Posts Tagged ‘Oregon’
The Road to Vernonia…home of the Ax Men, Ring of Fire, and a charming little town!
February 9, 2013 | 
Author One Sunday we took a leisurely drive from our St. Helens home near the Columbia River to the historic town of Vernonia. Winding our way from the flat lands up towards the gossamer clouds it would be easy to pretend we were entering Misty Mountain territory from Lord of the Rings.
It takes about an hour to travel the twisting thirty-one miles into tall-tree country. (That is if you don’t stop for pictures)
Vernonia’s history is rooted in the timber industry. Magnificent giant trees dwell on hillsides like skyscrapers dominate downtown San Francisco.
Vernonia’s famous Big Gun Logging team is part of the History Channel Ax Men series.
And the 1961 film Ring of Fire, starring David Janssen and Frank Gorshin, was partially filmed in Vernonia.
Arriving in this charming town, with a population of a little over 2,200, we were greeted by a winsome old hip-roofed barn.
I am crazy about bridges, and could not resist getting a photo of this stalwart structure…..
Imagine this gallant framework resisting the menacing floodwater of the Nehalem river….
The Nehalem River did jump it’s banks and flooded this quaint little town in December of 2007.
We found parking next to a grocery store that is definitely “parent friendly!” I’ve NEVER seen this before. I’m impressed. How accommodating…how touching….how thoughtful!
We strolled down the sidewalk to the Black Bear Coffee Company on Bridge Street.
Our delicious hamburger was only outdone by my fantastic Bloody Mary…and it was true, as one of my friends noted, “there’s a salad on top of your drink.”
The service was terrific and the atmosphere delightful. We’ll be returning to the Black Bear Coffee Company.
Leaving the carpets of ferns….
….and the moss covered tree trunks….
( Was that an elf darting into that opening?)
….felt like we were leaving a fairy-tale world….
….but I know that the road leading out of Vernonia, can take me back anytime I want!
Posted in Blogs, frontpage, Travels, Uncategorized | 
Tags: AxMen, Big Gun Logging Team, Black Bear Coffee Company, bridge, fairly-tale world, flood of 2007, hip-roofed barn, Oregon, quaint town, Ring of Fire, Road to Vernonia, Vernonia | 
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There’s no place like Portland….a fascinating gourmet experience.
Portland, Oregon is a virtual epicurean wonderland ! And we are trying our best to take full advantage of all opportunites every time we have a chance to be there.
In our short visit, we were treated to fantastic Korean food at the Be Won on North 23rd Street in the heart of downtown Portland.
From their menu we were introduced to the different types of Korean food….
which can be divided into the following categories:
Juk:
a rice porridge often served as a restorative, can include chicken, vegetables, beans, ginseng and mushrooms
Jeon:
pan fried vegetables or seafood; there are also pancake-like Jeon that consist of meat and vegetables integrated into a batter
Guk and Tang
soup made from a variety of different vegetables, meats and seafood
Chi-ge and Jeongol
traditional Korean stews and casseroles
Jim and Jorim
dishes of meat or fish simmered in many ingredients and spices
Gui
broiled or barbecued dishes
Namul
lightly seasoned fresh vegetables or wild green dishes
Bokkum
stir fried dishes made with variety of vegetables, seafood or meat
Bap
boiled rice, often garnished with beans, barley, millet or other grains to enhance flavor or nutritional value
Kimchi
kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish made with Korean cabbage, cucumbers or radishes with a mixture of other vegetables and seasonings, there are more than 160 kimchi varieties differentiated by region and ingredients
Check out their fantastic menu items at this site:
http://www.bewonrestaurant.com/menu.asp
One evening, we had dinner at Hakatamon Restaurant next to the Beaverton Uwajimaya Asian Market. Hakatamon serves fresh udon noodles, made by hand by Chef Kato each day for the delicious udon soups. After we ate, we strolled through the incredible market with aisles full of speciality Asian groceries and gifts. A fantastic treat !
You can find out how the fascinating history of the Uwajimaya Market is connected to Northern California at this site…..
http://www.uwajimaya.com/history.html
At our next stop, (one of our favorite chain restaurants), we ordered classical Chinese food. PF Changs is delightfully consistent in their presentation and quality. The Gluten Free Menu is quite extensive and even includes dessert ! There are several locations listed on their website:
http://www.pfchangs.com/index.aspx
For a treat, we found the Saint Honore Boulangerie in Lake Oswego. This French bakery features handcrafted French breads and pastries. Quiches, sandwiches, salads and soups are also on the menu. Two of us ordered the Choquettes….puffy baked pastry with pate a choux and dusted with rock sugar. Two of us decided on the Gateau….Gateau Orange and Gateau au Chocolate….both flourless cakes, rich and flavorful.
http://www.sainthonorebakery.com/
One of these beautiful spring days, we might try…..
An Epicurean Walking Tour
http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/tours/epicurean_excursion.php
Bon Vivant and Happy Infusions,
Kate
Posted in Travels | Tags: Chinese food, epicurean, gluten free menu, Japanese Fod Saint Honore Bakery, Korean Food, Oregon, Portland | No Comments »
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