the list

there are a million restaurants here that i'm just dying to explore. portland really is a foodie town... the more i read and yelp the more excited i get about all these awesome culinary adventures. so today i decided that i need to make a list, and start conquering them. probably no one else will be very interested in reading this (except shaina), but i'm doing it mostly for my own reference.

the downside is that i really don't have too many dining companions that want to go on these adventures with me. margot and katie are both pretty busy with tax season. tawny doesn't have very adventurous tastes. cameron doesn't have the cash. lindsey is always down, but i have to make most plans with her when joe isn't in town - they pick up food and eat in most nights. josh is my best bet, but he works until 8 every night so i guess i'm going to have to start eating dinner later.

anyways, here is this list. or at least the beginnings of it.


ken's artisan pizza - this is one of molly and brandon's favorites. open kitchen, floor-to-ceiling wood burning stove... sounds familiar. a little like the model for their own delancey, maybe? i really want to try the vegetable trio plate and lately i have been absolutely craving pizza. this one needs to happen soon.

bamboo sushi - it's on the same block as ken's, which i didn't realize until just a moment ago. it looks super delicious and fresh, and it's the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the US. so far the only sushi place here that has been to my liking is masu, and since bamboo was formerly masu east (and word on the street is that it has only gotten better since then) i'm pretty sure i'll be a fan.

pok pok - i've been wanting to go to pok pok since before i moved up here. it was the oregonian restaurant of the year in 2007 and since i'm pretty much obsessed with thai food, of course i've been dying to check it out. josh swears by the kai yaang - roasted natural game hen rubbed with lemongrass, garlic, pepper, and cilantro served with a spicy sweet and sour dipping sauce. a half bird is only $6.50... crazy.

mother's - i NEED to go to brunch here. i have tried twice already with no success. on weekends the wait is monstrous, and both times i tried to come here it was a weekend morning around 11. prime time, basically. i really want to try mike's special scramble and the wild salmon hash. oh, and supposedly the crunchy french toast is amazing. and that's just off of the breakfast menu. i haven't even looked at lunch...

tanuki - josh told me about this spot. super authentic, delicious japanese food. apparently you can do an omakase dinner - you just tell the chef/owner janis how much you want to spend and she'll make you a meal, sake included. i can't wait try this place out... i know this is a spot i'll have to go to with josh.



more to come...