Triple D in the Pacific Northwest! (Part 1)

In the fall of 2013 I was told that in the early part of 2014 I would be going to Seattle for some work training.  When I was told the days and that it coincided with my regular days off, I thought that it might work out to go a few days early and try to get to some Triple D locations in the Seattle area.  I got permission from my manager to go a few days early and decided to fly to Portland, Oregon before heading to Seattle for the training. 

After working my shift I got on a 530p nonstop flight from Dulles to Portland.  The flight was pretty light and I was able to stretch out and relax for the 5 hour flight.  After the movie was shown (some Justin Timberlake movie about college gambling) an episode of "Diners, Drive-In's and Dives" was shown and one of the places featured was one that I would be visiting! 

After landing I got a car and went to my first DDD stop.  "Pine State Biscuits" is not too far from the airport and has an interesting backstory.  The owners moved from North Carolina to Portland and after some time became homesick for the cuisine they were used to from their home state, so they decided to open up the restaurant!

Their menu is filled with down home Southern food.  They also carry bottles on Bubble Up and Cheerwine, which are two of North Carolina's favorite soft drinks and of course feature the unofficial drink of NC;  Sweet Tea!  I decided to try the most popular biscuit meal that Pine State serves and the meal that Guy made on his visit, the Big Reggie.

Pine State's Big Reggie Biscuit

Inside the Big Reggie

 This huge biscuit features a breaded chicken breast patty with cheddar cheese and topped with their own homemade sausage gravy.  The meal was delicious and I washed it down with some sweet tea.  The gravy was unusual to me as it was a bit on the spicy side, but very tasty.  As I left for my hotel, after a long day of work and flying, I knew that my Portland visit would be a fun tasty adventure.

After a restful night I headed out to start my DDD trip in earnest.  My first stop was a small place just outside the downtown area called "Bunk Sandwiches".   I looked over the menu they had very limited early morning offerings but had a very full lunch menu, I guess I had chosen the wrong time to visit!  I decided on a ham and cheese breakfast sandwich and it was very tasty.

Bunk Breakfast sandwich

 I headed to my next stop, a little café in a very quiet neighborhood in Southeast Portland called "Arleta Library Bakery Café".  This small café had a very interesting décor.  All along the borders of the café were rows of books making you feel like you were in a library!  The menu looked great and the meals sounded delicious, but I decided to go real light and ordered a slice of their coffee cake, which was filled with berries and topped with some powdered sugar (I decided against the whipped cream).  I really enjoyed the sweet breakfast and I would like to return sometime to try one of their breakfast meals.

Arleta's Berry Coffee Cake

My last stop for my morning adventure was at a place just a few miles away called "Edelweiss Sausage and Delicatessen".  This wasn't really a restaurant at all, but a German Market where they make their own sausages and meats.  I decided to try one of their homemade sweet rolls and a German malt brew. 

After a short break I headed into Downtown Portland to try a place that I have wanted to visit for a long time.  As soon as I saw their episode I knew that I had to get there at some point.  In an office building just over the Morrison Bridge is a small place called "Blue Plate Lunch Counter".  This place has no big stoves or huge kitchen but produces some very tasty meals and also features hand made sodas, shakes and malts.  On their episode hey made a good old fashioned lunch classic, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.  I knew what I wanted even before I got there! 

Blue Plate Lunch Counter

The don't make a Campbell's style of tomato soup, their soup is loaded with vegetables and has a small spice kick, very tasty and best of all it was served in a mug!.  The grilled cheese is gooey and has a great cheese pull!  The cheese was seeping out of all sides of the sandwich, one of the best I have ever had!  I tried a Hibiscus based soda that had a great flavor that included the spice, star anise.

My Blue Plate Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup lunch

Gooey Cheesy Goodness!

I was extremely happy that I finally got to Blueplate.  As I got the owner and chef to sign my book, he thanked me for supporting small restaurant businesses and that was very nice to hear!

After a great meal I headed to my next stop, another place that when I saw the DDD episode I knew that I had to try if I ever made it to Portland.  "Otto's Sausage Kitchen and Meat Market" is a very unique place.  It is very much like Edelweiss in where they are more of a specialty shop than restaurant, but Otto's features a grill out in front where you can buy hot dogs, brats, and sausages, very reasonably priced and hot off the grill. 

I went in and just explored the shop and they sell a lot of German wines and sausages that are made in house.  The place is run my one family and most of the employees are related in one way or the other.  I got my book signed by one of the owners and proceeded to the grill to sample on of their signature hot dogs.  I felt really bad for the young man who was manning the grill as it wasn't all that cold temperature wise but very windy and he was having some trouble keeping the fires burning. 

Otto's outdoor grill

 

Watching the Grill Master at work!

I got my hot dog and proceeded to the condiment center which had about 4 or 5 different types of mustard and 2 different ketchups along with sauerkraut (also made in house) and onions.  Just about anything you need to dress a hot dog.  I did the sampler plate, as I tried many of the different dressings, most were tasty and some were quite spicy!  The hot dog was a natural casing hot dog and when I bit into it I could hear the snap of the casing, which is the sign of a "great dog"!  I written before that I wish that Northern Virginia had a great hot dog place, Otto's would be great in Leesburg!

Otto's condiment bar

One great hot dog!

I then proceeded to a very unusual place (at least for me).  Driving in some of the worst roads I encountered in Portland (mostly due to heavy road construction) I arrived at "Pok Pok", a Vietnamese restaurant.  I had been planning to try something small and light, but when I arrived I noticed that they serve huge family style meals and I wasn't sure what to do.  I had noticed on their board that they had a small dessert menu, so I decided upon trying one of those.  The place was packed for a Friday lunch crowd and I was seated at the last seat at the bar.  I chose a dessert called Sangkhaya Thurian, which was described as "Sweet Sticky Rice with Durien fruit scented Coconut Palm Sugar Custard".  The dessert had one of the most unique tastes I have ever encountered.  The sauce on top had a very saltly finish and the custard was sweet.  The sticky rice was described as sweet, but to me it was almost neutral and really balanced the dish.  I know that I am now sounding like one of the judges on "Top Chef" but it really was that unusual to me!  It was very tasty and I was glad that I tried that because it was very light dish.  As I left, I knew it was time for a break before heading to dinner.

Pok Pok Restaurant in Portland

My Sangkhaya Thurien dessert

When I was in high school I was very active in a group called DeMolay.  It is a youth group for young men sponsored by the Masons.  I was in a chapter called Lord Fairfax.  One of my friends from the chapter relocated about 16 years ago to the Portland area and although we have reconnected through Facebook we had not seen each other for over 30 years.  I contacted him and he agreed to come from his home Oregon City (about 40 miles to the south of Portland) and meet up for dinner at a barbecue place just outside of the city called "Podnah's Pit Barbecue".  The joint is sort of Spartan but who cares, it's time for some good barbecue and catching up with an old friend!  We each chose a brisket plate called the St. Helen's, named, of course, for the volcano that is just north of Portland in the Cascades.  I chose the Green Mac and Cheese and Cole Slaw as my sides.  The brisket was very good.  Brisket is always a tough call for me as I have gotten some brisket in the past that was less than good, that would not be the case at Podnah's!  The meat was delicious, some of the best I had ever had.  Catching up with Steve was great!  I really appreciated that he took the time to drive up and he also treated me to dinner which was extra nice!

Steve and I outside Portland's Podnah's Pit Barbecue

My "St. Helens" dinner

I hope that the next time I see Steve won't be another 30 years, it is always great reconnecting with friends! 

As I left I had every intention of going back and calling it a night, but as I got in the car and checked out the GPS I saw that there was another DDD location less than a mile away so I figured that if I am that close then why not!  I headed to a little bar/restaurant called the "Tin Shed Garden Café".  They were doing a pretty good business and I was seated at the bar and decided that it was time to try a dessert.  I chose the Cookie Sundae, which was a hot chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and candied walnuts.  Do I really have to explain that it was good???  The thing that made it was the walnuts.  I had my bartender waitress sign my book and when I told about what I do she got excited and told me she felt honored to do it.  I must admit that was an unusual reaction but it made me feel good!



My Dessert at the Tin Shed

I went back to the hotel to relax and get ready for my second day in Portland, which would be a few hours in the city before heading to the airport for the quick flight up to Seattle, but that will be part two of this story!