Portland, OR

I heart Mexican food. But when it comes right down to it, most Mexican restaurants disappoint me. I believe the problem lies in the years I lived in Chicago, where good, real Mexican food was fairly plentiful. So far, my forays into the Mexican restaurant scene in Portland have been a mixed bag.

I did try San Felipe Taqueria today in Sellwood (6221 SE Milwaukie), and I am happy to say the food was quite good. I am a big fan of places that have a salsa bar with the pickled jalapenos and carrots. But more than that, I tried the fish tacos, and I liked them. I haven’t had a decent fish taco since living in Southern California, so it was such a delight to have some good fish tacos today. I would have preferred the fish to not be deep-fried, but with everything else on the tortilla, the fry-ness worked. The menu said something about the recipe being Marta’s(?) recipe from I forget. San Felipe, maybe, I guess I should have taken notes.

The small storefront reveals a much larger place inside. I had noticed the San Felipe Taqueria when I first moved here. I liked the sign. It’s a really happy fish flipping a pepper in its open mouth. Inside I noticed the same image but with an upturned Corona instead of the pepper. Cute. Unfortunately, presently the SFT is awaiting its liquor license, but once in hand, the place serves beer and margheritas.

I tried the tamale verde, and usually I don’t understand the attraction to tamales, this one was really good. There is also a “red” tamale, but didn’t try it. Maybe next time.

It’s one of those order at the counter, find a table and they bring you the food kind of place. Bus your own tables, too.

Cheap prices. Lots of old spanish-language film posters, and chipper music. I will definitely return.

Portland, Chicago, Mexican, Mexican restaurants, Sellwood, San Felipe Taqueria

First, my apologies for the dearth of posts in the last three weeks. I have taken a new job, and it has been a wild and bumpy ride in that this new job is a restaurant, and the last four weeks have been training, and now that the training process is complete I feel that I finally have time to resume my normal (*relative term) life.

One quick observation: The restaurant industry in any city is a small, incestuous community. Be it a major city like Chicago, or a smaller city like Portland, everyone knows everyone, and has possibly slept with that same population. However, if you want to learn a city, get a job in a restaurant. Waiters know all the best spots.

That said, I have been introduced to a great bar, with a great outdoor patio. And who doesn’t love a great outdoor patio on which to drink, right?

Rontom’s on East Burnside at 6th Avenue. There is no sign, so you kind of have to know what you are looking for, a grey building with tallish windows along burnside, maybe two blocks before Le Pigeon. Or you can look for the crowd of ESH (East Side Hipsters — a crossbreed of 80’s throwbacks, if young, and Marxists in thrift store clothes, if a little older) clustered outside.

Now that I am working nights again, it seems that is a precursor to going out after said shift. Rontom’s has been my favourite watering hole thus far. And yes, the patio is the main reason for this newly found libation station.

Come on, you put a ping pong table outside, and how can I resist?

Grandma wasn’t there, but could have been. It’s a big place.

The drinks were strong and appropriately priced. As a bartender myself, I hate paying more than six bucks for a Stoli and tonic. I know how much Stoli costs a bar, so anything more than that and it is literal robbery. Rontom’s charged me $5.50 for a tall, and I can live with that. Not that I am cheap, quite the contrary, but I do not like overpaying for alcohol just to sit somewhere posh, especially when I am so much more comfortable at a pic-a-nic table outside.

Also, the female bartender was cute, and put my tall in a pint glass. A girl after my own heart…

Portland, Chicago, Stoli, Rontoms, Rontom’s, outdoor, patio, drinking

Since I have moved to Portland, I have been struggling to find good delivery options for my lazy nights. Living in a college town and then a large city like Chicago, I have to admit that I have become rather spoiled. I know delivery exists in this town, but my luck so far has been spotty at best.

Which brings me to today’s topic. It’s more of a rave today, and Rudy’s Gourmet Pizza is my new favorite pizza place. I “dined in” the first time I went there, and if you go you have to look at the wall on your left as you go back toward the washrooms. It is an AWESOME pencil sketch of Michael Jackson. And there is a Ms. Pac-Man arcade game, the one you sit down at across from your opponent. The joysticks are a little slow to respond, but hey, it’s the novelty. I made it through four levels before I started getting annoyed. These new fangled video games we got now-a-days (I HEART MY XBOX 360!!) have absolutely ruined me for the slow, antiquated machines of my childhood, and yet still, I continue to plunk my quarters in them.

Rudy’s is at SE 47th and Powell, on the south side of the street. It has a small parking lot as well.

Dining in was nothing special atmosphere-wise, kinda like that pizza place all the stoners worked at in high school, but the service was quite good. Granted, we were the only two people there when we arrived, but as there are maybe twenty-five seats in the place, I don’t see service being a problem even when they are busy. The server was the cutest young girl, who had to get “Grandma” to serve the beer my boyfriend ordered. The beer selection is small, but well-chosen for the most part.

Side Note: How great is it living in Portland if you like good beer? Even small places strive to have only good beer to sell.

Last night, I tried Rudy’s for delivery, and what a pleasant experience. Not only was the guy who answered the phone polite and nice, helpful even, the pizza beat his thirty-five minute quote but a good fifteen minutes. That’s right, I got my pizza in twenty minutes. That is unheard of.

I am not entirely sure what the delivery zone is, but I am so happy that I live in it.

Here’s some specifics. The crust is thin and crispy, quite tasty, and the toppings are generous. The toppings are the usual quasi-gourmet style, with things like chicken and salami, polish hot dogs and meatballs, to veggies like artichoke hearts and portabello. My only beefs with the ‘za is that there are not cheese choices for the create-your-own’s. And the sauce is a bit on the sweeter side. That is not a problem, per se, I am just stating my opinion. There are also other menu items, of course, but I have yet to order anything besides pizza and Dr. Pepper. But the cute little girl that waited on me did offer Elephant Ears. Another time, perhaps.

Rudy’s Gourmet Pizza is located at 4716 SE Powell and the phone number is 503-771-8008. Oh, yeah, did I mention that the delivery was free of charge? Tip well! It’s worth it.

Rudy’s Gourmet Pizza, Portland, pizza, delivery, dining, Michael Jackson, Ms. Pac-Man, Chicago, Powell

This Sunday, you can.

A town hall meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 20, 2008, at the Friends Meeting House at 4312 SE Stark from 6-8 pm.

Sure, I know, you have gone to a couple of the war protests downtown, and maybe even the vigil last month to commemorate the lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. A citizen in a democracy should attend meetings and protests to add their voice and support to the causes in which they believe. It will be a sad day when there are no more protests or dissent.

Although, maybe you are one of those who would rather just stay home, and that is your prerogative, too. Long live apathy, right? Ah, it would be nice to not care, but highly unlikely — and dangerous. Some people don’t appreciate their rights until they are gone.

That said, the town hall meeting is an opportunity to voice your own dissent for the War in Iraq and Afghanistan…or you could go and support the additional need for funding the military. Just because all those around you say one thing, it doesn’t mean that you should subvert your own feelings. Maybe you don’t support the war, but you see the need for additional funds to help protect our troops and make their jobs easier (or Halliburton is a major percentage of your stock portfolio). Either way, join others for the town hall Sunday night.

Upon moving to Portland, I attended a town hall with ol’ what’s-his-name, Earl Blumenauer, and let me say this: Even if you have no desire to offer your opinion in a town hall meeting, the event can provide some entertainment, and free entertainment at that (I have filed this under cheap dates for those hardcore politicos among you). Some very interesting characters attend these kind of meetings, and the people watching is priceless.

Portland, town hall, Iraq, War, Afghanistan, democracy, protest, troops, Halliburton

If you can hop online in time to register and print out a ticket, you can attend the Focus the Nation Teach-In tonight (January 31) at the Chiles Center at the University of Portland. The Teach-In is part of a larger national movement to draw attention to and discuss global climate change.

Here’s a little more official explanation from a U of Portland press release:

The day will culminate at 5 p.m. with the cornerstone event, Focus the Nation: Live at the Chiles Center! - a candid global warming discussion between students and lawmakers that is expected to be one of the Focus the Nation movement’s largest single-site gatherings. The “green democracy” roundtable discussion will feature students from several Oregon colleges and universities asking elected officials environmental and climate change-centered questions. Those officials include Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski, Congressman Earl Blumenauer in a live feed from WashingtonD.C., and state house member Jackie Dingfelder (D-Salem), Chair of the Oregon House Energy and Environment Committee.

In addition to a free evening of global warming and sustainability, the band Stars of Track and Field will finish out the night.

This might be a good excuse for a cheap date that can also impress on someone that you care deeply about the Earth. Just an idea.

Then again, you can just listen in to the event on OPB radio from 6-7pm…and drink. Although, you could always drink and then go. It might be worth it just for the people watching. My experiences with most things “political” in Portland is always a good time. Add environmentalism to the agenda and watch out.

Besides, the season premiere of Lost is on tonight. For anyone desperate for new episodes of something, anything, well, you could do a lot worse than Lost.

Ooh, and another idea for a cheap date. Thirst Wine Bar is having a free wine tasting tonight from 5 to 8pm. Well, you get two free samples and after they get you hooked, they jack up the price. It’s at the Riverside location, so that usually translates to romantic, right? This deal only lasts through February, so if not tonight, maybe take advantage next week.

Focus the Nation, University of Portland, climate change, OPB, Thirst Wine Bar, cheap dates, Lost