Portland: Where to Eat and Drink

It's almost been a month since my weekend trip to Portland but it's hard to forget all the amazing eats I had along the way. From brewery bar hopping in downtown to eating late night noodles in one of Portland's trendiest restaurants, here's a rundown of where to eat and drink in the city.

THE GRILLED CHEESE GRILL

Address: 1027 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

The first stop on our Portland trip, with a line as long as an Instagram cheese pull...this place was worth the wait! The grill's slogan, "Come by for a taste of your childhood. (Unless your childhood sucked, and then we'll let ya have a taste of ours.)" reeled me in with its cheeky satirical slogan. I opted for a breakfast sandwich named The Hunter which had Tillamook Cheddar, Bacon, Ham and Egg on French White with a side of pickles and tomato soup for dipping. This was by far one of the best first bites on a trip! Whatever childhood this sandwich came from transported me to a bougie kindergarten cafeteria full of rich celebrity children aka (this is how I imagine Kylie will cook for her baby) and I am here for the fantasy!

LUC LUC VIETNAMESE KITCHEN

Address: 835 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204

The line for this place was around the corner when my friends and I first tried to come here on a Saturday night. We quickly gave up and came back the following day to try our luck again. Distinguished by its modern asian atmosphere, loud hip hop music blaring in the background, and trendy patrons; I could see why this place was so popular. My friends and I absolutely loved the Beef Brisket Pho, perfect for warming up during the colder Portland months. The Grilled Chicken Vermicelli Bowl was ok and worth trying out but the Pho was the clear winner of this round. Come here early to grab a spot in line!

Pho-nomenal bowls of Pho here

GRAVY

Address: 3957 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227

Located right down the street from our Airbnb, this restaurant was another popular brunch venue with a wait time of 50 minutes in the cold and rain. It's hard to find a restaurant in Portland that didn't have a wait! Thankfully we were rewarded with great food and even better biscuits! The portions here are enormous and the price point was very cheap considering what you'd pay for a small brunch course in LA. We absolutely loved the biscuits and gravy, more so the gravy because was it so rich, meaty, and the perfect savory sauce to pour over everything. We also enjoyed the perfectly fluffy pancakes, country fried steak and eggs dish with a side of crisp hash browns. If you can handle the wait, come here for a damn good meal!

Mind your own bisuits and life will be the gravy

PORTLAND CIDER HOUSE

Address: 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

What better way to wash down breakfast than with a cider tasting? we're on vacation so it's fine! With 30 ciders on tap, it's one of the largest cider houses in Oregon with some of the most diverse collections of cider in North America. We opted for the cider tasting which allowed us to sample 6 ciders of our choosing for only $10, such a deal! They also offer a full bar menu and weekly events which you can view on their website.

Cider tasting for $10 at Portland Cider House

NONG'S KHAO MAN GAI

Address: 1210, 609 SE Ankeny St C, Portland, OR 97214

I never thought a simple plate of meat and rice from a humble restaurant would be so profound but it was and so much more! Down-home Asian style cooking at its finest (aside from my mothers) this simple Pork and Rice dish (Khao Kha Muu) was like a warm hug in my stomach that left a lingering presence long after my meal. I'm not sure if it was the cold rainy weather that got to me but this dish was the snug, comforting place I needed to be surrounded by that night. Come here to feed your soul and your stomach!

Pork Hog (Carlton’s Farm) braised in coca cola, coco powder, Thai and Chinese herbs and spice on jasmine rice, pickle mustard greens and boiled egg with pickle Thai chili sauce

FAT HEAD'S BREWERY

Address: 131 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Upon first glance, we may have dubbed this place as the Applebees of breweries for it's All-American decor and pedestrian neighborhood hangout vibe but were pleasantly surprised to find good beers and great food! The giant pretzel with mustard and beer cheese dipping sauce (which will not get you drunk) but make your belly happy is a must eat. Wash it down with one of their 42 beers on tap, relax a bit and then hit up your favorite book/vintage store after.

Giant Pretzel: House-made beer cheese, Head Hunter mustard & honey mustard. You’ll need a beer for this

BLUE STAR DONUTS

 Address: 3549 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Steps above the novelty donuts you'll see spinning in the glass carousel at Voodoo Doughnuts, Blue Star offers fresh made batches of high quality pastries with gourmet fillings. Known for their famous butter-rich brioche dough, these donuts are some of the best in the city! The donuts manage to taste light, greaseless and well-balanced which makes it hard to say no to just to one. Made fresh every morning, each day 15-20 different flavors are made available for customers to purchase in stores. Not sure what to try? My advice is to taste test at least three different donuts, you can walk it off later.

The perfect first bit of this Oregon Apple Butter donut

POK POK PORTLAND

3226 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

Creative Thai street food with a modern twist, I was excited to try this place the most during our trip! The cocktails, wings, and coconut rice were my absolute favorite from this meal and if I wasn't leaving so soon after I would have ordered a third round. I'm not a huge fan of wings but this was remarkable! The perfect balance of sweet and savory with a deep caramelized fish sauce coating on the chicken bones had me drooling for more. We also tried the Kaeng Hang Leh (Pork Stew), Naua Naam Tok (Thai Flank Steak Salad) and Khao Soi (Egg Noodles in Yellow Curry) which deserved honorable mentions.

I dare you to Thai and stop me from eating those wings up!

Drinks: Mango Alexander, Drinking Vinegar and Tamarind Whiskey Sour

Naua Naam Tok (Thai Flank Steak Salad)

With so many options to choose from, the city has long supported everything from global food carts to gourmet coffee shops on every block in the city. The food scene has become so much more than just a novelty and Portland is now one of the most interesting places in the country to eat. I've only scratched the surface, but this is a great start for your next visit to Portland.

Do you have any favorite restaurants, diners, coffee shops ect. you enjoy in Portland? Send me a tip so I can check it out during my next visit!

Copenhagen Street Food: Your MUST Eat Food Guide!

One of my favorite things about traveling is discovering a new place online and finally getting to visit in person. I read about Copenhagen's most popular foodie destination, Copenhagen Street Food, in an article which popped up on my Facebook newsfeed about a year ago. Located on Paper Island and known for its global food trucks, funky decor, and the place to be seen on the weekend, I knew I had to experience it myself.

Perfect day for a pint by the harbor.

It was only a quick 15 min walk across the bridge from our hotel in Nyhavn which lead us to this quirky food hall concept. Full of delicious food samples, bars and even a night of bingo! We arrived at the perfect time to catch all the festivities. According to the Paper Island website there are exactly 39 food stalls, food trucks, containers and bars where you can find Korean, America, Japanese, Brazilian, Indian and many more globally inspired dishes.  Almost everything I ate was delicious! You can enjoy your food outside looking over the Opera house and the harbor of Copenhagen or dine inside one of the kitschy decorated bench areas.

Colorful food stall displays at every corner. Photo by: best-of-copenhagen.com

Make sure to visit Yoko Ono's Wish Tree art installation next door for a chance to participate in something meaningful. Its hard not to notice the dozens of little trees covered in white hanging tags that welcome you to paper island. You write down your wish on a white tag provided to you outside and tie it to one of the trees branches. My mom and I came back later in the evening to put up our own wishes and watch the hundreds of wishes flutter in the night sky. 

With only a few days left till the Copenhagen Street Food closes in 2018, here is your ultimate eating guide if you're visiting Copenhagen for the holidays! Take a look at some of my favorite bites along the way.

OINK OINK

Incredibly juicy pulled pork sandwiches, perfectly situated between two toasted buns, coleslaw and pickled Danish free-range pork roasted in the smoke over for 16 hours. This was one of the highlights of my Copenhagen Street Food experience!

BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich

DUCK IT

At DUCK IT you can taste the popular Pulled Duck Burger. The best quality of Confit de carnard served in a burger and it is melt in your moth delicious!

Pulled Duck on Sesame Bun

ALL ABOUT OSTRICH

All About Ostich loves experimenting with meat! A unique burger filled with smoky meaty flavors, lots of cheese, bacon and their homemade ostrich burger patty. 

All About Ostrich Burger: Lots of cheese smoky bacon and good meat!

INDIA STREET FOOD

You can't go wrong with roasted potatoes, chickpeas, bell peppers and yogurt sauce with a mango chutney on the side. This dish was cool and refreshing for the palette.

Roasted Potatoes with Chickpeas

CHICK KO

IIf you're craving Korean style deep dried chicken abroad then this is the place to be. Lots of Korean students were lined up at this place to grab a taste of home. The chicken was ok but nothing to rave about.

Deep fried Korean chicken with orange sauce

LATIENDA

A Vegan Columbian street food stand which is home of the Happy Burger and offers several other vegan options. Pictured here is the Happy Burger which features a quinoa patty, beetroot mayo, chili salsa, red onions and sprouts with a side of plantain chips. A bit on the dry side but grade A on the presentation.

Happy Burger with Quinoa patty

HANDMADE

I absolutely cannot get enough of these traditional Danish open faced sandwiches aka the Danish  Smørrebrød! You'd be amazed by how much you can fit on a single piece of rye bread. The menu varies according to whats in season so you're always in for a surprise.

Smoked salmon and horseradish on Danish rye bread

Roast pork with potatoes, red pickle, bacon and chives on Danish rye bread

Traditional roast pork with Danish red cabbage and pickles on Danish rye bread

PØLSE KOMPAGNIET

Delicious gourmet hot dogs paired with organic bread and a variety of greens and sauces, there were so many options to chose from. Pictured here is a Danish dog with purple onion, fried onions and pickles. Below is a Danish dog with mayonnaise, pesto sauce and potatoes on top, my personal favorite of the two.

Danish dog with purple onion, fried onions and pickles

Danish dog with mayonnaise, pesto sauce and potatoes

LA FATTORIA

The best place to treat yourself to a nice charcuterie board with imported cheese and sausages.  We opted for this delicious arugula salad with goat cheese, tomatoes and balsamic dressing. Pair it with a glass of red wine at one of the bars next door.

Arugula salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinagrette

BISTRONOMI

My absolute FAVORITE thing I ate were the Duck Fat Fries from Bistronomi! I still dream about these fries and I could have easily devoured several batches of them...but seriously, where can I find these fries in America this good?!?

Photo courtsey of @copenhagenstreetfood

There's something for everyone to be found at the Copenhagen Street Food market. So make sure you check it out before its gone forever!

To see more of what I ate in Copenhagen check out my review on Noma's pop-up restaurant Under the Bridge for more good eats go HERE.

Under the Bridge: Fancy Feasts from Noma's Pop-Up Restaurant

I've always dreamed of having a taste of what Noma, the world's best restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, has to offer.  It would be a taste of the best of the best! Known for its experimental cuisine by chef, René Redzepi, as well as its hard to book tables and high price point, it was a surprise to learn about Noma's new pop-up restaurant, Under the Bridge. While Noma’s main location is undergoing renovation and reopening in February 2018, the staff have been hard at work maintaining the standards of superb culinary craftsmanship at their pop-up location. Lucky me! I arrived in Copenhagen just in time to be included in the evening’s festivities.

Unlike Noma's traditional fare, there is an international group of sous chefs who created a menu highlighting different cuisines from all over the world. “The essence of it is that while we are waiting for the new Noma to open, the Noma staff will be collaborating on a menu of simple delicious food that they would eat themselves on a summer night,” the team explains. (Eater.com)

After much inner turmoil as to whether or not I should splurge on an evening of luxury dining, I decided to bite the bullet and buy my ticket. I'm so glad I did because the food, company, and the talent in the kitchen set the mood for a once in a life time experience. Everyone was seated around a long wooden table, beautifully decorated with handmade plates, dim lighting and cozy chairs. In attendance were Noma fans from all over the world waiting for a taste of delectable dining.  

It felt like a big Nordic Thanksgiving Feast with everyone at the table talking, tasting and drinking. This was a family-style affair with shared plates and handpicked wine pairings to set the mood for our perfectly planned out dinner.

To find out more about Noma and the chef behind this incredibly restaurant, René Redzepi, you can watch Vice's Mini Documentary or My Perfect Storm now streaming on Netflix. 

Now for the food! Enjoy these pictures I took during our meal:

Cozy, Cute Setting in 20 Degree Weather. Pour the wine!

Noma's version of a Tostada and the perfect first bite to our meal.

Baby Courgette / Wild Mushroom Broth / Spinach / Mint / Dill / Blueberries / Wood Ear fungus

Stamped out Lettuce / Various Herbs / Spiced Roasted Shrimp / Pesto / Chili Oil

Cabbage Tacos / Various Herbs / Spiced Roasted Deep-Fried Shrimps / Pesto / Chili Oil

Roasted Chestnuts / Potatoes / Smoked Hay

Roasted Cod Tail wrapped in Cabbage Leaves / Ramson Capers /Lemon Butter Sauce

A little taste of everything!

Poached Pear / Pear Sorbet / Olive Oil / Roasted Dried Seaweed

Almond Tart / Freeze Dried Lingonberry Powder / Dried Ants

No meal at Noma would be complete without some ants! Wonderfully tart and citrusy these little critters added the perfect bit of seasoning to these sweet cakes. Don't knock it till you try it!

Would you ever splurge on a fine dining experience? Which dish looked like your favorite? Let me know in the comments below and make sure to check out my review HERE on LA's little American-Danish town Solvang for more good eats.

A Day Trip to Solvang: LA to Little Denmark

Missing my Summer trip to Europe and in need of a breather from the bustling city life, my family and I planned a short road trip to visit Solvang, CA. We packed our bags and took a 2 1/2 hour drive to visit this charming Danish-American Town where we ate, drank, and shopped to our hearts content.

Drink some Wine:

What better way to get the morning started then with an 11 AM visit to the local winery! The first stop on our trip began with a wine tasting at Presidio Winery , where we tried six different wines from this delightful little shop. A friend of ours recommended getting the Groupon deal for this place which included a $47 wine tasting for four with two bottles of wine to take home. Originally valued at $98, this Groupon was a steal! The winery offered us glasses of chardonnay, syrah, pinot noir and gerwürztraminer. We really enjoyed the crisp refreshing taste of the 2015 chardonnay and took two bottles to go. You can snag their 50% OFF Groupon here if you're interested in checking out the winery for yourself. I highly recommend bringing home one of their Wholegrain Champagne Mustard or Garlic Balsamic Bread Dipper from their shop. You can also purchase these items from their online store here, your future sandwiches and salads will thank you!

Ice-cream Social:

We made a quick pit stop into the Solvang Trolley Ice Cream Parlor for a cone since it was a pretty hot day in town. Truly a gem, this little ice-cream shop is full of pastel colored walls, kitschy decor and lots of ice-cream flavors to chose from! I opted for my favorite flavor, mint chocolate chip from McConnell's, the same brand this bon appétit article told me to "Buy 25 Pints" of if I ever came across it.  I only left with a single scoop that day but if you ever find it in stores, I recommend buying a pint or two. It was that good!

Walk around Town: 

Copenhagen and Mission Drive are lined with all kinds of cute Danish shops.  It's also the perfect place to pick up some Christmas decorations. Stop by one of the many bakeries you'll come across and be sure to take a picture in front of the windmill. You can also spot a replica of the Little Mermaid Statue, a famous landmark in Copenhagen's harbor. We had lots of fun checking out the boutique shops and bought a few souvenirs to take back home. 

Have some Brews: 

After strolling through town for a bit, we decided to check out Solvang Brewing Company for a few drinks and some light snacks. I ordered the Bloody Mary which was jam packed with toppings and quite the show stopper when it came out, a little to peppery for my taste but it looked spectacular. I also ordered the house made Odin Stout which featured hints of coffee, bourbon and molasses dancing flavors dancing on the tip of your tastebuds. We bough two bottles to take home and enjoy. We enjoyed snacking on the house made pretzel with melted cheese which was the perfect doughy and salty bite to compliment our beers.

Bratwursts and Beer Gardens: 

An excellent place for people watching! Our last stop in Solvang ended with a late lunch at Copenhagen Sausage Garden. We started off our meal with a beautifully presented charcuterie board featuring some of the best meats and cheeses Solvang had to offer. Then we ordered a large bratwurst to split between the five of us. One of my favorite things about this place was the impressive amount of sauces and toppings you could choose from. We also got a pint of the Schofferhofer Grapefruit Raddler to quench our thirst in a simmering California heatwave.

Bonus Bites:

On our way back we made a quick pit stop into Santa Barbra for one last bite at Joe's Cafe, my father's favorite spot in town. Pictured here are the massive deli style sandwiches we enjoyed over drinks before the drive home. A feast for the eyes, enjoy!

Berlin or Bust

My second time visiting this gritty urban city, filled with history, unique nightlife and lots of beer to be consumed, Berlin never leaves me bored. My friends and I stayed in the heart of Berlin, Mitte, where we found ourselves comfortably situated in a very spacious and modern Airbnb which you can also book here. The apartment was perfectly located near transportation with parks and lots of trendy restaurants in the neighborhood. We had finally arrived at our first destination on the trip.

After settling into the apartment, we decided to walk around the neighborhood to grab ourselves some food and drinks. We chose a trendy eatery right down the street to start off our stay in the city. Unfortunatley our trendy choice in eateries turned out to be a let down. This is what a modern take on German cuisine looks like: currywurst smothered in beet juice ketchup and a side of uniquely pickled sauerkraut with sweet potato fries. Conclusion: The only way currywurst should be consumed is five beers later at the nearest street vendor closer to 3AM. No trendy add ons necessary.

More like Curry Woooooorrrrsssttt! Hard pass.

A few hours later we found ourselves in one of the liveliest parts of the city Oranienstraße, where we bar hopped around the neighborhood while uncovering Berlin's intense nostalgia for the 80's that lingered throughout every bar we visited. A few drinks later we decided to try our luck at German nightclubbing to see what all the hype was about. After an hour and half long wait outside the doors of Tresor, and watching dozens of club-goers get rejected upon entering, we anxiously awaited the same fate. With our cool demeanor, gritty looks and no f***ks given attitude at the door our disguise seemed to work and we successfully gained entry.

Let the neon lights guide you to the dance floor. Photo via @malette14

The Tresor cellar is were we first arrived. A long dark underground hallway lead us to the dance floor which was shrouded in near darkness and Tresor's signature smokey haze. The atmosphere was comparable to that of a horror movie. You couldn't see anything past a few feet in front of you because the smoke was so thick. The shadows of everyone frantically moving around you is what propelled your next move. Its a surreal moment when you realize your dancing in an old bank vault, totally unrecognizable to everyone and watching the DJ spin behind a barred hole in the wall for a stage set.

In need of a breather from the the smoky basement, which can easily feel like a sauna within minutes, we walked up to second level which offered a much more spacious area with seating and second dance floor. Drinks were reasonably priced and I was given a bar token when I picked up my drink. If you give the glass along with the token back to the bar staff you get 50c back. Not a bad deal for an easy cleanup job.

The inner tourist in me was dying to take pictures of the place but in the end I decided to keep the memory for myself. No pictures could do justice for this in person experience. It's well known to the locals that most of the big Berlin clubs are opposed any type of footage being taken with in the walls of their establishment. Capturing these moments would ruin the notoriety of what actually happens behind closed doors. Shoot at your own risk and, if caught, kicked out immediately.

A Berliner's favorite fast food, the Döner Kebap! You can't sit with us if you don't enjoy these.

My group and I stayed up till the late hours of the morning dancing to the sounds of house and the industrial techno music Berlin is most well known for. On our way home we ended up at a Kebap shop near our metro stop where we enjoyed the perfect bites of street meat at 3AM we had been craving. A successful first night out in the city at an extraordinary venue with good food has my two thumbs up.

Fancy Feasts from First Class

First class eats from 36,000 feet! YES PLEASE!!

I was lucky enough to have a taste of the good life during my recent trip to Europe. My friends and I traveled in Delta One's premium cabins on Delta airlines which gave us access to several Sky Clubs, excessive mimosas and the best meals the airline had to offer. We started our journey by enjoying Bloody Mary's and a breakfast buffet around 6AM in the Sky Club at LAX before our 5 hour 33 min flight to JFK.  The next leg of our journey began with a 3 hr layover at JFK airport with access to Delta's Sky Club.  Little did we know that more food and endless drinks were to be had on our premium class journey. 

When we first arrived at the LAX Sky Club lounge there was plenty of seating given the early hour of our arrival with lots of electronic outlets available for use, newspapers and even a designated area for taking a shower. The breakfast buffet offered a wide selection of bagels, croissants and breakfast pastries along with fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, Starbucks coffee and, most importantly, an open bar. Pour it up!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Upon entering the cabin for each portion of the flight we were handed mimosas in our seats and given a menu which described our pre selected first course meal, three main course options and three dessert options.  So much to choose from, so much to enjoy!

LAX-->JFK

First Course: The first flight meal included a lox and croissant plate which tasted incredibly fresh compared to some of the bland airplane food I've experienced in coach. There was also a side of fresh fruit with a cinnamon yogurt dip that was equally as nice.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Main Course: I rarely opt for sweet things in the morning but I couldn't resist trying out the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with that delicious raspberry compote on top. A more gourmet version of the small pancakes you use to microwave in the morning and eat as a kid. Not bad!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

After two movies and one long sleep later we arrived at JFK in New York City. From there we headed straight to the JFK Sky Club to grab more food and drinks before the long haul to Berlin. The lounge was much bigger than the first we visited at LAX but very overcrowded and no pouring your own drinks here which was a downside. There was a small buffet of lunch items such as chicken and rice, salad, breadsticks and a clam chowder soup which was my favorite food option from this lounge.

Rating: ⭐⭐

JKF-->TXL

Refreshed and ready for the second leg of our flight to Berlin, we headed to our seats and the next set of three course meals waiting for us. The flight attendants on this flight were by the far friendliest and easygoing group of flight attendants we had throughout the trip. Shoutout to Hauke for being nice enough to give me restaurant suggestions in Berlin, encouraging my in-flight food photo shoots and giving me extra desserts for this post. You'll be getting a good review from me soon!

First Course: Pita Chips with guacamole and a side of vegetables. Spring mix salad and a corn green chili bisque with cilantro lime sauce. All very good and healthy tasting.  A nice departure from all the carbs we had previously consumed on the trip.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Second Course: Grilled beef tenderloin with fontina polenta cakes, grilled artichokes and smoke tomato onion salad. Not the best meal I had; the meat was overcooked and the polenta cake was quite dry. The small garnishes on the side could not save this meal. Pass.

Rating: ⭐

Dessert: Choice of either vanilla sundae with toppings or a lemon cheesecake tarte. I got both, it was great. No complaints here!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Breakfast: A few hours before our arrival in Berlin, breakfast was served. On the menu was a Southwestern Frittata with warm pico de gallo and chicken apple sausages. This was by far one of the best airplane breakfasts I've eaten, the view above the clouds was just the cherry on top!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall I had a very pleasant experience in our premium cabins traveling to Europe, drinking and eating left me well fed and rested for the day. What a huge difference those flat bed seats make in beating the dreaded fate of jetlag! If you can make the splurge or score the deal, those bed seats alone are definitely worth the price tag when making an 8+ hour journey abroad.

Do you have a favorite first class airline you like to travel with or a favorite plane meal you've ever eaten? Sound off below!