Verde Cocina

Need a veggie fix?  Let me tell you about Verde Cocina!  This fun new restaurant is located in Hillsdale.  The owner began his business with a food cart located at local farmer's markets that was so popular he has successfully expanded.  They are a "farm to fork" cafe focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  Each entree comes with a MOUNTAIN of in season sauteed vegetables.  On my most recent visit there this month the veggies even had some thinly sliced apples mixed in.  Delicious!!   The tortillas are thick and handmade daily.  I highly recommend this place for lunch with friends.  The upstairs dining room has plenty of seating and feels open and comfortable with lots of daylight.
The menu has many vegetarian dishes and a few with meat.  I'm not a vegetarian, but I will say I actually prefer the dishes without meat here because the veggies are so flavorful and well prepared.  As you can see in the above picture, we enjoyed the margaritas too!  The picture above is of the chile relleno, which was the daily special;  I highly recommend it!  Very satisfying.  This place has redefined my idea of "authentic mexican food" and I am loving it!
They are open Tuesday - Sunday.  Located at 6446 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97239. 

Andina

Wonderful Peruvian food.  On my first visit to Andina I had the good fortune to speak with one of the owners.  She was wearing a beautiful hummingbird pin that matched the logo on their menu.  I asked her about it and here is what she said:  "Andina is named after a place in Peru where there are lines of rocks in the soil in the same image(hummingbird) that is so large it can only be seen from an airplane.  Scientists have found that hummingbirds come to that area of Peru to get nourishment and then migrate as far north as Alaska!  They return each year.  Our customers are the like these hummingbirds coming in for good food.  I know they will return!"

The atmosphere here is warm and friendly.  Their happy hour (4-6pm) is always busy!  I love the seating here with the large windows and the open two story layout.  They feature a tapas menu that is wonderful.  The beef empanadas were flaky and satisfying.  I have tried 2 of the 3 ceviches offered and both were amazing.  The diver's scallop was savory and perfectly cooked.  As you can see from my photos I am especially fond of their Plato de Crema Quemada for dessert.  The flavors of these small creme brulee vary with such choices as almond, chocolate, vanilla and basil.  I would also highly recommend the French press coffee from Stumptown.  On my most recent visit I enjoyed the live music which was playing in the bar, but is easily enjoyed from anywhere in the restaurant.  Like the hummingbirds in Peru, I can't wait to return!

Iorio

With so much buzz about this restaurant, it was only a matter of time until I checked it out!  Google "romantic restaurant in Portland" and there you'll find Iorio on everyone's list.  After a stunningly delicious meal there last night, I would agree.  The space is small and cozy with warm red walls and candlelit tables.  Everything we tasted was wonderful.  I will recommend that you order the Focaccia bread from the menu when you arrive if you're feeling hungry, because they do not bring any bread otherwise.  The calamari appetizer was perfectly prepared.  We enjoyed it immensely.  We also tried the beet salad, the roasted pork shoulder and the pasta with clams...all outstanding.  The house made pasta is tender and flavorful (and generous!).   Overall, there is a friendly atmosphere here.  The table next to us even shared a bit of their bottle of wine with us.  One thing I loved is that the wine glasses here are stemless which reminded me of dining in Italy years ago.  They have a short but well chosen wine list.
 Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, but seemed a little busy and actually didn't make it to our table to take our dinner order which was instead taken by the gentleman filling our water glasses!  But everything arrived at our table as ordered and we were satisfied.  This restaurant had a good looking kids menu and we did see a few kids there.  I think this restaurant is best suited for a quiet romantic dinner.  Be sure to make a reservation here as they have limited seating and stay quite busy.   Iorio 912 SE Hawthorne Blvd.  Portland,

Paley's Place

Paley's is amazing!  My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary here.  Paley's was the perfect choice.  We enjoyed our spectacular meal at a cozy candle lit table.  Chef Vitaly Paley sends each table an "amuse bouche " to start the dining experience.  This is basically a small spoonful of deliciousness to get you started.  The amuse bouche that night was a tuna nicoise and I wish I could have eaten a plateful!  Our meal included the smoked duck breast charcuterie, roasted beets in horseradish cream, Maine diver scallops and a warm salad including Spanish octopus and Oregon Dungeness crab. The menu is cleverly divided so that you can order a half or whole portion of most the main dishes.  The charcuterie menu also allows you to customize your order to include one or several or their selections.  This affords you the chance to taste lots of goodness in one meal for a reasonable price.  We ended up being too full to partake of the cheese course and the dessert menu, both of which looked amazing.  Paley's captures that rare essence that allows time to just dissolve away and nothing matters while your there except the warm company and delicious food.  I recommend it whole-heartedly.
Paley's Place 1204 NW 21st Ave.  Portland, OR 97209

Maine Diver Scallops a la Plancha

Emilie Dessert Cafe

When you live in Portland, it's a priority to find a place to get an excellent cup of coffee in a comfortable atmosphere. Emilie dessert cafe is just such a place with the added bonus of also serving up some really great food. I recently had a delightful lunch here. They offer two home-made soups every day as well as sandwiches, wraps and salads. The chicken noodle soup was delicious and satisfying. I would come back here just to eat the soup again! I also tried the chicken caeser wrap which was full of flavor. The pastries and desserts here are beautiful and there are lots to choose from. I'm looking forward to eating here again soon!

Peach custard tart 

A loyal customer a.k.a. my Dad!

Thai Basil

It's always a good day for Thai food. Today I had lunch at Thai Basil in Lake Oswego. This seems to be a consistently busy place. They have a lunch special menu for $7.25 with 15 dishes to choose from. The peanut sauce delight meal came with a choice of meat and an ample serving of fresh veggies and white rice. This dish was well prepared with just the right balance of sweet and savory. The red curry was slightly disappointing in comparison with other curries around Portland. The restaurant itself is a bright and cheerful space which is tastefully decorated and has a lot of seating. The service was good.

Barbur World Foods

I have driven past Barbur World Foods for more than a year without realizing what a wonderful gem it is. Today I tried their deli hummus and fresh pita bread for lunch on the recommendation of my friend Carrie. Wow! For $.50 they serve up a huge pita freshly baked upon order....amazing stuff. Paired with their smooth creamy hummus this is a match made in heaven. This store has a large beer and wine selection and carries many specialty items. They also carry treats from Ladybug chocolates which is a favorite in my family as they make chocolates shaped like lego bricks among other things. Barbur World Foods: 9845 SW Barbur Blvd. Portland, OR 97219