Hello again world and chinese food

   Hey guys . Sorry about the break in the action - too much drama and not enough time to address it . Good news I have access again and am standing here with a new zest for life . Things are looking better here and there is a whole new world of food to explore ( amazing how sharing your life with the right friends can change your entire perspective )

A few notable things -

Killer Burger t-shirts  - get em while they are hot !

Stand out for me this christmas - Voodoo donut made a present cream filled donut and a pumpkin spice ( sorry no pics , they didn't last that long ;) )

So ................today's mini rant

AMERICAN CHINESE FOOD

   This is a tough one for me . All of my friends and i have those major cravings for it and yet we always settle for the less than stellar , usually with only one or 2 items really being standouts .All of that said like a bug to the light we can't resist and the really bad for you is the best of it ! Crab puffs , bbq porkk , pot stickers , chicken egg roll , fried shrimp ..................... the list is endless . Somehow we find comfort in the deep fried  and gravy laidened ( that seems to be a truth everywhere we go but i really enjoy super fresh too ) .

    What makes this whole thing worse is I grew up with several Sunday afternoons when i was young at Mrs. Lee's house . A wonder first generation chinese woman built like Julia child that took genuine joy in hosting our  whole family at her house for real chinese lunch . Sad part was i was so young it's just a glimmer of a memory and had no idea how special it was at the time  .

   Last night we did Chinese Delicacy at 111 and Foster . Crab puffs were pretty good , pt stickers had almost a meatball quality which was nice , Bbq pork was a stand out , ans the chicken low mein was reall interesting because of the presence of what looked like ramen noodles instead of low mein . Still you average garden variety chinese food but when you want it , it's the thing !

My adult drink of choice last night - seagram's citrus vodka , 7-up , and dekyper's watermelon pucker .

My choice to ring in the new year - Modoro Italian sparkling wine Asti .I have one bottle that has been set aside of a few special occasions that has not come into being yet  but i still have hope .

A few of the highlights of my break

Recently attended a friend birthday and she changed a self professed non bait eater into a sushi eater . Who knew . Fuji sushi 122nd and Sunnyside road , liked everything I ate , even hit the leftovers for breakfast the next moning . Will have to revisit for a review .

Went to a distiller's festival , highly recommended for any curious foodies . 40 plus distiller's in one place all smpling their wears - oh yeah baby !  Definintely want to invade this next year with a group of friends , that way we sip and pass and get to try way more . Highlights of this trip 1954 Don julio tequela ( we all had a t least 3 and it was amazing ) - Fortuniella tequeila being distilled by a member  of the Sauza family ( gorgeous repesado  tequila   ) and Hudson Whiskey . Their single grain and blended whiskies are the stuff i love but one single source stand out was a corn whiskey that tasted like a butter popcorn jellybean  ( dead serious ). great time with friends and then we dropped into Melt for happy hour to nosh away the alcohol , rice fritters ( deep fried risotto balls ) and many other great choice got the job done .

I believe butterscotch rum soaked

I believe Chocolate Scotch Stout on left and Bailey's Latte ( coffee cake with Bailey's )

All really good but the Bailey's and Scout really good and recntly had her mexician chocolate ( choclate with chilis ) OUTSTANDING

One of the most beautiful moments for me this Christmas was dodging raindrops at night with one of my friends to go get cupcakes at Melt . It's always the simple things that bring the most joy for me ,especially all the beautiful smiles we shared , even the poor girl who was closing early but indulged us to get some for us to take to go ( yes they didn't travel well cut in haf but still tasted good :)  ) and smiled when she remember who i was , the crazy guy taking pictures of all his food .

Hadn't been to slappycakes in a couple months and took my cousin . Was welcomed with a hug by Micki  , and Eve , Stephanie and crew where all there saying hi like an old friend had come home . Still love that place


And finally on to the place that is Cheers for me - Killer Burger

obligitory food porn - todays burger

a classic with cheese , swiss , and jack with mushrooms , bacon , lettuce tomato , etc ,

The Killer Burger family will be one member bigger soon . The shining smile behind the cah register is having a baby girl - congrates Honey !

There is talk of the invading a neighborhood near you with one or two locations to open soon .
 i keep joking with them  that i will put in a shift down there soon . may be reality soon.

The beautiful Killer Crew making bacon - enough said ;)

Now that i am back with a new year dawning more reviews , rants , and raves to come soon .

Snack post - Scotch Eggs

those beautiful deep fried beauties on the left  are Scotch Eggs . Hard boiled eggs packed in banger sausage floured and deep fried - oh so good . available at Helser's , The Horse Brass Pub , The Dublin Pub , and othe fine euro establishments . Also pictureed on this place potato pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce ( tradishionally a german dish ) .

Voodoo Donuts - 22 S.W. 3rd and Voodoo Too - 1501 N. E. Davis

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Voodoo is a Portland institution that has garnered attention for their quirky style . this is a punk alterative donut shop that does not shy away from the adult and the creative . I will show a small sampling of their huge donut menu . almost anything available in regular is also available in vegan .

on the bottom is their signature bacon maple bar an with it is a mcminville creme , maple frosted bavarian creme filled .

this was a mystery fritter - peach , blue berry , apple , and who knows .

cinnamon old fashioned , no name donut - glazed ring with chocolate , rice crispies and peanut butter drizzle , and a powdered raspberry filled .

this is a personal favorite and tribute to elvis - Mephis Mafia fritter = banana fritter - chocolate chips - peanut butter drizzle and peanuts

 A maple blunt donut - a voodoo doll with raspberry blood filling and a pretzel steak through the heart , and a protand creme - chocolate covered and bavarian creme filled

limit on maple bacon is 4 per trip unless you call 24 hours in advance

they also perform wedding here - a friend of mine has done it , and i have seen many bachalor / bachalorette parties here at the wee hours of the morning .

voodoo is a modern classic

Joe Brown Carmel Corn - Lloyd Center Mall

This is one of my favorite guilty pleasues from my childhood . As long as i can remember Joe Brown carmel corn has been at Lloyd center and have had many a day with neon yellow handles after finishing a box of their cheese corn and love that fresh carmel corn . These days they offer soft serve ice cream , slushies , candy , and nuts but the staple in popcorn . buttered , carmel , cheese , white cheddar , chicago style ( cheese and carmel together ) , and with nuts . from snack size to party tins they have it all .

Can be found online at http://www.carmelcorn.com/ and they ship worldwide .

this blog was typed with neon yellow hands :) 

Slappy Cakes - 4246 s.e. belmont www.slappycakes.com

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  I find myself saying this alot - so much more than pancakes . That being said the pancakes are good and a good starting point . One of the unique features of this place is you cook em pancakes right at the table . They are billed as an appetizer but can be a meal unto themselves . Usually 4 batters to choose from - buttermilk , peanut butter , gluten free and seasonal ( this month was sweet potato - so yummy . they have done Zuchinni , apple cinnamon as well as others ) . If you don't feel like cooking they ccan cook em for you . it doesn't stop there .They offer a full menu of things to put in them - choco chip , blue cheese , bacon , corizo , and so much more . If that's not enough try a variety of syrups to choose from - traditional , blueberry , apple , and organic upon request . For a butter lover like me all i have to do is ask and more whipped butter is on the way .

they have indulged us a few times and we brought in our pancake mold from sonoma - williams for some fun .



sometimes we just make our own designs .

So ..... you might be asking what else they got . how about a coffee and booze ? they offer bloddy marys with bacon .

coffee mocha

bloody mary

chicken fried bacon - this is good pure evil ! bacon battered , deep fried and topped with caramel sauce . I am hard pressed to make a trip here without eating some of this .

slappy benedict - eggs benedict with proscutio and homemade english muffins 

Quinoa salad - topped with a champagne vinigrette

forrest scramble - forrest mushrooms , spinach , leeks , lardoons ,eggs , goat cheese .

classic slappy cheese burger - it's fresh ground chuck done there and tillamook cheese .

Pulled pork sandwich and cinnamon roll

Buscuits and Gravy - they serve it a tad spicy

Gypsy toast - brioche french toast stuffed with apples and drizzled with caramel sauce

Slappy cakes has become an escape for me and it's just as much about that friendly peple that work there as it is the fresh food . They have their own herb garden out back and everything is locally sourced .

so here's my indulgent moment at slappy cakes . a burger so big they jokingly dubbed it a man vs food challenge and man won in 11 minutes . Fresh ground chuck burger , mushrooms , avocado , tomato , lettuce pickle , proscuttio , bacon ,  egg , goat cheese , blue cheese , and tillamook cheese . oh yeah baby , it was that good :)

to avoid the lines show up at 8 am or 1:30 otherwise grab some sidewalk chalk and a cup of joe and throw your name on the list . it's worth the wait .

check them out at http://www.slappycakes.com/ and on facebook - slappy cakes

Melt Bistro and Bar - - 716 N.W, 21st

  This is a place that alot of my friends outside the food groups have been talking about . Found a few things that really made these guys standout . They are firm belivers in mise en place ( everytging in it's place ) , good , fast service  and fresh , local ingredents .

Bacon blue cheese wedge - OUTSTANDING ! super fresh iceberg lettuce wedges with homemade blue cheese dressing ( a personal weakness ) and fresh cooked bacon . This hit the spot .

Daily and cocktail cupcakes - chocolate mint ( made with real creme de menthe - just like an andes mint only better ) , maple bacon and red velvet ( my fav ) . they are very generous with the homemade frostings and the cupcakes are super moist , no milk required .

Grinder sandwich - cured meats , provolone , hot peppers , tomato , basil . the heirloom tomato they used was the stand out for me . the peppers oveshadowed everything else which i took off later and found a pretty good sandwich .

parmesan fries - real italian parmesan on fresh cut fries

this place will require a couple more trips . They do a happy hour that starts at 2 and tomato basil soup with a aged cheddar , como sandwich i must try .

They are reasonably priced and one of the few places on 21st serving lunch . If nothing else the good service and salad was worth it .