2012 James Beard Awards Picks

As everyone close to the food world already knows, yesterday the semifinalists for the 2012 James Beard Awards were announced. Here are the categories with finalists I'm familiar with and who I'm rooting for:

Outstanding Bar Program: Drink, Boston
If you know me at all, you'll know this was a no-brainer. I've loved Drink from the moment I had my first drink there during my first week in Boston. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable yet so unpretentious. I love that. Already dreaming about the Southside I'll order when I visit in March...

Outstanding Pastry Chef: Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston & Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery and Cafe, Boston. 
Flour and Sofra are literally my two favorite restaurants in Boston. Joanne stole my heart with her berry bread pudding as did Maura with her Moroccan donuts and chocolate hazelnut baklava.

Outstanding Restauranteur: Roger Berkowitz, Legal Sea Foods, Boston
Legal Sea Foods is overpriced no doubt, but it was the first restaurant I ate at in Boston when my Dad and I went to visit Emerson College, so it has a special place in my heart.

Best Chef Northeast: Jamie Bissonnette, Coppa, Boston
If Flour and Sofra comprise my top 2 in Boston, Toro makes the top 3. Not sure why Jamie Bissonnette is nominated for Coppa, not Toro, but I'm as long as he's nominated, it works for me.

Best Chef Northwest: Naomi Pomeroy, Beast, Portland & Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland
My dinner at Beast was one of the best meals I've ever had- if not the best- and I've only done happy hour at Nostrana, but I'd be happy if Naomi or Cathy won. Slightly more for Naomi, but you know. PDX love!

Portland Restaurant: Beast

Up until last Friday, the best meal I had ever eaten at a restaurant was the press dinner I was (probably accidentally) invited to at Craigie on Main last spring. I feasted on squid, eel, crispy pig's tails, perfectly cooked scallops, a bourbon ice torte with bacon crust, hot chocolate with cardamom and homemade almond roca.

After the dinner, I got home and called all my friends, spellbound over the meal I had just eaten. Could it get any better than Tony Maws? I didn't think so.

But then Doug surprised me with one of the best birthday presents ever: dinner at Naomi Pomeroy's Beast. And it was wonderful. Amazing. Spectacular.

I don't like to be on blogger duty during special meals like that one, so I don't have any photos from the evening, but I will share that night's menu as well as the advice to go to Beast if you can. Guaranteed it will be one of best meals you've ever had. It certainly was for me.

 BEAST'S MENU FOR FRIDAY, SEPT 23:

End of Summer Tomato-Thyme Soup

Charcuterie Plate:

Foie-Gras Bon-Bon, Sauternes Geleé

Chicken Liver Mousse, Leaf Lard Cracker

Pork Rillettes En Croute

Steak Tartare, Quail Egg Toast

Sweet Sopressata

Lava Lake Lamb Loin Chop

Eggplant, Pepper, & Sheep Cheese Tian

Basil & Mint Sauce Vert

Veal & Duck Demi-Glace

Seared Giant Scallop

Ribbons Of Early Fall Vegetables

Lobster Aioli

Cheeses From Steve At Cheese Bar

Armagnac Poached Prune, Fried Almonds

Cardamom Shortbread

Pistachio Pots De Crème

Huckleberry Gelee

Smoked Salt Tuille

Portland Restaurants: Valentine's Day Ideas!

Posted by Kelly

People say that Valentine's Day is a grossly over commercialized holiday so that the Hallmarks of the world can make tons of money, men can be burdened with romantic responsibilities, and single people can eat ice cream and watch sappy romantic comedies. Well that may be true, but I'm guessing Portland restaurants aren't complaining!  Most restaurants create preselected menus for five course meals...of course paired with wine if you'd like. So this Valentines, if we had money, these are the places I would have tried to choose between.

Din Din - Location Changes - Meets Once a Month
This is quite possibly one of my favorite ideas. It's similar to Simpatica in that the menu changes and it's on an email/reservation basis, but with Din Din you get to experience different venues that aren't your typical restaurant. Yes, I added myself to their email list so I definitely plan on attending one of these soon. For Valentines, Courtney has created a sexy menu ($75 + gratuity and wine pairings) for their dinner series on February 12, 13, and 14 at Art Department, a collaborative art+design space in the heart of the Central Eastside Industrial District's Distillery Row. This is an obvious first pick!

Le Pigeon - 738 E. Burnside St. - 5-10pm Mon-Sat - 5-9pm Sun

I have only heard great things about this charming french inspired restaurant on East Burnside. The restaurant is small so reservations are the only way to guarantee a seat, but the bar is reserved for walk ins (prob not on Valentines though...) where you can sit and watch the staff at work. This restaurant is absolutely on my list so look forward to a full review.

If they're full, I wold recommend checking out Little Bird Bistro at 219 SW 6th Ave. It was opened by the same team as Le Pigeon and I'm positive will be just as enjoyable!

BEAST - 5425 NE 30th - Seatings 6pm+8:45pm Wed-Sat, 10am+12pm Sun
This successful NE restaurant offers a six-course prix-fixe dinner four nights a week ($68 + $35 for wine pairings) and a four-course prix-fixe brunch every Sunday ($28 + $20 wine pairings). The menu changes weekly and is updated online for you check out before making reservations. This week there is a cream of celery soup, a charcuterie plate, duck breast, smashed potatoes, red kale, and demiglace, a butter lettuce salad and a selection of desserts. If this menu isn't your cup of tea, check back next week!

I'm sure there are more. There always seems to be numerous Portland restaurants I am itching to try, but these are the ones that stand out to me the most this morning. Though, no matter how tempting these choices may be, I won't be spending upwards of $150 this Valentine's day so a bottle of champagne, a home made din, and some chocolate dipped strawberries will do just fine!