PDX Weekend Happenings: December 4-5

December 3, 2010

This weekend we’ve got the whole city covered, with events ranging from St. Johns in deep North Portland to the West Side and over to Southeast and Northeast. This week’s list makes a counter-clockwise trip around our fair city, encountering a Christmas tree lighting, a seasonal ale festival, a dinner in the dark and a holiday craft bazaar. Happy December, everyone!

North Portland: St. Johns Winter Fest

What: The St. Johns Winter Fest is a huge Dickens-themed celebration. The central event is the Christmas tree lighting at St. Johns Main Street Plaza, where Mayor Sam Adams will do the honors. There will also be a farmer’s market, Moonstruck Chocolate samples and prizes, a fire pit and movies, a Dickens character look-alike contest and so much more.

Event Details: I believe the event is free; I have not found a ticket price listed anywhere. Find more information on the plethora of planned activities here.

When: Sunday, December 5 from 10 am to 10 pm.

Where: In and around St. Johns Main Street Plaza, on the corner of N. Lombard and N. Philadelphia.

West Side: Portland Holiday Ale Festive in Pioneer Square

What: The Portland Holiday Ale Festival takes place in Pioneer Square under a heated tent. The event features food, merchandise and of course beer tasting. More than 50 winter ales will be featured, all crafted specifically for this event — you won’t find these brews at the Plaid!

Event Details: Tickets are $20 in advance (you can buy them here) and that price gets you a mug and 10 beer tickets; additional beer tickets are $1. Admission is $25 at the door, and free re-admission is allowed the following day as long as you have your wristband and your mug. This event is 21 and over.

When: Saturday, December 4 from 11 am to 10 pm and Sunday, December 5 from 11 am to 5 pm.

Where: At Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave in Portland.

Southeast Portland: The Portland Blind Cafe 2

What: Enjoy a gluten-free vegetarian/vegan meal, served by blind people in the pitch dark. Join in discussion about blindness, advocacy and spacial awareness, and enjoy live music in the dark. Experience a new awareness of your senses and build community unity through this moving event.

Event Details: Buy tickets online here. Read more about the event here. Proceeds go in part to support the visually impaired and blind, and in part to PAWS, a seeing-eye-dog training program.

When: Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4. Check in at 7 pm, dinner begins at 7:30.

Where: At Tabor Space in Mt. Tabor Presbyterian at 5441 SE Belmont Ave.

Northeast Portland: Laurelhurst Winter Bazaar

What: The Laurelhurst bazaar features local and unique holiday shopping from more than 50 independent artisans and vendors. There will also be a raffle, a silent art auction, activities for kids, food and more!

Event Details: The event is a fundraiser for the Laurelhurst Parent Teacher Association, but I cannot find an admission price. Perhaps some of the vendor’s profits or the food proceeds go to the school.

When: Saturday, December 4 from 9 am to 5 pm.

Where: Laurelhurt School, 840 NE 41st Ave in Portland.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Gluten Free Treats at New Cascadia

November 30, 2010

You may have noticed a trend of gluten free products in grocery stores and at bakeries. I find this new trend of gluten free products fascinating, because when my mom was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, no such market existed. At the time, doctors believe only a small portion of the population suffered from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. In recent years they have realized that many people have a mild to severe allergy to gluten, and a market for gluten free bread and treats has emerged.

My mom has done an admirable job for more than a decade of steering clear of bread, beer, cake and cupcakes, pasta and the innumerable other everyday foods that contain gluten. The next time she comes to Portland, I’m going to have to take her to New Cascadia Traditional Bakery, where nothing on the menu will be off-limits, thanks to this ingenious bakery’s entirely gluten free operation.

Owners Chris and Teresa of New Cascadia both suffer from gluten intolerance, and they established their bakery to meet the needs of others with Celiac disease and gluten allergy. To make their bakery and products completely gluten free, special care has to be taken to avoid any gluten contamination. Even if the in-store operation has no risk of contamination, it’s possible the ingredients they use could have been milled on machines that also milled wheat flour or barley.

The steps they take to avoid contamination include verifying and sourcing all ingredients, buying grains from Bob’s Red Mill produced on gluten free equipment, and maintain a well-informed staff who understand the needs of their customers and the protocols that will deter contaimination. At New Cascadia, they also incorporate more than the standard rice flour, tapioca and other non-gluten flours. They use nutritious, hearty alternatives  like quiona, teff, coconut flour and more.

Once these practical elements are considered, we can move on to the treats! New Cascadia offers bread like baguettes, their “Portland Sourdough,” seeded bread, pizza crust and the indulgent cheddar parmesan bread. Basic stuff, but extraordinary to a person who’s been denied such simple pleasures. Bagels and hamburger buns round out the list of basic bread products. I can recall many a burger eaten by my mom with a fork and knife, bun pushed aside. These buns will solve that problem!

Most of the breads are vegan (for those with dairy and egg allergies), and all are soy-free.They also have a line of vegan sweets. Cakes are made to order — place your order 48 hours ahead of time to have a beautiful gluten-free cake for your birthday or event. As for pastries, New Cascadia offers tarts, cupcakes, pies, cinnamon rolls, and cookies. Cookie flavors include certified gluten free oatmeal, chocolate chip hazlenut, snickerdoodle and vegan chocolate chip!

New Cascadia Traditional Bakery is located at 1700 SE 6th Ave at SE Market, one block down from Hawthorne. Whether you have a gluten allergy or not, these treats are worth trying!

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

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!

Forkfly’s Gluten-Free Friendly Merchants

August 23, 2010

Want to take advantage of Forkfly’s great offers but aren’t sure which restaurants or bars offer gluten free options?  Well here you go!  I have listed all of the Forkfly g-f friendly merchants for you to take advantage of.  Check them all out on Forkfly!  And if you are a Forkfly merchant who has g-f options but you don’t see your name listed, don’t fret just send me a quick note at duutela@forkfly.com and I will make sure to add you.

Brunch Box

Located at  SW 5th Ave & Stark, has gluten free bread!

Echo

Located at 2225 NE MLK Blvd, has gluten free options just ask your server about them.

Henry’s 12th St Tavern:

Located at 10 NW 12th Ave, has a number of gluten free beer options.

Koi Fusion

Located at a multitude of spots around Portland (check their Twitter page for updates),  is in the process of creating gluten free marinades.

P.F. Changs

Located in The Pearl District at 1139 NW Couch St, has a very impressive gluten free menu.

Seres Restaurant

Located in The Pearl District at 1105 NW Lovejoy St, also has a very extensive list of gluten free and organic options.

Theo’s

Located at 121 NW 5th Ave, has a tasty gluten free bun and gluten free chips.

You Gotta Try This!: A weekly guide of things you must try in PDX

August 18, 2010

Burrito Bowl


A Burrito Bowl is basically a burrito minus the tortilla.  It is perfect for vegans and people that need gluten-free options, like myself. The one pictured above is from Burrito Bar Caribbean Grill, located in the Pearl District.  Burrito Bar has you first choose what kinds of rice, beans, meat, salsa, veggies and condiments you want in your burrito bowl.  These ingredients are piled on top of each other in a surprisingly  pleasant looking display and you have the option of having it  served with a side of chips.

I had the whole grain brown rice, black beans, sweet & spicy chicken, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and their signature mango salsa.  The chicken was moist and seasoned to taste, and all of the spices and fresh ingredients melded together in perfect harmony.  I must have liked it a lot because I almost finished my entire plate!

The Burrito Bar is a local, family owned restaurant, and serves only fresh ingredients with no preservatives, no additives, and no lard or msg.  Besides the Burrito Bowl, they also have Island Burritos, Caribbean Tacos & Salads, quesadillas and nachos, and all at a very reasonable price.  Here at Forkfly We are lucky enough to have Burrito Bar’s deals available on our mobile application, so you can get an even better discount from them every day!

Gluten-Free for 60 Days!

July 9, 2010

Awhile back on our blog we posted a piece about the gluten-free phenomenon.  After reading about the signs of Celiac disease (fatigue, stomach aches, cloudy thinking, etc.), I started to wonder if I too could benefit from a gluten-free diet.  I decided to seek out the help of Dr. Laila Nematbakhsh at Asula Chiropractic & Wellness Center.  Dr. Laila can do a complete gluten sensitivity and full nutritional test for you to determine the best healthy eating plan designed for your individual body.  After answering several pages of questions and taking the necessary tests, Dr. Laila recommended that I try going gluten, soy and dairy free for 60 days.  Within that 60 days we would monitor how I felt and if I saw any improvements in my health and mental wellness.  After the 60 days we would bring back the gluten, soy and milk in increments to pinpoint which foods might be causing the problems.  My goal after the 60 days is to feel more alert, energetic, have less stomach pain and a clearer head.

I think my biggest worry of course with this diet was eating out.  I was surprised and then overjoyed to find out that many of my favorite places to eat have a gluten-free menu or gluten-free items.  Theo’s, located at 121 NW 5th Ave, is a great place to get a yummy gluten-free burger or sandwich, and your meal even comes with some tasty g-f barbecue Popchips.  Seres Restaurant and Bar, located at 1105 NW Lovejoy St, has a full g-f menu complete with appetizers, entrees and sides.  

One of the biggest temptations for me eating out is the bread they serve before dinner.  I normally would devour half the basket before the server even came over to get our order.  Now I have to watch sadly as my date munches on bread, while I sit trying not to drool.  But at  Andina, located at 1314 NW Glisan, they have solved the premeal problem for Celiacs.  You can ask the waiter for a plate of delicious lightly fried yucas.  Yucas taste like a combination of a plantain and a potato and are widely used in South American dishes.  The yuca snack is served with a side of gluten free salsa, and believe me once you try these you won’t be thinking about bread any longer!

I am only into my second week going gluten free, and I will be blogging more about my findings in the weeks to come.  Please join me on this journey and be sure to leave a comment, suggestion, and if you have any questions about going g-f or to schedule a nutritional test call the fantastic staff at Asula Chiropractic & Wellness Center located at 1828 NW Overton in The Pearl District!  Tell them Forkfly sent you and look for their deals on our new Iphone app.

Forkfly Friday: Happy Hour with Fenouil Restaurant Provides a Taste of the NW

July 2, 2010

I have had the pleasure of eating at Fenouil restaurant a few times for dinner, and so I was very excited to finally check out their happy hour.  Their happy hour runs from 4-6pm daily, and it is a great time to check out some of their dishes at a much lower price.  You can choose to sit outside in their gorgeous and spacious patio seating, or inside in their comfy couch style seating.  Either way you are going to be taken care of well by their attentive staff!

On the menu is some of my favorite North West foods, like oysters and mussels, but they also have some more traditional happy hour items, like a house ground hamburger and pommes frites. The menu is certainly not lacking in a variety of food, but don’t expect much in the way of drink options.  Wine, drafts, and one specialty cocktail of the day are your only choices if buying from the happy hour menu.

I tried the oysters at $1.50 each, the rabbit vol au vent $8, and the artisan and farmstead cheeses $6.  The oysters were chilled to perfection and served over a decorative bed of salts.  The rabbit dish was like a tiny potpie, and was very delicious.  My favorite though was the cheese and bread platter, which came with a side of almonds drizzled in honey.  I have since changed to a gluten-free, non-dairy & soy diet since visiting Fenouil’s happy hour, so I look forward to going back and trying the many items they offer that cater to my dietary restrictions.

Fenouil is located at 900 NW 11th Ave in The Pearl District.

The Gluten-Free Trend

June 2, 2010

Wandering down the aisle of a grocery store these days, one can be staggered by the wide array of gluten-free products displayed. Gluten-free pasta, gluten-free cake mix, gluten-free bagels, gluten-free cookies, gluten-free this gluten-free that. The first impression might be that, gluten is bad for you. This is probably what you might hear from some of the gluten-free diet adopters. Yet, most people take on the gluten-free diet because they heard that it is good for their health. So, some people are staying away from gluten for no particular reason, only because someone they know may be doing it. The gluten-free phenomenon is slowly turning into a trend, much like how the organic food diet has gained its popularity some time ago.

For those who eat gluten-free for health reasons, it is most likely for celiac disease. This disease impedes the digestion of gluten, and if it is improperly treated, can be fatal. The intolerance to gluten happens when it comes in contact with the small intestine. Gluten injures the lining of the small intestine, resulting in weight loss, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, gas, vitamins and mineral deficiencies. Celiac disease is considered one of the most under-diagnosed diseases in the U.S., potentially affecting 1 in every 133 people according to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research. A simple blood test would determine a person’s tolerance to gluten easily.

Be it for trend or for health reasons, there is rising demand for gluten-free products. Food producers and restaurants alike have begun to alter their market strategy in order to cater to the new gluten-free mania segment. A short casual chat with Jeff Elbel, the owner of Theo’s Restaurant in Portland, OR revealed some insights. Theo’s currently serves gluten-free burgers. Elbel told me that they started serving gluten-free burgers about 3 months ago when he realized that some of his close friends are celiacs and they have had hard time eating out. Their gluten-free burgers have since attained many loyal followers. Elbel said that they did not need to advertise a whole lot, as people were very excited to learn that they could get gluten-free burgers at Theo’s and this has stimulated word of mouth recommendations. Theo’s’ gluten-free hamburger buns are all handmade naturally by Laurel Sweet Treats, a gluten-free manufacturer of baking mixes and bakery products located in Tigard, OR. Elbel also mentioned that they will be soon serving gluten-free potato chips. The chips are gluten-free because they are made from natural potatoes and deep fried in a dedicated fryer.

Many restaurants nationwide are embracing gluten-free customers and attempting to get distinguished recognition through the endorsement of the Gluten-Free Awareness Restaurant Program (GFRAP). The program “facilitates a relationship between individuals with celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerance, and restaurants”. GFRAP identifies gluten-free restaurants across the nation and provides online and offline publicity. Here’s a short list of some of the restaurants they have endorsed: Lilli and Loo (New York), Burton’s Grill (Boston) , Daily Grill (San Francisco) Outback Steakhouse (Lafayette, IN), Piazza Sorrento (Hershey), Andina (Portland), Bonefish Grill (Kansas City) The Melting Pot (Miami)

Finally, if you are diagnosed as a celiac, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. Check out the tax deduction on gluten-free foods guideline.

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