Andina - Peruvian Cuisine

Andina is a popular Peruvian restaurant in downtown Portland in the Pearl district. We went their last weekend for date night. The multi-level restaurant was awesome. It had a neat atmosphere. 

While we waited for a table we watched the craziness of the open kitchen cranking out food as fast as they could. We only had to wait 15 minutes for a table on a Saturday night, which for Portland is amazing. 

The meal started off with bread and three dipping sauces a jalapeño  sauce, passion fruit sauce, and some sort of peanut sauce. All the sauces were tasty. 

Next, we shared a small salad which was plenty for the two of us. The salad is one of their small plates that can come in small, medium, or large. All their Peruvian tapas can be ordered that way. Although there were lots of tapas on the menu the salad was the  only one we tried.

Instead of tapas we ordered from their entrees menu. This one is the lamb entree. It was a huge portion. 

I ordered one of the specials flank steak with chimichurri sauce. It was a wonderful meal! I do not know what to call the vegetable rice stack, but it was so good. 

We finished the meal off with dessert. We had the flan which was good, but thicker then flan I've had before. Andina had a bunch of unusual sorbets on their menu we had some sort of raspberry hazelnut sorbet. 

The Bent Brick - Portland, Oregon

The Bent Brick over in Northwest Portland, just north of the Pearl District hosted us the other night for Urban Hour. An event put on with UrbanSpoon.com where contributors to Urbanspoon have a chance to meet each other and enjoy great food.

Bent Brick's atmosphere is awesome, they have done a great job with their space. There entry way was really neat, but I didn't get a picture of it.

While we were there the bartender gave us a demonstration of one of their signature cocktails made with rhubarb. 

To make their signature drink On The Veranda you first have to make a rhubarb cordial.

Rhubarb Cordial

2lb rhubarb cleaned and cut into 1 in pieces

1 cup sugar

1liter vodka

Combine ingredients and shake to incorporate. Keep chilled. Let sit one month and shake daily. Strain and enjoy.

On The Veranda cocktail

2 sprigs mint

1 strawberry

1/4 oz simple syrup

Muddle well.

1 oz rhubarb cordial

1/2 oz sage liquor

1/2 oz white verjus

2 oz gin

1 dash angostura bitters

Shake well, double strain into chilled glass and garnish with a mint sprig.

We had the chance to sample everything on their happy hour menu. They have an extensive happy hour menu that they offer everyday from 4 - 6 PM and 9 - 10 PM.

smoked salmon chips $2

Popped Beans $2

Country ham plate $6

duck fat jojos

smashed chickpeas $4

Tea sandwiches $6

GRILLED SQUID SALAD with Mendocino seaweed & potatoes

My husbands favorite was their hotdogs. They've done some interesting things with their hotdogs. 

THE HAMBURGER DOG with cheese, bent brick sauce, relish 12

TBB Hotdog $6

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Bridgeport Brew Pub - Portland, Oregon

Bridgeport Brewery is a family friendly brew pub in Portland, Oregon.

Last week we had dinner there. It's in the Northwest part of the Pearl District. It didn't look like much from the outside of the building, but it was cool inside. They've done a great job with the space.
We were not that impressed with the beer here. We only tried two of them and both were fairly bitter. The food, however, was absolutely fantastic. This was not your typical brew pub food. I will definitely eat here again.

blue heron beer bratwurst plate $11.25

bacon-braised cabbage, cheese + chive spätzle, sweet hot apple mustard + russian beet salad

This is what I ordered and it was excellent. 

 the steel $14

house-made italian sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, sliced red onion, green peppers, mozzarella + organic red sauce

Unfortunately, they do not offer a kids menu. We ordered the kids a pizza to split and it was enough to feed all three of them.

jordan’s pork chile verde $7.5

pork shoulder braised with tomatillo, onions + peppers, with white beans, sour cream + a warm flour tortilla

This was the best dish we ordered and I highly recommend it.











grilled pesto chicken sandwich $10

melted fresh mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers,
basil walnut pesto + fresh arugula on focaccia + fries

I did not try this sandwich, but our friend said it was the best chicken sandwich he had ever had.

Sip and Kranz in Portland, OR

Jamison Square Park

A while back I posted some great things to do while in Portland with kids. I specifically mentioned Jamison Park in the Pearl District, but I forgot to mention a great little coffee shop that is right there at the park. It is call Sip and Kranz. What is so great about this coffee shop is that it has a separate play room for kids. They have toys in there and a movie going. Half of the wall is done in chalk board paint so you kids can draw too! The also have a menu just for kids. For more info click here.

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