Completely updated/rewritten 11/2012Welcome to cold season in Portland.Hot Pot City is a constant for many of us, especially in the chilly, gray winter months in Portland. It's warm, it's soothing, it's steamy – perfect medicine for the colds and stuffed sinuses that our climate seems to encourage.Billing itself as Portland’s only Taiwanese Hot Pot Restaurant, … [Read more...] about Review: Hot Pot City
Comfort-Food
Review: Ox Restaurant
OX restaurant is a temple to “the wood-fired grilling tradition of Argentina, and with it, the culinary heritage of Spain, France, and Italy”. Opened in early 2012 by Quiñónez and Greg Denton, Ox has shot to the top of Portland's “must visit” restaurants, and placed number one on my 2012 Best New Restaurant List.On a recent warm summer evening, I ordered two … [Read more...] about Review: Ox Restaurant
Review: Podnah’s Pit Barbecue
Updated 6/20 I'm indulging myself at the beginning of this review of Podnah's Pit Barbecue by taking a walk down memory lane. Click here if you'd like to jump to the review section. When I was growing up, I spent many summers on a big cattle ranch just down the road from the booming metropolis of Maypearl Texas, population less than 300. We had a sprawling old ranch house … [Read more...] about Review: Podnah’s Pit Barbecue
Review: Bunk Sandwiches
<Completely updated 11/17 - hours, photos, notes, locations, etc.>What I like most about Bunk is, though it has only been open for a short time, it’s already a dive - in a good way. Sit in the back next to the stacks of bread, and you’ll know what I mean. It’s like being transported to the East Coast, where sandwich shops are a dime a dozen. The only difference is, … [Read more...] about Review: Bunk Sandwiches
Review: Salt & Straw
updated 6.17When I was growing up, on hot summer days dad used to get everyone into the car and head out to Lancaster California to pick fat juicy cherries and sweet peaches from the old orchards. We'd make a day of it, hiking in "The Devil's Punchbowl", stopping for a burger at A&W Rootbeer, and driving home tired and happy, the smell of ripe fruit playing harmony with … [Read more...] about Review: Salt & Straw