Finding the UK in Portland! Find me some BANGERS AND MASH!

I loved this question again via Travel Oregon!  Makes me even want to explore more... missing those bangers and mash!

"Are there any British Delicatessans or British Food Stores in the Greater Portland area?"

I am an AskOR expert and you do have an interesting question!  I am always on the look out for that UK or European taste so I can be taken back to memories of some of the best food across the pond.  As you may know, fish and chips are a staple in the UK so, I have found this link for you to check out:

http://restaurants.bestcovery.com/or/portland/best-british

If you are open to exploring more food choices like this, please check out Prost on Mississippi as well:

http://prostportland.com

This stop is part of an itinerary I have experienced in Portland:  http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/itineraries/over-the-river-in-portland/

This itinerary has a European flair that I loved!  I enjoyed every stop food and otherwise!

Here's a few links to markets in the Portland area you may like to check out:

http://www.lambsmarkets.net/Home/Home_s.las?S=

http://www.zupans.com

http://www.menupix.com/portland/

more restaurant links that look great:

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/moon-and-sixpence/Location?oid=38313

http://tastyntasty.com/sons/brunch.html (My fav stop for an authentic English Breakfast!)

I hope this info has helped and if you'd like one more suggestion for a German deli/restaurant/bakery, check out Neumann's:  http://www.the-german-bakery.com  I love this place and it's very clean and they have tons of choices for authentic German/European pastries!

Thanks for your question!

Debbie Lusk

Travel Oregon AskOR Expert

whitebreadandjam.blogspot.com

From Seattle to Portland, Eugene and Bend... show me FUN AND FOOD IN OREGON!

"We're driving from Seattle > Eugene > Bend > Seattle in a time span of about 4 days. What are some fun things to see / do / eat in between driving?"

I love this question but it's so hard to answer!  I want to write a book to tell these folks what to do here in Oregon and on their route in search of fun and food!!!  

Here's the "quick" reply they received from me today:

I am an AskOR expert and I am happy to give you some ideas for fun things to do and places to eat along your route!

If you have time, I would certainly make a stop in Portland!  There is a lot to do there but if you are short on time, I would just like to tell you that a visit to Powell's Bookstore should be on your list!  Or, you could choose to spend some time in Washington Park at the International Rose Test Garden and Portland's Japanese Garden up there as well.  Trail heads for Forest Park are nearby too and it's a gorgeous place to hike!  When you are finished playing in Portland and wanna eat, a few of my fav spots are as follows:

Toro Bravo:  http://www.torobravopdx.com

Tasty n Sons:  http://tastyntasty.com

Tin Shed:  http://tinshedgardencafe.com

Sweedeedee:  http://sweedeedeepdx.tumblr.com

Prost... a German pub:  http://prostportland.com

Produce Row Cafe:  http://www.producerowcafe.com  ( my newest fave )

I have tons more so please, ask away if you'd love a more comprehensive list. Also, let me know if you plan on spending a lot of time in Portland cause I have some very cool itineraries I could share!

Out of the Portland area off I 5, you will find 99W which will take you right in to our gorgeous Willamette Valley!  Wine tasting, delicious food again abounds!  A few of my fav wineries:

Sokol Blosser

Adelsheim

Van Duzer

Left Coast Cellars 

Cubanisimo

and for food... 

The Blue Goat Cafe in Amity:  http://amitybluegoat.com

The Joel Palmer House in Dayton:  http://www.joelpalmerhouse.com

Red Hills Market:  http://www.redhillsmarket.com  ( I love, love, love this place... you have to go!)

Thistle in McMinnville:  http://thistlerestaurant.com

Sybaris Bistro in Albany: http://sybarisbistro.com

Block 15 in Corvallis:  http://block15.com

The Barn Light in Eugene:  http://thebarnlightbar.com  ( Very "Swanky Oregon" type of place )

The Vintage in Eugene:  http://www.thevintageeugene.com

Again... I have more.. just let me know if you want more!

Let's talk lodging!  In the Portland area, for fun, I would recommend the Ace Hotel, Inn at Northrup Station or the high end Benson Hotel.

In the Willamette Valley, I would recommend a B & B cause if you are wine tasting and enjoying the valley bounty, you just have to have the whole package!

LePuy A Wine Valley Inn:  http://lepuy-inn.com

Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard:  http://www.blackwalnut-inn.com

Lobenhaus B & B and Vineyard:  http://lobenhaus.com

The Allison:  http://www.theallison.com  ( Not really a B & B but nestled nicely in the valley! )

If you are lodging in Eugene, check out the Inn at the 5th:  http://www.innat5th.com or Eagle Rock Lodge: http://eaglerocklodge.com  You could certainly take the route from the lodge to Bend... scenic and about two hours so pack a picnic and enjoy some hiking trails along your drive.  

I hope this info has helped with your planning.  It looks like our AskOR expert from Bend will be also offering you some great things in that area.  Please let me know if I can help you further and feel free to check out my blog for more itineraries in Oregon!

Debbie Lusk

Travel Oregon AskOR Expert

whitebreadandjam.blogspot.com

 

AskOR... Travel Oregon's question of the day... for me anyways!

"hey there -- love your website! Going to visit Oregon this summer and I'm looking for a great cooking class in the Willamette Valley. I figured with all that wine, there has to be good food :) I've been looking online, but haven't found anything. Any suggestions?"

I got some great info for you regarding some cooking classes in the Willamette Valley!  Here goes:

From a friend and Italian Chef in Albany, Oregon.. Ruby Lewis:

"I have been working on my summer schedule but it is not quite ready yet. I will send it to you as soon as it is. As for other classes in Salem there is Kelly's and Chemeketa both which I teach at others in Salem are Carl's, and Lulu's.  And in Eugene the only one I know of is Cook's Pots & Tabletops.

Ruby"

From another friend who is the wife of thee most awesome chef... Matt Bennett who owns Sybaris Bistro here in Albany, Oregon:  

From Janel, Matt's wife:  http://www.lulluscookingclasses.com

Also, please check out Sybaris's website:  http://sybarisbistro.com  If you happen to be in the area and want to enjoy the James Beard Award nominee, let me know.. I can hook you up!  Happy to make a reservation for you.  

Now, this last bit from a fellow "foodie," Jolene from Albany, Oregon:  Pepperberries in Eugene!

Please know that you will truly be in the heart of Oregon's delicious food mecca so expand your senses and enjoy those cooking classes however, take time to eat everywhere!  A few of my fav spots in the Willamette Valley:

Sybaris Bistro of course right here in Albany

Pizza King/Taste of Italy... Ruby's place:  http://www.pizzakingalbany.com

Block 15 in Corvallis:  http://block15.com

Thistle in McMinnville:  http://thistlerestaurant.com

The Blue Goat in Amity:  http://amitybluegoat.com

The Joel Palmer House in Dayton:  http://www.joelpalmerhouse.com

Just to name a few!!!

Please let me know if I can help you further as I am a food lover all over Oregon and have my faves in Portland, Ashland, Eugene, the coast and even a few in Central and Eastern Oregon as well!

Have fun!!

Debbie Lusk

Travel Oregon AskOR Expert

whitebreadandjam.blogspot.com

The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn... you have to read this!!

Should You Open a Bed-and-Breakfast?

Houzz

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Kitchen

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Bathroom

and More »

Home Design

and Decorating Ideas- For Example:

Kids Pictures

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Storage & Closets Pictures

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Staircase Pictures

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Laundry Room Pictures

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Dining Room Pictures

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Living Room Pictures

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Wine Cellar Pictures

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Vintage Roost... Spring 2013

It's that time of year when we see bulbs blooming, trees blossoming and there's a gentle warmth in the air that makes us want to be outdoors!  And... it's also that time of year when Debbie at Vintage Roost opens her door and garden gate to let you inside her bit of heaven in "picturesque North Albany!"

Enjoy this note from Debbie and enjoy Vintage Roost this season!  I am sure I will see you there!

Springtime At The Roost!!

Please join us for a wonderful Spring Show at The Vintage Roost…

The shop will be filled to the brim with hand-fashioned treasures,

home-baked goodies, fun(ky)-vintage-finds and antiques & collectibles.

~~~~~~~

This show will run for 4 weeks, May 3^rd-May 25^th

Fridays & Saturdays, 10-5

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We have made some fun changes in the shop since you were last here in February…

Weather permitting, we will have the canopy loaded with treasures as well…so, don’t forget to peek around back!!

Can’t wait to see you all again,

The Vintage Roost

We are located ½ mile off of Hwy 20 in North Albany, 935 NW Scenic Drive

Hiking Portland, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge... the reward at the end of a hike is always BEER!

Always seeing the glass half full, or considering gray a beautiful color for Portland's backdrop, I loved how these photos turned out!  Green always looks better in gray and there was plenty of both today at the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge!

I love lots of things about Portland but I really love that I can literally be in the city, downtown Portland and just a few minutes later, I can be hiking on a trail in what feels like the middle of nowhere.  Forest Park has been my favorite hiking spot for a while however I am always looking for more places to explore.  Mt. Tabor ranks up there too on my favorites list and today, I found that I really enjoyed hiking the Oaks Bottom Trail for the very first time.

Very easy to follow and maintained impeccably, this trail is easy to navigate.  It is perfect for families with small kids, great for an easy stroll or a fast hike or run if you wanna make it a work out.  There are some hills and I am an avid hiker and handled this trail easily but I suspect most anyone could.

Since this area is a refuge, expect to see lots of wildlife.  Today we saw ducks, squirrels, many different species of birds and even saw a Blue Heron.  I only know this because a small group of people were admiring the refuge from a ledge that partially hangs out over the water and eyed the Heron before I did. I have read that over 140 species of birds can be seen throughout the year at this refuge.  Deer, beavers and even bald eagles can be seen here as well. Spring is supposed to be one of the best times to visit the refuge because of the water level being higher and seeing the Canadian Geese heading north dipping down for their lunch along the way.

I would suggest wearing good sturdy sneakers or hiking boots when hiking this trail.  It wasn't muddy today but there were signs of a recent higher water level and areas that can certainly get pretty muddy.  One great thing about the location of this refuge and trail, is the proximity to the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland.  We decided to trek back to our car along the sidewalks and enjoyed the historic neighborhood and homes in the area.  We have enjoyed lunch in Sellwood before and at times we have stopped at Grand Central Bakery for a coffee and cookie.  The location is really perfect for hiking and city trekking and eating!  Three of my most favorite things to do!

Almost two hours after we began our hike, we drove over to Cascade Brewing Barrel House.  We saw this place on a city trek last week and beer was sounding pretty good today.  By the way... my hikes and city trek's almost always end with a beer stop somewhere as I consider it a good way to try a new brew and get rehydrated after a hike.  Ray had the Chocolate Bourbonic Plague and I had a few tastes and decided I loved the Raspberry Wheat.  Had a bite of lunch too which was very good.  I suggest the Cascade Brewing Barrel House for lunch and a beer any time but especially after a hike!

If you are considering a simple hike in the Portland area with a little education and wildlife watching along the way, I highly suggest this trail.  Take your time and enjoy it and when you are finished, enjoy  a nice cold Oregon beer too!

The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn... closing June 1st, 2013!

I just received a phone call from yet another telemarketer that was trying to sell me something for my inn.  It's funny when you tell them no thanks by the way cause they always say they aren't trying to sell you anything.  Yeah... ok sure!  Well anyways, when I told her our inn was closed she went on and on about how sorry she was to hear that and how it's too bad.  Then I told her the rest of the story!  Hey... she called me so she must have some time on her hands, right?

Over twenty years ago, Ray and I stayed at the Bath Street Inn in gorgeous Santa Barbara, California.  I was enthralled to say the least.  They had me at the cakes and cookies when we checked in and captured my heart and soul during breakfast the next morning when we enjoyed blueberry pancakes in the garden patio along with homemade granola and yogurt.  I knew innkeeping was my fate when I noticed the place mats on our table... they were mine!  I had the very same place mats at home and so along with this B & B being cozy and sweet and homey, the sweets, the claw footed tub and antiques, I knew that being an innkeeper is what I was meant to do!

Skip ahead about 20 years, Ray retires from the fire department, I'm done working as an RN and my dream of being an innkeeper comes true!  Working with a five year plan once the inn opened, we will hit the mark this May.  We have decided it's time to play!  It's still hard to believe that five years have passed and that in those five years, we have experienced more of this world from our guests than we ever thought possible.  Now... it's time for us to see more of it for ourselves!

Reducing the amount of guest rooms, closing for part of the year the past two years and our guests sharing with us their travels around the world, it makes sense for us to move on.  Those guests have talked of their travels, their bike rides through our Willamette Valley, their wine tasting adventures, their hikes, their trips to places like Crater Lake, the Oregon Coast, Bend and beyond.  I think it hit me one day a few years ago,  that my dream of having this B & B was a "real job" and I was really ready to explore this world.

Skip ahead again a year or so and the house has been on the market now for over one year.  We've been traveling when we don't have guests and our last group comes in May!  They booked with us a year ago so we chose June 1st to officially close the inn.  So, in conclusion, just in case anyone is curious....

It is our choice to close the inn.  We have been busier than we have ever imagined and we are still stunned at how successful we have been with our B & B.  The proof of our success can be found in our stellar reviews at Bed and Breakfast.com and Trip Advisor and in our guest books in each of our guest rooms.  Our success can also be found by the amount of phone calls we receive daily from folks all over the world searching for lodging here in the Willamette Valley.  It kills us to turn down the reservations but somehow when I'm on the hiking trail and my boots are caked and muddy and I've just captured the most gorgeous view of the St. John's bridge with my camera, it's all good... I'm good and Ray is happy and we are planning to enjoy what is left of this "good life" together exploring.

So, see... going out with a bang is a good thing especially if you can smile and remember you did very well at something you loved .  A success at life, a success at fun and a success at knowing when to fold em and knowing that it's time to play!

Thank you to everyone who was instrumental in our success but mostly, thank you to our local Albany Visitor's Association!  Too many names to mention but you know who you are!  Thanks for the ride, the good times and for always being a part of who we were.  We will miss this gig but will surely find many fun ways to cope!  Thanks again to everyone... friends and family!