India Oven

Venue: India Oven
Location visited: Their new location - 3450 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
Website: listing from urbanspoon w.menus
To Visit? Richly flavorful

Indian Oven was one of those places that I would keep driving by, quiet but always someone there, and looked welcoming with a nice wafting smell of food through the entryways. It is now a place that I would definitely return to for my occasional Indian food craving. It has to be done right, and it has to be packed with rich flavors, not too thick, and not too watered down. This place does it. And yes, it's VEGAN FRIENDLY. Their dishes range at about $12 and very worth it. Vegetarian, clay oven skewers, soups, rice dishes, and all sorts of curries. If you like lamb or chicken, then definitely give this place a try. I knew there were lots of ways to prepare chicken and lamb, but I didn't expect to find so many at one location. Also contrary to belief, as an Asian American food consumer, rice is not of that importance to me, but when I do get around to eating it, it should be done right. None of that dry sand grainy pellets that seem under cooked or overcooked. None of that overly boiled into borderline oatmeal or porridge consistency. The rice here is a slightly longer grained rice cooked just to readiness. When paired with the dishes such as the lamb curry, the whole spoonful is a burst of flavor, and the rice becomes naturally softened by sauce to perfection. I ate all my rice. ALL of it. Mostly because I didn't want the sauce to go to waste after all the meat and veggies were picked from it, but even still, the rice was good. Nothing was there that didn't belong. The portion sizes are a healthy amount too. Just enough to get you hitting the full mark on a regular night out. No bagful of to-go-boxes to lug around, and just enough room for a dessert venture ...

Ohana!

Venue: Ohana Hawaiian Cafe
Location visited: 6320 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR.
Website: http://www.ohanahawaiiancafe.com
To Visit? It's like visiting family :)

Gracefully light, delightfully refreshing, bursting of flavor, and a neon highlighter yellow. I'm talking about the Pineapple Shaved Ice at Ohana Hawaiian Cafe. The shaved ice here also comes in a viriety of flavors, some even in low-sugar. Don't let the colors intimidate you. The radioactive looking dessert packs flavor in this laid back environment. Here is where orange colored walls surround tables centered with cute pineappl- shaped salt and pepper shakers with choices of regular or low sodium soy sauce bottles.

Alternatives and choices are no problem since the menu boasts of combos featuring chicken, ribs, beef, tofu, and more with a side of rice or noodles, and salad (great light vinegrette dressing) or mac salad (light and not at all bland)! Did I mention the ribs, among other things don't just come in the commonly served teriyaki sauce?

Ohana offers an alternative seasoning to the usual beloved dishes: a mixed rubbing of sea salt, garlic, and ginger. The Short Ribs I tried were seasoned just perfectly and not dried from over grilling. And it's not home on the island without spam. The Spam Musubi is a grilled teriyaki glazed spam on a rice cube wrapped with nori (seaweed). It's not a bad dish to try if you're a noobie wanting to try it once and for all, or an old time spam lover. It's a slight shame that the rice here is a bit more on the sticky side. That and their Ohana Ice Tea, though donning great flavor, is overly sweet it tastes like it came straight out of a clover honney bear bottle. Shocked sweet taste buds aside, fish dishes and tofu steaks are also available if you happen to not be feeling so carnivorous on any given day, though the Kalua Pig and Teriyaki meats definitely deliver to your taste buds. Their special menu also provides for tropical desserts (Guava Chiffon Pie and Coconut Cake) leaving you with a feeling of blissful fullness. Aloha Ohana!

Acadia: A New Orleans Bistro

Venue: Acadia
Location visited: 1303 NE Fremont Street, Portland, OR.
Website: http://www.creolapdx.com
To Visit? Spoil your taste buds with some creole culinary.

Only in Portland would you find Pilm trees. Never heard of one? That's because I've never seen one until now and created the name. It's our beloved Pine tree in practical summer wardrobe: trimmed to don a Palm tree look. Yes folks, I present you the Pilm tree. I discovered this tree on my way to Acadia. This cajun restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, a cozy atmosphere, and waited by a helpful and enthused staff. Our candlelit dinner started with water out of glass jar cups, the usual bread and butter spread, and a not-so-usual recommended Deviled Crawfish Tails dish. Very light in taste, yet still savory enough to eat with the bread on the side. I also like to try different mixed drinks at venues, since the drinks are as of much importance as the food. The French Quarter Martini (Pineapple and sage infused vodka, lemon, Chambord, and a float of champagne) was a delightfully sweet drink that I enjoyed with the crawfish appetizer, and further more with my main dish.



The boyfriend stuck to his usual favorite fish dishes, this time choosing the Blackened Pompano (gulf fish) with corn relish served over a bed of rice. This pompano was baked to perfection, moist and juicy, rather than fried dry. I ventured for something more unique to Acadia's menu: the Soft Shelled Crab and Crawfish Etoufee. It was served on popcorn rice (smells like popcorn) with a hollandaise and jalapeno tartar sauce. The perfectly battered crab was an easy smooth chew, with plenty of flavorful jambalaya styled sauce over the rice.



Unfortunately after over-stuffing myself, I knew I couldn't force my digestive system to try the Bread Pudding dessert which I overheard the waiter tell some other diners as "exquisite". I also didn't get to try the Battered Oyster appetizer dish since the waiter warned me it was on the heavier side when paired with the crab entree. No worries, I'll definitely be back, especially for Mardi Gras Mondays, when their menu features a cheap eats section with $9.95 entrees or a 3-course (greens, entree, and bread pudding dessert) meal for $17.95! Looks like I'll get to drive by the Pilm trees again. :)

Jamba Juice

Venue: Jamba Juice
Location visited: Clackamas Town Center Mall in Clackamas, Oregon
Website: http://www.jambajuice.com/#/home/
To Visit? A great spot to escape the summer heat

Summers heating up and there's no better way to cool down then to stop by Jamba Juice located at the Clackamas Town Center mall!


They have so many different choices of smoothies to choose from with fruit varieties of strawberries, mangos, peaches, bananas, blueberries, raspberry, and a summer promotion blackberries. All the fruits are organic including the fresh squeezed orange juice and carrot juice. And if you heard all the rumors about Jamba having a "secret menu," and wasn't sure if you believed it or not, I am here to clarify that YES, it is true! We do have one :) The list goes on and on with the many drinks you can possibly think of. It all ranges from the well known Pink Star and the White Gummi Bear, to the many unknowns like Butterfinger, Skittles, Sour Patch, Red/Blue/Green Gummi Bear, Purple Dinosaur, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Fruity Pebbles, Strawberries Dreamin', and even one called Screamin' Orgasm! And if you're still stuck after hearing all that and can't decide which drink to try, no worries, Jamba Juice is constantly giving out samples so you won't regret your choice of pick.



After ordering your drink, they may ask you if you would like a "free boost," what is that you may ask? It's just a supplement you can add into your drink, (energy, calcium, daily vitamins, immunity, protein, antioxidants, etc.), to help you get what you need to get through the day.

Jamba Juice not only has drinks, but they also have parfaits such as the Mango Peach Topper (Soymilk, Vanilla Yogurt, Mangos, Peaches, Bananas), the Berry Topper (Soymilk, Plain Yogurt, Strawberries, Blueberries, Bananas), and the Chunky Strawberry (Soymilk, Peanut Butter, Plain Yogurt, Strawberries, Bananas). With drinks, come snacks, Jamba Juice offers delicious bites such as Pretzels, Blueberrie Lemon Loafs, Pirate Booty, Chips, and Energy Bars. Another thing that's always asked by the Jamba guests are the shots that it offers. The Matcha Green Tea Shot and the Wheatgrass shot. Both are detoxifiers that help cleanse the body; another detail about the wheatgrass shot is that it's good for the skin and ALSO good for hangovers ;) So when Friday night ends, and Saturday morning arrives, you know where to stop to get rid of the hangover! :)

The guest service at Jamba Juice is fantastic. Right when you first step into that line, they immediately acknowledge you and ask you if you need help finding the right drink. The energetic, enthusiastic smiles, and the yell of "JAMBA!" makes the experience great. And when you're in a hurry, there's no need to fret about being late because your drink will be out in less then 3 minutes. They're smile is so contagious that you will be leaving contently smiling as well.

not paid guests or friends :D random jamba juice customers.

So why not stop by and satisfy your thirst.

Rita Staub, CTC Jamba Supervisor.

BLT Burger

photo courtesy by google.

Venue: BLT Burger
Location visited: 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV @ The Mirage
Website: http://www.mirage.com/restaurants/blt-burger.aspx
http://www.bltrestaurants.com/
To Visit? It's the place to explore new burgers.

Are you hungry for burgers? Well if you're stopping by Las Vegas anytime soon this summer, BLT Burger, located at The Mirage, is where the buns are flippin.


You will definitely not miss this place, because the design layout of BLT Burger will draw you in even before you get hungry. On the inner part of the restaurant is a bar for the older ones who just wanna have a little fun and enjoyment. While the bottom/outer half is a place where everyone short and tall, young and old could have a nice family meal.

They have all sorts of BLT variety to choose from such as American Kobe (7oz Grilled Snake River Farm American Wagyu Beef Burger), Tex Mex (7oz. Grilled CAB Burger, Jalapeños, Chili, Avocado, Salsa, Jack Cheese, Onion Sour Cream), Lamb Tandoori (Colorado Lamb Burger, Mint Cilantro
Yogurt Sauce, Cucumber, Olives, Red Onion, Tomato), The Stripper (No Bun! 7oz Grilled CAB Burger, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Bell Pepper, Avocado), and even the classic Asian “Bánh Mì” (Pork & Shrimp Burger, Pickled Daikon and Carrot, Herb Salad, Cucumber, Sriracha Mayo). All starting at only $10! Not only do they have burgers, they also have milkshakes, cocktails, salads, and desserts.


Turkey (All White Meat Natural Turkey Breast Ground With Fresh Herbs, $11).

Even though this is the place to stop and give a try, the guest service is kind of unexpectable. Depending on the time you come and which waiter you get. The first night I was there, our table had a really nice lady waiter. She was consistent about asking us if we were alright and if we needed anything, but on the second night, we had a guy waiter, which was quite the opposite. We took order from him and the next time we spoke again was when we asked for the check... so, guest service is not on the good side. However, don't let the service ruin a perfectly good meal, because you know, you can handle it after being contently full by deciding their tip ;)

Tasty Taste Tea

Venue: Taste Tea
Location visited: Garden Grove, CA & The Block @ Orange, CA
Website: www.tastetea.net
To Visit? It's a must go thirst quencher pit-stop

Hands down my favorite bubble tea place in California. I'm one of those people who like tea, and if I'm going to order anything tea -- I'm talking fruit tea, milk tea, slushy tea, etc., it had better still taste like tea. This place makes the cut. Not only do their teas still taste like tea, their fruit flavors are made from fresh fruit. You can still see the chunks in there, with extra chunks as topping. None of that powdered flavoring that leaves your mouth feeling slightly chalky. They've got fun titled flavors all across the board such as Ooh La La (coconut, pineapple & strawberries), Lychee Freeze (blend of lychee & lychee jelly), and Strawberry Ecsteasy (strawberry tea with black jelly). Yes, they still have your classics, but add-ons aren't limited to just your tapioca balls or grass jelly. You can pick from puddings, fruit jellies, and even mochi balls! Word of caution on the mochi balls, these chewy dough balls of yumminess are on the sweet side, so only proceed if you have the ultimate sweet tooth craving and drinking something more on the neutral end. Stop in to refresh your safe on a warm day, or celebrate cause it's a free drink on your birthday :)



(L to R: strawberry ecstatea, lychee freeze, watermelon delight,", avocado, ")

Yogurtland

Venue: Yogurtland
Location visited: Los Angeles
Website: http://www.yogurt-land.com/
To Visit? It is the "place" to go to.

I have heard so much good stuff about Yogurtland. I never really had the chance to go until I actually moved here to Los Angeles, CA. There is no yogurt place like Yogurtland in Portland, OR. Where I previously lived. The closest thing I think we had was Red Mango. I am not a huge fan of yogurt (I prefer ice cream or gelato). But I have to admit Yogurtland took me by surprise. No wonder a lot of people come here.There are two things that make this place different (besides the flavors) than other yogurt places. One it is self-serve. That means you can have as much yogurt or as little as you want. There is nothing better than having control of how much yummy food you can have. And two since it is self-serve you pay by the ounce. Yes, that is correct. You pay by how much it weighs. $0.30 per ounce. So how does it taste? Pretty good actually. There are so many different flavors ranging from regular frozen yogurt to something more tasty like Tiramisu. Or if you want something that is more fruity there are plenty of flavors to choose from that as well. From strawberry to pineapple tart. They have over 20 different flavors where you can mix and match. You also can put on a range of different toppings like gummy bears or a variety of fruits. It is not exactly the healthiest place if you are looking to diet, but it isn't unhealthy for you either. It just depends on the toppings you put on your yogurt and how much you eat. Since there are so many good flavors it is going to be hard to resist.

The place has a nice feel to it. Nothing too fancy or over the top. They let the yogurt do the talking which is a good thing. I would definitely recommend going to Yogurtland if there is one close by. Affordable, self-serve, tasty, and lots of flavors.

Roscoe's: in honor of Michael Jackson

Venue: Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles
Location visited: Los Angeles
Website: http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/
To Visit? It's definitely comfort food for the body all over.

7/7/09 - Memorial for the King of Pop Michael Jackson. I didn't drive out to Neverland Ranch, nor did I try my luck standing outside of the Staple center. Instead, that morning I rolled out of bed and staggered downstairs half asleep in my sweats with 5 minutes left until CBS, along with the rest of world media, would broadcast the public memorial. I sat, watched, appreciated, laughed, and even got teary eyed. It was not until later that evening, did I partake in a personal tribute to one of my favorite entertainers. My friends took me on a little adventure to Los Angeles in search of none other than some good 'ol soul food. A mission "In honor of Michael Jackson" we agreed.We ended up at Roscoe's House of Chicken'n Waffles. As a first timer, I had no idea what to expect. Walking past the make-shift stall selling Michael Jackson T-shirts and through the front door, the familiar and comforting smell of fried chicken wafted pass us. The place had a diner feel, yet more cozy and relaxed. It occurred to me people didn't come here to grab a bite on the way to somewhere else in this over populated and overstressed city. People came here to have them some comfort food, some good chicken. And who am I to argue? Sometimes good chicken is enough to make everyone happy. And from the little that I knew about it, Roscoe's is the joint in LA where even celebs often stand in line for. Unfortunately, there were none there when I visited.

I was, however, able to eat a hearty chicken meal and quenched my thirst with a savory drink mix of lemonade and ice tea (Lisa's Delight on the menu, but also more commonly known as an Arnold Palmer). Aside from being told the obvious about the good chicken and waffles, I was also told that the hot water corn bread were a treat to the taste buds. Having had a late afternoon snack, I decided to stick with the Country Boy selection on the menu which came with 3 wings and my choice of potato salad. The potato salad came with actual salad bits at the bottom, nice big chunks of potato. The salad was slightly bland to me, but I personally like my potato salads a bit more relished. The chicken on the other hand, was all good. Juicy meat, lightly seasoned crispy skin, it was definitely worth the try. And for those of you that normally just eat your chicken with only ketchup or only hot sauce, I recommend mixing the two together. It's like a zesty sauce party in your mouth :)

As I took my time to finish off the last drop of my tea lemonade, and before I officially entered food comatose, I came to my own appreciative acceptance of the King of Pop's passing. LL Cool J said it all when he said "I salute you King of Pop. You made the whole world moonwalk together".

Photos: #3 on the menu - 1/2 Chix prepared southern style w/2 waffles; Lisa's Delight & Sunset lemonade drinks.

For Food Lovers

And thus begins the spoiling of our taste buds :) Check back as we update on food venues to visit, food venues that have been visited, and possibly food venues we shouldn't return to? haha.