Hotel Rose was where we stayed for two nights while in Portland. It is just a few blocks from this amazing down-home restaurant called Mother's, where the biscuits are so good you'd slap your grandma...and I hit number four. It was the first place we went to eat when we got there, where from my experience, you can't take a breath before you feel the need to try the next lip-lapping thing.
I hope you can see the flake and crumbliness of those biscuits. No, it is not an exaggeration that I downed four. And I would be lying to say that I didn't take the last two home and eat them the next day for lunch. Great biscuits are hard to beat for sure, and these are some of the best I have ever had. The waiter laughed when I asked for a box because I wanted to take home the biscuits instead of the last little bit of my meal. Hmph well I sure was happy the next day!
Southern barbecue, biscuits, fried chicken, and mac-and-cheese rank at the top of my favorite food list, which makes me incredibly picky about what I consider good or not. Shout-out to my momma for making the best homemade pulled-pork and barbecue sauce I've ever had! My meal was exactly what I was hoping it would be. I wanted real, quality pulled-pork and this is where it's at! I definitely don't regret splitting the extra side of cheddar mac-and-cheese, which was probably my favorite out of the entire ridiculously good meal. I never would have thought that I could find such great southern staples in the Pacific Northwest! Let me eat my words, Portland knows how to do it! Oh what I would do to get my hands on the recipe for those biscuits and that mac!! Mother's served me a fantastic meal, complete with everything I miss about home! (except for fried chicken, but that comes up later)
After being insanely full from the best meal I have had on the west coast, we got up the next morning to wait in line for Voodoo Donuts, a place that Erin and Dave have been to several other times. Note the glitter glue painted on the bricks outside of the door.* They had too many donuts to choose from, so for the three of us, we decided on maple-bacon, chocolate cake coconut, chocolate cake Butterfinger, glazed vanilla icing with Froot Loops, and their signature Voodoo doll. The cake donuts were good, but the raised donuts were incredible! My favorite was the Voodoo doll, because of the chocolate icing, and the raspberry filling that would squirt out when you poked it with the pretzel stick in its belly. The maple-bacon was equally delicious, obviously there aren't too many ways you can go wrong if you slap bacon on it, but the Voodoo doll donut was way more entertaining! If you haven't pieced it together yet, THIS nutritious breakfast of assorted donuts is what preceded my lunch of leftover biscuits straight from heaven.
After being insanely full from the best meal I have had on the west coast, we got up the next morning to wait in line for Voodoo Donuts, a place that Erin and Dave have been to several other times. Note the glitter glue painted on the bricks outside of the door.* They had too many donuts to choose from, so for the three of us, we decided on maple-bacon, chocolate cake coconut, chocolate cake Butterfinger, glazed vanilla icing with Froot Loops, and their signature Voodoo doll. The cake donuts were good, but the raised donuts were incredible! My favorite was the Voodoo doll, because of the chocolate icing, and the raspberry filling that would squirt out when you poked it with the pretzel stick in its belly. The maple-bacon was equally delicious, obviously there aren't too many ways you can go wrong if you slap bacon on it, but the Voodoo doll donut was way more entertaining! If you haven't pieced it together yet, THIS nutritious breakfast of assorted donuts is what preceded my lunch of leftover biscuits straight from heaven.
After we got our fill of sugary carbs, we walked to Powell's City of Books, the largest independent new and used book store in the world! Yes, I was genuinely afraid that I would get lost. I was caught in sensory-overload for the first half-hour, not able to focus on one thing to search for amongst the floors of categorized material. I wandered around the main floor where they had neat displays of Portland-related trinkets and oddities, along with their top-pick reads. I had been on a mission to find a good book to read while on vacation, but never got the chance to look for one until Powell's, so I finally made an effort to walk up to the next floor and attempt to navigate the maze. Luckily the Christian book section was right there, or I might have given up. I actually spent much longer than expected roaming through the several isles they had set aside for different types of Christian reading. Powell's is not just a cool place for having a huge selection, but also because they have used copies of most books that are much cheaper than the new one right next to it.
The book I found last, Getting Past What You'll Never Get Over, by J. Westfall, has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I got to the third chapter this morning, and through tears, reached a break-through that I have been praying into for a full year now. I would highly recommend it! It sounds like a very specific book, but it isn't. God has already wrecked my heart with revelations of what he has done in baby steps this past year, and now in full, as I read about the healing He has for me. I am amazed at the seasons He takes us through, and how even though they can seem unending and insurmountable, God is right there all along, doing a new thing in us, refining us, and equipping us for what's to come. Life isn't perfect, it never will be. There is going to be hurt- physically and emotionally, and Jesus gives us the strength, tools, and knowledge to get through it. The reality that life is hard and that not always being ok, is actully ok, is what the Lord has been teaching me so much about. Just because we walk with Jesus and are saved from our sins doesn't mean we are free from life's hurts. This world is broken, and so are we, every single one of us. I just praise Jesus for His overwhelming grace, omnipotence, and love that gives me breath, life, and hope to keep going, even when the going gets tough.
I bet you weren't expecting the way that got all deep were you?! HA Well expect more depth about what the Lord has been doing in this area specifically in a post to follow!
After Powell's, Erin and I headed to the Nordstrom Rack, because I had my eye on a little something for Dj that I had seen through the window. Before we got there, I noticed the little chocolate store Moonstruck, a brand that had caught my attention in various other candy stores before. I had seen on the packaging that they were based in Portland, so I was eager to check out the actual store! It was a super tiny hole-in-the-wall, with very carefully and artistically crafted "artisan chocolates." They had some that were clown fish, mushrooms, dogs, mice, and so on. Let's get real, I was only looking for the salted caramels. I got two salted caramels, and another Bailey's truffle. The Bailey's one was good, it definitely tasted like Bailey's, but the salted caramel truffles were the best I have ever had!!! Each truffle was $2.50, which I would usually say is dumb, but I DON'T CARE. I would pay it again without hesitation. The caramel was so rich and creamy, yet chewy at the same time. There was a freshness to it that came together with the milk chocolate, and sent through the roof with the sea salt. Sea salt caramel is my favorite of any dessert or chocolate! There goes Portland again, nailing all of my favorites!!
The book I found last, Getting Past What You'll Never Get Over, by J. Westfall, has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I got to the third chapter this morning, and through tears, reached a break-through that I have been praying into for a full year now. I would highly recommend it! It sounds like a very specific book, but it isn't. God has already wrecked my heart with revelations of what he has done in baby steps this past year, and now in full, as I read about the healing He has for me. I am amazed at the seasons He takes us through, and how even though they can seem unending and insurmountable, God is right there all along, doing a new thing in us, refining us, and equipping us for what's to come. Life isn't perfect, it never will be. There is going to be hurt- physically and emotionally, and Jesus gives us the strength, tools, and knowledge to get through it. The reality that life is hard and that not always being ok, is actully ok, is what the Lord has been teaching me so much about. Just because we walk with Jesus and are saved from our sins doesn't mean we are free from life's hurts. This world is broken, and so are we, every single one of us. I just praise Jesus for His overwhelming grace, omnipotence, and love that gives me breath, life, and hope to keep going, even when the going gets tough.
I bet you weren't expecting the way that got all deep were you?! HA Well expect more depth about what the Lord has been doing in this area specifically in a post to follow!
After Powell's, Erin and I headed to the Nordstrom Rack, because I had my eye on a little something for Dj that I had seen through the window. Before we got there, I noticed the little chocolate store Moonstruck, a brand that had caught my attention in various other candy stores before. I had seen on the packaging that they were based in Portland, so I was eager to check out the actual store! It was a super tiny hole-in-the-wall, with very carefully and artistically crafted "artisan chocolates." They had some that were clown fish, mushrooms, dogs, mice, and so on. Let's get real, I was only looking for the salted caramels. I got two salted caramels, and another Bailey's truffle. The Bailey's one was good, it definitely tasted like Bailey's, but the salted caramel truffles were the best I have ever had!!! Each truffle was $2.50, which I would usually say is dumb, but I DON'T CARE. I would pay it again without hesitation. The caramel was so rich and creamy, yet chewy at the same time. There was a freshness to it that came together with the milk chocolate, and sent through the roof with the sea salt. Sea salt caramel is my favorite of any dessert or chocolate! There goes Portland again, nailing all of my favorites!!
After another dose of the most perfect sugar, I found exactly what I was looking for at the Rack! Very happy and jittery from the exorbitant amount of coffee and sugar we had consumed, we went back to rest and had a light meal at Rock Bottom Brewery to finish off the day.
Sunday morning we woke up with the plan to get Pine State Biscuits before we hit the road. On a day with a posted high of 90, I was shivering standing in line for over an hour. It hadn't hit 60 by 11am. I was getting to my predictably hangry state, questioning whether it was worth stretching my patience in the cold this much, when finally the food came, and the perfect plates were laid before us. Scroll down to commence drooling.
Sunday morning we woke up with the plan to get Pine State Biscuits before we hit the road. On a day with a posted high of 90, I was shivering standing in line for over an hour. It hadn't hit 60 by 11am. I was getting to my predictably hangry state, questioning whether it was worth stretching my patience in the cold this much, when finally the food came, and the perfect plates were laid before us. Scroll down to commence drooling.
Oh, it's just pretty to look at, right?! This little beauty is called the Chatfield. Fried chicken (I told you I'd get some), bacon, and cheese, topped with apple butter, piled high on a buttermilk biscuit. Let heaven invade. Seriously, if you think I'm kidding about biscuits being the 8th wonder of the world, you are terribly misinformed! It took me so long to decide which biscuit I wanted, because I wanted to try them all! The deciding factor on this one was the apple butter, and secondly, cheese. I like apple butter, and until recently had forgotten how under-rated and delicious it is. It reminds me of home and leaves me with that taste of fall I have been so excited about! I was incredibly happy with my choice, and couldn't be interrupted as the apple butter, cheesy goodness, chicken, and yes, seventh biscuit danced in my mouth. I can't explain what apple butter does to the chicken, but I do know I want to smear it on every piece of chicken and bread I have from here on out!! The cheddar acted as some sort of bridge between the two, because for some reason, it would not have been as good without it. Yes, this even exceeded my dinner at Mother's because of how well it all went together and reminded me of home, with that sweet, fried, comfort that washes all over you when you find that perfect meal.
The blueberry and whip biscuit exceeded expectations as well. The blueberries were almost reduced to a syrup, yet still had tons of whole berries, with what tasted like home-made whipped cream. It was very sweet and more like pancakes or dessert (is there a difference?), and it made me want to try this one at home! It seems simple enough, but there is so much flavor and buttery goodness to their biscuits that I'd be nervous to even attempt such artistry.
The blueberry and whip biscuit exceeded expectations as well. The blueberries were almost reduced to a syrup, yet still had tons of whole berries, with what tasted like home-made whipped cream. It was very sweet and more like pancakes or dessert (is there a difference?), and it made me want to try this one at home! It seems simple enough, but there is so much flavor and buttery goodness to their biscuits that I'd be nervous to even attempt such artistry.
I sure hope we meet again, Portland!
If not, someone please send me Pine State Biscuits through the mail.
If not, someone please send me Pine State Biscuits through the mail.