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Sweet Name and Sweet Place In 2022, we drove to Gresham, (just outside of Portland) and had a yummy brunch, at a cute place, with a cute name.  I never found out if there is a real Sweet Betty, behind the name. Bamboo and Tigers We stepped inside and I grinned right away. The bamboo was festive-tropical. The tiger and chickens greeted with enthusiasm! Well... I was enthused about seeing them.
I glanced through the bamboo opening, towards the bar across the room. I believe that bear on the wall, was waving to us also! Brunch With Family Since 2018, Don and I have been visiting our daughter and son-in-law in the Portland area. Portland does brunch well! They have introduced us to some incredible places.  In more recent years, we've had the fun of brunching with this little gal. Sweet Betty's had a lot of decor to entertain Charlie! Although she was plenty interested in just staring at Pop Pop! Cozy Booth We took a cushy booth not far from a pair of dangling dandelion puff-lights.  One-year-old Charlie was content to sit in her highchair and enjoy the cheery decor. She peered through the bamboo now and then to check on new diners as they arrived.  Luckily Charlie was not a bit interested in our baby bottles, when our coffee arrived. Coffee and Cream I'm so glad Don and I both take cream with our coffee.
If we'd ordered black coffees like the 2 younger adults, we would have all missed out on the fun containers that held the cream! I love a little silliness with my coffee! Cheers! Charlie didn't have a coffee mug, but she joined us in a toast.  This photo is a reminder that I shouldn't need caffeine or a Bloody Mary to enjoy myself at brunch. Charlie was toasting with a tippy cup of water! Consuelo's Scramble There were lots of options on the breakfast menu. I narrowed it down to the 8 scrambles and omelets... then I picked Consuelo's Scramble.  My brunch plate was mighty tasty! The scramble with onion, cheese, spinach, mushroom and tomato, was a tangy delight! The nicely seasoned potatoes were hot and crispy. I loved my flat biscuit on top! I could only eat half, which meant I got to enjoy it all over again, later! Shopping? From my chair, I kept turning to peek through the gift shop window. There was a lot of curious merchandise.  I've never seen such a large, toy army man. My little brother had the tiny version of this "toy" back when he was fairly tiny. That was way back before I'd ever seen a flag with rainbow stripes. Messages When we finished and got ready to depart, I took a quick look at all the messages on nearby walls. The words on one wall read, "The Good news is, you went a long way. The bad news is, you went the wrong way."  I didn't recognize the face on the next wall. I looked it up and learned it belonged to a rapper, J Cole... (Thanks Wikipedia) Near the kitchen I took in more messages. The Fist Pride Flag offered a powerful message.  The illuminated menu board made me chuckle. It told me that we could have ordered a Mimosa Bucket for $22. Or CBD Ice Tea for $8. Add vodka for $11! And More! Much of the decor at Sweet Betty's was fun and whimsical. Some of the messages were more thought provoking.
All in all, the atmosphere had a positive vibe and the food was pure comfort food. No CBD or booze needed.  I'm slow writing this up, but it makes me a little wistful, when I look back on our brunch outing. At the time we didn't know this would be our last Portland area brunch, with this little gang. Kind of sad... but not really. Now this sweet fam lives in Texas. 2.5 hours away. A lot shorter distance than than the 1,000+ miles that separated us before!
Yay for that!
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Saloon Dining in Oregon Here's another throwback post!  Don and I found the Baldwin Saloon 2 years ago, while traveling in Oregon. On the Road In August 2022, Don and I made the pretty drive from Spokane to Portland.  We'd been driving along the Columbia River, admiring the water and bluffs, when we arrived in The Dalles. The Dalles? I knew nothing about The Dalles, but the small city looked pretty when we drove through on a sunny summer day. "What's with that name?" I kept wondering.  The word dalles was evidently used by fur traders to describe the rapids in a river, between high rock walls. After our drive, that suddenly made sense! I tucked that knowledge away and focused on finding a place for lunch. Built 1876 On the edge of town, not far from the Columbia River, we found the Baldwin Saloon.  The long, narrow structure was built by the Baldwin brothers, (James & John) in 1876. Exterior A plaque near the door told us, it was one of the oldest commercial buildings in The Dalles. It looked like it had been recently spiffed up.  The freshly painted facade, (facing First Street and the river) showed cast iron pilasters. I assume those were tall doors, between the decorated columns. New Entrance The newer side entrance looked attractive with potted plant arrangements on either side to the door.  We headed inside and found the place still hopping at 1:30 pm. Mahogany Bar We were seated at a small table near the back of the saloon. Over my right shoulder I had a good view of the 18-ft mahogany bar.  There was a lot to amuse me as we waited for our food. The guests seated at the bar were entertaining. They all seemed to know each other. The lovely ladies (in gold frames) had me chuckling. I counted 9 scantily clad women nearby.
There were lots of ladies on those blue walls! And lots interesting guests sitting on blue velvet chairs. Don and I were definitely the oldest people in the crowd. And possibly the only guests who weren't local. Many folks greeted each other, like this was a regular meet up spot on Fridays. RR Tracks and River Behind my chair there were rows of booths and more curious decor. The dark walls were covered in framed art and antiques were displayed on a platform near the ceiling.
The tables in the front had a view First Street and railroad tracks. The river was just beyond. When the Baldwin Brothers first opened their saloon, they catered to rail men and sailors. Good to place to put a saloon... near tracks and river! Art and Brick Besides partially nude women, there were lovely landscape paintings. Reminders of how Oregon looked, back in wilder days.  The brickwork behind those paintings was pretty wild also! Should have snapped a close up. 1876 and 2022 During our visit 2 years ago. I remember studying all the art and fixtures and wondering what the "decor" looked like, when the brothers opened their saloon 140 years ago.  How did this place look, when a nearby mortuary used the building for coffin storage? And what did this space look like in 1962, when Bonney Saddle Shop started up an operation making custom saddles? Food & Flower Don and I finally turned our focus to food. I of course had to get one photo to show just how large and lovely the painting was, above Don!
We enjoyed our soup and salad, with a sweet sunflower decorating our table. Bonus points for that! Caesar Don ordered the Caesar Salad with Chicken.  I ordered Onion Soup, served in an iron crock. I liked the sturdy china. It reminded me of dining in old hotels and lodges.  Neither meal was exactly memorable, but it was just the light bite we needed on our travels. Wondered Before we heading out, I studied a few more pieces of art that stood out (to me) from the others. What was that proper lady with the tea cup thinking? Or was she a Madam? There was a brothel on the property at some point.
And what's the story of the 4 children in the etching? They didn't exactly fit into the Saloon Theme, but I liked them. Patio Before getting back in the car. I stopped and took a peek at the patio, off the back of the building.  I remember telling Don, "We need to come back to this place!" I was intrigued with The Baldwin Saloon, as well as The Dalles.
But it's 2024 now and I just did a Google search. I was sad to hear that the Martins, who bought the saloon biz in 2020, closed the Baldwin Saloon not long after our visit. That is too sad. Remembering! It's been nearly 2 years!  But today, I'm remembering a fun lunch in Montana. Livingston, Montana In the summer of 2022, Don and I escaped the Texas heat and visited our friends in Bozeman, Montana.  Christy and Alan introduced us to this wonderful town, just 30 minutes away. So many amazing vintage signs in such a small town! Celebrities on Main Street? We arrived around noon, to see a picture perfect town with charming buildings and stunning mountain views! Perfect place to film a movie. A few have been shot here. I wonder if Brad Pitt ever wandered these sidewalks back in 1992. That's when A River Runs Through It, was being shot in the area.  We didn't spot any celebs on Main Street, but could have. John Mayer's home is just down the road..  If we'd come 138 years earlier, we might have seen Calamity Jane. She married a local in Livingston in the 1886. That was before her Wild Bill Cody days! Newer Building There were lots of cute diners and cafes in Livingston's quaint downtown buildings. But most seemed to be closed on a Wednesday at noon.  This one-story building wasn't as epic as the old brick structures.  But it was OPEN. And it was so darn cute! We followed Neptune's trident... (arrow) beneath the sign! Outside There was a bright patio with a mural of a diver in old gear, swimming towards us!  It was surprisingly warm that day, so we headed inside. Love a Theme! I love old buildings, but I also love a theme. Neptune's had a good one!  Neptune! The Roman god of the Sea! I was game for an ocean theme on a hot day!  While we waited for a table, I took in all the colors. You have to love the giant spotted fish, high above the kitchen window... where they prepare fish! I failed to get a photo of the live aquarium.  But I captured some colorful glass fish hanging from the ceiling! A playful touch!  The underwater scene on the partition panels, reminded me of some kind of whimsical stained glass. Such bold lines and colors! Beachy Choices We got a nice table near the bar and studied the equally colorful menu. There were burger options, but mostly the menu leaned towards... Seafood Fusion.  It seemed odd to think about ordering seafood or sushi, when we were about 800 miles from the nearest ocean. Fellow Diners While waiting on our orders, we took in the festive atmosphere and wondered a little about our fellow diners. More tourists than locals, I would guess.  From our seats, Don and I noticed some interesting shirts at the bar. "A Kingdom will fall for a song" was written on one. People who wear curious shirts should be open to converstaion. I could have asked about that shirt. Terlingua, Texas T-shirt I didn't ask. But Don went over and introduced himself to the couple, in blue t-shirts. The woman's shirt had a bar scene on it. The cartoonish image looked sort of like Neptune's Bar,... but instead of people on bar stools, the image showed horses.  Don didn't care about the cartoon horses, he had noticed the words, Terlinqua, Texas. If you've ever been to the west Texas "ghost town" of Terlingua, then you are automatically connected to anyone else who has been. They had to exchange some stories! Lunchtime! Our food arrived!  Christy and Alan went for burgers and tacos! I was envious when I saw that Christy's burger.  Don and I went along with the theme and ordered seafood. Don also got a beer, which made good sense because Neptune's is a Tap House! They have numerous Montana beers on tap. Seafood Orders It still seemed a little odd to order seafood, when we were surrounded by mountains. But I read that Neptune's tuna and seasonal catches are flown in overnight, from Hawaii.  That bit of info and the fact that I was sitting in a light and airy tropical setting, convinced me. I went for the Shrimp Tempura Roll.  Don had Fish and Chips. My sushi disappeared fast, so I stole quite a few fries and both hushpuppies! The Mermaid Lounge Before departing, I had a lovely visit to the Ladies Room. What a treat!
I give extra bonus points when a theme makes it to the restroom!  Pink stalls and wallpaper, with colorful fish! Then add in a giant clam shell and some dangling buoys and I'm extra happy! Posing... Two Years Ago This is a lazy post about a happy little lunch memory.  I vaguely remember posing in the street after our lunch, but I don't recall why! Let's just say I was satisfied with our lunch adventure and leave it at that!
Lured by the Sign I must admit, I've been lured by many a sign, towards a dining adventure. Usually it's something a little more exciting, like a vintage neon sign.  But this sign definitely caught my eye, last March. I love cows and this sign showed me a cow, in a spaceship! Lots of Signs! I followed!  I headed down Agnes Road past some lounging cows!  It said "Keep Going" beneath the arrow. I did as told. Where was this road going?  After cow pastures, I suddenly spotted an RV park. Not a particularly attractive one. Then I saw some trucks and a building.  I spotted this building and I said. "Nope." I was on my way to a garden nursery, less than 10 miles from home. I had just followed the sign because I was curious. I wasn't hungry. This building by the RV Park did not lure me. Back Again But I returned. This time I was with Don and we both were hungry.  The metal building looked huge. Where was the entrance?  We passed picnic tables and eventually found the door.  Don does not look thrilled in this photo. But he was actually pretty game. First to Arrive We arrived right after the burger restaurant opened.  Don and I both grinned. The place was huge and open and spotlessly clean.  What was the story about this burger barn with a cow theme? More Signs The cow signs lured me initially. Now some important signs informed me. As we read the menu, a very nice young guy walked out from the kitchen area.
He had some explaining to do. Although there was a video playing nearby, that told us about our robot service. Tap. Pour. Enjoy! The nice young guy took our order, but also made sure we noticed the self serve drink options.  We could serve ourselves some IPA if we wanted! But it was just after 11. A little early for that. Shopping We could also do some grocery shopping while we waited.  There was a case of WAGYU sausages and freezers full of all kinds of beef.  If we got a little confused, we could just read one more sign, next to the freezer case. Wodagyu Beef I read that the beef was processed by master butchers and vacuum sealed. I could see that.  I read that the cows (that become the beef) roam freely on land and are given happy, stress free lives. I like that. Then I learned that Wodagyu cattle have the same genetics as the infamous Kobe beef raised in Japan. Then I tried not to look at that sweet image... with big cow eyes. Seating Don and I had the pick of the place, for seating. We could have taken a seat on an orange stool, by a cow shaped sign, with stuff to teach.  I could have learned from that labeled cow. I've seen images like this before, but I never tried to absorb the info. Where's the shank, or the flank located? I should know now, but I didn't want to remind myself. I Love Cows I really should be a vegetarian, because I love cows. I don't like to be reminded of where my burger meat comes from.
So I studied the cow "art" that was cartoonish and whimsical. Look at that cow go! He's heading off in his flying saucer!  We took a seat not far from the neon cow, in his burger shaped flying saucer! Buzzer Placement We were given a buzzer. That's nothing new.  But we had to make sure we placed our buzzer properly on our table corner. Water Closet Then I raced off to wash hands. Mostly I was lured by the bathroom sign with figures and a WC. This Texas barn restaurant wasn't where I'd expect to see the Water Closet term.
During my little hike back to the restroom, I passed about a million mailboxes. What was this all about? The RV park? I think there were showers somewhere too? This is one fancy RV Park restaurant, I guess! Waiting Patiently I happily sipped from my Flying Cow paper cup, while we waited for food delivery.  I was getting very excited! Delivery by Robot! Then I spotted our robot. I was fairly giddy!  While "You're So vain" played on the sound system, the glowing robot moved towards our buzzer.  "Food Is Here" blinked on the top. Another cartoonish cow, (standing on a burger) reminded us "Best Burgers in the Galaxy" from the decorated side. Lunch for Two If we'd been dining with a family of 6, it would have been a lot more fun.  Then all the trays would have been filled with orders! And the kiddos would have been squealing with delight. I had to do that part myself. Yum! Our order took up the top tray. Cheeseburgers, fries and some brisket tacos to take home with us. But before we got the food on the table, the sweet guy from the kitchen came running out and admitted he put the wrong food on the robot tray.  Human error. That's okay. The food was mighty good and more diners had arrived, so we had some good people watching while we ate. I kind of liked the music that filled the place, too! Fun Time We left happy. We headed out and wandered to our car, looking out towards the RVs.  If our young man from the kitchen hadn't been so busy, I would have asked about how this whole place got started! Sweet Cows I felt a little guilty as we passed the cows on our way out.  I didn't stress over my guilt too long. I spotted something interesting far beyond the cows. A roof... Booth Public School Don and I passed the cows and headed down FM 2759 and made a turned down Booth Road.  This school from 1912, just sat there in a field of wildflowers... as pretty as you please.  I looked behind the school and saw the cows we passed and thought, what an odd little adventure! We live just 5 or so miles from this school (for 25 years) and never knew it existed. We didn't know there were fields and cows and a Flying Cow burger restaurant over here either! I'd say that was the best little close-to-home-dining-adventure I've ever had! UPDATE! Flying Cow was not a one-hit-wonder! We've been back! Just as I guessed, it was twice the fun with a child. Our granddaughter had a mighty fine time with the Robot and the she much approved of the Mac-n-Cheese!
And it's always good fun to tease your grandparents and make them think you fell asleep while eating!
Good Times at Flying Cow! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
February 2025
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