Food

You're blooming, Portland!

8:30 PM


I remember at one of my summer trainings, a person said the phrase was originally "Keep Austin Weird." It's not. It's "Keep Portland Weird." That was the first thing I thought about when my husband and I decided to make our way down to Portland.

  Portland is very... eccentric, but I love it. I don't think I'd ever see myself living there, but it is definitely one of those cities that I love to visit. We originally were planning a trip to Portland to view the LAIKA museum that featured films such as Coraline, Boxtrolls, and Kubo. Unfortunately, they were closed on the day we decided to go and my husband didn't want to push the trip off any longer. I kind of wish we did though, because I loved the movie Kubo.


  We ended up just walking around Portland eating at every restaurant we pinned on Google Maps. We started at Brunch Box. They serve a bunch of different sandwiches and burgers, loaded fries, and drinks. It was pretty easy to find because it's located on Alder Street next to all the Food Trucks. It's a pretty small restaurant that seated probably no more than 25-30 guest. The menu wasn't overwhelming, and the first thing that caught my eye was the Monte Cristo. My husband on the other hand, ordered a rather filling burger, which the name has escaped me, but it had 3-4 different types of meat in it. For the price that we paid, it wasn't bad. I wouldn't say that it was my favorite meal that day, because after eating I just felt super greasy and heavy. Also, I think it's because I was disappointed that my Monte Cristo didn't come with powdered sugar, aka, my favorite part of the sandwich...

  We made our way down to the "Keep Portland Weird" building next to Voodoo donuts, and even though I was craving donuts for the longest, I did not think the line for Voodoo was ever worth it. (I know it seems like I'm being such a hater with all of the food so far, but it gets better.) Voodoo donuts is notorious for having sugar-loaded toppings on all of their donuts, and I'm pretty cautious about how much simple sugars I take in because it never makes me feel good afterwards. So as the line grew, we just watched from a distance while we took photos of the sign.





  We made our way through Chinatown because my husband was playing Pokémon and he asked me if he could fight at this gym down the street. Luckily for him, this gym was right next to Deadstock Coffee. I was immediately drawn in by the "Coffee Should Be Dope" spray paint on the wall and wanted to see what the rest of the café looked like. This café was really cool because it had a shoe cleaning service as well, and was decorated with a breakdown of different Nike shoes. My husband is a big Sneakerhead, so I think he was pretty excited to learn about their service. The staff there was really down-to-earth, and told us about different stores in the area. Unfortunately we weren't able to go to any of them, but there's always next time.


  Side story: We made our way down to the water where all of the cherry blossom trees were, but on our way there, Michael and I walked between two hobos that just started pissing in the street, just as we walked by them... Oh, my, god. I tried to hide the horrific look on my face, but I just made Michael walk faster. Portland, you are indeed, very weird.




  We spent most of our day taking photos of the cherry blossoms, because let's be real, they're too beautiful to pass up!  Plus, I was feeling like Mulan with my long black hair, thinking that I was the last blossom to bloom, haha. After that, we made our way to eat pre-dinner dessert at the Cookie Dough Cafe. I'm not usually a big fan of raw cookie dough, but it was delicious! This was the point where I had to say no to eating it all because of all the sugar I had already.



  For dinner, we made reservations at Bamboo Sushi. Our friend from college, Nino, works here, but unfortunately he was not working that night. The sushi was delicious, and the best part is they tell you that their fish is from sustainable resources. So I definitely did not feel bad tasting a lot on their new Spring menu. Before heading back to Washington, we stopped for bubble tea at the Tea Bar. They serve you boba in a mason jar, which was nice for the photo but that was about it.



  I'd have to say, our day in Portland was a success. Especially because I walked away with my new Microsoft Surface Laptop, even after having 3 different debates in Best Buy as it closed down for the day... :) Thanks for the lovely trip, bub.


Canada

From the Sea to the Sky in British Columbia | Picture Blog

6:49 PM


  Highway 99 in Canada is known as the Sea to Sky Highway. We took this from Vancouver to Whistler, and I kid you not, the view was absolutely breathtaking. It seemed like after each turn there was a waterfall or a viewing point to stop at.



  We didn't have much time on our hands to make it to every stop, so we chose two different points on the highway. Our first stop was Britannia Beach, which is located next to a mining museum. If time permitted, I would've asked my husband to go inside because it looked very interesting. In the 1800s, they discovered copper here, which led to the development of the Britannia Mining Company.  We parked our car in front of the museum store and then walked across the highway to an old railroad track that leads to the beach. My husband was able to fly our Mavic over the lake to capture the view, vlog to be completed soon. Just being by the water was a nice feeling, even if it wasn't for swimming.



  Our second stop was about a 10-minute drive north, to Shannon Falls. Shannon Falls is a 335-meter waterfall, ranking it the 3rd largest waterfall in Squamish, BC. This area is perfect for picnicking on your way up to Whistler because it has a large picnic area with tables and a restroom. The waterfall is very well maintained. There is a walking trail that goes up to the falls.


  On our way back down from Whistler, we stopped at Nairn Falls. This was when we were driving from Mount Currie to Whistler, so it's a bit more north. This was a 1.5-kilometer hike on a hiking trail alongside the Green River. To view the falls, there is a fenced platform that has a combination of rock and wood, which is extremely slippery, so approach it with caution. There's an area where you can view the river, and then a higher area to view the falls. Michael was able to fly the drone here, but we did it with caution because the wind was very strong where the falls were coming down.



  The drive to Whistler was about two hours. The weather was on our side that day because it was clear blue skies and minimum wind chill. I would recommend this drive, and I hope to go back and stop at more of the locations along it. I can't wait to see what my husband puts together for the Canada Vlog!



Canada

All Hail the Capilano Suspension Bridge

6:33 PM


My husband is deathly afraid of heights, yet he has enough courage to jump out of airplanes and helicopters. I can't quite grasp that logic, but I have all of my life to figure it out. Anyways, when we were in Canada, he took me to the Capilano Suspension Bridge just north of Vancouver. The bridge sits 70 meters above the Capilano River and is 140 meters long. It was a challenge for both of us with the height of the bridge, and walking on it on a windy, hailing day was not any help.


  This bridge originates with the First Nations that inhabited the Squamish Nation, originally spelling it "Kia'palano". Kia'palano means "beautiful river" and was the name of the chief that lived in the area during the 1800s. The original bridge was made by George Grant Mackay, who had purchased 6,000 acres of the forest on both sides of the Capilano River. His original design was made of hemp rope and cedar planks.


  Now the park has much more than just the suspension bridge. It includes a cliff walk, treetop adventures, a story center where you can learn about the park's history, and a "living forest" where you can enjoy nature at it's finest.


  Unfortunately, we were unable to do a lot of the activities in the area because for one, we got there an hour before their closing time, and two, it started to hail on us. Personally, it was probably my fault that we had gone so late. Around this time last year, I went to the Geierlay Suspension Bridge in Germany where it was an open park without admission. The admission rate is about $43 but is $10 off when you come an hour before closing.

  We were able to do the very beginning of the cliff walk, which was probably my husband's least favorite part of it, but the view of the river was amazing even with cloud cover. As soon as it started to rain, we made our way to the suspension bridge just to get a few photos. That's when all hail let loose (heh, get it?) and started to hit us pretty hard.

  It was a quick trip, nothing too crazy. I do wish that we had more time and that the weather permitted, but we got some fun photos out of it. I would definitely recommend this attraction on a good day, early in the morning.

Travel

Zadar, Croatia: My escape from the cold

9:21 PM

  I remember going to Dubrovnik, Croatia when I was younger. My family took this huge van with my Ninang and Ninong on a road trip through various countries. I remember it being one of the most uncomfortable, yet most beautiful rides I'd ever taken. We drove through the mountains of Italy, along the coast of Bosnia into Croatia. I was a very fortunate child, indeed. This time around, I went with a group of friends to Zadar, Croatia. Not quite as South, but still just as lovely.

Zadar's Bell Tower

  Zadar, Croatia was small to say the least. We had walked the main part of the city a total of six times in one hour. I wish I could say that I was planning on getting my steps in for sight seeing, but it felt like I had just walked the span of the hospital instead. Zadar is a beautiful city though, even for being so quaint in size. The owner of the Airbnb we stayed at was very kind, and she was very knowledgeable on what we could see around the city. She had given us a map with places to visit, places to eat, and other things to do outside of Zadar. Her apartment was located about a 15 minute drive from the airport, with a 5 minute walk into the city. The transit system was easy to understand, and even better news, they have Uber! We didn't use it, but every time a city has Uber accessibility, it makes it a little less stressful to call for public transportation.

Fishermen at the pier in Zadar

  We were fortunate with the weather during our stay. It hadn't started storming until the end of our third day there. The first day was beautiful and warm, the second day was a bit chillier, but we were at a higher elevation, and then the third day was partly cloudy when we were driving along the coast. Our first day was spent exploring the peninsula of Zadar. Luckily, our Airbnb was located right across the street from the Saint Anastasia and it's Bell Tower. The view from the top that day was amazing. You had a view of the city, and the blue waters that surrounded it. The walkways throughout the city reminded me of when I was in Venice. They were small, and filled with livelihood of people and restaurants.


  Our first night, we ate at FOŠA, a seafood restaurant. I have many comments that could go into explaining my dining experience at this restaurant, but I won't bother. The food was good, the wine we had was delicious, but there had been a mix up with our dinner orders, and it didn't pan out too well after that. Although the server that waited on us was kind enough to apologize and treat us with a dessert complimentary of the restaurant.

I didn't listen to TLC when they said don't go chasin' waterfalls

  Our second day was spent at Croatia's largest UNESCO National Park, Plitvice Lakes. We took a tour bus here from Zadar, which took about 2 hours. We spent the entire day here walking through and admiring the large lakes and waterfalls that were scattered throughout the park. There was an entrance fee of 55 Kuna which is a little less than 8 Euro, and it was well worth it. The first part, you walk down a hill with a few switchbacks, and it leads to this very large wooden boardwalk passed the lakes and to a waterfall.

The view from the beginning of our day hike

  As you continue the walk, you come across various caves, smaller waterfalls, and a picnic area. The picnic area has two restaurants that serve the same menu, a WC facility, and a souvenir shop. I would recommend buying your souvenirs at the shop at the end of the hike, because after this halfway point, you take a ferry across the large lake to the second part of your hike. The second part is a little more rocky, and has smaller waterfalls. The entire "C" hike was about 7 miles. At the end of the hike, you reach a point where you board a trolley that takes you back to the start point.

  When we got back from our trip, we went to a restaurant we found in one of the alleys. We were indecisive of where we wanted to eat, but the host had reeled us in with her bright pink dreads, and completely sold us on the affordable three course meal they had that night. Our dining experience at this restaurant was much better than the night before. Needless to say, we enjoyed conversation over a few good bottles of Croatian wine and food, and our hostess was very pleasant the entire time with her recommendations.

Such still waters
Admiring the sea from afar because it was too cold

  The third day, we were able to rent a car so we could drive along the coast to the city of Split, Croatia. We made a few stops along the way to smaller towns such as Pirovac, Sibenik, and Primosten. I enjoyed Primosten the most out of the smaller towns. It's a round peninsula with beautiful white buildings, and beautiful beaches. We were able to walk the entire city before heading to our final destination of Split.

I absolutely loved the greenery that took over this stone city | Primosten, Croatia

  Split is the second largest city in Croatia. We didn't see too much of the "modern" city, but we did explore the old town part. We walked by Saint Dominus'  Cathedral, which also has a bell tower. We didn't go up this time because the weather wasn't as promising. Diocletian's Palace is also located in Split, and we were able to admire the ruins as we sat with our espressos on the stairs of the entrance. Split has very small alley ways for you to walk through, and I could only imagine how scary it would be to get lost without a map in all of the madness.

Old apartments of Split, Croatia
Bokeria Kitchen and Wine Bar

  We stopped for lunch at a place called Bokeria Kitchen and Wine Bar. I must say, it was a fantastic choice for food. First of all, the restaurant was so clean, and the interior design was so well done. Even the uniform of the server's matched, and I absolutely loved it. I had ordered their "Catch of the Day" soup which included a mussel (I don't normally eat these either, but I enjoyed it!), small shrimp, and fish. I normally don't eat fish soup because I agree with my dad to a point, "once the fish is out of the water, why put it back into water?" Then I had to do it. I had to be that American. I ordered their burger. I'm glad that I wasn't the only one on a hunt to find Europe's best burger, and I'd have to say that their burger ranks pretty high on my list - needless to say, I finished my entire meal.

  After getting back to Zadar, we went out one last time. We grabbed drinks at La Bodega, which turned out to be a chain bar/restaurant. Then we grabbed dinner at a small pizzeria. It was anything fancy. We went back to our Airbnb, opened a sh!tty bottle of wine, exhausted from our Croatian endeavors, and rested up through the thunderstorm for our journey home.

All photos were taken by myself, Flickr album [click here]. No, I don't edit my photos because I'm too lazy. Sorry, not sorry.

Culinaire

Epernay, France: Drinking Stars Where the Bubbly is Neverending

11:32 PM


  You know how there's that phrase that everyone is saying nowadays, "treat cho'self"? Well, that's what I did for this trip. I decided that I needed to break my "stay at home" streak with a little bubbly, so I invited two of my girlfriends out to join me on this champagne tour. We were on a tour bus that drove us to France, so we had the luxury of being able to take a nap on the way there. I kind of wish we had driven ourselves there, because the drive through the Champagne region was beautiful! The vineyards ran for kilometers!

Our stop in Reims, France:

  I think the best part of being on a tour is the free time they give you to roam around. When you hear about Reims, I'm sure your first thought is to stop for French food and champagne, but our first stop was at the Musée de la Reddition, or the Museum of the Surrender. Now, I admit that I was never good at history back in school. I think my interest in history grew when I was in college taking Military History for my degree.


  This tiny building played an important role back in May 1945 during World War II. It holds the room where the Third Reich signed the official documents for the surrender of World War II on 7 May, 1945. The room itself is like any showcase room where you're in a plastic bubble. But you are still able to admire their extensive terrain map posted all throughout the room. It's actually pretty amazing how the world map is on the walls (they're HUGE maps, really!) The table and the 13 chairs with the name tags are still in their original positions. Throughout the building, they showcase uniforms and other artifacts from that time, and newspaper headlines from May 8th when Victory in Europe was announced.


  We then made our way to the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral of Reims. It's Gothic architecture is completely breathtaking. It's a cathedral that has served as a place for many coronations of French kings and queens, including Charles VII in 1429, the time of Joan of Arc. The construction of this beautiful building took almost 80 years to complete, starting in the year of 1210. It was meant to replace a church that had burned down the previous year. Make sure you take a gander at the stain glass windows that show scenes from the Old Testament, the Resurrection of Christ, and the Tree of Jesse. Right outside of the church, there is a statue of St. Joan of Arc, a heroine during the 100 Years War. The area was crowded with children who had just finished their First Communion or Confirmation! It was a great thing to walk in on.


  Unfortunately during our visit, the Porte Mars was hidden behind construction sheets. The Porte Mars is an ancient Roman triumphal arch that dates as far back to the third century. Hopefully when I find my way back to Reims, it will show it's beauty.


  After sightseeing, we spent the rest of our time eating food at Cafe du Palais and Amorino Gelato. Amorino Gelato is known for shaping it's cones into beautiful roses, and adding gelato macarons to the top. It was well-worth the walk!

Avenue de Champagne - the most expensive street in the world


  We ended our trip in Epernay, the home of Dom Perignon. A fun fact about the Champagne region in France, is that this is the only area where bubbly is allowed to be called champagne. Any other bubbly made elsewhere is called "sparkling wine".  Moët et Chandon and Dom Perignon are well known for the high-quality champagnes they produce. The chalet is located on Avenue de Champagne, the most expensive street in the world with millions of bottles of bubbly beneath the surface. The chalet tour guide brought us down to the 23 kilometers worth of cellars housing thousands of bottles of champagne, and she taught us how champagne was made in Moët et Chandon. The cellars were very cold and humid; the humidity helps maintain the temperature. A fun fact is that Napoleon visited these cellars to drink champagne, and in return, he left a very large barrel of wine that is shown in the cellar. 


  Champagne is made with three different types of grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Moët et Chandon use grapes from different regions in France, and also incorporate local grapes to make unique flavors. Their harvest begins around September, but changes with the temperature of that year. The grapes are picked by hand, and this allows the best grapes to be used, and prevents them from being damaged. The grapes are then pressed very gently so the pigmentation from the grape skins aren't incorporated in the juices. The juices are then placed in steel vats where the first round of alcoholic fermentation is completed. The vats are opened allowing carbon dioxide to escape, resulting in a still wine. 


  At their chalet, there is a small group of ten people who take almost 800 different still wines and blend them to make sure the quality and taste of Moët et Chandon remains the same. There is a difference in making an Imperial and a Vintage champagne. Imperial champagnes include reserve still wines, allowing the taste to remain the same, like their most common champagne, Brut Imperial. To make a vintage, they only use the harvest from that specific year, so it's a very unique taste. Grand vintages are not made every year, and only the cellar master decides to make a blend for the year.


  Champagne undergoes a second fermentation with a solution of yeast and sugar, and brought down to the cellar. The bottles are closed so the carbon dioxide cannot escape, and this is the creation of the bubbles. Once all of the sugar has been eaten up by the yeast, they yeast die and produce sediment in the bottle. They are matured for 2-3 years for the Imperials, and 7 years for the Vintages. (I was able to purchase two Vintages from 2008!) The remuage, or riddling phase is when the bottles are turned ever so slightly (1/4th of a turn) every day. It is in a vertical position that allows the sediments to settle at the neck of the bottle. There are professional riddlers that turn the Vintages every day; but many of their bottle are turned on a palate that fits 500 bottles of champagne, allowing them to be turned 24/7. The neck of the bottle is then frozen, and the sediments are removed. A solution of sugar and reserved wine is added. The quantity of sugar is what determines what type of champagne it is, ranging from Brut (close to no sugar) to Doux (almost 50 grams of residual sugar). I don't think I've ever turned down a glass of Extra Sec champagne. I enjoy the slight sweetness of champagne that doesn't give you a sugar headache the next day! It is then quickly re-corked, and brought back down to the cellar for 3-6 months depending on the type. After that, the champagne bottle is washed, labeled, and distributed throughout the world!


  I really enjoyed my glass of champagne after the tour. Moët et Chandon's champagnes, including Dom Perignon, have made the list of the 10 most expensive champagnes on the planet. Of course, this is determined on which bottle you're trying to purchase! I want to send a special thank you to my lovely sister-in-law for purchasing us two bottles of Moët et Chandon for our wedding celebration in Denmark (thanks Haize!)

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