Cha! Cha! Cha!

Cha! Cha! Cha! is a kinda authentic, kinda contrived little Mexican restaurant in the Pearl District of Portland.

There are a couple other links in the chain around Portland, including one downtown, on Hawthorne, in Sellwood, and on Belmont.








Their food is authentically Mexican, but also made with many local ingredients, and they keep with Portland tradition by being environmentally friendly!

I ordered chicken tamales with verde (that's "green" in Spanish, folks!) sauce.



This came topped with crumbly cheese. What Mexican dish would be complete without guava-flavored Jarritos soda?



"Um, none?" Would be the answer to that question.

Microbrew Poll!

If you check out the right-hand side of your screen there, you will see an opportunity to vote for your favorite Oregon microbrewery (I know, I know! They're not all there - leave a comment if you don't see yours!) in my handy dandy poll.

I'm itching for some audience participatory action, here! So, set down your brew for a sec, and vote for it! This is me, setting down my seasonal Ninkasi "Spring Reign..."

Cassidy's

After attending a talk by Sam Harris on morals and ethics, our troop headed over to Cassidy's to get some of their marionberry creme brulee. I am not usually a huge fan of creme brulee, finding it a bit bland for my taste, but this...

This creme brulee was marvelous - the best *bleeping* creme brulee I've ever had. The marionberry was infused into the custard itself, and the torched top was really thick - a very satisfying CRACK with a spoon, I must say. Here it is, in all its crimson-colored glory:

With the brulee, I had a Spire Mountain Apple Cider - delicious.

So, the moral (haha! A joke!) of the story is: if you ever attend a lecture on morals and ethics downtown, head on over to Cassidy's afterward to rehash and debate, and to get some dessert!

Habibi

On a quest for Indian food in downtown Portland, Dad and I discovered this little place instead. Habibi serves Lebanese cuisine. The place was mostly empty, and we were greeted by low lighting, and Shakira music.


I tried the Spinach Pie, and Turkish Coffee. The Spinach Pie was gorgeous, and very different. Besides spinach, it was made with some herbs, lemon, and pine nuts, which gave it a very tangy flavor. It's a good vegetarian option, and it was also pretty tasty with some of Dad's lamb.

The Turkish coffee came in a nifty little pot (as you can see) and though it wasn't very thick, it was pretty strong (if you're a wimp) and very, very sweet.

I believe Habibi has two locations: SW 10th and Morrison, and SW 3rd and Pine. Try them out! They're authentic and delicious. And they serve pretty food.

Chocolate Fest

I had the pleasure of attending this year's Annual Chocolate Fest at the Oregon Convention Center. It was foodie paradise: Wine, tea, chocolate martinis, bits of cupcake and truffles, and chocolate sauce at every turn.


After obtaining my "over 21" wristband (a crucial venture), I was faced with a choice: red velvet, or chocolate? This was at Cupcake Jones' booth, of course. (They let me have both).













From there, I met with a chocolate tree carving - a future career option, I think. The guy making it said he was going to make the leaves out of spun sugar to finish it off.


Another career change I considered making was that of the chocolate bunny girl. I am not sure how well I would like standing in public in my underwear, but getting painted with chocolate? Sign me up!


Stash Teas made an appearance, bringing along their selection of "chocolate" teas; chocolate mint oolong, and their chocolate hazelnut (a delightful tea, if I do say so myself).

Moonstruck Chocolates were there, of course, with their generous, generous samples of truffles. I just have to say this about Moonstruck: they are not stingy with their chocolate. You walk into any of their establishments, and they offer you samples out the wazoo. Not dinky ones, either. Whole half truffles, people. Check them out.

Noble Estate Vineyards had a delicious Moscato for us to try, and Intrigue Chocolates had a Balsamic truffle that was fabulous! I love balsamic vinegar. And it totally works in that truffle. Taste Chocolate also had a chocolate Balsamic vinegar, which was very tasty. If you get the chance: try balsamic vinegar and chocolate!

Stirs The Soul had a great selection of organic, weird chocolate. Salted, chili powder-infused, orange-infused, great stuff. I was happy to see the Wallowa Lake Fudge Company there - I grew up in E.O., and have tasted their fudge many a time growing up and going to the lake. Glad they could make it out.



I am grateful to the Seely Family Farm and their refreshing mint brew - saviors to us all! After thirty solid minutes of chocolate and cake and truffles and sauce and custard, cold mint tea fits the bill perfectly.

Another possible career change I came upon was chocolate painting. Yes. There were some of the most beautifully painted truffles there at Chocolate Fest. Gold-flaked, swirly, sparkly, polka-dotted... Oh, to spend the rest of my days painting chocolates.

We topped off the day with hot chocolate from a European-style drinking chocolate company aptly named "Sipping Dreams" and with a round of chocolate martinis from Pralines Leonidas.

Not bad if I do say so myself.

Is your mouth watering? ;)

Relapse...

Ok, so, sorry I fell off the map! Or rather, I didn't get back on it. I have a ton of tasty restaurants and photos tucked away for you all, and now I have internet! I shall certainly let you all in on the yummy secrets of Portland soon.

In store:

Chocolate Fest
Habibi
Cha! Cha! Cha!

...and more!