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Downtown Portland Jake's is the second oldest continuously operating restaurant, in Portland. Since 1892! I've had my eye on it, since I first spotted the cool sign in 2018. Across From Crystal Hotel Jake's was right across the street from our hotel, in 2018. We were visiting Portland, helping our daughter and son-in-law move into their new home. We didn't have time for a Dining Adventure at Jake's, but my eyes were drawn to the building with the green awning and flags. Whitney & Gray Building The 4-story building on the the corner of Stark and 12th, was built in 1910. A year later, the iconic eatery moved in. I'm guessing at the time, it was a little more of a saloon with crawfish, kind of place. Today, I think it's more about cocktails & seafood! In 1911, the biz (under another name) had already been operating for 19 years, at another location. It became known as Jake's, when Jacob (Jake) Lewis Freiman became an owner, in 1920. Evidently Jake was quite a colorful character. After his death in 1933, the name never changed. It's actually part of the Landry's chain today, but that's not exactly spotlighted. Jake's is in the Book! Back in 1959, Ford Motor Company published this cookbook and shared a recipe from Jake's. We were traveling with our cookbook... because the vintage book guides us to interesting adventures! I knew we'd have to pay the restaurant a quick visit, even if we didn't have time to dine. Posing with the Book We stopped in at Jake's around 10 pm, after we returned to the hotel. I had the book in my bag. We got a table in the busy bar and hoped we could impress someone with a peek at page 230. As it turned out, the bartender had a spare moment. He seemed a bit amused when I showed him the recipe for "Crabmeat Cakes". Or maybe he was just being polite. But he was a good sport and posed with the book! Illustration The kind bartender looked just a tiny bit like the waiter in the cookbook's fine illustration. I didn't dare tell him that. The little write up mentioned the Gay Nineties deco... "with oil paintings and chandeliers rescued from famous old homes..." Walter Holman was the owner at that time. The business changed hands many times, before William (Bill) McCormick bought, in 1971. Yes, that would be the name associated with the well known chain, McCormick and Schmicks. Bill hired Doug Schmick as a manager! A Quick Cookbook Adventure Don and I only had a little wine. It was hardly a Dining Adventure. But we were still able to soak in the atmosphere. Besides lots of framed paintings, there were walls covered in framed photos. In over a century there have been numerous famous guests... from Humphrey Bogart to Madonna. Floors and Walls We didn't explore the many dining rooms, but we absorbed lots of character in the lounge, from the original tile beneath the stools... ...to the artwork above the bar. I don't believe the spotlighted nude painting, was shown in the cookbook illustration. Charlie Visits in 2022 So for years, Don and I promised ourselves we'd return for a real dining experience, when visiting our daughter and son-in-law. But the pandemic and the birth of our grand baby, (Charlie) changed the focus of our visits. Last fall, I was pretty jealous of our little granddaughter, when she had a dining adventure before me! My daughter texted me this photo of Charlie dining at Jake's and paying the bill! Actually her visiting Uncle Chris and Aunt Karen treated. It made me crave Jake's once again. From the Museum to Jake's So in February 2023, we headed to Portland for Charlie's second birthday. We planned a special outing that included a visit to the Portland Art Museum, (with dear friend Milissa) and a Dining Adventure at Jake's! Charlie had her first art museum experience and then we were off to dinner! The Classic Bar It was a chilly winter evening. We entered the first door, which took us into the bar. It looked like I remembered. Charlie marched up to an empty chair and slammed her beer mug... I mean sippy cup, on the table. She then noticed her family had moved on. But she was in no hurry. She sort of strutted through like a "regular" and gave the men at the bar a good glance. I half expected her to stop and study them... like art. Distracted Charlie stopped suddenly near the host's desk and pointed. I thought she was pointing out the artwork above the steps. She'd just come from the museum after all. But she was mesmerized by the ceiling fan. No budging until she was ready. So Many Tables We'd smartly made reservations for 5:30. I had wondered what kind of table we would have. White tablecloths are sort of scary, with a 2.0 year old. The cozy booth looked fun, with its own little lamp and table-sized oil painting. We heard later that much of the displayed artwork was found in the basement, when the restaurant last changed hands. Worth more than the building! We were told. Photo Tables I kind of hoped to have a table near the old photos, so I could examine them without rudely leaning across dining strangers. I sort of hoped for a table that was tucked away, where a 2-year old could be a 2-year old, a little more discretely. In the Middle But we were given a big round table in the center of the first room. It had a plaque on it that read, "St. Patrick's Day Luncheon Table" Hmmm? I would need to look that up. I did later and I found nothing. (Next time ask!) Best Table Well, the table was perfect. I love round tables where we can all see one another. And no tablecloth to yank or stain! And Charlie was in heaven, because she could see all the bustling activity. She didn't want to miss a thing. Waiter Don Don, the waiter was exceptional. He'd been there 17 years and he was a real pro, He did not look a bit like the waiter in the cookbook. We ordered drinks first. Old Fashioneds for most. Martini for me. Water for the little one. Cheers! Don served our drinks and graciously took our toasting photo. When I look at the photo, I'm reminded about how much has happened between our 2 visits to Jake's. Cheers to getting through the pandemic and cheers to a new member of the family. And cheers to our friend Milissa, moving back to Portland so we could celebrate together! Crabmeat Cakes Unfortunately, I did not have the cookbook with us, this time. But we did order the Crab Cakes, which were called Crabmeat Cakes, in the recipe. I'm sure the recipes don't match a bit. The title on the menu said, "Dungeness Crab and Bay Shrimp Cakes". I tried to get a photo quickly, before they were gone! This little girl happens to adore crab cakes. So she got to them first! For Starts Don allowed me to snap a photo of his Prawn Cocktail before it disappeared.Delish! My House Salad with glazed walnuts and blue cheese was a good, refreshing feast in itself. Parmesan Crusted Petrale Sole I only managed to get a photo of my own entree. It was a heavenly serving of sole, with pan seared lemons and capers and warm Beurre Blanc sauce. The beans and potatoes were excellent as well. I was happily stuffed! Happy Speaking of happy... this photo of me with Don, shows me looking a little too happy!? That martini was very strong! But Charlie drank only water and she looks equally tipsy. I think our evening was a happy hit. Heading Out By the time we headed off it wasn't even 8:00 yet. The Happy Hour Crowd had left open seats. Once again, we headed out the door, with no time to pause and study old photos. I didn't stop to ask any questions about Jake's 131 year old history. Next time... Off We Go We'll learn more stories next time. Our Dining Adventure was more about celebrating with special people. The food and atmosphere was wonderful, but the people seated at the round table made it twice as memorable! Good Bye Jake's It's been over a month since our Jake's dinner. I'm feeling extra grateful that we squeezed that in! Charlie and her parents have decided to move back to Texas! We couldn't be happier... but it looks like Jake's won't be an annual thing. Poor Charlie. I think she was getting hooked!
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Cafe on the Corner This is the cute cafe, where my dear friend and I enjoyed a heavenly patio breakfast, beneath a 100 year old oak tree! Actually we arrived at 10:30 and they weren't open for breakfast. We looked longingly from across the street. Getting Ready We crossed over to see when they would open. 11:00. The covered patio appeared quiet, except for spurts of activity. Staff seemed to be preparing for some kind of surprise party and we were entertained. The outdoor dining area was lovely with chairs that reminded me of Paris. The enclosure was classy, unlike all the quickly rigged structures, I remember being thrown up for Covid dining. The 100 year old oak added some drama and history! We found a cute little bench area with umbrellas and sat a moment. Walk Time But that used up 5 minutes. Milissa and I went on a walk to kill time. The neighborhood area in Northwest Portland, was very inviting on a summer morning. Milissa and I had lots to talk about, so it really didn't matter whether we were at a proper table or traveling down a sidewalk. Ready to Go We returned at 11 and the red carpet awaited! There were curtains and strings of lights and potted bushes. We could be outside, but feel the comforts of inside dining. We were the first diners to arrive. The surprise party was happening out of our sight. We didn't get to witness the reaction. My Coffee Buddy Milissa and I met through our kids 30+ years ago. We have conversed over all kinds of beverages. On this morning we were happy with our blue bottle of water and our cups of coffee. We now live 2,000 miles apart and our coffee and converstaion has to be shared over the phone. But on this August morning, we talked over coffee in person! It felt like we'd left our homes in Texas and Oregon and had met up at a cafe in France. Omelet I was glad they had good breakfast options on the lunch menu. I ordered the Bacon, Egg and Blue Omelet. "3 free range chickens, bacon, chopped tomato and blue cheese". The omelet and potatoes were tasty. I liked how the food was served, with cloth napkins... little dish holding butter, jelly and catsup. It just felt nice. But the wait service was not quite as nice. We finally begged for a coffee refill. But honestly, we were caught up in our own world and were happy to be a little ignored. The patio never filled up, so we felt okay lingering as long as we liked. We eventually paid up, then stepped inside to take a peek around. The red stools and red carpet and red and black chairs really felt festive and French. Nell's describes their food as, "French inspired American classics". They've been in business on this neighborhood corner, for 13 years. I read that the last 2 restaurants in this space, were also French. The red fireplace was extra cool. There were lots of mirrors! I'd love to see the place at night with glowing lights reflecting off the mirrors. Heading Off I had my buddy sit for a photo, before we walked back to her apartment. She fit right into the umbrella scene, with her black and white attire. Our dining adventure was a little piece of heaven. We had lots of catching up to do and we didn't have to holler over crowds. Our table was cozy and pretty and clean and calm. The food was nice and a carafe of coffee on the table would have made it just perfect.
I'm hoping for another dining adventure with Milissa, very soon! Bell Buoy Seafood In August, Don and I traveled to the Oregon coast for an overnight, with family. Before reaching the town of Seaside, our daughter Heidi had figured out lunch. A place with BUOY in the name. We drove past this colorful crab sign and circled back. Buoy's Best Restaurant It was confusing. The little restaurant sits right next to the seafood market. The restaurant had a slightly different name. It didn't have nearly as much character as the market's neon sign. But Heidi assured us, the reviews were good. Noon We were lucky to find a parking spot, when we pulled off Hwy 101. The road and lot were crowded, on a August Sunday at noon. We headed up the steps and I made sure to appreciate the art. Deck with View Heidi and I laughed when we stepped out to the dining deck. We were just minutes from the stunning Pacific coast, yet we were about to eat lunch looking out over a somewhat swampy-looking creek. Food & Photos But Heidi knows her parents. We like fun, authentic places. We were more focused on food and the menu had lots to choose from. Everything from halibut to razor clams. I of course had to take a peek at the wall photos. There were only a few seats inside and the space was fairly full of folks ordering, but I peeked around and admired old fishing photos. Tiny The space was small enough that it would have been intrusive to snap photos in people's faces. My one room photo shows a door to the kitchen and a man filling orders. Every once in a while, he reached over and stirred a big pot of clam chowder. First Look Heidi brought our 18 month old granddaughter out to the deck. We'd been telling her during our drive that we were taking her to the beach. (as if she knew what that meant) Charlie seemed to squeal with delight when she saw the water. Maybe it was a bird she saw, or the feel of the air. Who knows, but we were all pretty amused that this murky water appeared to bring her such joy. Yum! It seemed to take forever until our order was carried out on a plastic tray. The guys were working hard to handle the sudden rush of folks who arrived when we did. The 4 adults feasted on fried cod, with french fries and coleslaw. The slaw had a secret ingredient that I thought was extra tasty. Was that pineapple? Not sure, but I'm a lover of slaw and this worked for me. Crab Cakes for Charlie More and more people filled the deck and some tables below on the grass. We were tucked in at the far end, with Charlie seated in the stroller. Charlie couldn't have been happier with her first crab cakes. Surprising, since they were strongly seasoned. Shopping Sometimes you end a meal with a sweet treat. Instead, we went next door. The little market has been here for 76 years. We decided it was worth a stop. Case O' Fish We spent a little time studying the fresh seafood on ice. I wish I'd gotten the name of the wonderful woman who chatted with us. She told us she'd been working there for 20 years... or maybe it was more. She praised the family owned business, which sells seafood sourced within 50 miles. We bought some peppered salmon jerky and some smoked teriyaki salmon strips for later. The Beach! We were off after our quick seafood lunch adventure. Off to the beach where Charlie's grin got even bigger!
Lunch at the Station I love old gas stations. This one caught my eye as we drove through the town of La Grande, last summer. No Gas Don and I were over halfway, driving from Portland to Boise, Idaho. If the year had been 1959, we could have stopped and bought some gas. But it was August 2022, and there was no gas at the old Texaco. However, we could buy ice cream, coffee and sandwiches. It was food that we actually needed. Moore's Texaco This is how the Texaco looked, back in the day. There were 3 pumps and 3 garage doors. I'm not clear about when the Texaco became The Local. But today, the open-air, covered drive. (behind the pumps) is a fresh, air-conditioned room where you can order ice cream and coffee. Sweets and Caffeine We were looking for lunch when we entered this bright space. The smells of handcrafted ice cream and specialty coffees, filled the room. Ladies Room Before ordering food, I made a trip to the Ladies Room. As a kid I dreaded creepy bathrooms at gas stations, especially when you had to borrow some grubby key. But I was excited about this one. It was the original, with mint green tile. Luckily the restroom was as clean as the ice cream/coffee shop. And I didn't have to obtain a key. However they had the old keys on display. Love it! Outside We inquired about lunch and were directed to the "garage" area. First we took a peek at the patio. it was a beautiful day and there were some families and a couple sweet dogs. Such a comfortable setting. Into the Garage We headed towards the open garage doors. Surely those come down in the winter months. My eyes were drawn to the bright green Adirondack chairs. If only we'd had lots of time to kill, I would have loved kicking back in those chairs with a cup of coffee. Relaxed, Clean and Friendly I loved the comfy vibe. There were people sitting near a fireplace. (unlit) A few worked quietly at laptops. Most of the people looked like locals, who come regularly. We ordered our food from 2 "youngins" behind the counter. They were probably students at Eastern Oregon University. Couldn't have been nicer. Payphone at the Station There was an old payphone near the counter. I asked the 2 if the old phone actually worked. They both laughed like they'd never heard that question. They invited me to try. I asked if either had ever used one and the young girl never had. The guy said he did once, but it didn't have a dial. I have a good story from when I was 16 and used payphone at a gas station, in a sketchy part of Detroit. There wasn't enough time to share that long story! Signs of the Past We waited for our order and I looked around the place looking for evidence, that this really once was a gas station. It seemed too clean. I spotted a drain and could suddenly picture cars, leaking oil and mechanics with dirty hands. Luckily none of those car smells exist today. Closer to the coffee/ice cream shop, I peeked through a window and saw some old news clippings and postcards, attached to a Texaco sign. Maybe the space was once a waiting area for customers. I'll bet there was a glass coffee pot sitting on burner and some disposable paper coffee cups... with little handles. Starbucks never had cool cups with handles! Muffuletta and Oregon Chips Don and I ended up splitting a muffuletta, with a bag of Oregon chips. It was just the right amount. It was such a quick and tasty stop. I wish we could have lingered. We headed to our car parked out front on Adams Avenue... which I believe was once the Old Oregon Trail. Then I noticed a cozy looking, old hotel called, The Landing. Hmm? Another hotel to try in the future. Someday we can stay right on the Oregon Trail, in a cute hotel and spend more time at The Local, sampling ice cream and coffee!
Next time! Pot of Gold or Port of Gold? While traveling in Oregon last summer, I searched the internet for a good lunch stop. I spotted a cafe, at POT of Gold Beach! Hey, fun! Let's go! Oops! I read too fast. It was PORT of Gold Beach. But that sounded fun, too. I liked the name of the cafe as well. The Port Hole Cafe (Not Pot Hole Cafe) sounded like a fun seafood place! The Cannery and Fish Market We followed GPS to the small town of Gold Beach. The port was just south of the Rogue River Bridge. We parked and headed over to the Cannery complex. I had hoped to find an old wooden structure, with lots of fishermen stopping in for lunch. What we found was a a little more spiffed up. The original cannery from the 1960's had been replaced. Fish Market, Processing Plant.. We still got to see a little activity as we walked down to the cafe. We passed the Fish Market and I got to peek in and watch a guy in a slick yellow apron, go to work on a big fish! I'm sure things were very different in the 1960's, when ocean troll salmon fishing was at its peak. Economic and environmental issues forced change. Port Hole Cafe We found the cafe entrance near a serious little fisherman statue. I wish there had been a real fisherman around, so I could hear some stories. This space opened in 1998, as a retail facility with restaurant and commercial fish processing facilities. I was hoping for an authentic seafood joint, where fishermen dined, decades ago. But we could tell the place was popular as we followed others in. That was a good sign. Family Owned At noon and cafe was hopping. We had to wait for a table, so I had some time to look around and absorb the atmosphere. Seafood joint with knotty pine and fishing decor. Dining guests with overalls and camo hats. It all fit. And how about that Tsunami Hazard Zone sign, above the door. Decoration or real? Locals? I wondered about our fellow diners. I didn't spot any obvious travelers like us. Mostly the folks appeared to be locals. The Gold Beach community is only a couple thousand people, so it's not surprising that many seemed to know each other. Where to Sit? I wasn't in the mood to beg for a great table. But I hoped for one with a view of the harbor. How about a table overlooking the Mighty Rogue River? I was impressed to realize this view was so very close to where the Rogue River meets the Pacific. Divided Booth I was very curious about a few booths, with wooden divider walls. I've never seem that. I watched a large family getting seated at two booths. The divider was lifted so they could dine together. Clever! At the Bar? We were invited to sit at the bar if we wanted to be seated faster. We could have kept an eye on the kitchen if we'd taken at seat there. Stools Instead we went for a tall round table, with 2 stools. It wasn't perfect, but we were hungry. I had been hoping to spot a port hole or two in our restaurant. We had a couple right next to our table. We could spy on our neighbors! Important Messages As we sat waiting for our menus, I took in the important messages on signs and shirts. Beside our table, I read a sign with a big red crab, "We serve CRABS... actually we'll serve anybody." Important to know. That was some corny humor with the crab sign. Our server was pretty rushed and had no sense of humor. When I asked how old the cafe was, she didn't answer. She just spun around so I could see the back of her shirt that told me the date was 1984. That wasn't funny, but I noticed another server's shirt. "A quaint little Drinking Town with a Fishing Problem". Now that's sort of funny. Views and Treasures We didn't get one of the tables with a view of boats or seagulls or bridge. But we could look straight down at our table and see treasures! We could study the sand dollar and pennies, sea glass and rope. I'm all for an interesting table top. Food Our food actually came quickly and it hit the spot. Don went for an Albacore grilled tuna melt, with coleslaw and pickle. Simple but delicious. I couldn't resist coconut shrimp and French fries. They looked unimpressive with their skinny shape, but they were hot and crisp and tasty, with a spicy-sweet sauce. Ernest? Our quick little lunch at The Port, was hardly an adventure. But sometimes there's just a little something that makes it more memorable. I had a quick chat on the way out, with the owner. He said his mother originally owned the Port Hole Cafe, when it was located in an old house, 25 years ago. As we talked, I noticed a photo in a crafty frame behind him. "Is that Ernest Borgnine?" Yep, that was his mom with Ernest. He used to come to Port Hole, on visits to the area. I read on the internet that he died at age 92 in 2012. He used to drive his motorhome up to the Rogue River to watch the salmon. I don't know why it pleased me to picture this old actor enjoying some shrimp or salmon at the Port Hole. Helping Out Before climbing back in the car, I had Don do a quick pose with this fine fisherman. Don was nice to go along with my photo request. A dining adventure is always more memorable if there's a photo op with a statue. Good way to end!
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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
November 2023
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