Forkfly Daily Deals: Whiffies Fried Pies

November 10, 2010

Buy 2 pies for $5 at Whiffies Pie Cart with Forkfly!

So here’s your mission for the week: mosey over to Food Cart Land at SE Hawthorne and 12th; pull up your Forkfly Iphone App, or open your mobile web browser and type in m.forkfly.com; find Whiffies under Food Carts; and now the hard part, pick two pies.

Whiffies offers both sweet and savory pies, so if you’re by yourself you can have a whole dinner here. Try one of the many vegan dinner pie options like a vegan pot pie, or go carnivore with a BBQ brisket and mozzarella cheese pie (it gets a great review in the comments here.) I’m personally tempted by the one fish option, salmon with chipotle mayo. For dessert, they have a wide selection of fruit pies, as well as peanut butter and chocolate options. You could visit with a date after dinner for two dessert pies for $5.

I’ve pretty much gotten used to seeing clusters of food carts around town (the technical term for these groupings of carts is “pods”). But I must remember not to take them for granted, because Portland is unique in its abundance of “street food” and food carts. It’s nice to know our little city can allow small entrepreneurs without much capital to operate businesses, and patronizing such places is a good way to support local efforts and keep money in the community. There’s even a website dedicated to Portland food carts: www.foodcartsportland.com. The site acknowledges that this is a different medium than your typical restaurant: menus and hours are more subject to change, and the casual atmosphere may not please everyone. But a fried-pie food cart is a uniquely Portland experience, so we’re here to help you get the most out of it!

Here is the direct link to the mobile Forkfly website coupon for 2 pies for $5 at Whiffies, good until the end of the month. So let that kitchen stay dirty one night this week and venture out for a taste of Portland culture.


Green & Sustainable: The Whole Foods Story

November 4, 2010

Whole Foods does so many great things for the community and environment that it is really difficult for me not to go on-and-on about them for several pages.  They are much more than a grocery store, they are environmental stewards and local educators, and are the epitome of what Portland is all about.

Organic Products

Whole Foods offers a huge array of organic products in all of their stores. Choosing organic over a generic brand might cost a little more, but just think about this–by buying organic products you are supporting farmers and producers who believe in good health, quality foods and earth-friendly sustainable agricultural practices.  Here is the Whole Foods’ list of why you should choose organic, and the reasons clearly out weigh the cost!

REASONS TO BUY ORGANIC

  • Organic farming meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
  • Growing organically supports a biologically diverse, healthy environment.
  • Organic farming practices help protect our water resources.
  • Organic agriculture increases the land’s productivity.
  • Organic production limits toxic and long-lasting chemicals in our environment.
  • Buying organic supports small, independent family farms.
  • Organic farmers are less reliant on non-renewable fossil fuels.
  • Organic products meet stringent USDA standards.
  • Buying organic is a direct investment in the long-term future of our planet.
  • Organic farmers preserve diversity of plant species.
  • Organic food tastes great.

Environmental Practices

Whole Foods have been trying to make green choices since the opening of their first store.  They were the first major retailer to offset 100% of our energy use with wind energy credits.  They have also made huge steps in reducing, reusing and recycling whenever possible: they compost their waste and it is given to local community gardens, they have implemented the use of power monitors and other technology to reduce their energy consumption, they use reusable and biodegradable plates in their dining area, and do tons of other little things every day.  The most exciting part about  this company is their use of wind power, solar panels, and green building techniques.  I just wish every large company would take the same steps Whole Foods has in creating a sustainably minded business!  Their efforts show me that they care more about being responsible citizens than profits, and that is a company I can get behind.

Giving Back

Whole Foods gives back to their community in many different ways.  One way is they give a minimum of 5% of their profits every year to a wide variety of community and non-profit organizations.  Another thing they do for the community is provide up to $10 million in low-interest loans to small, local producers through their Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP).  Loans range from $1,000 to $100,000 and can be for things like purchasing more animals, investing in new equipment or converting to organic production. We minimize the fees, interest rates and paperwork that can often get in the way of a small local farm or business taking the next step to expand its operations.  That is huge for the community!

Forkfly is proud to offer deals from Whole Foods online at m.forkfly.com and through our Iphone application.

Trendy Tuesday!: The Green Approach to Business

October 19, 2010

As slow as the progress might be, one can’t deny that businesses have made some much needed steps in the green direction over the past few years.  More and more consumers are bringing their own bag when shopping, many grocery stores have stopped offering plastic bags, companies are replacing their outdated light bulbs and appliances with energy saving ones, and even though all of this is commendable, it is businesses like Oblation Papers & Press that are helping keep Portland ranked the number one greenest city in America.

Oblation Papers, located in The Pearl District, say that they, “Have been attracted to the benefits and practicality of recycling since they opened in 1989.”   Oblation includes a letterpress print shop, urban paper mill, retail store, flat printing and a wholesale product line.  Every day they take unwanted paper products, convert them back into pulp, and make it into fresh, new paper.

Twenty years later they are still making paper and following recycling principals. Their concerns for conservation affect everything they do, including their design process. Their fiber source is now 100% cotton, acid-free, and recovered from the garment industry. They supply a machine-made envelope option with their printed work that is made from 100% post consumer waste.  To reduce waste,  they have a line of wedding invitations with only a single envelope and RSVP postcard. Their digital design department provides several environmentally friendly paper options, and prints using solid ink technology, which generates approximately 90% less waste than typical color printers. They also use soy inks and citrus solvents.

But the most impressive part about this company is that they are proud supporters of wind energy, and use this sustainable power option to run their business!  Way to go guys you are truly an inspiration to businesses everywhere!  Support green companies like Oblation right here on Forkfly, and get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more from Oblation through the end of this month.

Get the Rock Star Treatment at Bishops Barbershop

October 12, 2010

Getting your hair cut is much more about the experience than the actual cut itself these days.  Salons and barbershops have stepped up their game and are giving their clients some perks that you can’t find at a place like Supercuts or from the corner barbershop your grandpa has been going to all his life.  Alcohol, fashion, free concert tickets, and art work are just some of what you can expect from these high-end shops.

Bishops Barbershops, located all across Portland, are known for their edgy cuts, styles, and their love of rock n’ roll.  Tattoos aren’t a requirement to work there, but it sure doesn’t hurt.  All genres of rock music are played at some point during the day  in the shops, and if you are 21 and over you can enjoy a nice cold Miller High Life while you are waiting.  They also support the local music scene with free concert ticket giveaways.  But the best part about Bishops is the great conversations you have with the hairstylists, and the juicy gossip you usually overhear.

Bishops isn’t the cheapest place to go for a haircut that is a given, but it is well worth shelling a few more bucks out to actually enjoy going to the hair salon.  I for one hate going to a place where I am going to be forced to listen to soft rock and get my hair cut by a gal whose idea of style is emulating 90210 characters.  Plus, you can get $5 off a cut at all Bishops locations through our Forkfly app!

Ben & Jerry’s Participates in Fair Trade Month

October 7, 2010

There are not many things better than ice cream. A nice cold cone is the perfect way to celebrate the few hot summer days we get every year here in Portland, and I won’t turn one down on our chilly, rainy afternoons either. Perhaps even better than ice cream is an international corporation with a social conscious. And at the intersection of Yum, Ice Cream and Wow, A Corporation Actually Interested In Making The World A Better Place, you can find Ben & Jerry’s!

October is Fair Trade Month, and Ben & Jerry’s is getting in on the action with a website explaining some of their Fair Trade connections and products. Check it out here. Vanilla, chocolate, coffee and sugar are just a few of the agricultural products often grown in developing countries where big corporations can take advantage of small farmers. Fair Trade is an ethical answer to the question of allowing those developing economies to flourish and those individual farmers and workers to earn what they deserve.

Fair trade offers more than just a fair price for the services and products. It also ensures safe and clean working conditions. My favorite aspect is that fair trade incorporates direct trade as often as possible. Direct trade involves economic transactions between grower and buyer, instead of allowing middlemen to earn a profit by buying dirt cheap and selling at marked up prices to the packager. Community development and sustainability also compose goals of the fair trade movement.

Ben & Jerry’s has affiliated itself with many small-scale farmers and cooperatives to purchase the sustainable and delicious ingredients for their ice creams. Their dedication to Fair Trade has an impact that goes beyond the farm to whole communities and economies while also empowering individuals.

Ben & Jerry’s models the capitalist AmeriCone Dream the way it should be done. With one trip you can treat yourself and support this forward-thinking company. Pull up Forkfly on your phone for 3 scoops for $3 on Fridays or $1.00 off all frozen beverages at the Ben & Jerry’s in the Pearl at 301 NW 10th St. Find the Pearl District’s Ben & Jerry’s site here and the Fair Trade USA site here.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Barre3 Sparks a New Fitness Trend

September 28, 2010

After shunning exercise for most of my life, in the last year or two I have come to see myself as an athletic person. My routine is pretty limited to circuit training DVDs at home, but after reading recently that a person is more likely to find success with a exercise schedule if they work out outside of the house and with other people, I’m rethinking my technique and considering attending some classes. The most innovative and talked-about workout these days comes from Barre3, a ballet, yoga and pilates hybrid class with a high level of intensity and a focus on balance and flexibility.

You may have read that Madonna swears by Barre3. Celebrity endorsements are great, but after browsing the website I don’t need anyone else’s opinion to get excited about this Portland-based phenomenon. Sadie Lincoln, of Eugene, Oregon, worked for 24 Hour Fitness for ten years before founding her unique exercise studio. Sadie focuses on balance in her workouts and in her business, and she successfully maintains a balance between staying true to her local roots and seizing the opportunity to expand and share her methods internationally. She leads classes at her original Portland studio and personally trains franchise owners and class instructors, and the company has studios in Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma and the Philippines.

Barre3 classes are set to upbeat music and incorporate “the grace of the ballet barre with the wisdom of yoga and the strength of Pilates” to tone and lengthen lean muscles. Classes have a cap on the number of participants to ensure each person receives the attention they need to perfect their form and receive the most from their workout. Childcare is available, which I love to see, because busy moms deserve a chance to give stuff like this a try, too.

Much to my excitement, Barre3 just came out with a workout DVD, but I don’t think I should allow myself to buy it until I’ve worked up the courage to attend a class and receive Sadie’s expert instruction and attention. Take a look at the Barre3 website for locations and class schedules, and look for Forkfly deals for Barre3 to give yourself a good reason to check out this hot fitness trend!

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor Brown

Transform into a Modern Day Rapunzel with Your Very Own Hair Extensions

September 27, 2010

Being patient while growing out your short hair is a difficult task.  I have been growing out an A-line bob for several months, and I hate this awkward middle stage where my hair isn’t short but isn’t long and I can’t do anything with it.  I threatened that I would cut it short again many times, but then I discovered the key to getting the look I want and growing out my hair at the same time—hair extensions!

Hair extensions are no longer something that only celebrities wear.  They vary in prices from as little as $40 to as high as $300 depending on what you want, but it isn’t hard to find a mid-range priced brand that is high in quality and reasonably priced.  You can also either choose to get clip ons and put them in yourself, or go to a salon for a more permanent fix and have them weave in the extensions to your natural hair.  I chose to just get clip ons so that I can easily take them on and off at my leisure, but for a more professional, natural look I am sure going to a salon to have extensions put in is a better option.

I love the Great Length extensions from Amore Salon and Spa!  They are made with 100% human hair, and are silky, shiny and come in hundreds of colors.  They also go through a process of “bonding” the hair extensions to your natural hair, instead of gluing, knotting or weaving, which can be painful and may damage your real hair.  You can do anything with the extensions that you could do with your own hair, so feel free to cut it, curl it, straight iron it, wash it, etc.

Amore Salon and Spa is located at 945 NW Lovejoy St in The Pearl District.  You can also get a great deal on Amore cuts and colors on the new Forkfly app: http://m.forkfly.com/

Discover Vegetarian Fare in Portland, Starting with Daily Cafe

September 15, 2010

NW 13th Avenue, with its raised sidewalks, light concrete pavement and alleyway feel, is lined with clean, modern buildings housing restaurants, coffee shops, fitness centers, clothing stores and the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Across the street from PNCA is the Daily Cafe, a perfect spot to stop for lunch during a day in the Pearl.

The Daily Cafe is an order-at-the-counter restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and brunch on Sundays. The colorful chairs and exposed concrete ceiling reflect an aesthetic sensibility appropriate for the cafe’s proximity to one of Portland’s excellent art schools and its placement on NW 13th Avenue. I love the big windows in the airy dining room but I love sitting outside even more, so after I got my food I headed for the sidewalk seating.

Smoked salmon is a favorite of mine and I was tempted by the salmon plate with a Kettleman bagel, cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, capers and red onion. But I’m also sandwich-obsessed, which can be a tough trait for a vegetarian in a world of lunch meat. So I went with the caprese panini, a crusty, melty pleasure with roasted plumb tomatoes, mozzarella, spinach and herb pesto on ciabatta bread.

My sandwich came with vegan potato salad, but green salad or soup are also available with most lunch items. The service was timely and friendly, and I got my iced latte promptly to sip on while my sandwich was grilled to perfection.

Take a look at the Daily Cafe website to see their hours and check on their ever-changing breakfast menu. And look for Daily Cafe deals on Forkfly the next time you’re headed to lunch on NW 13th Ave.

You Gotta Try This!: A Brunch Box Burger

September 13, 2010

Even though the hamburger technically originated in Germany in the 19th century, the burger has been an American icon for more than half a century. Fast food joints put the burger on the map, but upscale restaurants, cafes and food carts have shown that an American fave when done right can also be a gourmet delicacy.  The classic burger with pickles, lettuce and tomato is still my favorite, but many places have added their own cool variations of this American staple.  One such place is Brunch Box, a food cart located off of SW 5th & Stark, which has many different styles of burgers.

At Brunch Box you can choose whether you want a Black Angus, vegetarian or turkey burger.  Next you can add up to four different types of cheeses, an egg, mushrooms, kraut, pineapple, or even chips.  If you need a little more meat on your meat sandwich, you can also add an extra patty, some ham, bacon, or a Hawaiian favorite, spam.  And don’t assume your patty masterpiece now needs to be stuck in between two buns, you can also get a burger served on Texas toast.

The price is also right starting at $3.25 for a regular hamburger.  I enjoyed a mushroom burger today that was hearty, not greasy, and the mushrooms were cooked to perfection.  The picture I took doesn’t do the burger justice because I took it after I had been carrying the sandwich for several blocks, and so it looks all smashed.  To try your very own Brunch Box burger visit them on 5th & Stark, and flash them their Forkfly deal for extra savings!

Portland’s Outdoor Eating Guide: On Deck Sports Bar

August 25, 2010

Inside On Deck Sports Bar & Grill you’ll find over 25 TVs showing all of the current sports action, but if you aren’t a sports enthusiast there are still many reasons to stop by On Deck.  On Deck’s outdoor seating is just as alluring as their inside action, and you’ll find a spacious patio with covered seating and a very pretty view.  Their outdoor seating is actually the largest outdoor deck in Portland’s The Pearl District!

With all this room outside, On Deck is a fantastic spot to host a party or event.   They have a covered tent with an outside grill and complete beverage station, and the entire deck is surrounded by lavender and flowers.  It would actually make a great spot for a bachelorette party or wedding reception or rehearsal!

I personally enjoyed the fact that the building is located upstairs, so instead of the standard street view and loud car sounds that you would normally get sitting outside, you get a great view of the city and a nice peaceful dining experience.  I also really like the fact that dogs are welcome, and so it is fine to stop by and get a bite to eat or a beer while walking the pooch.  On Deck Sports Bar & Grill is located at 910 NW 14th Ave.  Find their fantastic deals on Forkfly, like $3 off any menu item!

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