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Christmas Eve Brunch Don and I spent Christmas with our kids and their spouses, in Portland.
Our daughter and son-in-law picked Jam on Hawthorne, as a good bet for Christmas Eve brunch. We weren't the only ones with that idea. Warming Up Inside They don't take reservations, so we waited for a table, along with lots of other people.  We were outside for a while and then found space inside, under paper snowflakes! The Bar There was a festive bar, serving at least 7 kinds of Bloody Mary cocktails and at least 12 flavors of Mimosa.  I was happy with the free coffee, set up on the sidewalk. White Tree and Snowflakes! The small room just inside the door, was entertaining while we waited. We watched the bustling servers and the happy crowd, out on the sidewalk.
But when we were called to our table, I was thrilled to be in the larger room with the crazy white tree, nearby. There must have been 100 paper snowflakes and I was curious to know who made them all. A Place to Play The white Christmas tree wasn't the only special thing nearby. There was an elevated stage, with lots of toys and a play kitchen.
Heidi and Chali could have leaned over and grabbed something to play with while we waited for food. Restaurants never had fun play areas when I was a kid... or a young parent! Menu Options The menu was colorful on the outside, with creative selections on the inside. Maybe that's why they call it a cafe and arthouse.
Actually the art part was all over the walls. If it had been less crowded, I would have roamed and enjoyed. Food! A lot of amazing foods came to our table. For sweet stuff, we had Maddie Cakes (lemon-ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote) and Grand Marnier French Toast.
I was tempted to get the Maple Cashew Granola, but the spinach and mushrooms in Ed's Scramble won out. At least mine came with toast, so I got to sample Jam's homemade jam! I also snuck a bite of some amazing biscuits and gravy! Good Food Good Service Heidi and Jamie picked well.  The food was worth waiting for. Once seated, the service was speedy, without feeling rushed. Festive Memories I hope to come again, on another visit to Portland. Although, I may have a hard time adjusting to the atmosphere without the glowing tree and 4 kids, eager for Christmas!
Some say the anticipation isn't as fun when the kids are grown. But when your kids are old enough to drink Christmas mimosas, the holidays have a whole new feel. Yay for Christmas Eve Brunch!
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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
May 2025
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