There’s sometimes a phrase you find yourself using against your better judgement. You find it entering your conversations. It’s suddenly there. You may become aware, and attempt to phase it out and substitute some other vocabulary (see: the contemporary, multi-generational faded overuse of ‘cool’). You may find yourself fondly accepting it, and going with the flow (see: asking people to ‘Discuss’). Just perhaps, you’ve stumbled upon a new term. You may find yourself nearly comfortable with it (see: the initial title of this post), befuddled at your leniency (see: dittering*), or just perhaps, inevitably, accepting it (see: the second part of the title) and peppering it into your sarcastic tirades whenever you can’t find a seat in a coffee shop or have to wait in line at a food cart. Oh, Portland.
Now, maybe it’s the bits of Spring weather that are now confidently poking through the rainfall, maybe it’s the obsessive VVC II planning mode, maybe it was finally getting over my odd bouts of earache-induced vertigo recently and leaving the house, and definitely, some really inspiring Thai cuisine on SE Hawthorne and taking up a farmers market opening weekend countdown…..no matter what, it’s led me to smile, nod, snap pictures and share some recent Portlanding of my own.
“No one will ever believe us”
Baked beans with jalapeno soy curls, shoestring fries, perfect sauce and v. ranch at White Owl Social Club
Late frost in Ladd’s Addition (aka a Portland blizzard warning)
The last menu at Langano Lounge
Walking to Hawthorne
Within Forest Park
Impromptu wine tasting at the Southeast Wine Collective
Overlooking NW Industrial land
Leaving Forest Park
Lunch at Chiang Mai is so legit
An afternoon scene in Clinton
Behind the scenes for Vida Vegan Con II at PAM
No commentary necessary.
Awaiting Tofu Scramble Migas at Juniors
Steak & Cheese from D.C. Veg. A sandwich that comes with instructions.
Valentine’s Day display at the Central Library
This is grand.
An indication of almost-Spring around these parts
Inspiration for a now-complete young coconut caramel. More to come.
The first stop on my Stumptown Vegans pho chay tour: Emily’s on SE Division (a work in progress)
Pho tour, stop #2: Pho Van on SE Hawthorne
Wandering SE Powell
Chloe’s Cinnamon Mocha Cupcakes, inspired presentation by J. Legume
Sometimes presentation is about risk-taking
Adventure in SW: Barbur World Foods shopping
Pickled daikon and carrots for future banh mi chay-making
,
Cat life
More SE Portland Thai love: Pad Kee Mao at My Thai, another go-to
My first first bitters: the Mansion Jar elixir
Towards Division
Non-shockingly the most photographed part of Bazi Bierbrasserie
…in conclusion, for all my complaining about its bagels, there are countless reasons I have lived in Portland for a near decade.
Of course, my weekly happy hour group of native Portlanders (really) and long-timers would probably want you to know that the only people who talk about watching Portlandia are those who have recently moved here, or were encouraged by the show. And VooDoo Doughnuts. But, guilty pleasure or not, there’s real Portlandy (another one) life in there, trust me.
*In 2009, local businesses, restaurants and carts were *just* beginning to use Twitter, and a few friends and I enjoyed a ridiculous week of living on the edge and attempting to only dine at those businesses who were tweeting. How time flies.
I’m excited to see that Chiang Mai is vegan-friendly, will have to try it, must confess I was underwhelmed by My Thia, maybe just a bad day for them or something.
Don’t hold out on us too long with young coconut caramel details please!
Hey Ali – You should totally give Chiang Mai a visit. I’d been hearing great things from omni-folks about its authenticity and then hey, I noticed a note about ‘vegan options’ on their online menu and decided to give it a shot. There’s really great, great flavor in the dishes I’ve tried so far. As for My Thai on Hawthorne, everything I’ve tried has been good, if not great, so far. I really dig that they have custom vegan, homemade curry pastes and such an awareness of allergens and dietary preferences. The highlights have definitely been the curries, the kabocha one, in particular.
I will post the young coconut sauce one of these days, for sure.
- jess
I love this post, Jess.
I have to live my west-coast veg life vicariously thru you! Thanks so much for the photos and fun
CHEERS!
loved this.
Bazi is my most favorite place (and has been for awhile!) They have bottles from this tiny, tiny brewery in Bruges that Jeff and I, uh, frequented often (in 3 days?) and they hooked me. I’m glad someone else knows what that place is!