This fall I went to AWP, the largest literary event in the US and had a wonderful reading with an amazing group of American poets. Aside from falling love with Portland, I enjoyed fabulous food and drink in Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. I did an amazing road trip from Draper, Utah to LA, with a stop at the wonderful Valley of Fire and a sleepover at Hard Rock Las Vegas. It was fabulous trip, not least because I got to see wonderful friends, not only locals but also several from Washington, NYC, and beyond.
PORTLAND DINING
Portland is the best place to be if you love organic food and a cool, progressive atmosphere. I fell in love with this town in a way I was never able to fall in love with Seattle, which always seemed a little grey and sad to me, although I had some incredible times there.
An Egyptian guy who makes the best coffee ever on a double-decker bus, a fast food place with organic delights and a famous secret sauce, an old school turned hotel-restaurant-theater complex, prime gourmet dining experiences, and, one of my favorites, a store with a whole aisle of organic dark chocolate from the four corners of the world.
Higgins Restaurant´s ricotta dish. We had appetizers, salad, fish, everything was simply unforgettable We booked two months ahead...
Classy dining at Higgins
Corridors of Kennedy school
Mother´s Bistro. A client brought me there for saturday breakfast. It was packed, we had to wait for a table though the place is huge. My impression is that people who love American coffee and huge portions will appreciate this type of place more than I did.
We walked here from Oregon Convention Center and were pleasantly surprised
Nostrana is a classy Italian where you can speak Italian to the sommelier and discuss the wines with him, something I can never get enough of. Superb wine list, nice Italian food.
Nostrana´s delish beef cauliflower salad
Old Town Brewing gives you a taste of Portland´s famous craft beers. We found this place randomly and the Cacao flavored beer was to day for
Quaintrelle is a lovely place with excellent service. I had the octopus which was a total treat
Courtyard is one of the restaurants at Kennedy School
Fire Valley stop on the way from Utah to LA
Old Town Brewery´s delicious beer
WORLD FOODS´chocolate aisle
Tanner Creek Tavern was by my hotel´s lobby. Great appetizers and busy happy hours
Sunlife Organics in Malibu. I had a delicious matcha drink
Tanner Creek Tavern´s signature clams
Aside from enjoying the sandy bottom pool and the rock memorabilia at Hard Rock hotel, the most interesting thing we did in Vegas was stop by this absolutely thrilling infinity room by Japanese artist Kusama at the Bellagio
Cafe Yumm´s delicious bowls, organic ingredients and superfresh. The most affordable organic ever.
Cafe Yumm´s sesame jalapeño salsa. I brought it home and love it with fish and veggies alike
The jalapeño jelly I bought at the Valley of Fire gift shop put to breakfasty use at home
Tocaya in Venice Beach, lovely Mexican fusion food
Celebratory Prosecco at Kennedy´s Courtyard
Mirakutei´s delicious oysters come with edible flowers. Specials rolls were fabulous. The sauce on the oysters was to die for.
Tov Coffe and Tea
Tov upstairs, tea room
Graffiti by Tov
Tov´s proud owner. Purpleland, the star is the purple coffee machine. I really enjoyed their coffee with chile, called Mucho bueno (they promised to revise the name to make it correct Spanish)