pine state

Outside of eating, we didn't have much planned for Portland. I won't overload this space with food photos (for now) but Pine State Biscuits was one of the places we loved, were fortunate to stay within walking distance of, and ate at two days in a row.

We may or may not have been sad without the biscuits for a third day once we were back home.

tiergartenquelle

In November, David and I went to Tiergartenquelle for our last night in Berlin. It was recommended by a friend as "very German" but with "American-sized portions" (which I still giggle at whenever I remember). For the record, he was right: the portions were enormous (and delicious).

Beyond portion sizes, I loved this place for its charm and warmth. It's located directly underneath the S-Bahn so while you're eating, you can hear and feel the train come and go overhead. I suppose this might be unnerving for some but I found it comforting. I can't explain it. That, along with communal seating, dim lights, and sitting across from one of my favorite people made for a lovely last evening.

I miss Europe.

paris in san francisco

When I can't jet set off to Paris whenever I want, I can find bits of the charming city here in San Francisco. Crissy and I had breakfast at the Hayes Valley La Boulange and sipped cafe au laits from bowls in a quiet, sunny corner of an otherwise busy boulangerie. The soft light and vibrant storefront get me every time. Special thanks to Crissy for being the prettiest model and sweetest friend.

weather up

I rediscovered these photos of Weather Up from my trip to Austin back in October. Jenna took me here and introduced me to the Williams Collins and later, our kind waiter suggested his own version of an Old Fashioned with ginger and mint (at least, I think that's what they were).

It was still early in the evening when we went but it was quiet and charming and refreshing to be two friends reunited and catching up over some damn good drinks.

sugar

Sugar is one of the cutest bakeries anyone could ever dream up. It reminded me a lot of Bakeri, being small and quaint and seeing Kirby's stylin' headband. I was just about floored with the caramel cupcake and am convinced that bakeries are best when they're tiny but filled with people just as sweet as their treats.

mindy's hot chocolate

I popped into Mindy's on a whim while I was killing time in Wicker Park. The kitchen was still prepping and the entire place felt empty because of it. I sat back and waited, half enjoying the uniformity of the tables and half wondering how good my mint chocolate shake would be.

I can't say much for the menu since I was in and out, but the simplicity and design of the space clearly left an impression.

(For the record, the shake and cookies were amazing. And their head pastry chef is a James Beard Award winner.)

spacca napoli

Confession: I don't really like deep dish pizza. There, I said it. I'm sorry, Chicago! I prefer my pizza to be saturated with basil and garlic-- not cheese. I like the pizza-oven-smokiness from thin crust. And I like that it's acceptable (and standard) for one person to eat the entire pizza by herself.


Enter: Spacca Napoli. I don't think any of the pizzas on the menu had more than 4 ingredients (we shared a marinara and a mushroom truffle oil pizza bianca). I loved that the pizzas came unsliced, that wine was served in tiny, flat glasses, and that I almost completely forgot that cheese belonged on pizzas during this meal.

No bad, Chicago. Not bad.

demera

Ethiopian food could be my new favorite solely based on common etiquette: eating with your hands and sharing everything family style.

Can I have multiple "best parts" of the meal?

Tej (honey wine). Sambussas (filled with lentils). Injera (in general). Awaze (so spicy I almost cried). Shahi (spice tea).

And most importantly, sharing everything with Hiyabel-- Ethiopian/Eritrean food expert and dinner companion magnifique.

stumptown