Visit Oregon: The Jetty Fishery

While on the Oregon Coast, Google Mapping a place to eat, The Jetty Fishery was a search result.

Turns out, it was an entire experience!

Yes, people go to The Jetty Fishery to eat crab, oysters, and other seafoods, but it's a popular place for families and friends to spend a day crabbing or a weekend in their RV Park.

You can get fresh crab to eat, and you can pay for butter and lemon in the little market on site, which is also where people go to pay for their crabbing package rentals (you can rent a boat, life jackets, crab traps, and more).

It was pretty neat to watch families go out crabbing, and watch the seagulls scavenging all the leftover crab (which are purposely thrown into the water as advised by the staff).

You can sit at the bonfire and watch the crabbers or gaze at the pelicans.  

It was super chilly along the coast, but it only added to the experience.

Definitely checkout The Jetty Fishery for a taste of Oregon Coastal life!


The Jetty Fishery

27550 US-101

Rockaway Beach, OR 97136

Read More

Visit Portland: Lilia Comedor

Lilia Comedor offers Mexican dishes utilizing Pacific Northwest ingredients.  

The menu is very small - just 8 dishes including dessert, but it changes daily as they emphasize freshness and hyperlocalness.  We tried the Chef's Counter tasting menu (we added on one dish).

Chayote Tatemado

The first course was complex in taste.  I enjoyed the smoky, grilled chayotes and the sweet, yet tart kiwi berries.

Wild Shrimp Ceviche Rojo

The Wild Shrimp Ceviche Rojo was pretty spicy, and I loved the accompanying fried crackers.  The shrimp was overacidulated, however, which resulted in very tough and chewy shrimp.

Chilaquille Relleno Entomatada

I loved the Chilaquille Relleno Entomatada (an add-on dish).  This dish was pretty spicy as well, but the smoky chorizo, olive oil powder, and the gigante bean filling all contributed to a really delicious dish.  

Broccoli Barbacoa

I really liked the masa dumplings that were served with the broccoli.  I thought the broccoli was tender with a nice smokiness.

Sablefish a la Brasa

Sablefish is what we locally call butterfish, and I love butterfish.  This was my favorite dish of the night.  The fish was so mild and flaky, and perfectly cooked.  The red jalapeno guacachile added a lovely dimension to the entire dish, but I could've eaten the fish just by itself.  It was that good.  

Strawberry Creamsicle

All the elements of this dessert - the whipped panna cotta, verjus strawberry, and meringue really came together to create a delightful Strawberry Creamsicle.  

Pan de Elote

The corn bread was dense and moist, topped with a roasted blueberry sauce, corn crumble, and accompanied by a charred corn ice cream.  I really liked this dessert.  

Overall it was a nice dining experience!

Lilia Comedor
3159 S Moody Ave

Portland, OR 97239

Read More

Visit Oregon: Tillamook Creamery

Since we were going to the Oregon Coast, I made a request to stop at the Tillamook Creamery for ice cream.  It ended up being a fun and educational experience!

The Tillamook Creamery is a huge tourist attraction which shares the history of Tillamook Creamery and their popular cheeses and ice creams.

There, you can not only indulge in ice cream and cheesy dishes in their dining hall, but you can sample some cheese, buy cheese and ice cream in their market, as well as do a self-guided tour of the cheese-making process.

I tried the Tomato Soup with Cheese Curds, Grilled Cheese, and Mac and Cheese.

Talk about a trio of comfort foods!  I never had Tomato Soup with cheese curds before, but I liked it.  The Grilled Cheese was nothing out of the ordinary, but paired perfectly with the soup, and I liked the Mac & Cheese - very creamy and cheesy!

The line for ice cream was surprisingly long even though we arrived just after opening.  I got the Limited Edition Campfire Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream.  It ended up being a marshmallow-based ice cream so it was too sweet for my taste, but I enjoyed the abundance of chopped pb cups.

Cheeseburger

If you live nearby or have a cooler with you to transport, you can buy ice cream and cheeses.

They offer samples upstairs to taste.

For a fee, you can get a more thorough experience with specialty cheese tastings and an interactive ice cream experience. 

Upstairs is also where you can view the cheese-making process.  

Try and get there early before the crowds!

Tillamook Creamery
4165 N Hwy 101

Tillamook, OR 97141

Read More

Visit Portland: Samo's Bistro

We were looking for a place to eat nearby the office we had a meeting at, and a Google Maps search brought us to Samo's Bistro.  

Samo's Bistro is a restaurant / grocery store offering both Greek and American eats.

I wasn't really hungry so I just ordered Zucchini Fries, which were good, although a bit underseasoned.

I couldn't resist the display of treats, however, so I also ended up getting a Chocolate Cake.

It was moist and chocolaty - just what my sweet tooth was craving.  

My friend had the Falafel Sandwich, which he thought was pretty tasty, although not as crispy on the outside as he would have preferred.

Falafel Sandwich

Samo's Bistro
7215 NE Prescott St

Portland, OR 97218

Read More

Visit Portland: Cafe Rowan

I love brunch, and I was excited to try Portland brunch spot Cafe Rowan.

I am #TeamSavory when it comes to brunch, so I ordered the The Rowan.

The Rowan

The Rowan consisted of a fried egg, pepper bacon, smoked cheddar, and housemade blueberry jam.   

I didn't know how I would feel about the blueberry jam on a savory sandwich, but I liked the contrasting touch of sweetness.  It was a great, satisfying sandwich!  

Bananas Foster French Toast

There is only one sweet on the menu, and I wasn't planning on ordering the Bananas Foster French Toast until I saw the server walk it to another table. 

It was really delicious. The brioche was nice and soft. I thought the miso flavor was faint in the miso caramel sauce, but I really loved the bananas and the cinnamon sugar walnut crumble.

I'm not a coffee drinker so the coffee maple syrup was too strong for my liking, but overall it was so yummy.

The Morty

My friend had The Morty - a special of the day. 

If you love brunch as much as I do, give Cafe Rowan a try! 

Cafe Rowan

4437 SE Cesar Estrada Chavez Blvd

Portland, OR 97202

Read More

Visit Oregon: Buttercup Ice Creams and Chowders

In the tiny city of Nehalem, about 90 minutes from Portland, is Buttercup Ice Creams and Chowders.  This shop specializes in two foods on opposite ends of the spectrum, but in the same category of comfort foods.

While waiting for our chowder, we saw lots of regulars (one of even gave us chowder recs) in addition to visitors, with equal amounts of guests ordering their homemade ice cream and chowders.

PB&J Ice Cream

The Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream was one of the best I've had in a long time - and probably ever.  It was so creamy, with a delightful peanut butter taste that was not overwhelming, with ribbons of jelly throughout.  Every time I look at the photo I wish I had some to eat! 

NW Clam Chowder

They offer four types of chowders.  We got the NW Clam Chowder, which consisted of clams, bacon, cream, dill, garlic, lemon, Nehalem Bay seasoning, sherry, Yukon Gold potatoes, celery, onions, grilled prepped peppers, and tomato butter.   You can opt to add cod, prawns, or calamari for an additional fee (we added cod). 

It was full of fish and veggies, and I thought the flavors were very balanced.  Although I prefer thicker, creamier chowders, this chowder sure hit the spot on such a chilly and rainy day.  

If you find yourself in the city of Nehalem, stop in at Buttercup Ice Creams and Chowders!

Buttercup Ice Creams and Chowders
35915 N Hwy 101

Nehalem, OR 97131

Read More

Visit Portland: Top 10 Things to Do with Kids

Portland is one of my favorite cities, and one of my kids' favorite cities too.

Here are the top 10 things to do with kids in Portland (according to my kiddos, based on the things we did on our trip):

1. Visit Enchanted Forest - although technically not in Portland, it was just an hour drive to this fun amusement park!

2. Play in the snow at White River West Sno-Park - also not in Portland, but just 90 minutes away - a day at White River West Sno-Park during the winter meant hours of snow play.  And it's free!

3. Pretend, create, imagine, and play at Portland Children's Museum - the variety of things to do here kept my kids busy for hours!

4. Learn about science through play at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry - the number and variety of exhibits intrigued the kids.  Learning was so much fun!

5. Indulge in some of the best ice cream ever at Salt & Straw - really - some of the best ice cream we've ever had!

6.  See penguins, hippos, naked mole rats, and more at the Oregon Zoo - we saw so many different types of animals!

7. Visit Multnomah Falls - my oldest exclaimed "It looks like the waterfall from Radiator Springs!"

8. Eat a nice meal at Hopworks Urban Brewery then play - love that HUB has kids playspaces!

9. Eat a doughnut covered in M&M's from Voodoo Doughnut - or a doughnut covered in rice crispies and peanut butter.  Or peanut butter and chocolate chips.  Or peanut butter & OREOs.

10. See the beautiful tulips at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm - my kids were excited to see so many colorful flowers.  There's even a windmill on site for fun photo ops!

Read More

Visit Portland: Top 10 Things I Love About Portland

Portland is one of my favorite cities to travel to.  I've been there twice, and I'm already longing to go back.

Here are the top 10 things I love about Portland:

Brewers Poutine from Hopworks Urban Brewery

1. Food:  Portland has so many great dining venues (you can read my Top 10: Portland Eats here), and I had the best ice cream and breakfast I've ever had in Portland.  
2. Playspaces in Restaurants:  We went to a few restaurants that had kids playspaces, which meant kids could play while the adults watched them from their tables.  What a concept!
3. Pedestrian-Friendly: I love how pedestrian-friendly Portland is, considering how so many shops and restaurants around the various Portland neighborhoods require you to find street parking to walk to your destination.  They have several crosswalk and pedestrian laws, which were very evident as we walked around Portland.
4. Eco-friendly: From our hotel, to the streets, to the grocery stores, I saw so many ways Portland encourages eco-friendliness, such as through alternative transportation and recycling.
5. Nature's Beauty - From tulips to snow, rivers to waterfalls, nature's beauty can be seen within Portland or just a short drive away.
6. Attractions: There are so many different types of attractions in Portland or nearby.  Whether you want to visit the zoo, a science museum, or even an amusement park, there is an abundance of options to choose from.  
7. Breweries: Portland has over 50 breweries.  Even though I'm not a big beer drinker, that still meant great brewpub food, and I happily indulged in some great brewpub eats (while my husband drank beer).
8. Locally-made Omiyage (Souvenirs): From bath products to sweet eats, it's not hard to find locally-made omiyage to take back to friends and family (you can find my Top 10: Oregon Omiyage list here).
9. Tax-free shopping and dining:  Although we didn't do much shopping, we sure ate out a lot, and no food or beverage tax meant we saved some money whenever we dined out.
10. Bridges: Driving through Portland it's inevitable that you'll cross or at least see one of the city's many bridges.  The different types of bridges all throughout the city make them all the more interesting. 

Read More

Visit Portland: Top 10 Eats

Here are my top 10 eats from my Portland trip...I still dream about the ice cream from Salt & Straw...

1. Sea Salt Ice Cream with Caramel Ribbon from Salt & Straw - There are not enough words to describe how good this ice cream is!

2. Bacato Omelete from Gravy - Bacon, cream cheese, tomatoes, and green onions in an omelet.  YUM!

3. Brewers Poutine from Hopworks Urban Brewery - I ate so much of the poutine, I hardly ate my main entree!

4. Loaded Tots from Laurelwood Public Brewery - What could be better than tater tots topped with bacon, cheese, and green onions?  When it's at a happy hour price! 

5. Salted Caramel Pizookie from BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse - this dessert started my love for all things salted caramel.

6. Paris Texas from  Tin Shed Garden Cafe - Not something I'd normally eat - grilled polenta cakes layered with creamy garlic-lemon artichokes hearts and smothered with butter sauteed portabella mushrooms, capers, fresh basil & parmesan cheese, but my decision to try something totally unexpected was a great one.  This was my favorite dinner in Portland!

7. No Name from Voodoo Doughnut Too (top center)- A doughnut with chocolate frosting, Rice Krispies, and peanut butter. YUM!

8. Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream from Fifty Licks - Such a "simple" flavor, yet so sweet, creamy, and delicious!

9. Farmer's Hash from Besaw's -  How could a combination of eggs, rosemary potatoes, bacon, roasted garlic cloves, caramelized onions, arugula, and cheddar cheese NOT be good?

10. Frontega Chicken Panini French Baguette from Panera Bread - consisting of smoked, pulled, antibiotic-free chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, red onions, chopped basil and chipotle mayo grilled on Focaccia, the sandwich was yummy and satisfying!

Read More