Tantalizing Artisan Foods for the New Year
Tis the season for special events, especially those involving food, and two local, los key yet spirited events kicked off the holiday eating season recently – Season’s Eatings, a foodie market paradise hosted by New Deal Distillery, and neighboring House Spirits Distillery’s similar food and booze fun. On deck at both locations were plenty of local artisan food and coffee purveyors (in addition to the on-site spirits that of course represented) to present some of Stumptown’s bestest and most delicious choices for holiday gatherings around food.
While the Neighborhood Notes crew gnoshed and sloshed our way through an array of delicious fare, we’d like to provide special mention of some of our favorites that should definitely make their way to your table this season and well into the new year.
The Drinks
In order to balance your alcohol intake this month (try coffee liquor or Hot Monkey vodka from New Deal; small batch House Spirits rum or whiskey), we recommend that you also ingest delicious caffeine from two local coffee roasters extraordinaires. Cellar Door Coffee and Clive Coffee both specialize in exceptional quality beans from around the globe. Clive also offers high quality, beautifully designed coffee related gifts like the sleek and shiny Stelton Vacuum Jug for the round-the-clock caffeine lover in your family.
The Sweets
Everyone’s favorite local café, Random Order, was on hand delivering pie and muffin goodness. Why not consider a gift certificate or special order holiday dessert for the neighborhood festivities this year? Your dinner guests will be glad you did! For extra special dessert needs, Dessert Labs serves up totally decadent, totally gluten free delectables such as cream puffs (yes – cream puffs!), cookies, pies, and more. You won’t miss the dairy in these seriously sweet and scrumptious treats.
Everyone craves chocolate. Yes, everyone. Some of the best local houses of the holy are Alma and Xocolatl de David. With treats handmade in Portland, both shops offer some of the most incredible confections around. Try Xocolatl’s Raleigh Bar which combines pecan, nougat, and bacon caramel, and (not “or” – there’s no choice here, as you well know) Alma’s Mexican truffle that expertly combines chile de arbol and cinnamon into one heavenly and decadent bite.
Some Serious Savories
Choose Southern-cooking inspired chutneys, relishes, and preserves from the Pacific Northwest’s favorite sustainable catering company, Sassafras Catering. Fig preserves or sunchoke relish will sass up your Saturday night dinner party.
Pickleopolis is our top pick of the pickled, of course, for special sides and appies that pop with flavor. Try pickled watermelon rind and garlic green beans to kick off your next family feast.
But if you’re already tired of planning menus, fighting the masses at New Seasons, and cooking for too many mouths, relieve some of the pressure with gift certificates from your favorite local watering hole or restaurant for a generous holiday offering. To this end, send your loved ones to The Secret Society – a comfortable, vintage inspired setting that offers classic cocktails like Death in the Afternoon, local and delicious fare such as artisanal cheese plates and charcuterie for light or late-night dinners, and live (often speakeasy style) music nearly every night.
You and your foodie friends might also want to venture out with Feast Works – a flavorful (on so many levels) dinner series held at The Art Department. The events bring Portland’s best chefs, wineries, and local distillers together for a night of feasting fun in a unique setting. Take your special event to a new, local level. The group—whose mantra is “simple, fresh, good”—also offers catering services, too. Beats the heck out of doing days upon days of dishes.
We all know that Portland is a food world favorite—for uniquely Pacific Northwest fare, creative cooking practices, and the local organic, artisanal qualities that have become a ubiquitous part of our food landscape. Whatever your feasting pleasure this season, enjoy the multitude of options right at your fingertips, ready for the tasting.
