Seattle Restaurant: Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon

Okay, so aside from Kel's Besaw's & Davis Street posts, we have been majorly slacking. Sorry, we're going to do better! (Maybe.)

Anyway, remember when I was posting about Seattle a lot? Good. Because I'm going to keep doing that...

One of Doug's favorite restaurants in Seattle is Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon, which serves delicious Mandarin/Szechuan-style Chinese food. 

What: Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon
Where: 8917 Roosevelt Way NE, Roosevelt
Honeys Heart: Dumplings and Chow Mein

We started off our dinner with an order of Jiao-zi, or boiled dumplings, filled with pork. Knowing we'd be taking some home to share with Doug's parents, we went the the 26-piece order ($13.95).

 

These were some of the best dumplings I've ever had. The pork was juicy and flavorful, the dumpling dough perfectly chewy and that dipping sauce... so good! We had to ask our server to box them up so we wouldn't keep eating them and spoil the rest of our dinner.  

We decided to share two entrees so we could try a meat dish and a noodle dish. Doug had never had Judy's Cashew Chicken with water chesnuts ($10.55), but I convinced him we should try it.

The crunch of the cashews and water chestnuts was a great compliment to the chicken. Tasty sauce too. Highly recommended!

For our noodle dish, we went with Snappy Dragon Chow Mein which comes with a combo of shrimp, chicken, beef and veggies ($9.50).

I've been told that Frank's Noodle House here in Portland has some of the best noodles in the northwest but I'd have to disagree. Judy's noodles are the kind that are so good that even when you're super full from dumplings and chicken and chow mein, you can't help but go back for just a little more. Seriously, this is my last noodle. But really, I'm so full. Ok, just one more. And... commence food coma.

Portland Happy Hour: Davis Street Tavern

What: Davis Street Tavern
Where: 500 NW Davis Street
When: HH Mon - Fri 4 - 6 pm, Sat & Sun 3 - 5 pm

I wrote a blog post about Davis Street Tavern in March of 2009 that did not properly do it justice. It was before I liked gin. Before I had tried their Champagne Cocktail ($8) and LOVED it. Basically, it was before it had become one of my fav spots in NW Portland.

Since Jen moved to Portland in July I've been talking up DST's happy hour, specifically the mac 'n' cheese. So on Saturday, after checking out the Nordstrom sale and spending sufficient time laying on Jen's couch watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, we finally went to happy hour.

Guess what we ordered first? Cocktails! Jen has never had St. Germaine, so I ordered us the French Pear ($9) with Grey Goose Le Poire, St. Germaine, and lemon, while Jen opted for a Basil Martini ($8) made with Hendrick's gin, basil and lemon. They were just what we needed after our lazy afternoon. Jen tossed around the idea of ordering her martini with vodka, but we were glad she didn't! Hendrick's gin has a cucumber flavor that combined perfectly with the basil and lemon (our waitress described the "flavor profile"). Definitely a drink I would order again!

Choosing HH food was fairly easy. We had already done some pre-HH research and checked out the whole menu online, plus the Velvety Mac 'N' Cheese ($5) with girella pasta and three cheese bechamel was a no brainer.

As mac 'n' cheese lovers we tend to order it a lot, but that's not to say we aren't disappointed from time to time. We do have criteria. I like a mac 'n' cheese that is creamy and not full of extra stuff to make it "fancy," and Jen prefers her's hot. Like steaming, need to blow on it, careful not to burn your tongue, HOT. As expected, this met our standards and maintains it's place as one of my all time favorites.

Sticking with our obvious theme of healthy food we also ordered the Shoe String Fries ($3) served with ketchup and green chili hollandaise and Fish Tacos ($7) with tempura cod, cilantro, lime crema Mexicana. The fries were crispy, salty, and gone by the time we left - yikes! While the fish tacos were fresh and a little spicy.

Following our cocktails we also enjoyed a glass of their Italian White Blend ($5), one of a few HH wine selections. I'd say we made some good decisions! We are already planning to return, hopefully with Jen's mom this weekend!

Portland Happy Hour: Besaw's

 
What: Besaw's 
Where: 2301 NW Savier St (and 23rd), Nobhill 
When: Tuesday-Saturday, 3pm-5pm
Honeys Heart: $3 cocktail of the day

I sometimes have a horrible tendency of thinking that NW 23rd stops North of Lovejoy. Walking down 23rd I typically stop once I make it to Kettleman Bagel Company. It's silly though, because there are many places between Lovejoy and Thurman that are absolutely worth a visit including Lela's Bistro, Casa del Matador, Wildwood, Kenny and Zukes, St. Honore Bakery and Besaw's.

Katie, her sister Kelly, and I went to Besaw's HH to celebrate Kelly's visit to Portland back in July. The HH includes a $3 cocktail of the day. Sort of an amazing deal! We enjoyed two Champagne with Rubarb Reduction ($3) cocktails, which were a perfect celebratory drink.

Other HH drinks at that incredible $3 price are the house red wine, house white wine, and all well cocktails.

The HH menu is a variety of $4 small plate food specials.

We chose the Slow Pork Slider with handcut fries.

 This was probably our least favorite, just because the flavor wasn't very interesting. The pork was tender, but I think a delicious sauce would have helped this sandwich out.

Next we shared The Original Mac, which was just that, a traditional combination of elbow macaroni, cream, Tillamook cheddar, and toasted breadcrumbs.

Not surprisingly, this was our favorite.
 
Finally, we enjoyed a small portion of Spinach Dip with house baked focaccia.

 This dip was loaded with spinach, much more than some others I've had, and it was great on the crispy pieces of bread.

I've been back to Besaw's twice since this visit for breakfast and would recommend it. It's always super busy on the weekends, so I would try to hit it up during the weekdays!

Portland Restaurant: Brasserie Montmartre

What: Brasserie Montmartre

Where: 626 SW Park Ave

When: HH Daily 2 - 6pm

Adam and I try to meet my grandparents for dinner about once a month. My parents where in town recently so it was a perfect opportunity for a family dinner. 

We started our meal with a couple cocktails. Adam went for the Henry Miller ($8.50), a whiskey drink of course, with St. Germaine elderberry flower liqueur. Not my cup of tea, (or whiskey rather) but Adam enjoyed it.

My mom and I opted for the Poire Pressée ($7) a house infused double-pear vodka poured tall with ginger ale over ice, finished with Yellow Chartreuse and fresh mint. This sounds like a drink I would love since I'm typically a huge fan of ginger, but I felt like it overpowered all the other flavors.

While sipping our cocktails we also ordered an appetizer special. Something to do with octopus, and delicious things. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it was SO good. I could have had just this appetizer for dinner.

After apps it was time for wine, and our main course. Adam, once again being a bit predictable, ordered the Brasserie Burger ($14) a brioche bun, grilled onions, tomato bacon jam, gruyere cheese, pickles, and fries. It was a little pricey and messy, but really good. Plus shoestring fries are amazing.

My dad and grandpa opted for the Roasted Half Chicken ($18) with figs, corn, arugula, pickled peppers and chicken jus. Mmmmm.

I was going back and forth between a couple things on the menu, so luckily for me, my mom and grandma ordered one of them so I could try it! The Idaho Trout ($19) with glazed haricots verts, toaste almonds, and beurre noisette was cooked perfectly. Great choice!

Based on our waiters suggestion, I ordered the special Pork Belly Steak with mushrooms, sauteed spinach, and a delicious sauce. It was a huge portion and although it was good, it was very rich. Definitely something that could have been shared.

It was a good dinner, but I think if I return it will be to try their HH.