Portlandia

Last weekend, Badge and I visited Monkey in Portlandia. Though it was chilly and damp, we had a wonderful four days of eating, cooking, shopping and general relaxation. For an entertaining read, check out Monkey's post (she is a far better writer than me). For a quick and dirty summary with appealing photos, read on...

-Thurs
Arrived, immediately gave Tony fresh catnip from my garden, watched him roll around in it endlessly.


Hopped on bus to get amazing southern food at Screen Door. Started with fresh salad, hushpuppies, and the most delicious fried oysters I've ever had.


For entrees, Monkey had shrimp and grits.


Badge had buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes (my fav of the entrees).


I had pork chops with sweet potato puree.


Everything was amazing. We will definitely be coming back here on every Portland trip. Watched Black Swan afterwards (I love how there are so many theaters in Portland that are serve alcohol and food during the movie).

- Fri
Checked out Monkey's balcony garden and vermicompost (many squiggly worms).


Went extreme shopping with Monkey while Badge did his own extreme shopping at Nike employee store (we had a hookup). Made zhong zi which was much less complicated than I thought it would be. Very good and tasted exactly like in my childhood memories. Ate Monkey's amazing home made ice cream (I pretty much ate some of this every 2 hours during my stay) which included vanilla, coffee, and ginger flavors. Played Munchkins and I took the victory!


-Sat
Walked to farmer's market, checked out plethora of homemade cheese and meats and veggies, ate delicious lox bagel.


Stopped at Stumptown for some amazing cappuccinos (Badge had a lager).


Went to Bamboo sushi for dinner (no pics included because they came out blurry). Ate many rolls, a pork bun (good but not as good as Momofuku), and some sort of unworldly cod, cooked to perfection. Came home and watched The Other Guys which was surprisingly funny. Played another game of Munchkin. Badge finally wins a match!

-Sun
Went to brunch at Veritable Quandry.


Food was top notch. I had crab benedict, Badge had catfish benedict, Monkey had apple johnny cakes, and we shared an oatmeal which turned out to the most delicious oatmeal I've ever put in my mouth.


Monkey and I got manicures while Badge got a pedi. For early dinner, went to Kenny and Zuke's which had melt in your mouth pastrami sandwiches (pics on Monkey's blog). I could seriously eat here every day. Sadly, had to go to the airport and return back to SD.

Overall, we were really impressed with Portland. I love how everything was walkable or easily accessible via public transportation. Every single restaurant or coffee shop we went into was super cute and the quality of the food was amazing. I could definitely see myself living here except for the fact that it's rainy for most of the year. But honestly, I'm beginning to think the year round sunshine in SD is overrated considering the city kind of sucks and you have to drive everywhere. And of course Monkey is in Portland! I'm sure I could live anywhere so long as she's living next door to me. One day...one day...

Many more pics posted here.