Belly Dance Your way to Morocco: Marrakesh

Sometimes its a Thursday, but it feels like a Friday. Sometimes there's nothing you want more then to just leave, get out of town, skidaddle. But then you realize you have 4 weeks accrued vacation, but no money to go anywhere. And that's when you decide its time to go to Marracco.

"I've been to Morocco" -Margot
"Oh no, this is way better, this is like 'real' Marracan food." -Jerry

We lack restaurants in Portland that transfer you with the restaurants ambiances to the region of the cuisine. This is Marrakesh's speciality. Everything from sitting on plush pillows on the floor, to the waitresses washing your hands in a basin, to the voluptuous belly dancers.

But this isn't the only reason Marrakesh is wonderful--this is simply just the first reason--their food is incredible and if you've never experienced the flavors and textures of Moroccan food, well it will blow you away.

The Marrakesh experience includes a 5 course meal for $18.95. You will leave fuller then you thought was possible. If you are dining with 4 or more people, you can get their Royal Feast, which includes 5 entrees, including a special. I've done this, but nothing and I mean nothing, beats their Honey Plum Chicken. The chicken is coated with a honey plum and almond sauce and falls from the bone. You won't be able to get enough.

I told you this blog wouldn't become all about my new gluten free lifestyle, but for those of you in my same hellish boat, you'll appreciate this info. They were incredibly accommodating about my GF needs. The only thing you can't have is the bread (obviously) and the B'Stilla Royal, which is an egg and chicken in phyllo dough. They switched out the soup, which has a bit of flour, for a vegetable soup, which I thought was better then their lentil soup anyways. Also, they brought me a large salad of my own, since you typically dip bread in the large ones to share.

Pinot; An American Brasserie

Welcome Pinot; the most accommodating and gracious $$$ restaurant I've been to in ages. Ruth Reichl (acclaimed food critic) wrote about the concept of spending money on a meal and paying not only for superb food, but for the experience and service. Nothing is worst then putting down a hefty dollar on a dinner and having the service be mediocre or worst.

Pinot may be new, but the chef and restaurant staff know how to make every costumer feel at home in their French kitchen. We were placed at the "chef's table," where we were able to see and feel all the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and see every exquisite meal being prepared.

Miss. Sarah's birthday dinner at Pinot was complete with a complimentary bottle of champagne (and when asked for strawberries, they implemented with raspberry sorbetto, in which they dolloped into each glass).

While I was obnoxiously taking pictures of cheese their platters, my nose practically touching the place, they simply offered me the plate; "That's an extra, would you like this one for your table? Otherwise I'll just have to give it to the staff."



Would I like a cheese platter?! Do you know who I am?

The dinner was spectacular. I had a "young hen." I wonder how young it was. I hope at least a teenager.

whole roast young hen roasted potatoes, carrot, onion and tomato

baby tins filled with fresh bread

Add captionskate wing potato gnocchi, brussels sprouts, preserved lemon, brown butter

alaskan salmon cauliflower and red potato gratin, horseradish

tagliatelle carbonara pork belly, shaved parmesan, duck egg

Birthday girl and Elizabeth

chocolate mouse

A New Beginning: Prasad

Oatmeal, $6.50

Another month of cleansing. No sugar. No dairy. No gluten. No caffeine or alcohol. No fun. This detox is sucking the fun out of life. I'm that annoying patron asking, "is this vegan and gluten free; oh and is there sugar added?--ok, I'll just have water" Ugh. I hate the word gluten-free.

In order to prove to me that my life wasn't over a friend recently took me to this peaceful place in the Pearl, called Prasad. Suddenly I was at a home I never thought would be my home. Health and yoga nuts come from all over to chow down on their all gluten-free/vegan menu . . . oh and I should mention, its delicious!!!

I put on my lululemon generic brand yoga pants, ordered some healthy breakfast and fit right in. There's something tranquil about Prasad. I'm not sure if its the connecting yoga studios energy or the fact that the people eating here are probably well-balanced, healthy individuals who read magazines like Yoga Journal and books on 'mindfulness.' I kinda want to be like them. Oooommmmmmmm.

Their made to order gluten-free oatmeal is a perfect start to any morning with dried figs & currants, Brazil nuts, fresh fruit, vanilla and cinnamon with a side of coconut or almond milk and maple syrup. Its hearty and filled with the combining textures of the apples, bananas, peaches and nuts. Their fruits change from day to day. Lately I wake up thinking about this oatmeal.



I like my oatmeal sweeter then most. I've been known to order the oatmeal brulee from Gravy--encrusted in sugar. Surprisingly the maple syrup and coconut milk add just enough sweetness to this oh so much healthier version.

They juice their own juices and have a wild combination of smoothies. I like the Lucy Blue; blueberries and bananas. I'm dying to try the Stumblebee; peanut butter, cacao nibs, coco powder, Stumptown coffee, banana and the Popeye; spinach, marionberry, blueberry, banana. 

New Cascadia gluten free teff bread with butter and homemade jam.

It's hard to explain this to you, but I left perfectly full and happy and healthy. Thanks Prasad. Gluten-free can be good.

P.S. I promise not to turn this into a Gluten-Free blog

The Last Supper. . . Little Big Burger

I have some very, very bad news. Some news that might change my world as I know it, change my blog and on the flip side, change my stomach.

I found out . . . I'm gluten intolerant. I know I about died when I heard this news too. How could I, a foodie and anti-gluten hater be intolerant to the very thing that makes me, well me? No pasta, no bread, no cheesy burgers? How could this be true?

I can't tell you what this will mean for us. I hope you understand. I'll do whatever it takes to keep lots of gluten on this blog. And for those in the G-Free pact, get ready for some blogs dedicated to you ;)

Thank God I stopped by Little Big Burger in the Pearl before I heard the bad news.

A gourmet burger for $3.75, done, I'll take it. Fries coated in white truffle oil? Yes! Over 20 types of canned beer and root beer floats; not to mention their homemade ketchup!!! I love it all.

Catsup or Ketchup?

Root beer float with Tillamook vanilla ice cream.

Your choice: chevre, Tillamook Cheddar or blue cheese

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Men and Meat: Stepping Stone

Bacon-Spinach-Cream Cheese-Tomato Scramble, w/ a homemade biscuit, $8.25

Last week I had a student ask me if I'd ever tried "The Farm" at McDonald's. "Well no, I don't think I have," I responded, "what is that?" "Its when you order a Double Pounder and a McChicken, put the chicken on the Double Pounder and add bacon. Want me to get you one?"

This must be a high school thing I thought . . . until I went to Stepping Stone and realized this a man and meat thing.

I have these three completely obnoxious friends that I think someday I'll make my bridesmen. They are hilarious, inappropriate, honest to a fault and coincidentally single . . . most likely more protective then my actual brothers, but non the less family. When they are wed, I will cry. Not out of happiness, but rather because sometimes I feel like I'm in a polygamist relationship with them.

We like food. We all like to stuff ourselves silly.

Saturday morning was no exception when we showed up to Stepping Stone (Lucio not surprisingly drunk from the night prior) ready to eat. I had been sick the week before, so found it the perfect excuse to consume my weeks calories in one meal before 11:00 am.

This is how you have to do Stepping Stone: drunk, hungover, diet-free, depressed and/or starved.

Order the scramble. Always ask for cream cheese in it. Substitute the toast for their homemade biscuit. Their biscuits are massive and so buttery. A biscuit a day . . . keeps the doctor astray.



If you are man and want to develope heart disease when you're older or if you're already old and you want to speed up this process, order what the boys got: Smothered B.A.- a slab of chicken fried steak, hash browns, onions, jalapenos, Tillamook cheddar all wrapped into an omelet and wait for it . . . smothered in sausage gravy.

Don't order the Eggs Benedict. This is not the place nor the time.



Order a Mancake, $3.50 to share with the table.

Fancy Mac N' Cheeze

Velvety Mac 'N' Cheese, $5.00

How did I miss this one? It was staring me straight in the face too. I had no clue. I was clueless. Davis Street Tavern's happy hour is now on my hit list. By hit list I mean spots to hit up . . . not shoot up (in case you were confused).

I have one complaint, but I'll wait until after I tell you about this Mac N' Cheese to share it. Davis Street Tavern has incredible, superb, to-die-for, mouthwatering, ooey gooey, cheesy macaroni and cheese. Three cheese  bechamel  they say. I'm guessing . . . an aged white cheddar, cream cheese and a blue or gorgonzola which hits just at the end.

The waiter literally had to pry the plate from my hands.

Ok, so you're lactose intolerant. Not to worry. They have a Bar B Que Pulled Pork Sandwich with Apple Fennel Slaw and Blue Cheese Potato Salad ($5.00).

 Succulent pork. Brightly flavored. Smokey. Ohhh soo good.

One of their specials was Fish Tacos with Guacamole.

Going back very, very soon for the Strip Loin Burger, Crab Bisque and Seared Albacore Carpaccio.

Oh ya my complaint . . . Old Town in the daylight . . . sometimes not so appetizing. Good thing it will start getting dark at 5:00 pm.

Practice doesn't make perfect when no one will allow you to practice . . .

Dear Friends and Family-

You are rude.

You encourage me to blog and chip in to buy me a camera that is worth more than my car. Yet, when we go eat you give me devilish looks for pulling out my camera.

Click. You're embarrassing us. Click. The flash is bothering those people. Click. Just let me eat. Click. Those pictures don't look very good. Click. That click sound is annoying. Click. Can we eat yet, can we eat yet??

No you can't eat yet--I'm trying to capture this meal before you destroy it with your man hands.

Until you can handle my new found art and start posing without posing for pictures, the $2.00 a month that I earn from Foodbuzz will not be shared. And next time you call me frantically searching for a restaurant, I'll tell you nothing. Oh and I'm not afraid to put those really hideous pictures of you stuffing your face on the internet.

 So here are the only decent pictures that turned out from our Lorenzo meal . . .