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Hot Spots

Deadshot

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Our Hot Spot of the week this week is outstanding SE cocktail spot Deadshot! We had been hearing about this one for ages, in particular from one of our favorite cocktail-loving friends, so it was time for a pop in. Long story short, it was awesome.

We headed in for happy hour and grabbed a spot on the patio. Like many Portland establishments, they have an extended outdoor dining plaza currently, and we sure do hope those stick around! We started off with the happy hour cocktail of the day, an Americano, in part because Campari is delicious and in part because it was going to take a LOT more time to make our decisions. Deadshot is dangerous, as basically every single thing on both the food and cocktail menus sounds amazing.

Once our thirst had been quenched, we moved on to the slightly higher proof Tom and Artemis. This one was a super delicious blend of Old Tom gin, Genepy (an herbal, Alpine liqueur) lime, and absinthe served over a king cube. It was very spirit forward, but also crisp, bright, and drinkable. We also decided to get some tasty snacks and started with the Cha Gio from the happy hour menu. The description of these as ‘crispy pork and shrimp spring rolls did not prepare us for how delicious they were. We honestly considered immediately ordering a second portion. They were crispy, but also tender, and positively juicy inside. The dipping sauce was a great balance of spicy and sweet and the pickled carrots and daikon on the side was a fresh and tangy complement.

Instead, we decided to try out more things from the menu. We went with the Crying Tiger, which was a nicely grilled bone-in slab of short rib, and the Dragon Dumplings. The dumplings were recommended by our server and were outstanding. Ground pork and shrimp stuffed into some nicely toothsome dumplings were tossed in a delicious sauce with grilled long beans and crunchy peanuts. The bowl was nearly clean when it returned to the kitchen. Along with this round of food, we also tested out the Heart of Cyn, a tamarind take on a Whiskey sour that had us puckering but pleased.

We are definitely excited to head back to Deadshot and try out everything else on the menus. Their cocktails are creative and the food is wonderful and we just want more! If you haven’t been yet, check them out Here. If you want to check out our other Hot Spots, you can find them Here. Where should we go next? Let us know in the comments!

Oma’s Hideaway

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Our Hot Spot this week is incredible Southeast Asian restaurant Oma’s Hideaway! Originally introduced as a take-out concept, this sister restaurant to already much-talked-about Gado Gado puts a fun and playful spin on food inspired by the chef’s grandmother’s cooking. We were so impressed by the attention to detail and creative flavor combinations! I would definitely encourage you to check out this SE Division powerhouse before it’s too tough to get a seat.

Omas Hideaway

We started with some cocktails, one boozy and one zero proof. We are always big fans of restaurants that take their non-alcoholic drinks seriously, rather than just phoning it in. Oma’s has several options of zero proof drinks that have complex and delightful flavor profiles. This time we went with the Inspector Gadget, which felt like summertime in a glass. On the boozy side, we tried out the Any Fool Can Make Something Complicated. It was delicious and bittersweet, and we thoroughly enjoyed it (and the name).

My favorite problem to have when trying out a new restaurant is when EVERY. SINGLE. THING on the menu sounds amazing. It makes me wish that I could be like the cow and have three more stomachs. Luckily, only having one means that I will just have to keep coming back! This time we decided to start with the Corn Fritters, the Roti Canai, and the Duck Salad.

The Corn Fritters were sweet, fluffy, and crunchy, served with a rich, sweet peanut sauce over the top. A very nice starting snack to go along with those first cocktails. The Roti Canai totally blew our minds. I tend to think of roti as a somewhat dense flatbread, primarily to be used as a vessel to get sauce to your mouth. This roti was a whole other ballgame. Stretched and folded over and over, it was almost like a rounded fried croissant, incredibly flaky and melt-in-your-mouth. The curry dipping sauce was wonderful as well, but I feel like I could eat nothing but that roti every damn day and be happy. The duck salad was another game-changer. We both agreed that it might have been the best salad we have ever eaten. It had spice and crunch, sweetness and freshness, and some phenomenally tender duck on top. So much yum!

Next, we tried out the Duck, Foie, and Pork Sausage as well as the Spot Prawns . The sausage was lovely, with braised greens a warm broth, and a rich hoison-aise for dipping. Now, I have to give you a warning about the Spot Prawns. This is NOT a first date food! Your hands will get messy extricating the delectable shrimp morsels from the shells and you will definitely be licking your fingers. The sauce is so outstanding that you might slurp it from the bowl or at least order a whole second roti to slather it on. Either way, your belly will be happily bursting by the end and you will want nothing more than some very stretchy pants and a comfy couch to stretch out on.

Definitely head over to Oma’s Hideaway and try out their incredible food. Then, let us know in the comments what we need to order next time! Check out Oma’s Hideaway current menu Here.

Corollary

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Hot spot of the week this week is the maker of our new favorite local sparkling wines – Corollary! If you know us, then you know that we LOVE champagne. We even run a Meetup group based around the stuff. So when we heard that there is a local winery that does all bubbly, we got pretty excited, and had to head to their tasting room to try it all!

First of all, their outdoor tasting room was so cozy. We were there on a bit of a chilly, drizzly Spring day, but the sheepskin seat covers and fluffy throw blankets kept us totally comfortable. There were delicious home-baked crackers by Jeanne’s mom that were the perfect nibble between bubbles. And of course, our gracious hosts who talked us through the processes they use and the farmers they work with.

We got to taste through all of the 5 different sparklings they have currently available. And while they were all quite different from one another, they all had their own wow-factor. I more or less immediately joined the wine club. The combination of the integrity with which Jeanne and Dan approach the wine-making and the total deliciousness of the wines themselves proved an irresistible combination. I cannot wait to return for my next pick-up from them!

If you’re interested in knowing more about Corollary visit them Here.

Arden

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We had the pleasure of dining at Arden last week, and it was phenomenal. I’m a true portlander when it comes to food. I LOVE farm to table NW Cuisine. After following Arden on instagram and participating in some of the weekly wine talks, I was beyond excited to try this pearl district gem.

Arden Patio

They have a great wine list with multiple options in all styles, including sparkling (yay!). A temporary patio if you are not yet comfortable dining indoors, and a waitstaff that is both friendly and helpful when its time to make a decision.

We wanted to try basically everything on the menu, but luckily our waiter helped us narrow things down to items that would pair well with each other and our sparkling wine. We ended up choosing a burrata salad, smoked trout toast, and foie gras to start with.

The vegetables were all fresh, crisp and absolutely shined in these dishes. The trout toast was my favorite of the three. It featured toast with a smoked trout aioli, smoked trout slices, peas, radishes, lemon zest and a bit of dill. I highly recommend you trying this one!

To finish out the meal we shared the goat cheese gnocchi and a side of blistered radishes. The gnocchi was light and fluffy and complimented by a fabulous pea puree, parmesan cheese and prosciutto. The radishes were simple, but delicious! And to finish the meal we just had to try a dessert. They had a basque style cheesecake served with rhubarb that was absolutely divine.

The menu changes frequently and I know I will be back to try some things again soon. If you want to check out the menu before you head in, you can find that here. If you do go check them out, let us know what you think!

Miyamoto

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Hot Spot of the Week is delicious Montavilla sushi spot Miyamoto! We visited Miyamoto recently to celebrate a birthday and sample their wares, and it was positively delicious.

Miyamoto is tucked on a little side street in Montavilla. The location is excellent as they can have a spacious covered outdoor seating area, yet you aren’t right on busy SE Stark. We started, of course, with a sake flight! I went with the Miyamoto flight as I wanted to see what their signature choices had in store. Luckily, we were sharing because those were some healthy pours! All three sakes were not only delicious, but distinct. I also found the tasting notes on the sake card to be incredibly accurate. The Tears of Dawn was bright and fruity with notes of melon. And yes, the Bride of the Fox WAS rich and nutty! My dining companions actually changed their minds about sake as a whole after this flight. They had both thought that they didn’t care for it, but tasting these was a revelation for them!

We also got some starters going right away, as we were quite hungry on arrival. The chicken karaage and the pork gyoza came out of the kitchen fast and went into our bellies even faster. The chicken was perfectly crisped with a nice spicy sauce. The gyoza were just the right combination of steamed and fried, plus tender and juicy on the inside.

After starters, we went on to rolls. We decided to try the Miyamoto roll, which had 4 types of wonderful fresh fish, pickled jalapenos, and a chili ponzu sauce that I wanted to lick off the plate. We also got the Billy Low Roll which had salmon, tuna, spicy mayo and tempura crunch and it was so yummy. To round out the table and our tummies, we added a simple tuna roll and some inari.

We really loved everything at Miyamoto and are so excited to go back to try the rest of the menu! I love that they have such a great selection of hot and cold plates, a lot of great sakes, and really beautifully prepared fish. Check out their menu Here!

Flying Fish Company

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Living in Portland exposes us to all sorts of amazing food, and on the top of that list is seafood. Are you ever craving some sushi-grade tuna at home, but you’re just not sure where you can find it? Or maybe you just want some oysters on the half-shell? Flying Fish Company offers a fresh fish market for consumers as well as a full-service restaurant. This week, we decided we needed to experience all that Flying Fish Company offers.  

The food

We settled in under their outdoor covered patio just after the lunch rush started to die down. The menu offers various seafood with both raw to cooked options. As well as salads and burgers. We selected the cod fish and chips, grilled steelhead sandwich, and tuna Niçoise salad. The freshness of the seafood here is unsurpassable.

The cod was lightly battered and fried until golden brown and crispy. Served with a side of Jojo’s and some citrus kale slaw. The grilled steelhead was perfectly seasoned and lightly grilled so that the interior of the fish was still moist and delicious, but the fish skin was nice and crispy. The fish was then served on a Grand Central ciabatta roll with the best herb aioli I’ve ever had and the kale citrus slaw that accompanied the cod. Last but certainly not least was the Tuna Nicoise. Poached albacore tuna was served on top of a bounty of greens with a light red wine vinaigrette with just the right amount of bite. The potatoes and egg were cooked to perfection making the salad stand up next to the other entrees without question.

On our way out we headed into the fresh fish market. Todays offering had fresh oysters, and clams, ahi tuna, cod, steelhead, Dungeness crab, Scallops and so many other fish options. In addition to all the fresh fish, Flying Fish Company also has a variety of canned seafood to stock up your pantry with. For the current list of what’s fresh go Here. Whether you’re looking for an easy meal out or a decadent dinner in Flying Fish Company has everything a seafood lover could need. For more local hot spots check out our blog Here.

Slappy Cakes

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Slappy Cakes is a Portland favorite and one of the most fun restaurants that you can visit in SE Portland.  With griddles on nearly every table, you can order and make your very own pancakes at your table.  They always have buttermilk, chocolate, and vegan batter, but there is also a rotating seasonal flavor to keep you coming back.  This time around it was a lemon poppy seed which paired perfectly with our fruit. 

Slappy cakes

I went as a special mom and daughter date, so we ordered all the berries, chocolate chips, and whipped cream.  The pancakes are light and fluffy, and the flavor combination was perfect.  In the past I have ordered chorizo and goat cheese toppings, so if you are feeling adventurous, be sure to check that out! If you aren’t in the mood for pancakes, they also have all the breakfast staples.  Hash, Benedict, Scrambles, Candied Bacon.  This place will truly please everyone in the family. 

Because I was having a mommy and me date, we ordered some fresh squeezed orange juice.  They have multiple juice options, but if you are in the mood for something a little stronger they also have a fantastic cocktail menu.  I highly recommend the Slappy Cakes Bloody Mary!

We constantly go back to this restaurant for the fun atmosphere and the yummy food and drinks, have you been to visit yet?  Make sure to let us know when you go! 

Tropicale

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Springtime is here with summer just around the corner, and this week’s Hot Spot -Tropicale – is the perfect place to celebrate that fact! We headed here recently to test out their famous pina coladas, margaritas, and snacks, and were positively delighted!

First, let me say – Tropicale has their patio situation dialed in. There is plenty of space, a festive atmosphere, and different styles of outdoor heaters dotted about to make sure you stay warm enough while you imbibe. We actually ended up between a stand-up heater and a long, low fireplace style, and had to take off a couple of layers! A smart move on their part, as it certainly added to the tropical feel of the place!

Tropicale patio.

We started, of course, with the famous pina colada in a whole pineapple. While everything is better when served in a pineapple, I can say that the beverage itself held it’s own. Delicious! Next, I tested out the spicy mango margarita, which was so tasty I had finished it before I knew what had happened. Based on those two, I want to try everything they have!

tropicale Pina colada in a whole pineapple

Next, it was time for some food to balance the bevvies. We tried a lot of the menu and were quite happy. As is tradition, chips and guacamole to start, which here you can add on dueling salsas (do it) to complement. The shrimp tacos were lovely, bright, and well-made. The tostada ahumada (topped with smoked skirt steak, greens, and caper aioli) had an excellent balance of flavors and textures and was quite filling. We ended up adding on the pulpo at the end, because, how can you not? As many know octopus can be diffficult to cook properly, but Tropicale did it right! It was super tender with wonderful flavors.

Tostada

We cannot wait to come back and spend many summer evenings on the patio here. With their tasty food and fresh, fun cocktails, I think this is going to be a spot we re-visit frequently! Check out Tropicale here.

Where should we visit next? Let us know in the comments! If you want to see our other Hot Spots head HERE