Well today was fun. No really, I'm not being sarcastic. I had a fun day.
It didn't start out great. I only got 3 hours of sleep (10am -1pm) before my CT scan over at Emanuel hospital. Afterwards, though, I got to drive around SE Portland for 4 hours. After months of talking about it, Raseny and I finally made it over to Otto's Sausage Kitchen. It was not as epic as I had hoped. The hot dogs were decent, and the salami sammich was... mediocre. The beer selection was great, and cheap. I payed $2.50 for some 16oz microbrew porter that was pretty good when teamed up with a hot dog and a salami sammich. Unfortunately it wasn't really worth the drive so I doubt I'll be going back there.
However, Otto's was the beginning of another great adventure. Although familiar with NE, Raseny hasn't spent much time south of Sandy. This led to us driving all over the place, including down through Lake Oswego. Thankfully it was a beautiful day to be driving around in an air conditioned car, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I don't think Raseny had as much fun as I did, but hey, at least one of us enjoyed themselves. Even better - that someone was me.
Thanks to the hours of pointless driving I discovered a couple of things I've wondered about over the years I've been here. I'd heard of a place called Saburo that supposedly had the best sushi in Portland. A small, nondescript little restaurant that always has a line of people outside waiting for a seat. Well I finally saw it. We drove by at about 5pm. They were still closed, and already there was a line of people that ran from the front door, around the side of the building, and almost around to the back. There's no way in hell I'm ever going there. One of the things I love about sushi is the convenience. You won't find me standing outside for an hour just for a sliver of fish and rice, even if it is the best in the city. I'm more than happy with the restaurant a mile from my house, Tokyo, where they greet me with a smile and never keep me waiting long.
We also passed the Edelweiss deli which is next on my list of sausage/sammich joints to try out, along with Michael's. In fact we passed 4 or 5 places I've heard about but never located. Now I know where they are, and it's only a matter of time before I try them all. That "matter of time" may end up being a few months, though, since I think Raseny was traumatized by being lost for so long. It might be a while before I convince her to drive south of Hawthorne ever again.
Oh, I also got croissants, and the best cup of coffee I've had since I moved here. The company that roasted it? Stumptown. A name I've heard for a few years now, but never had the opportunity to try. That stuff is good. The coffee shop had beans for sale, so I picked some up.
I feel accomplished, as well as well fed. The tests and scans are done for the doctor, who I talk to on Wednesday. The question of whether or not Otto's is worth driving 15-30 minutes for is finally answered (it's not). There's good coffee in the cupboard, and a list of restaurants to try in the future. Because that's one thing I can always count on - no matter what else happens in my life, I'm always going to want to eat. There will always be a tomorrow, and tomorrow I'm going to want to eat well.
It didn't start out great. I only got 3 hours of sleep (10am -1pm) before my CT scan over at Emanuel hospital. Afterwards, though, I got to drive around SE Portland for 4 hours. After months of talking about it, Raseny and I finally made it over to Otto's Sausage Kitchen. It was not as epic as I had hoped. The hot dogs were decent, and the salami sammich was... mediocre. The beer selection was great, and cheap. I payed $2.50 for some 16oz microbrew porter that was pretty good when teamed up with a hot dog and a salami sammich. Unfortunately it wasn't really worth the drive so I doubt I'll be going back there.
However, Otto's was the beginning of another great adventure. Although familiar with NE, Raseny hasn't spent much time south of Sandy. This led to us driving all over the place, including down through Lake Oswego. Thankfully it was a beautiful day to be driving around in an air conditioned car, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I don't think Raseny had as much fun as I did, but hey, at least one of us enjoyed themselves. Even better - that someone was me.
Thanks to the hours of pointless driving I discovered a couple of things I've wondered about over the years I've been here. I'd heard of a place called Saburo that supposedly had the best sushi in Portland. A small, nondescript little restaurant that always has a line of people outside waiting for a seat. Well I finally saw it. We drove by at about 5pm. They were still closed, and already there was a line of people that ran from the front door, around the side of the building, and almost around to the back. There's no way in hell I'm ever going there. One of the things I love about sushi is the convenience. You won't find me standing outside for an hour just for a sliver of fish and rice, even if it is the best in the city. I'm more than happy with the restaurant a mile from my house, Tokyo, where they greet me with a smile and never keep me waiting long.
We also passed the Edelweiss deli which is next on my list of sausage/sammich joints to try out, along with Michael's. In fact we passed 4 or 5 places I've heard about but never located. Now I know where they are, and it's only a matter of time before I try them all. That "matter of time" may end up being a few months, though, since I think Raseny was traumatized by being lost for so long. It might be a while before I convince her to drive south of Hawthorne ever again.
Oh, I also got croissants, and the best cup of coffee I've had since I moved here. The company that roasted it? Stumptown. A name I've heard for a few years now, but never had the opportunity to try. That stuff is good. The coffee shop had beans for sale, so I picked some up.
I feel accomplished, as well as well fed. The tests and scans are done for the doctor, who I talk to on Wednesday. The question of whether or not Otto's is worth driving 15-30 minutes for is finally answered (it's not). There's good coffee in the cupboard, and a list of restaurants to try in the future. Because that's one thing I can always count on - no matter what else happens in my life, I'm always going to want to eat. There will always be a tomorrow, and tomorrow I'm going to want to eat well.