I heard on the down-low that McMenamin's Hotel Oregon recently hired a new chef and sous-chef.
Of course "the down low," means "post it on the internet as soon as you get around to it." If it wasn't a secret, I would've put something up immediately. So you see my journalistic credentials are still extant, only pronounced with a Swedish "j."
Well... that explains the consistently good fries for the last month, the sudden appearance of gorgonzola pear pizza on the specials (soon to be regular) menu, and the fantastically tasty portobello mushroom sandwiches!
The Hotel Oregon's menu is going to change this week, way for the better. I'd say "you heard it here first," but it's probably on the McMenamin's website...
If this chef stays, and stays focused, things are going to be a lot different, and I'm going to be a lot happier. That gorgonzola pear pizza is really good. I even eat the crust.
Caveat: we entirely eat vegetarian food at home, I eat mostly vegetarian out, and we value different things in a dining experience than you do, so your gastronomic mileage may vary.
I think it's a harbinger of the good things to come with the Obama administration.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Friday, December 05, 2008
Nick's in the alley
Who would guess that down this alley, past the dumpsters, guarded by a row of McMenamin's trashcans, is the entrance to a very pleasant little lounge?
On a fashion note, this photograph was not taken in 1988.
On Wednesday, Jim and I stopped in after a bike ramble around McMinnville's neighborhoods. It was quiet inside, wood-and-wine-bottle-y, with pleasant downbeat music. A Cure cover, some Bowie, maybe. Cat Power.
We had the red-felted pool table all to ourselves (free), and played a couple of games. The cues are straight, well weighted and nice. The table is well-lit and level. It's not a fast table - the waitress said "lotta green on that table" as my shot ran out of gas well shy of the pocket...
Legend has it that before the closed-down Trask Brewpub (next door) got its horrific Macarenas (whatever) makeover, Nick (of Nick's Italian Cafe) would let himself in at night to play pool on their red-felted table. The rest is history.
I mean legend.
The food was really good, and quitecheap reasonable. We each had a bowl of Nick's minestrone, split a crostini with baked garlic, and had two Heater/Allen pilsners. Each. Duh.
Beer brewed three blocks away, world-class soup and a well-tuned pool table! Geez. It was really nice.
The bill came to $34. I'm not sure how it broke down, but the crostini was $5.
Let y="soup"
Let x="beer"
2y+4x=$32
Soup = $7, Beer=$3.50? That sounds right.
Not bad for Very Good food and beer in a very mellow atmosphere.
The waitress (friendly-casual but attentive (fairly perfect, really)) did break a $20 with two tens for the tip. She got about $4 extra. With the pool table, good service and great food it was still quite reasonable - I hope she tipped out the kitchen like she shoulda!
On a fashion note, this photograph was not taken in 1988.
On Wednesday, Jim and I stopped in after a bike ramble around McMinnville's neighborhoods. It was quiet inside, wood-and-wine-bottle-y, with pleasant downbeat music. A Cure cover, some Bowie, maybe. Cat Power.
We had the red-felted pool table all to ourselves (free), and played a couple of games. The cues are straight, well weighted and nice. The table is well-lit and level. It's not a fast table - the waitress said "lotta green on that table" as my shot ran out of gas well shy of the pocket...
Legend has it that before the closed-down Trask Brewpub (next door) got its horrific Macarenas (whatever) makeover, Nick (of Nick's Italian Cafe) would let himself in at night to play pool on their red-felted table. The rest is history.
I mean legend.
The food was really good, and quite
Beer brewed three blocks away, world-class soup and a well-tuned pool table! Geez. It was really nice.
The bill came to $34. I'm not sure how it broke down, but the crostini was $5.
Let y="soup"
Let x="beer"
2y+4x=$32
Soup = $7, Beer=$3.50? That sounds right.
Not bad for Very Good food and beer in a very mellow atmosphere.
The waitress (friendly-casual but attentive (fairly perfect, really)) did break a $20 with two tens for the tip. She got about $4 extra. With the pool table, good service and great food it was still quite reasonable - I hope she tipped out the kitchen like she shoulda!
Monday, June 16, 2008
freeze-dried ice cream bar
The Space Museum opened in McMinnville the other weekend (iMax theater, Titan rocket, lunar dune buggy), so roving bands of 'astronauts' passed out packages of dehydrated ice cream bars.
They basically taste like cardboard Oreos.
They basically taste like cardboard Oreos.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Mocha mayhem!
The Oregonian front page has been getting more... stupid.
I think they won a Pulitzer last year. Ever since it's been like "Big Cat Attack at Portland Zoo ...in 1976." "Tsunami - could it wash away Portland??... no."
This story is about a criminal trial in Portland where someone threw their drink at a Starbuck's manager. And flicked whipped cream at another employee. Newsy.
The "Sunrise Edition" headline was "Are Oil Prices Being Manipulated?"
I guess this is the "Idiot Edition."
I think they won a Pulitzer last year. Ever since it's been like "Big Cat Attack at Portland Zoo ...in 1976." "Tsunami - could it wash away Portland??... no."
This story is about a criminal trial in Portland where someone threw their drink at a Starbuck's manager. And flicked whipped cream at another employee. Newsy.
The "Sunrise Edition" headline was "Are Oil Prices Being Manipulated?"
I guess this is the "Idiot Edition."
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