At Last

The Fresh Market finally opened in St. Petersburg last week. While it is not downtown, it is only a few miles up 4th Street North. It is probably a little too close for my own good. I already stopped there Friday evening to pick up some pate and cheeses. Wonderful stuff, I say.

Prime Times Two

The quest continues... our friend Karen has included us in her quest to try most of the dishes on the St. Petersburg Times "40 Dishes Worth Relishing". We have checked off a number of them over the past months and we checked off two more this evening. 


Prime #1: The Cucumber Gimlet at Ocean Prime. I am not a mixed drink drinker, except for an occasional mojito or margarita, so a gimlet was a new one for me. I didn't even know what went into a gimlet until tonight. After tasting it, who cares. It was very good, and you could taste the muddled cucumber and lime more than the gin. I just added a third drink to my mixed drink repertoire. To quote the St. Petersburg Times, "It softens the heavy botanical, lavender notes and peppery finish of Bombay Sapphire with cooling, muddled fresh cucumber and a squirt of lime." We accompanied the gimlets with a couple very nice appetizers, the fried calamari and a cheese fondue. Enjoy the drinks and food at reduced prices during their Prime Hour, 4 to 6 PM weekdays.


Prime #2: The Prime Beef Hamburger at Fleming's Prime Steak House. This was a great juicy burger. It comes with bacon, and a choice of swiss, cheddar, or blue cheese. We all opted for the blue cheese, which I loved, but Frank thought was a touch overpowering. We washed it down with a glass of wine. This was a steal by the way. Fleming's offers a "5 for $6 til 7" bar menu. There is a choice of 5 cocktails, 5 wines, and 5 appetizers or the Prime Burger, each priced at $6 until 7:00 PM. Six bucks for this burger is a real deal. 


Good drinks, good food, and good friends... it doesn't get any better.


That's all I'm saying !

Patagonian Toothfish By Any Other Name

Before I start a fishy tail (or tale), a couple of announcements. First, I have been using red/bold text for links to other Websites. Beginning with this post, I will use blue/bold text to indicate links. This is more in keeping with the standard that most of us see.  Also, if you find any broken links, please let me know. And second, your comments are always appreciated. Just click on the "comment" link at the end of each post. I monitor the comments, and they will not appear on the blog until I bless them.


Now, for the tale of the Patagonian Toothfish. I was searching for a nice quick and easy fish recipe in my friend Liz's "Recipe from Home" collection and came across a recipe for Baked Fish with Moroccan Spices, which sounded good and satisfied the criteria of quick and easy. Liz recommended using either halibut or mahi-mahi. I on the other hand, was a bad person, and visited Mazzaro's, where I purchased two lovely fillets of Chilean Sea Bass.  I was bad for purchasing a fish that is being over-fished and not recommended if you are concerned about sustainability. While that is important to me, at times, I cave in, as I did this week. Now, to complete the circle, the actual name of the Chilean Sea Bass is, you guessed it, Patagonian Toothfish. The name change was a marketing gimmick to make the fish sound more appealing. Can you imagine going to a restaurant and ordering Patagonian Toothfish? Click on the link to read the Wikipedia entry if you so desire. 


The fish came out great, with wonderful spicy flavors. Since my fillets were two inches thick, I had to increase the cooking time from the recipe (written for 1" fillets). I served it with another of Liz's recipes for Fresh Spinach with Cumin. The spinach was a nice complement to the fish. 


Here are the recipes (thank you Liz):


Baked Fish with Moroccan Spices
Serves 8


Ingredients:
Olive Oil
8 6-8 oz fish fillets, each about 1-inch thick (halibut or mahi-mahi)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper to taste
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)


Brush rimmed baking sheet with oil. Brush both sides of fish with oil. Mix ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne in medium bowl. Rub spice mixture all over fish. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Place fish on prepared baking sheet. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate).


Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Bake fish without turning until just opaque in center, about 12 minutes. Transfer fish to platter. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and garnish with lime wedges. 
(Dick's Comments: The cilantro and lime added a bright complementary flavor to the dish, so I highly recommend these optional items)


Fresh Spinach with Cumin
Serves 4


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. fresh spinach leaves, washed
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin


Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add the spinach, salt, pepper and cumin. Stir as the spinach wilts. Cook and stir over high heat until the spinach is wilted the the moisture has evaporated. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and serve immediately.


Yummy !

Portland in Photographs

The link to the Portland Photographs has been moved to the right sidebar. 

Portland Streetcar

The Portland Streetcar was mentioned a few times in my posts from Portland. We rode it daily since there was a stop just outside our hotel. And it was free as long as we were going within the "Free Rail Zone". (If it is free, it is for me). I thought you might like to see what the streetcar looked like; very European I would say. In fact, they are made in Plzen Czech Republic. (A little European history; Plzen is the home of the original Pilsener beer, c. 1842.). But, I digress. The photo of the streetcar was shot with my iPhone, hence the low quality. And... no, we did not take any pictures of the weirdos on the streetcar. 

A Teaser Pic from Portland

I am still working on my photographs from Portland, but here is a teaser for you. Portland is known as "The City of Roses" and here is one of the roses from the gardens at the Pittock Mansion. Enjoy!

"Tuscan Twilight Landscape'

I am now the proud and happy owner of another Peter Stilton original painting. Peter and his wife, Jill, came over today with the new painting and it looks great in my space. I am very excited to have a piece of lovely art created just for me and my place. The painting is three separate 2" x 4" panels hung with a slight spacing between them as you can see in the photograph. Unfortunately, the photo doesn't do justice to the painting. It is much more dramatic in person, and really must be seen in the place for which it was painted.


Peter also wrote a great poem to go along with the painting. It follows the photograph. 


Please check out Peter's Website at Stilton Studio for more of his work.

"Tuscan Sun Descending"

By Peter Stilton

Tuscan Sun Descending

Not into Dante’s depths of darkness

But into a quiet night of fresco colors

Reflecting Cimabue, Giotto, Masaccio,

And ending in Michelangelo.

Terra cotta tiles, olive groves,

Sunlight gilding rivulets of oil and honey,

Cicadas buzzing in ochre fields…

Shadows of deep cobalt blue with marble clouds

Infused with polyphonic flame and too brief incandescence….

Dugento, Trecento, Quattrocento blend into Cinquecento complexity—

All tending into deepest opal, emerald, and sapphire depths.

Bells for vespers with umber shadows…

The Arno mirrors Tuscany’s skies

In tones of clay, paint, and stone.

Portland - Hits and Misses

Restaurants
Hit - (Dick) - Andina. It was unique, different, great service. And Peruvian!

Hit - (Frank) - Carafe Bistro. Unpretentious, charming and a great value. Too bad it's in such a lonely location.

Miss - (Dick) - None.

Miss - (Frank) - Agreed. This is definitely a foodie town!

Appetizer
Hit - (Frank) - Rabbit pate at Veritable Quandary. Talk about a wild hare!

Hit - (Dick) - Same. Agreed. A tasty, country styled pate that was hopping good!

Miss - (Frank) - Appetizer selection at Piazza Italia. The antipasto platter was good, but one of only three options.

Miss - (Dick) - Same. The antipasto platter wasn't a miss, per se, but was just ordinary.

Entree
Hit - (Dick) - Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu. Bolognese flavors, so typically Italian.

Hit - (Frank) - Not to be a total bore, but gotta go with the boar as well. Unctuous flavors, Devine pappardelle. Awesome!

Dessert
Hit - (Frank) - Chocolate Pot de Creme at Carafe Bistro. Delicieux!

Hit - (Dick) - Churros with chocolate ice cream at Andina. Muy bueno!

Miss - (Frank) - The Plumcot Cobbler at Veritable Quandary was a bit too tart. The accompanying buttermilk ice cream almost made up for it, though!

Miss - (Dick) - The gorgonzola and honey ice cream at Higgins. Gorgonzola belongs on a cheese tray. The accompanying fig tart was like a grown up fig newton...thumbs up!

Wineries
Hit -(Dick) - Dobbes Family Vineyards. Skip the Wines by Joe label, and go with the Dobbes Family label. Really nice whites and reds.

Hit - (Frank) - Dobbes was the bomb, no doubt. Kudos, though to Penner Ash and Stoller (lovely facilities with gorgeous views).

Miss - (Dick) - Argyle. Still wines were less interesting than my argyle socks.

Miss - (Frank) - Agreed. I've seen your argyle socks, bro. They're not that interesting either.

Outdoor Sites
Hit - (Frank) - The Japanese Garden. Tranquil, serene, lovely.

Hit - (Dick) - Agreed. It was a moment of zen.

Miss - (Frank) - Pioneer Courthouse Square. Unless you like hanging out with weird kids who like to ask you for money (that is, beside your own)!

Miss - (Dick) - Agreed. In a city of great public spaces, this one doesn't cut it.

Indoor Sites
Hit - (Dick) - Without question, the Portland Art Museum. A great collection, with the bonus of a recently acquired Van Gogh.

Hit - (Frank) - I gotta second that one. The Impressionist Room alone was worth the visit. Fine contemporary collection as well.

Miss - (Dick) - None.

Miss - (Frank) - The oddballs, freaks and weirdos on the streetcars. Portland has one of the best public transport systems I have seen in the US. But the cast of characters that pop on and off can make the ride everything from mildly amusing to slightly scary!

(Dick) - Well, as the locals say, "Keep Portland Weird".

That's all we are saying!

Sunday, Another Fun Day

What better way to begin a Sunday than with a nice Sunday brunch. We headed back to the Pearl District to Fenouil, a lovely restaurant overlooking Jamison Square. Frank order the Classic Eggs Benedict while I ordered the Dungeness Crab Benedict. Mine had an avocado purée and lemon hollandaise which added a nice flavor. Both Benedicts were served over brioche, always good.

We next ventured to Chinatown and the small, but really peaceful Chinese Garden. The paths led around and over ponds, and through various pagodas. We saw some amazing silk art. The tea house enticed us to stop for a sample of tea and listen to authentic Chinese music. Frank and I shared a Green Tea flight for two, a vertical tasting of three different green teas. Who knew there was so much difference between green teas. The server showed us the proper way to brew and serve the tea. It was a fun and relaxing experience.

As we walked around the city we stopped at the Patagonia and Columbia stores to check out the clothing. I caved in to the urge and purchased a new Columbia shirt.

After a day of flaneuring, a late afternoon drink seemed to be in order and the bar at The Heathman fit the bill. I had a mojito which was much better than the one I had at Portland City Grill. Frank had an average glass of Merlot, not as good as any of the Pinot Noirs we had touring wine country. It was a nice break after a full day.

Dinner was at Higgins, another old standby in the Downtown District. We were seated in a warm dark wood paneled room. The menu was small, but nicely varied. Frank opted for the Risotto with summer squash, sweet corn, mushrooms and parmesan cheese. I was intrigued by a special of pan-seared wild coho salmon served in a wonderful light and flavorful oriental inspired broth with mushrooms, carrots, and yellow squash. Dessert was a tasty fig tart. It was a lovely way to top off our Sunday and the last night of a great trip to Portland.

Room With a View; and a Taste of Peru

Saturday night always calls for something special to get things off right, so Dick and I decided to take our friend Carol's advice and head for the Portland City Grille. Situated on the 30th floor of an office high rise (the Big Pink as the locals call it), PCG has an awesome view of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and beyond. The decor is sort of Arts and Crafts chic, with slate tile, warm natural woods and amber lighting. Dick had a so-so mojito, but my Manhattan was so fab I had to order another (surprise!). The piano player performed a nice mix of the familiar (The Girl from Ipanema) and the unexpected (Across the Universe?).

Word is the food at PCG is good, but we had other plans, as in South of the Equator kind-of-food plans. One of the most talked about and well reviewed restaurants in Portland is Andina. Serving a mix of Peruvian classics and Nuevo Peruvian dishes, it's one of those hip places that is hard to describe, but oh so worth it to visit.

Dick had the duck breast and confit served with rice mixed with cilantro and peas. I had the pork tenderloin in an adobo sauce with blue cheese filled mini crepes. Outstanding! We both had a glass of Chilean Pinot Noir (in the Willamette Valley? Sacrilege!). Dessert was an order of to-die-for churros with chocolate ice cream. And, since the couple seated next to us didn't drink (!?!) they gave us their glasses of dessert wine. Score!

A few words of advice about Andina. Make reservations, it's that busy. And be prepared to talk loud, it's that noisy. But it's also colorful, intriguing and definitely a step out of the ordinary.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and called it an early night. But what would you expect after a night in the clouds and a quick trip to an exotic locale?