next week, healthier eating, for reals.
Friday the 13th passed with no problems. I think it is the fact that I own a black cat, and that she somehow has provided me with immunity for any superstitious happenings. As a 'thanks' to Alma, and per a request from MANY for my faithful readers, her meals will again be recorded here for posterity sake. This morning, Alma had half a can of Iam's Chicken Formula. I wanted to sleep in this morning, but Alma REALLY wanted breakfast at 6:30. Her incessant meowing can get fairly obnoxious. Since I have cut down her food intake, I figured it was only fair to feed her on time. I get up, get her food out of the fridge, put it in a bowl, and crawl back into bed, where I go back to sleep for 3 more hours.
I get a call from R and K, who I meet at R's office for a wine tasting. I get there late, the Barolo is almost gone, and the tasting had become a party. I am able to ferret out a glass or two, see some old friends and meet some new ones. Everyone is pretty hungry by 8, so we try to score a table at Doug Fir, which is naturally packed on a Friday night. Roughly an hour wait, and that is only for half our group. R has seen this new place, l'Astra, down the street and says he's been wanting to try it out. Always looking for new places to try, I agree.
Ok, ok. I know I said I had killed pizza, but when the office is ordering up tasty Hot Lips, what's a guy to do? Since there are some non-carnivores among us today, we get one cheese and one housemade pep with onions. Seems like a good compromise.
So, I am out of both coffee and half and half. I failed utterly and completely to swing by Stumptown for more beans yesterday. I am craving my morning caffeine fix, and I decide that some tea is the prefect delivery vehicle. Stash Organic Earl Grey Green and Black tea. Mmm. I love me some bergamot.
I meet up with some old friends at Zaytoon's on Alberta. It's my old friend B's birthday. EK, KC, BH, L, AL, B&M, the whole gang is there. A few beers, a lot of talk, wishes for a happy birthday. I'm there from 7 to 10 or so. Then I get hungry. I'm really tempted to eat there, but I know I have food at home, so I hit the road.
Me thinks it is time for BBQ and Hangman. It appears that Lady E, Slim E, MA, and I will all be at the office today for lunch. MA is heading out to get her car looked at, and offers to pick-up food to bring back. But what to have??
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente
Neighborhood meeting runs late into the evening. I need food, and fast. I run up to the store and grab some food for Alma. I consider take and bake pizza, but I just can't. I also don't have the patience to wait on take out Thai. I grab organic yellow corn tortilla chips and some organic salsa. Also, some cheese (not organic, sorry). I get home, turn on the TV to try to catch the last half of Lost, and preheat the oven.
No one at the office brought lunch. We order up a round of chef salads from the Dockside. I won't go into the details, as loyal readers will know about dressings, toppings, etc.
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente
Finally, I get to eat at Patanegra. I work a bit late, and try to convince CC to meet me for happy hour somewhere. We agree to meet at Patanegra instead. CC gets the Albarino by the glass, I get the by the glass Txakoli. We get small plates. Here's the rundown...
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente$15.75/lb
I think I have killed pizza. Tonight, I eat the leftovers from yesterday's pizza from Tom's on Lombard. I don't enjoy it. It wasn't that good in the first place, but at this point, I have no desire to eat pizza again for some time to come.
Slim E and I order Hot Lips pizza today. It arrives around 2. At this point, we have nearly all of the wine from the container put away (another hour and it will all be done). It is our standard office pie, housemade pepperoni and onions. Mmm. 2002 Altos de Luzon and the rest of the 1998 Columbia Syrah from Sunday.
Allright, new dinner group (I think that makes 3 now). Club Fortnight. We are going to meet (wait for it) ... every two weeks. CC, Porkchop, and me. Special guest, ADC, who knows, here and there. Tonight, it was the three of us and an ADC. Here are the rules: meet every two weeks, rotate hosting duties, guest brings wine and dessert, host does everything else.
Lay around in bed all day. Order in pizza from Tom's Pizza up the street 'cause they deliver. Hot tea, Advil, and pizza, in bed. ADC, Alma, and me. NY Times crossword. Realxing. Nice.
An ADC and I head over to Echo for food and drink. Me: greyhounds, ADC: vodka soda. Me: meatloaf sandwich with chips, ADC: mac and cheese and a salad. Tasty as always.
CC and I head out shopping. I pick up a couple bowls at West Elm that are on killer deal right now (see picture to the right). CC buys a lot more than me. I refrain from buying a conical burr coffee grinder. Tough, but I have willpower, yes indeed.
I've got no half and half in the fridge, and I don't want to run out to get any this morning. So, I'm drinking tea with caffeine instead of coffee. Stash Earl Grey with both green and black teas. Tasty. Back to coffee tomorrow. Promise.
Quick post...
Coffee No. 1 - Honduras Finca el Puente
Lunch - Met Lady E at Higgins Bar for a late lunch. Scheduled time was 1, we rescheduled for 2, and I got there around 2:30. Not good if you are meeting for lunch and an annual review. It went well anyway. I got the Ground Sirloin sandwich (burger) with white cheddar. Lady E and I split a bowl of potato/bacon soup. She got the charcuterie plate, which included all house made salamis (bresola, lardon, fennel salami, etc.). I tried a few pieces, and was amazed. There is a reason Higgins is so well respected in Portland. The food is simply outstanding. I had a few glasses of Spanish Verdejo, Lady E had some Chardonnay and a glass of Cotes du Rhone. Lunch began around 2:45 and ended around 4:15. Back to the warehouse for a few minutes then out to...
Dinner - I had made plans to meet Aussie C at Roux for a sales call of sorts. We were going for dinner, but also to make an appearance. Brought a bottle of wine along for the wine buyer to taste, etc. I arrive late, as I have all day, and AC has a glass of bubbles. I get a greyhound. We spit the tasty butter lettuce salad, and they send out a crawfish pie for us. We also get a bottle of 2004 Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fume de Pouilly. Expensive and good, but not as good as the price might suggest. I get the cajun cassoulet, and AC gets the rabbit. We split beignets and chicory coffee ice cream for dessert.
Pt 2 - Beans
filter) requires a slightly different grind. French press, the method I use and the best for home preparation (in my opinion), requires a coarser grind that drip. I have a blade grinder. Admittedly not the best. A burr grinder would be better. I am shopping around for one now. Blade grinders work, but it's hard to get the grounds to the correct size, and then, the grounds aren't consistent in size. Burr takes care of all those issues. I spoon 6 teaspoons (not the measuring spoon, my actual eating spoons) for whole beans into the grinder and pulse until they look good, then dump them into the French press.
Pt 3 - Brewing
Pt 4 - Preparation
My Personal Quest for the Cup of Excellence. I'm going to try all the Cup of Excellence coffees I can get my hands on from Stumptown. First, what is the Cup of Excellence? This from the COE web site...
Well, it's a night for leftovers. I put on some new jasmine rice to cook, and finish the few Salt and Vinegar Kettle Chips left in the bag. Then I eat a little salad of the 2nd half of a cuke and my last tomato. When the rice is done, I heat up my leftover Cashew Chicken from Cha'ba. Later, I'll have some chocolate from last night. Not bad, though, for leftovers.
I left my leftover Thai food at home this morning. Lucky for my, I was making a sales call to Caprial's Bistro. There is usually a bit of a wait to see Caprial, and I can gossip with my fellow sales reps who are also waiting. Today is no exception. Four reps are ahead of me in line, and one of them has a 'ride with.' I could be here for hours, and I must see Caprial today as she will be out for the next 6 weeks filming the next season of her TV show.
I'm using the last of the coffee in my air tight jar (Guatemala, I think). Stumptown, French press, half and half, NPR. You know, the usual.
Dinner - The real treat of the day. I am way out in NE PDX at Trader Joe's on Sandy, using up part of my gift card, and I realize two things...
Thai.