Last Friday I had one of the best meals ever! It was at a restaurant called Le Pigeon. The chef, Gabriel Rucker is only 25, not classically trained and was named one of the Top Ten upcoming Chefs in Food & Wine Magazine! It is a small place with a few tables, several seats in front of the show kitchen and 1 large communal table. My friend Bruce (who loves to try new places especially when involving eating & drinking) and I wanted to try it out. Sorry no pics! I did not have my Camera!
Now I've known Bruce since college and we have had many gastronomical adventures. Being the good Frat Boy that he was (and still is), all good times begin with the all important Pre-func! In the area where we were headed, there were a few more new places and we were going to try Rocket for cocktails. They were open at 4 and Le Pigeon not until 5. Plenty of time! After parking between the venues, we walked up to where Rocket was the top floor of a very bright red building, But before we went up there on the ground floor was a bar called The Chesterfield. It was also new, retro chic inside and in we went. It was Happy Hour! 3$ off cocktails! After a couple drinks and a great snack of crispy fingerling potatoes with Basil Aioli, we then went up to check out Rocket. It looked like a cool LA Bar with a great city view and a little retro in theme as well! We thought now we had Plan B so that if we could not get into Le Pigeon, then we would come back to Rocket!
At Le Pigeon they were currently full, but something would be open in an hour and would call my cell phone. So back to the Pre-Functioning! This time we went to Doug Fir. It is a bar completely made of ....you guessed it! Doug fir logs. It also is next to a "Hipster" Motel! Great people watching spot! You can see almost any type & style. On to wine for me since dinner was soon, Bruce stuck to a Manhattan! The good news was that they called in 30 mins.
We were seated at the communal table between 2 different groups of people. The table is long and narrow, so they seat you across from each other. The couple on my left were just finishing up dessert and on the other side a Birthday woman and her husband and daughter ready to have their entree. Since you do sit so close, you can see what looks good. The best thing about Bruce is, while he looks like a preppy, you can take him anywhere & he can talk to anyone! He is my Black Tie escort if I'm not dating anyone. Also he likes to try new things and will share, so we never order the same and always have every course. So as we eye the desserts next to us, they tells us how good it is.
So I pick the appetizers: Seared Scallops in Lobster Chowder & a Beet, Cucumber salad with creme fraiche and a herb vinaigrette accompanied by a Sauvignon Blanc. Bruce picks the Entrees' : Flatiron Steak with creamed spinach & white truffle butter, and a Ravioli with marscapone, portobellos, eggplant in a fresh tomato & yellow pepper sauce accompanied by a Bordeaux Blend. While we were waiting, the Birthday group got their Entrees and woman next to Bruce had gotten the last order of Sweetbreads! Since we had been chatting with them, She offered him a bite! They commented on how nice the people in Portland are. They had just moved here! We got 2 ladies seated next after the couple had left, another birthday. She knew the chef and so we got to meet him as well! He was so nice, in Good shape complete with a pigeon flock tattoo - Hence the name!
Every bite was so tasty! But the clinch was the Dessert! I ordered the signature Cornbread with Maple Cream and syrup and.....Bacon! Bruce picked the profiteroles which had Foie Gras in the pastry dough with cream and caramel sauce. It was so delicious that we actually used our fingers to not miss any drops! I can not go back soon enough! So I actually am a big fan of the Communal table! You can meet very interesting people! What about you?
Do you Pre-Func? Do you have a Plan B? Do you share??? Let me know!
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3 Mannions Speak :
Do we leave the house????...No, not really. I get excited when the man takes me to the local thai place and I have my fav curry with kumara (like a sweet potato). I would like to eat out more, but most of the budget goes on the brat at the moment and doing things to the house. You are making me so hungry though! AND, I love to cook, so not so bad...using a French book at the moment and made gorgeous white wine/cream reduction with thyme over chicken. Thanks for the happy travel wishes Leiha. It should be groovy. Cannot wait..although getting up at 4ish tomorrow morning to catch red eye not so cool. TTYS!
PS this >>>.Flatiron Steak with creamed spinach & white truffle butter, and a Ravioli with marscapone, portobellos, eggplant in a fresh tomato & yellow pepper sauce accompanied by a Bordeaux Blend. AUGH!!!!! Little bit of dribble at the corner of my mouth!!
Sounds yummy! We hardly make it to a sit down establishment. Eating out for us is usually Wendys or take n bake pizza.
I love food, you all know that but for me I usually just order things to go unless Dao and I are going out for lunch and we eat casual, no pre-function and plan b is whatever is most convenient. We also eat at the same places a lot, LOL.
Those desserts don't sound too yummy but I would have tried them, just to be cool like you LOL. Now the rest sounds abfab! When I vacation or when friends come to town is when I splurge on food, luckily I do a lot of both.
Sarah I have no idea you loved to cook! Yet another reason to go to NZ! BTW, I loved seeing you at Karen's board, I noticed it right away, even before your email, LOL.
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