Pok Pok PDX

My last day in Portland Mike and I headed over to the latest hot Thai joint in PDX (aka Portland). It more than lived up to the streams of praise & accolades. Starting out as a small lunch cart, they've evolved and now occupy a small house right next door which they've named Whiskey Soda Lounge.


The reviews said we had to try the Papaya Pok Pok, a green papaya salad with tomatoes, long beans, Thai chili, lime juice, dried shrimp, ground pork & peanuts tossed in a coconut milk dressing. Just enough chili to give it a little kick!
We paired that with Kai Yaang, charcoal roasted game hen stuffed with lemongrass, garlic, spices and served with a sweet & sour dipping sauce.

I'm a Thai soup fan and we added an order of Kaeng Om Neua, a brothy beef jungle curry soup. This was my favorite! Pair these with a couple of Thai beers and it's a beautiful thing. Although eating outside was fine with us, if you prefer to eat inside the Whiskey Soda Lounge, they only accept reservations of 5 or more, and yes...reservations are needed. My only complaint was the rice. You actually have to order it separately (which is a little unusual that it doesn't come with any of the dishes) and it's $2.00 for about 1 cup?... Don't get me wrong it's no deal breaker, but it continues to nag me.

Good Thai, unpretentious and fun location. Next time your path crosses Portland, treat yourself to some amazing Thai.

Eat up!

The 'Vacation Five'

You all know what I'm talking about...That "What the heck, I'm on vacation" attitude every time you pick up a menu. Well, I won't disappoint!I spent a wonderful week in San Francisco for a sales conference. LOVE that city!





I checked out the Cowgirl Creamery in the Ferry Building and checked out The Slanted Door for lunch. No photo ops here, but phenomenal food!


I flew home on Friday and flew out to Portland on Sunday for a week of R&R with my man. We spent the week exploring the Oregon Coast. Insanely beautiful and very relaxing!

We hit The Rogue Breweryfor a cool one and some lunch. Kobe Beef Burger topped with Oregon Blue Cheese and a salad. Although beer is not usually my drink, I had a Will Ferrel Old School moment.. "It tastes so good when it touches my lips!". We also visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Pretty wild watching the process, but I have to say I prefer the romance of the beautifully over crowded cases @ Cowgirl Creamery.

On to the Inn at Cape Kawanda for (that's right), more eating drinking and a weak attempt to hike it all off. We indulged in a beer flight along with the 'Tower of Onion Rings', another Kobe Burger & Fish and Chips. I have to make this clear. I am a fish and chips snob. I like mine battered, not breaded. Lightly please so when it reaches my table, it's light & fluffy, not oily and dense. Unfortunately we did not hit the mark on this one, but the beers I'll give a 10. Finish and take that harrowing 50 yard walk to our place across the street. It's all good.

We do love the 'little guy'. You know, the guy just trying to make it and happens to put out incredible food. We landed on
Harvest Fresh River Deli. On a Tuesday "all you can eat" pasta night to boot! They had 5 pasta dishes to mix & max and eat your fill. It included soup or salad so we got one cup of Mushroom Barley & and one Potato Cheese soup. Mike had the sausage lasagna while I had Linguine with chicken, lemongrass pesto and chili. Round 2: It was so good we stuck with the same.


That's all for now. Next stop (post), Manzanita!

Eat up!