New Article in Northwest Travel Magazine: New Tasting Rooms of Willamette Valley

Had a great time researching this article, which gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of cool people working in the Oregon wine industry, from architects to folks pouring wine in tasting rooms. The wine-tasting scene in Willamette Valley has drastically changed in the last two years, and this article features the biggest of those changes. It also gives an idea of the big plans that Kendall Jackson has for its recent acquisition of 315 acres of Oregon vineyard:

Wines of Willamette, Oregon:
Originally published in Northwest Travel Magazine

Long renowned for producing world-class pinot noir, Oregon’s Willamette Valley offers visitors a rich and varied selection of wine-tasting adventures. “People used to come for the coast and the mountains and visit us on the way,” says Mich Nelson at Stoller Winery. “Today, people visit specifically for the wine.” More than ever, both new and veteran wineries are building bigger, more imaginative tasting rooms to provide one-of-a-kind experiences.

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Discovering the Old Italy: Puglia and Basilicata (new article)

Amphitheater in Lecce, Puglia

Originally published on the Viator Travel Blog.

It wasn’t long ago that travel guidebooks ignored Southern Italy, but the regions of Puglia and Basilicata have long been top travel destinations among Italy’s domestic travelers. Why let them have all the fun? In Puglia, white-sand beaches, a booming culinary culture, and an old style of hospitality—the kind Italy is famous for—is the norm, while Basilicata offers the beautiful cave-dwelling town of Matera, a place so old school that Mel Gibson used it to film the Passion of the Christ.

With cultural traditions intact, these destinations offer a different style of travel than Italy’s more visited towns and cities; indeed, each town and city in these Italian regions fiercely guards its identity, holding on to the old way to doing things....

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The Extended Layover: Get More Out of Your Travels

Originally published on EuropeUpClose.com


For years, I flew from point A to point B without even thinking about the cities in which I had layovers. In Europe, I had stopovers in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and more, and I never really thought about the fact that these cities’ magnificent sights and cultures lay just outside the airport walls. Then an old friend clued me into the extended layover, a great way to take in additional cities and countries during your travels...

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The Painted Lady Restaurant in Northwest Travel Magazine (this month)

Happy to have my second article in Northwest Travel Magazine! In this ravenous round of food-and-wine obsession, I explore haute cuisine, aka really innovative and surprising food, at The Painted Lady restaurant. Located in Willamette Valley and with a romantic guest cottage next door, The Painted Lady serves many of the most innovative dishes in all of Oregon, and it offers an Old-World style of dining that I love. You can find my article in this month's Northwest Travel Magazine, and the magazine is sold in stores throughout the Pacific Northwest (all the way up to Alaska, indeed!).

Here's the beginning of the article:

"Since 2005, husband and wife team Allen Routt and Jessica Bagley— both émigrés from Napa—have provided a romantic and sophisticated dining experience in a downtown Newberg restored Victorian home. They moved to the town of tree-lined streets and tasting rooms in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country to open The Painted Lady.

With Routt in the kitchen, Bagley choreographs each night’s dinner service, and if it’s old-world opulence you’re looking for, you’ll find a level of refinement rare anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

Expect to have your coat taken at the door..."  See more at Northwest Travel Magazine------>

The American Local Restaurant Review: Rockin' Izakaya American Style

In Portland, Oregon, The American Local restaurant opens January 15 (tomorrow), and I just returned from a surprising meal there. A venture by couple Jenny Nickolaus (host) and Chris Whaley (chef), The American Local will set up shop at 30th Avenue and SE Division, which Food & Wine Magazine named "one of the 10 Best Foodie Streets in America" in May 2013, and the concept is 100% American izakaya.

Traditionally, an izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment, and with the drinks come a fun menu of miniature dishes ideal for eating while drinking. The prominence of izakaya-style restaurants in Portland has been on a steady rise, and famously, Andy Ricker's Whiskey Soda Lounge is designed as a Thai version of an izakaya. If you want to know what it's all about, begin there.

The American Local, interestingly, makes izakaya American. The dishes are made with local ingredients for the most part; they are reminiscent, at times, of diner food; and saké is on tap (yes, ON TAP). Here's a run down of what I tried:

Kennebec Fries/Gravy/Cheese Curd/Foie Gras ($10): This dish will probably cause the most stir among diners. An even more decadent version of Poutine, the dish is finished by shaving foie gras on top. The fries are made in house, of course—lending a Portland ethos—but do we really need foie gras Poutine? If you're a fan of Poutine, which I am not, then the answer has to be yes: This dish has the meatiness of fresh cooked giblets, giving Poutine a kick in the... ah, giblets.

Poutine with Foie Gras

Bacon Beignet/House Made Espellete Pepper/Honey ($5): Bacon flavored donuts par excellence! Why mess around with Voodoo Donut's Maple Bacon Bar when you can have it all integrated: the bacon, the sweetness, the dough? These tasty guys are just fun, and I thought they paired very well the "Spicy fermented turnip," i.e. turnip kimchi ($3).

Bacon Beignet

Crispy Grit Cake/Salmon Tartar/Sour Cream ($4): This dish is going to be The American Local's signature dish, in my opinion. It's light and beautiful. The grit cake has just enough of a hint of the flavor of Fritos to keep it interesting, and the tartar is obviously made using quality salmon, elevating the dish. I split mine: Don't make the same mistake.

Grit Cake w/ Salmon Tartat

Brussels/Pickled Jalapeno/Blood Orange/Miso ($6): This dish was the first to show the chinks in The American Local's armor. Firstly, I loved the dish when all of the flavors were present; however, the miso and blood orange were mixed in inconsistently, and some bites lacked flavor. Since I ate it before the restaurant had even technically opened, I look forward to trying it again.

Brussels Sprouts

Cumin Roasted Carrot/Avocado/Yogurt/Cilantro/Sunflower Seeds ($7): This complex dish places rustic carrots with harshly chopped tops and stringy bottoms still intact atop a silky yogurt. The cumin and avocado puts it over the top. This is one damn interesting vegetable dish, which certainly isn't common.

Pork Belly Skewer/Sriracha/Maple ($3) and Butternut Squash Skewer/Pistachio Pesto ($3): If you like pork belly, this is a smoky, spicy version that shouldn't be missed. It melts in your mouth, and the grilled edges add a chewy texture. The Butternut Squash Skewer, on the other hand, was also smoky and the pistachio pesto added some flavor, but overall, I found it bland.

Pork Belly Skewer and Butternut Squash Skewer

Poached Chicken/Noodle/Rich Chicken Broth/Egg ($12): Chef Whaley says of this dish, "We're all from somewhere—whether you grew up in Minnesota or your folks emigrated from Thailand—but wherever we are from, we all have a version of chicken noodle soup." His version has a principally ramen-esque broth and presentation, but also present was the salty, white-meat American chicken soup flavor that we all know and love. Unfortunately, I'm beginning to think that I don't like authentic ramen. I've made my own using David Chang's Momofuku recipe, and it tasted a lot like Chef 

Whaley's: Sadly, it's not to my preference. Additionally, the noodles were pretty tough, and the dish was difficult to share.

Chicken Noodle

The Takeaway: The American Local is an exciting restaurant in a neighborhood full of exciting restaurants. I think it will stand out though. As you might have noticed, the prices are low and the servings, especially in terms of the the vegetable dishes, are large. Having saké as well as two wines on tap lends a fun atmosphere—as does the simple and astute decision to offer an American-style izakaya. Portland and pub food have had a long and beautiful relationship: Maybe it's time to embrace the next level.

Flavours of Melbourne Named "Best Culinary Travel Book" in Australia

Proud to say that the Flavours of Melbourne book that I helped write has been named the "best culinary travel book" in Australia by the Gourmand World. The book now qualifies for the next round - “GOURMAND BEST IN THE WORLD” COMPETITION. Woo! So excited.

FLAVOURS OF MELBOURNE - BEST CULINARY TRAVEL BOOK IN AUSTRALIA

10 Ways to Beat Jet Lag in Amsterdam

Originally published on EuropeUpClose.com

1. Visit a Coffee Shop (No, not that kind)

Marijuana makes many people tired, so it’s a good idea to stay away from the city’s wickedly popular “coffeeshops”—at least on the first day. Fortunately, Amsterdamers have a love of fine coffee, and micro-roasters are popping up across the city. It’s a little out of the way, but Espresso Fabriek is one of the city’s first micro-roasters, and for two more centrally located roasters, visit Two For Joy or Headfirst Coffee Roasters.

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