a foodie weekend.

foodie [foo - dee] - noun

a person having an enthusiastic interest 
in the preparation and consumption of good food

Since arriving in the lovely state of Oregon, we have been fully immersed in the 'foodie' culture we find ourselves in (and it has been one of the things I most enjoy about living here). There is a strong appreciation and real push for a focus on local food, organic food, growing your own food, shopping at farmers markets, and eating foods in season. The 'slow food' movement is intertwined into the culture here, and you see it in the characteristics of the restaurants, the strength of the farmers markets, and the overall mentality of appreciation for food and where it comes from. People like Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman champion this movement, and we are able to truly see the epitome of its existence where we live.

Ever one to want to embrace where I am currently living, we have not been shy in indulging in this foodie culture ourselves. This past Friday night, Mike and I went to dinner at Toro Bravo, a Spanish inspired Tapas restaurant that also owns my favorite brunch spot, Tasty 'n Sons. On their website, included under the 'provisions' tab, they write: These hard working dedicated local farmers, ranchers and purveyors help us create our food with the highest quality fresh local ingredients. We would like to thank them for being part of our success. And they continue to list the names, locations (all within or right outside of Portland), and websites of all these farmers. This truly encapsulates the "farm to fork" idea that organizations like Slow Food and documentary movements like Food Inc. are championing. All this being said, the dinner was fantastic. We shared a couple tapas, ordering them to come out slowly so we could savor the entire evening. We also lucked out when they brought us the apple rhubarb for dessert instead of the chocolate cake that we ordered--so we ended up with both desserts!

John Gorham, head chef Toro Bravo

Whisky Soda Lounge

Saturday we went out to take pictures for the disposable camera project and afterward went to Whisky Soda Lounge for drinks and the best chicken wings I have ever had in my life. (They were featured on the Food Network, and rightly deserve all attention.) Caught up with our friend Jon at the Blue Monk lounge to see the Midnight Serenaders, a jazz swing band that has a strong following in Portland. Sitting there, you would feel as if you existed in the middle of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby.' The music made me nostalgic for a time I have never lived in. We even got up to join the couples dancing (even though they were truly talented and we most likely looked like goofballs).

photos by mike noel

Of course, a foodie weekend would not be a foodie weekend without Sunday Brunch. This Sunday we made omlettes with bacon, mushrooms, spinach and blue cheese (the bacon and blue cheese combined added so much to the flavor), along with crispy homefries, whole wheat toast, & pomegranate mimosas with raspberries.

Eating with the fullest pleasure; pleasure, that is, that does not depend on ignorance, is perhaps the profoundest enactment of our connection with the world. In this pleasure we experience and celebrate our dependence and our gratitude, for we are living from mystery, from creatures we did not make and powers we cannot comprehend.  -Wendell Berry