Wandering Fork

Summertime and baseball. Even when you aren’t going to get to the game, sometimes you get an overwhelming urge to have a hot dog.  If you are looking for a Chicago Red Hot (and possibly catch a Cubs game), you need to check out Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots.

 

Prior to visiting Wayne’s I had never had a Red Hot and, frankly, anything that comes with “neon green relish” scares me.  After all, that can’t possibly occur in nature, right?  But Mister urged me on, and Wayne’s had a taster menu with a mini Chicago Red Hot and a mini Willy Chili Dog, so I figured I was covered. 

 

 

Hot Dog Taster (Chili Dog in front, Red Hot in back) with Fries and Soda

 

The Red Hot is a Vienna Beef hot dog with yellow mustard, the aforementioned neon green relish, onions, garlic dill pickle, spicy sport pepper, tomato slices, and celery salt.  As Mister was polishing his off while his eyes were glued to the television, I sat in mute contemplation.  The mini was about three bites. I could do this and overcome my relish paranoia.  Three bites later, I could say that I had my first Red Hot. Frankly, it isn’t my preference, not because Wayne doesn’t make a good dog.  More due to the determination that relish and I do not get along and I’m not one for tomatoes or peppers on my dogs. However, the Willy Chili Dog was solid with beanless chili, shredded cheddar, and onions. (I’ll take two!) The fries were fat and soft with the right amount of salt.  If I come back, I would consider having the State Street Fries which are topped with garlic and would probably take me back to cold nights watching the San Francisco Giants play.

 

If you are a hot dog lover, or just have a craving, I would recommend Wayne’s. Plus, for those of you looking for a deal, Wayne’s has a Hog Dog Happy Hour from 4:00 p.m. to close.  Buy a Red Hot or Little Leaguer (regular dog with your choice of condiments), large fries, and a drink, and you get a second regular size Red Hot or Little Leaguer for free. Total cost about $9.00.

 

Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots

3901 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Portland, OR 97214

 503.493.4537 

www.wayneschicagoredhots.com

No Comments | In: Happy Hour, Lunch, Oregon | tags: Fries, Happy Hour, hot dog, Oregon, Portland. | #

It’s summer, it’s sunny (at least the clouds may clear for an hour or two), and I want to sit outside with a drink.  Since it is close, we’ve had good experiences there before and our favorite local jazz vocalist, Shelly Rudolph, used to sing there occasionally…Mister and I headed down to 23 Hoyt.

 

We have enjoyed the Happy Hour at 23 Hoyt several times in the past year, and have brought both friends and business associates to enjoy the special cocktails and appetizers, especially the beet salad, French fries, and hamburgers. When we arrived, there was an outside table available, and we swooped down while the host found menus.

 

The first thing I noticed was a change in the Happy Hour menu.  Uh-oh.  The menu used to provide several munchies priced $1 – 5, with six cocktails priced at $5.  Now, the Happy Hour menu prices range from $1 - $11, with only one specialty cocktail and several “basic” drinks (think one spirit and a mixer such as gin and tonic) for $6. The hamburger which used to be priced at $5 and included French fries was now a bit more.  Sigh.  It looked like our usual $25 or less Happy Hour bill was going up.

 

 

Menu and Bourbon and Ginger

 

We ordered two basic drinks, bourbon and ginger for me (because I love my bourbon!) and rum and coke for Mister while we reviewed the new food options.  There were some old favorites, as well as the addition of some interesting flatbreads and a daily special. In the end, Mister ordered the Andouille and Pepper Flatbread, I ordered the daily “Something Special” special, and we added an order of fried mushrooms.

 

The winner of the meal from a taste standpoint was the Andouille Sausage and Pepper Flatbread.  It was crisp, although a little burnt on one side, the sausage was served in its ground form (instead of sliced) and nicely seasoned, and the peppers added a fabulous flavor. It was a mouth pleaser and I would get this again even at the $9 price; however it is not what I would consider a Happy Hour deal.

 

 

Andouille Sausage Flatbread with Ikea knife

 

The Crab and Green Bean Salad was the “Something Special.” This was delicious, with a vinaigrette base instead of mayonnaise.  The green beans were fresh and crisp, the dill fragrant. The portion was smaller than I would have liked, but then again, crab can be expensive. However….it meant I was still hungry.

 

 

Crab and Green Bean Salad

 

I inhaled the fried mushrooms, which were previously $2 and are now $3 for about six.  They were gone before I remembered to get a picture, so we ordered the fries and deviled eggs.

 

I love deviled eggs…probably because they are seasonal and I usually don’t get them unless there is a barbecue or picnic at someone’s house.  Two eggs (four halves) were served and they were competent, but not as zingy as I remembered from previous visits.  The fries had also seen a price increase from $1 to $2, but still what I would consider a Happy Hour deal. Shoestring cut, piled high with mustard aioli, these are still a crowd pleaser. Unfortunately, aioli was not as good as in the past, a very heavy Dijon taste that made me think of a cross between mustard seeds, horseradish, and a bitter chardonnay.  I tried it a couple of times before putting it aside.

 

 

French Fries

 

So what do you do when an old favorite makes some changes?  I don’t mind a small increase in prices (e.g., $1 more for the fries), and some of the new additions like the flatbreads are tasty, however I wonder if the self-proclaimed New American Tavern has lost its Happy Hour soul?  When Happy Hour food prices go above $5 or $6, they are psychologically no longer a deal and patrons begin to think in terms of dinner prices. For example, the hamburger used to be $11 at dinner and you could get it at $5 during Happy Hour.  But now that burger during Happy Hour is in the $7 – 11 range depending on toppings (e.g., regular, bleu cheese, fried egg and avocado).  And, the loss of a choice of the more interesting Happy Hour cocktails (e.g., the Monkey Wrench with pepper infused vodka and mango puree), is a let down.  

 

I’m not willing to strike 23 Hoyt from my list of preferred restaurants, but it will no longer be a “go to” for Happy Hour.

 

23 Hoyt

529 NW 23^rdAve.

Portland, OR 97210

503.445.7400

www.23hoyt.com

 

July 31, 2010

Andouille Sausage Flatbread       $ 9.00

“Something Special”                   $ 6.00

Fried Mushrooms                       $ 3.00

French Fries                              $ 2.00

Deviled Eggs                             $ 2.00

Iced Tea                                    $ 3.00

Bourbon and Ginger                   $ 6.00

Rum and Coke                           $ 6.00

Total                                        $37.00

No Comments | In: Happy Hour, Oregon | tags: 23 Hoyt, Eggs, Fries, Happy Hour, Oregon, Salad. | #

How cool is it when the PTA meets for happy hour at a rocking venue?  During our Kansas City trip, Mister and I caught up with a friend of his from high school years (okay, it was his prom date).  She suggested The Drop since she was attending a PTA meeting there and they had a great happy hour (Monday – Friday, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.).  Meeting her reinforced what great taste Mister has in women: she was bright, funny, and someone I’d hang out with into the wee hours of the morning. 

 

 

The Drop Signage

 

The décor was simple, predominently black, with light fixtures made out of wine glasses and 80s videos playing on several flat-screen televisions.  While Mister ordered an El Presidente, I opted for an Asian Pear Martini: pear puree with Japanese rice vodka.  Sweet, lovely, with a sprig of mint, and just the kind of drink I wanted.  Even better, The Drop has both drink AND food specials during happy hour, so we ordered the Meat and Cheese Board with several cheeses (some better than others), several slices of charcuterie, grapes, dried apricots, and figs. 

 

I would recommend this happy hour venue whether or not you bring the rest of the office, or your local PTA.

 

 

Light Fixture of Wine Glasses

 

 

Asian Pear Martini

 

The Drop

409 E 31^st Street

Kansas City, MO 64108

816.756.3767‎

www.thedropbar.com

 

May 14, 2009

1 El Presidente                          $ 7.50

1 Asian Pear Martini                   $ 5.00 (usually $8.75)

1 Meat & Cheese Board             $ 6.00 (usually $12.00)

Total                                        $18.50

 

No Comments | In: Happy Hour, Kansas, Missouri, Snacks | tags: Cocktails, Happy Hour, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, The Drop. | #

I was going to meet co-workers for dinner, but we wanted to grab a quick drink first.  They suggested Meriwether’s. It had been a long time since I had last frequented this venue. Between the ample parking and their fabulous patio seating in the back garden, I readily agreed. 

 

Meriwether’s Happy Hour is everyday from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. and are complementary nibbles to go with your beer ($3 pints), wine ($5 specials), or cocktail (regular price).  I ordered a Bitter End. This house cocktail which varies greatly from the traditional Bitter End (dry vermouth and Angostura bitters).  Instead, it includes Hendrick’s Gin, grapefruit juice, grapefruit bitters, and a Campari float.  

 

My mother went through a period where Campari had a “most favorite” status.  (Most days, I think it is just an alcoholic version of Sanbitter….something I recommend everyone stay away from unless you grew up with it.  It is simply nasty and it takes a long time, or Mexican food, to remove the aftertaste.)  Needless to say, I never quite understood the appeal, but since my mom is a smart cookie, I keep trying.  

 

I enjoyed the cocktail, appreciated the barkeep’s skill, and found the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice refreshing. I wish I could have said the same about the complementary chicken wings.  They were on a platter with blue cheese dressing. Unfortunately, they were stone cold by the time I had one.  Probably not the best representation of the kitchen’s skill.  It is a challenge to develop nibbles that will remain appealing throughout a three hour period.  I wonder what other options they have tried…

 

Bitter End and Chicken Wing

 

 

Meriwether’s

2601 NW Vaughn St.

Portland, OR 97210

503 . 228 . 1250

www.meriwethersnw.com

 

April 8, 2009

Bitter End                                 $ 9.00

Chicken Wing                            $  0.00

Total                                        $ 9.00

And, while I don’t much care for Sanbitter, they do have a funky advert on YouTube:

 

No Comments | In: Happy Hour, Oregon | tags: Campari, Chicken Wings, Cocktails, Happy Hour, Meriwether's, Oregon, Portland, Sanbitter. | #

Several years ago, I attended a Dinnergrrl cocktail class at 820/Mint taught by Lucy Brennan, owner and lauded mixologist.  The group had a wonderful time taking turns behind the bar and mixing up some of Lucy’s signature creations.  Although I enjoyed the evening, I didn’t return until I embraced the cultural return of Happy Hour seemingly in conjunction with the publishing of Portland’s Happy Hour Guidebook, and Lucy being named by Playboy as one of the nation’s top ten bartenders.

 

820/Mint has also become a touchstone location for what my husband refers to as “beautiful mind moments.”  We usually go to brainstorm and work through a business idea or tricky logistical situation, and most times, after a couple of cocktails, the solution materializes. 

 

 

 

Happy Hour at 820/Mint includes both food and drink specials.  The Cuban lamb burger with mint chimichurri is my favorite and it comes with a choice of fries or salad.  I usually have the salad as a nod towards five vegetables a day, and then have a side order of the sweet potato fries.  The fries have achieved an almost rabid following by some foodies: perfectly fried, sweet, with a touch of salt, and a great dipping sauce.  (I hereby forewarn anyone who comes with me that this is the one dish I will shamelessly steal from others in addition to eating my own!)

 

Cuban Lamb Burger with Side Salad

 

 

Sweet Potato Fries

 

Caesar Salad

 

When it comes to cocktails, I either chose one traditional cocktail (e.g., Manhattan, up, with three cherries) and stick with it or I throw caution to the wind and go for the “girly” drinks with fabulous colors, tastes, and the occasional umbrella. At 820/Mint, I usually become even more adventurous, picking the first one and then asking the server choose a different drink for me for the remaining rounds. The bartenders at 820/Mint do not skimp on their ingredients, and at the same time they make sure that they blend nicely on the palate.  For this visit, I started with the Violet (orange rum, blueberry puree, cream) because the color is a beautiful red towards the blue and it has a flower garnish.  (Girls love flowers, even in their cocktails!)  The server, Christine, brought me a Freestyle for the next round (mango rum, mandarin and mango puree, lemon lime juice) followed by a Melon Drop with another lovely flower garnish.  For the final round, she brought what is now my new favorite, Dragon Milk (Momokawa pearl sake, vodka, coconut syrup, cream). (Please note, not all of Lucy’s signature drinks are included in the Happy Hour special.)

 

 

 

Violet

 

Algonquin (Note on the menu: similar to a Rye Manhattan with pineapple juice)

 

Lucy’s drink recipes can also be found in her book, Hip Sips: Modern Cocktails to Raise Your Spirits.

 

820/Mint

820 N Russell

Portland, OR 97227

503 . 284 . 5518

 

 

 

http://www.mintand820.com/

 

September 20, 2008

2 x Lamb Burger            $ 16.00

2 x Sweet Potato Fries   $ 7.00

1 x Soup                       $ 4.00

1 x Fried Calamari          $ 6.00

1 x Spicy Caesar Salad  $ 6.00

1 x Violet                       $ 6.00

1 x Dragon Milk              $ 9.00

1 x Melon Drop               $ 8.00

1 x Algonquin                 $ 7.00

1 x Cucumber Margarita  $ 8.00

1 x Cable Car                 $ 8.00

1 x Freestyle                  $ 8.00

1 x Ruby                        $ 6.00

1 x Blueberry Lemonade  $ 3.00

Total                               $102.00

 

Addendum (September 24, 2008):

Although I did not mention it in the original post, while writing the summary for Happy Hour at 820/Mint, I discovered our party had been overcharged. I sent an email to Christina Rice, Floor Manager, and let her know what had happened. In less than 24 hours, she had responded and offered a refund. A “silver spoon” goes to Christina for not just responding to an inquiry so quickly, but offering a fair solution. I look forward to spending many more “beautiful mind moments” at 820/Mint.

 

No Comments | In: Books, Cocktails, Happy Hour, Oregon, Snacks | tags: 820, Burger, Cocktails, Fries, Happy Hour, Mint, Oregon, Portland. | #