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.