Great Borscht hidden in SW Portland

So there's this Java Man coffee franchise (#7 to be exact) that serves authentic Russian food for lunch. Many Russian students at PSU know about it, because one of the professors has them go and order a meal in Russian at the end of their first term of class. The proprietor is apparently very patient with the tongue-tied patrons. It was one of these students that led me there for lunch today.

I had a bowl of Borscht that was absolutely dandy. It was served with a stuffed baked good called a Pirog, a rich kinda-fried Russian pastry. The two made for a warm, comforting and filling meal -- and cheap at only $5.25.

It's always a big deal to find good food near the University, because most of the food readily available within walking distance blows chunks. Ok, that's a bit strong, but it is sub-par to say the least.

Borscht isn't the only Russian dish that Alex and Alla serve at their coffee shop. There is also Golubtzi (cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice); Siberian Pelmeni (Russian dumplings); Vareniki (dumplings with various fillings -- cottage cheese, potato, cabbage); and polish sausage (on a bun, American style). They have a pastry counter full of home-baked pastries as well, which come highly recommended. Not all are sweet, I saw one stuffed with mushrooms and cheese.

If you find yourself near SW 5th and Taylor, look for the Java Man coffee and say hi to Alex. His thick accent is a perfect accompaniment to the food.

Java Man Coffee #7, 518 SW Taylor, Portland OR 97204. Hours 6am - 5pm Mon. - Fri./ Sat. 10-5pm. Phone # (503) 279-0298

Enjoy your hidden ethnic food gems,

Bp

Saburo's, my friend, I'm sorry to tell you this

O.K., so I've been a Saburo's fan for years. I admit I have a loyalty thing, it lends prejudice in my decision making. I haven't ventured around much in the Portland Sushi scene since I discovered Saburo's. I loved the portion sizing, and even the notoriously grumpy waitress. It struck me as a New York experience, wait in line, get seated by a more-than-offputting server, and order ONE ORDER of sushi ONLY.

I can say, I never had a bad piece of fish there. Other folks have said the quality varied, but I personally never had that experience.

On the other hand, the quality and attention to detail and flavor of the sushi last night at Bara Sushi House beat the hell out of any sushi I've had yet in Portland. The company didn't hurt, Desta and her crew were great fun. It was Desta and The Wife's their first meeting, and it went very well, they enjoyed each other's company.

But the sushi was superb. The portions were traditionally sized, not Saburo's size (which, sadly, makes me realize how much of that grand size is made up of rice at times -- not always, but sometimes), and it's not a cheap meal. We spent about $30 a piece, and were being conservative. But it was worth it, every cent.

My favorite sushi are Hamachi and Unagi. I use them to judge sushi restaurants -- like I use Chili Rellenos to judge Mexican restaurants, or Pad Thai and Red Curry for Thai. The Hamachi last night was absolutely superb -- I've never had better. It was ultra fresh, buttery, just fantastic. I hear from some folks at the table that the way it's cut has a huge effect on how good it tastes. Bara cuts it right, apparently. The Unagi, barbecued fresh-water eel, was also just fantastic. It was barbecued til the fish was just slightly crisp on the edges, and not totally drowned in sauce. Really, really good.

The only criticism I can level from last night is that The Wife got a couple bones in her Unagi for some reason. She was bummed by the bones but not by the Unagi itself. She agrees that the flavor was not to be beat.

I will still go to Saburo's -- especially if I'm having that bizarre craving to "fill up" on sushi. Those two cravings shouldn't really go together in a sane world, but they occasionally do for me. But for a special night out, or a celebratory dinner, I'm hitting Bara's again. For now, in my experience (which isn't exhaustive), it's the best sushi in Portland hands down.

Enjoy your long-winded, early-morning, restaurant posts,

Bp

Day after Xmas update

The sink is almost fully functional. My neighbor came by with some beers and stood around and chatted with me as I finalized the installation. Always a big help. Now, a ring of clear caulk around the faucet base and the sink and it's a done deal.

Finally.

Eventually I'll be heading up to Stud Farmhand's 'stead in Walla Walla, probably for some fishing. We may kill some clay pigeons as well (though I hear he is a clay pigeon supporter, so I may need to ask delicately). I'm looking forward to getting out of town, I can't seem to slow down and catch a breath while I'm in the house, and I desperately want to catch a breath before school starts up again.

I will be meeting up with another local blogger in the next few days as well, which will be cool. Matt and I haven't met face to face yet, but it may happen over this Xmas break too [no pressure Matt I know you're busy].

Addendum: Almost forgot, going out with a lovely local body arts celebrity and a few friends tonight, for a private room in her favorite sushi place. She swears it beats Saburo's, but I am reserving judgment. I am one of the gauche westerners who actually likes the huge portion sizing at Saburo's. D. is of the opinion that small sizes are traditional and tastier. We shall see, we shall see.

More later, I have a plumbing apocalypse to clean up.

Enjoy the quiet after the storm,

Bp

Computer back on track: Props to Belmont Computers, Superbad review, Montage

First, props: As if there was any doubt Belmont Computers kicks butt, check out the name of their custom build high-end gaming computer. Thanks guys, great to have my machine back.

Went out last night with Doc Ock and Tony to see Superbad (see trailer here). This was definitely a guy's night out kind of movie, The Wife was a no-go on it. I can say, we laughed our butts off. Yep, it's dumb, but it's funny as hell if you are willing to get back into the headspace of being in high-school. If your high school experience had a lot to do with scoring booze and trying to lose your virginity at least. The subject matter is typical for this genre of movie, because it is so typical for that time. What sets this movie apart is the pitch perfect writing and delivery.

I think Superbad will be the Fast Times at Ridgemont High of its generation, quoted as often as Caddyshack was in my high school locker room. It has a meeelion one liners of note, and is funny throughout the whole playtime of the film.

Hm, I just called it a "film" -- ok that IS a stretch.

Anyway, for those willing to take the ride I give it a solid A. Those unwilling shouldn't even rent it when it hits dvd.

After the movie we went to The Montage for appetizers, coffee and dessert. The service was comfortingly consistent -- diffident, probably drug-addled busgirl throws water toward our drinking glasses, hip waiter hollars our muscle shooter orders toward the kitchen (the mussel shooters are absolutely fantastic), and we were seated in a group table in the corner, elbow to elbow with other patrons even when 75% of the dining room was stark raving empty. And yet, I keep going back. The mussel shooters, coffee, and mud pies should have been explosive once combined, but we all survived it seems. Great night to hang out with some friends before the tidal wave of school pummels all three of us.

Enjoy your friends,

Bp

Ignorance is Bliss: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix review

I jumped a max last night and went downtown to wander, I was antsy. My options were catch a movie or hit Powells Books. I decided, in the interest of thrift, to see the new Harry Potter movie -- Powells can be a dangerous, dangerous place for me when I have plenty of reading time on my hands and especially so when I have no particular shopping agenda set before I walk in there. I probably saved myself $50 with this decision.

I didn't realize that this was kind of an opening weekend type of situation until I got to the theater and saw the lines. The geeks, nerds, dorks and children were out in full force. I got my ticket, hit Todai downstairs for a quick microbrew beforehand (I really need to eat at their buffet sometime, it's legendary) and watched the movie.

All the poo pooing I've been seeing over this movie, I realize now, is from Harry Potter readers. The more fervent the fan, the worse the reviews -- "It's not true to the book, they don't show [enter character's name here] enough, they didn't develop [enter subplot here] enough." But for me, sublimely ignorant of all these subtleties, it was a dandy Friday-night-alone-on-one-beer kinda movie.

The story has obvious analogies to current fascist trends in American politics (I know I used the "F" word, look it up and tell me I'm wrong) but trying to make anything more out of this story than simply a story about magic and good and evil is silly. It is a kids book after all. The special effects were well executed and adequate to relay setting, the kids are settled well into their roles as actors and did a fine job, the multiple celebrity cameo shots were entertaining, etc. I loved the depiction of the new enemy, Mrs. Umbrage (fantastic name, reminds me of Nurse Ratchet out of One Flew over the Cuckoo's nest) -- with her pink wardrobe, kitten collectible plates and tons of perfume. I also dug Gary Oldman's screentime. He didn't have a lot, but I liked the look of the character and enjoyed seeing him on the big screen, it's been a while.

There's plenty to recommend this movie.

This is a dandy flick about trying to do the right thing, with a tiny dash of adolescent angst, and a strong mix of kid-inspiring "friends are live savers." I can give it a A- without hesitation, even for adult audiences. Harry Potter readers beware however, to you it will probably be a disappointment.

ps/edit/addendum: See how I was out-skilled, out-trumped, out-classed by my roommate on the 17 Gardens of the Outer Nethers.

D-day, Zells for Last Supper

Alrighty folks, it's D-day. I'll post something informative and interesting in the near future, but for now it's all about Evolution and Chemistry. Didn't want to throw another video up to "just have posted" something, so this will be my placeholder.

Going out to breakfast with Captain America and Big Chocolate at Zells cafe. I'll leave the reviews, for now, to the professionals, but say that until further notice Zells is my favorite brunch place in town. Has been for years. We used to joke that everything had Gruyere cheese in it -- but is this really a crime?

Anyway, A day of studying only punctuated by my Chemistry test tonight. I will post again before I leave for the desert, a little explanation.

Enjoy your sunny and test-free days,

Bp

Quickie report from The Pyramid, Paris Hilton of all things

So I received an email from Flank this morning. If you don't remember his mention, here is the post where I introduced him.

Anyway, Flank has started working as a cook in the Big Pyramid On the Strip in Las Vegas. He says he keeps wondering what kind of effect working in a pyramid might have on him. Will it bring back his hair, cure his insomnia, reduce his aging? So far, a few weeks into it, none of these things. But, he reports that the turnover rate at this hotel is absolutely the lowest of any place he's worked in Lost Wages. People are super mellow, friendly and enjoy working there. He's pretty amazed.

But the big report is that service employees on The Strip are all breathing a huge sigh of relief that Paris Hilton is (or soon will be) in Jail. She hasn't been on the strip for weeks now, and everyone's loving it. He says there is rumor of a collection being made to see if somehow they can bribe someone to keep her in jail longer.

Random I know, but it struck me as funny.

Baan Thai, it's for what ail's ya

OK, so I wasn't feeling so hot last night, for obvious reasons. Woke up sick, what a surprise. Amazing what stress will do to ya.

As predicted, I felt like dog barf today, only amplified. When I had my lunch break, I called my buddy John Schell, who also happens to be my Acupuncturist (Alethea Acupuncture). I wasn't up for street car-ing it to his office (yes I'm that much of a wimp today -- I skipped Meditation for crissakes) so I called and asked him what kind of food would be the most medicinal to help with my symptoms: chills, headache, sore throat, achey, little cough, little nasal, no sweating. He said to sweat it out, get some warming food (sometimes not just "hot" either, warming herbs can be slightly different). So I asked what I should order at a Thai place, he suggested Tom Kha with lots of galanga root. You got it boss -- I'm on it.

I was standing right out side Baan Thai, and just yesterday someone told me it rocked. Went in, ordered a small bowl of Tom Kha off the dinner menu (it was lunch, nice of them) and it did indeed rock. I was going to order "mild +" and the waiter sized me up and suggested mild. I said I needed it to be spicy today -- he asked me what I order at my other Thai restaurant (how did he know?), I said "medium." He held his ground at mild.

Sure enough, the soup had me tearing up just a *little* bit at mild. There was a sludge of chili flakes in the bowl when I slurped the last bit down. Perfect heat for this wimp, and it was fantastic. I already feel tons better, and it was cheap too.

Many of the restaurants around the campus suck, frankly, so this is a very nice surprise.

Thanks for all the emails and text messages I've received re: the robbery. I was surprised at some of those names -- pleasantly surprised.

I wish I could turn the event into something funny or witty, but so far it just ain't happening. The print duster lady was a peach, however, and they did get a couple prints off our change jar (imagine, getting busted for having taking $20 in change, ouch). Maybe something will surface worth writing up about the whole experience... there definitely were some serious characters from Downtown in our house that night.

I'd show you some pictures, but...

I do have some pictures coming soon from when John gave Sula acupuncture last night tho. The arthritis in her hips responds fantastically to the needles -- and she puts up with them amazingly well.