Discover Portland: Leisure Public House

January 6, 2011

One of my friends was just commenting on how much she adores the St. Johns area and would love to move there.  She is in love with the area’s small pretty shops, quaint diners, and friendly atmosphere. I myself have never been, but after stumbling across the Leisure Public House in the St. Johns neighborhood I will most definitely be taking a trip to the North.

Leisure Public House is one part bar, one part pub, and is 100% the kind of place I would love to hang out at. They have a full bar, an absolutely gorgeous outdoor seating area, and a menu that is anything but ordinary–instead of a hamburger and fries, why not try their chevre salad with fresh goat cheese, or one of their gourmet pressed sandwiches?

They definitely succeed in the fun area as well. You can play some ping pong, something called bocce ball or just play some tunes on their jukebox. Then on Mondays you can show off your talents during open mic night. Tuesday try your luck at trivia night to win some cool prizes. Then wind down on Sundays with Sunday movie night–last week they showed one of my faves, Big Fish.

I really love the story of how Leisure came to be as well. Owners, Travis and Nicole, had a passion for pubs and a love of their neighborhood, and they both wanted to create a place where people could come hang out and get to know each other in a comfortable, fun setting.  You can really tell when you look at this place that they put a great deal of thought and hard work into designing it. Travis actually built  Leisure’s patio, tables, benches, planter boxes and bocce ball court, all himself!

I can’t wait to visit Leisure Public House located at 8002 N. Lombard St. Find them online here.

Discover Portland: Distillery Row

December 22, 2010

Portlanders love to buy their clothes from local designers, are loyal to their favorite neighborhood cafe, and boast about having some of the best wineries in the NW, so why not take it one step further gang and try out some fantastic locally made liquor too!

I am so excited to have discovered Distillery Row.  Situated in SE Portland, Distillery Row is a handful of small distilleries who make handcrafted, locally distilled spirits available for the first time since prohibition. How great is that! There are 5 distilleries on Distillery Row–Deco Distilling, House Spirits, Integrity Spirits, New Deal Distillery, Stone Barn Brandyworks–and they make everything from vodkas and gins, rums and whiskeys, to more specialized spirits such as absinthe, aquavit, and flavored liqueurs.

Deco Distilling, located at 1311 SE 9th Avenue, makes one of my favorite rums of all time the Deco Ginger Rum. It is great with some Cola, Sprite, or some warm cider. All of their rums are made from natural ingredients. The ginger flavored rum in particular has no added sugar, which I love because then you can mix it to your desired taste.

House Spirits, located at 2025 SE 7th Avenue, makes everything from vodka, gin, whiskey and aquavit.  Sporadically House Spirits also releases a small batch of limited-edition spirit in their Apothecary Line available only in their tasting room. Their goal is to pour into every creation the taste and flavor of the Northwest. “We have great respect for our distilling elders and incorporate old world philosophy into our products for the savvy new world palate.”

Integrity Spirits, located at 909 SE Yamhill Street, sells vodka, gin and a specialty absinthe. Their concoctions are more of an art form than a drink, which makes since why their labels are designed with as much care, love and attention as their spirits. I am extremely enticed by their Hazelnut Vodka and 12 Bridges Gin.  The 12 Bridges Gin is aptly named for the number of bridges in Portland, and for the 12 botanicals in its recipe, like Hungarian Juniper Berries, cucumber and peppery ginger.

New Deal Distillery, located at 1311 SE 9th Avenue, is all about vodka. They carry four different styles of vodka, including the award winning Hot Monkey Pepper-Flavored Vodka and the one I am dying to try the Basil-Flavored Vodka. They also make a special brand of organic liqueurs called LOFT Organic Liqueurs. These are made from as-local-as-possible organic fruits and botanicals available.With flavors as diverse as Lavender Cello, Spicy Ginger Cello, and Lemongrass Cello.

Stone Barn Brandyworks, located at 3315 SE 19th, Suite B, produces yummy craft distilled, regional fruit brandies and spirits. Check out just a few of their amazing sounding drinks, like their pear and apple brandy, coffee and quince liqueurs, and an unoaked rye whiskey. I first tried one of their liqueurs at the fabulous Gilt Club and it was absolutely delicious!

I highly recommend you make a visit to Distillery Row.  I just hope Santa is reading this and makes a special delivery to my house this year!

More Holiday Events from Forkfly!

December 17, 2010

Yesterday we looked at some Forkfly merchants who are hosting events and specials for the holidays. Today we have even more great things to do in Portland, from holiday displays and parties to cookie classes and an awesome giveaway. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Benson Hotel Gingerbread Display and New Year’s Eve Party

Every year the Benson Hotel has their resident Chief Baker and Architect erect a gingerbread masterpiece. It will be on display in the festive Benson Hotel lobby this season. Take a look at the YouTube video of the unveiling of the gingerbread village. The Benson worked with the Make a Wish foundation for the unveiling and they will be selling Make a Wish stars all month, so stop by to see the display and support a great charity.

The Benson is also hosting an event this season: Copacabana, a Latin Masquerade Gala, will take place on New Year’s Eve. There will be a Brazilian buffet, drinks, dancing, masks, and a balloon drop at midnight. You can buy a package to stay the night or just go for the party: check out this and other holiday special packages here.

Holiday Cookie Classes at In Good Taste

This weekend, Saturday December 18 and Sunday December 19 at 1 pm, In Good Taste hosts two cooking-making workshops. Seats are limited, so call and sign up now. Here is the info page for this cooking class. Looks like both classes will fill up, which means they will meet the maximum cooking capacity of 14 kinds of cookies and 3 dozen cookies to each participant! Learn to make (and come away with) sugar cookies, gingerbread, peanut butter fudge and more. The cookies make great gifts, and the experience would be fun for a couple or parents and kids. Or give this class as a gift to a foodie friend. And remember that In Good Taste is your retail destination for high-end kitchen products as you craft your holiday meals.

Shop Adorn 12 Days of Schwag

Keep on top of the Shop Adorn blog for a chance to win a giveaway now through Christmas! The theme of the giveaway is “keepin’ it local,” and all the prize packages tie in to some great local business. As you know, we at Forkfly have the same priority of encouraging independent and local business, so a high-five to Shop Adorn. So far they have selected winners to receive a massage from Blossom Clinic, an Amalfi’s Restaurant gift card, and a portrait photography session. Today’s giveaway is a barre3 package. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment or retweet Shop Adorn’s blog post, so there’s nothing to lose, just a great holiday treat to gain.

Holiday Events from Forkfly!

December 16, 2010

Our Forkfly merchants are all over the opportunity to host events, dinners and provide special accommodations during the holidays. Today we have event suggestions from our merchants to keep you in the holiday spirit and help you get the most out of what Portland has to offer this time of year.

Holiday Suite at Mark Spencer

The Mark Spencer Hotel offers a special Holiday Suite package that you can recommend to guests (I’m picturing a holiday-sweater-wearing aunt loving this.) The blurb about this special on the website mentions cookies, eggnog, wrapping paper (genius! Of course an out-of-town visitor would need access to wrapping paper!), and seasonal music. The other amenities include continental breakfast, wifi, afternoon tea and cookies and a wine reception. There’s no price listed (the website wants you to “name your price”). This sounds like a real treat — much more festive than your average hotel stay.

Wilfs Winter Wonderland and Holiday Shows

Wilfs is decked out for the holidays and ready to share the spirit of the season with you. Seriously, take a look at the many pictures they’ve posted of their Winter Wonderland. Wilfs always hosts live jazz, so naturally they have some holiday performances lined up. Tomorrow and Friday you can see Kate Davis’ Holiday Show at 6 pm. Take a look at the event calender to see what other shows you might want to catch. And as their website reminds me, Wilfs is a great place to grab dinner before a Blazers game, and you can leave your car near Wilfs and take the MAX to the Rose Garden to avoid parking headaches.

Oregon Zoo’s Zoolights

Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo is an annual event where lighted displays all over the zoo feature animated creatures. “Displays include swinging monkeys, leaping frogs, flying bats, [and] diving penguins,” according to the website. This is a great time to take the Zoo Train around the zoo grounds, as many of the displays are best seen from the train. Zoo Lights is also a time for music and performances, and the zoo hosts performances every night through December 23. Take a look at the performance schedule, and peruse the website for more information on times and ticket prices.

Acadia Bistro Chrismas Eve Reveillon Dinner

Acadia Bistro has a special 3-course dinner for Christmas Eve. I imagine this would be great for a couple spending the holidays with just each other — no cooking at home, a delicious Southern meal and specialty cocktail, and the feeling of celebration that comes with eating a nice meal out. This is not an especially vegetarian-friendly option, but that’s what we expect from authentic Southern cooking. The meal has a $30 set price. Take a look at the menu here.  They also have a special dinner on New Year’s Eve for a more hefty $50/person and with a more extensive menu.

You Gotta Try This!: A Japanese Pub in Portland

December 8, 2010

Maybe I don’t go out enough, but I had never heard of Japanese Pubs before running across Yakuza.  In Japan they call them an izakaya, which is a type of Japanese drinking establishment that also serves food to accompany the drinks.  There are a good amount of sushi restaurants in Portland, but what intrigued me about Yakuza is the fact that they call themselves a Japanese pub and that they apparently won Portland Monthly Magazine’s “Best Burger of 2009.” Tell me that doesn’t peak your interest!

Yakuza of course has some seriously tasty house rolls and sashimi, like their Sashimi Trio, which includes, tuna, yellowtail, and salmon, and their Pear Jalapeno roll, which is a mix of yellowtail, pear, avocado and jalapeno. But you will also find some unique dishes you might not expect at a Japanese establishment, like chilled crab, kobe tartar and of course their award winning Yakuza burger.

Just as enticing as the food is Yakuza’s unique cocktail creations and their huge selection of sake.  Try a Beet Martini, the Wasabi, or a Carrot Cosmo, or one of 15 different sakes, like the Momokawa Organic Nigori Sake, which is rich and creamy and has hints of coconut.

Located in the Concordia Neighborhood at 5411 NE 30th Ave, Yakuza is truly a unique Portland gem.  To make reservations book online here.

Forkfly Daily Deal: 23Hoyt

December 2, 2010

23Hoyt is a New American Tavern located among the high-end and hip shopping and dining establishments on NW 23rd. Right now 23Hoyt has a Forkfly deal for $5 off your bill when you spend $35 or more! You can find 23Hoyt at 529 NW 23rd Ave in Portland. Their happy hour from 3 to 7 pm Sundays through Thursdays would be the perfect way to spend your discount: check out their happy hour menu, with snacks priced from $1 to $10. Find your coupon on Forkfly here, and enjoy!

Forkfly Daily Deal: Gracie’s Resturant

November 24, 2010

Get 10% off your entire bill at Gracie’s Restaurant!

Gracie’s is a beautiful SW Portland restaurant with classic American food and old-school Hollywood sensibilities. They offer brunch and dinner 7 days a week, and their menus have an amazing variety of consistently delicious-sounding dishes. Take a look at their tempting brunch menu. I love those Eggs Benedict varieties! With Gracie’s great Forkfly deal, you can treat yourself to these delicacies for 10% off your entire meal.

Gracie’s is located inside the Hotel deLuxe and has a companion bar, the magnificent Driftwood Room. The Driftwood Room opened in the 1950s and they have maintained their noir aesthetic. Today the Driftwood Room complements Gracie’s with its sultry cocktail bar, the perfect destination after an elegant dinner at Gracie’s. Both establishments and the Hotel deLuxe were recently “revived” to ensure they will maintain the feeling of “a magnificent bygone era.” Gracie’s has a charisma that will enhance your dining experience — an experience that will be pretty excellent in the first place, judging by those great-looking menus and your 10% discount.

Find Gracie’s at 729 SW 15th Ave in Portland and online here. Gracie’s Forkfly page and deal can be found here. Treat yourself with this great deal before it expires!

Forkfly Daily Deal: Acadia Bistro

November 23, 2010

$10 Off Any Purchase of $50 or More!

During these cold winter months here in Oregon, most of us crave the warmth and long for a trip down South.  You might not be able to physically afford the trip to escape the cold, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t at least enjoy a taste of the South right here in Portland.  Acadia Bistro, located at 1303 NE Fremont St., specializes in traditional New Orleans cuisine that will keep you warm all winter long.

Acadia’s menu changes frequently, which is very refreshing in my opinion, and so you never know what delights you have in store for you each time you visit.  Their Fall sample menu includes Southern favorites like hushpuppies, crawfish, Louisiana barbecue shrimp, okra, chicken sausage gumbo, fried cat fish, and jambalaya.  They also have an impressive wine and cocktail list, with cool names like Pantorium, Problem Solver, and Abominable Rodeo.  They even have a Secret Drink Menu for those who are brave enough to ask for it.  Show up on a Monday and you can celebrate Acadia’s version of Mardi Gras.  Get entrees for $9.95, and a three course dinner for only $17.95.

The biggest event of the year for this New Orleans Bistro is their annual Reveillon Dinner on Christmas eve.  Their chef prepares a three course menu with a cocktail of choice for $30.  Take a look at this year’s menu!

Reveillon Dinner 2010

-House made Huckleberry Bounce or Eggnog Donohue

-Selection of biscuits and scones

Choice of First Course:

-Pheasant confit salmis (pheasant confit in pastry!)

-Spiced Seckle pear and pecan salad with Fourme d’Ambert blue cheese

Choice of Entrée:

-Black strap molasses house cured country ham with cider braised red cabbage and roast turnips

-Blackened Drumfish with a blue crab & almond menuire and fingerling potato hash

Dessert :

-Spiced fig cake with brown sugar ice cream

Tables fill up fast for this event so reserve your table soon! And be sure to save some money by accessing their Forkfly deal here.

Forkfly Daily Deal: The Tea Zone and Camellia Lounge

November 18, 2010

Get any cocktail during Happy Hour from 4-7pm daily at the Happy Hour price!

Here are three things just right off the bat that you might not know about Tea Zone:

1.) They offer tea classes and events!

2.) They sell much more than just hot tea.  They also have specialty cold tea concoctions and yummy food!

3.) They have proved that flavored teas can be turned into some delightful cocktails!

The Tea Zone holds classes focused around the thing they love best, tea, two or three times a month.  Class topics include things like the health benefits of drinking tea, the different types, and the proper way to serve it.  Reservations are required.  Along with their classes, The Tea Zone also holds some cool events.  They will be serving Holiday Afternoon High Tea throughout the entire month of December, which includes a 1-Person Pot of Premium Tea of Your Choice and a Plate of Delicious Savories and Sweets.  Champagne & Spirits are also available, and it is all for the low price of $18.95 per a person.  Fun!

Sure The Tea Zone’s allure is their huge selection of loose teas available for purchase, but they also have several types of tea tonics, bubble tea, fruit tea blast smoothies, and tea lattes; as well as, a large food menu with vegan and gluten free items.

Their tea cocktails are a real treat!  Try a warm drink like The Aristocrat, which mixes Earl Grey Supreme, almond, milk and Tuaca, or a cold drink like the #1 Fun, which uses Black currant tea vodka, blueberry/strawberry vodka, fresh lemon, sugar syrup, hibiscus, and is served up.  And remember that during Happy Hour all of their cocktails are only $5 for Forkfliers!

The Tea Zone and Camellia Lounge is located in The Pearl District at 510 NW 11th Ave. Find their deal with Forkfly here and enjoy your tea!

Drink Mix–Seasonal Cocktails

October 28, 2010

I love seasonal cocktails as much as I love seasonal lattes, which is a whole lot!  There is something so comforting and delicious about adding nutmeg, cinnamon, and/or eggnog to any drink recipe.  With Halloween and Christmas soon approaching us more restaurants and bars have began creating their own special seasonal drinks, or are putting their own spin on the classics.  I am sure there are many great places to choose from when it comes to seasonal cocktails, but the Winter cocktails at Seres Restaurant & Bar sounded too amazing for me to pass up, so I made my way down to The Pearl District to try one of these sweet liquid treats.

Seres is now featuring on their drink menu The Grasshopper, Ginger Snap, Pumpkin Patch, and my favorite cure for thecommon cold–The Spiced Hot Toddy.  I am a big fan of ginger bread, ginger ale, etc., so I just had to try the “Ginger Snap.”  This yummy cocktail is made of Yazi Vodka, Stoli Vanilla, Captain Morgans, cream, cinnamon and nutmeg.  It is a cold frothy drink, and the cinnamon sprinkle on top mixed with the white cream mixture creates a pleasant display.

I expected the drink to be a lot sweeter than it actually is, which is good and bad.  I am not the biggest fan of super sugary fufu drinks, so I didn’t mind the cocktail being on the plainer side, but in this case I think it actually needed to be a bit sweeter.  All of the right ingredients were here, but it just didn’t come together to give me that holiday cheer.  There are variations of this drink that include eggnog, and I think that was the one ingredient missing in Seres’ Ginger Snap.  I can’t wait to go back though and try the rest of their Winter cocktails, and the best part is that if you use Forkfly you can get Happy Hour prices all night long at Seres!

To make your own Ginger Snap I would recommend this recipe.

Gingersnap Egg Nog Martini

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Canton Ginger Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz Disaronno
  • 2 ounces Egg Nog
  • 1 pinch Cinnamon Sugar
  • 1 ea Ginger SnapCookie garnish

Directions:

In a mixing glass combine all ingredients then add ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed in cinnamon sugar. Garnish with a ginger snap cookie or touille.

Older Posts »
Share