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Memories Can Lead to Bunny Trails…….Whatever

  • It took an hour to remove makeup.

Recently after a returning trip to Loowit’s Brewery in Vancouver, it made me think about how things have changed since the pandemic. They used to have this cheese dip with a pretzel to be the vehicle to get it into your mouth. This along with the mini hot dogs wrapped in dough and another terrific sauce at Wayfinder Beer in Portland that had you fighting for the last bite and both where maybe at home, you’re licking the bowl. Both have now made the much smaller pandemic menus. This made me think of other places that were different from your first visit even without the pandemic.

The first one that popped into my mind was The Hungry Hunter in San Diego.  If you read my blog regularly and know me well, you know there will be bunny trails. (Didn’t plan on the rhythm but I like it!) Back in the mid seventies, now an adult, I could drink, vote, make mortgage payments and had a real job that came with paid vacations and was going to California without parental supervision. My late wife and I started doing the normal things like a Tour of Movie Stars homes, these days it might fall under stalking, taking pictures with Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars (not the stars, just the ones made on the sidewalks), Grauman’s Chinese Theater where the Oscar’s  had been held, then off to the amusement parks. First up was Knott’s Berry Farm, later it was much more fun than these earlier days, besides I spent half of the day being sick in the parking lot and I’m sure passing people didn’t enjoy my entertainment. Next, off to Disneyland where The Matterhorn was the place to use all your “E” tickets. Our last stop was Universal Studios, the one picture is from being picked out of a crowded amphitheater to be made up like Frankenstein in a skit. (I guess I should feel honored being picked). Two trips to Universal could be a blog in itself. Then off  to San Diego for Sea World where we found ourselves way too close to the front and being wet and cold, and finishing at the San Diego Zoo; I think one of the best zoos. Now back to the The Hungry Hunter, gas tank was full, on the way home, we’ll catch a nap in a rest area, just needed to get something to eat before the journey home. These days I’d look at the restaurant on my phone and see what they have and the prices. They seated us, gave us water and menus and as soon as we saw the prices, we knew the water would be our beverage choice. As we were counting our cash, yes, only had cash, the waiter came us to see if we were ready. I think we kind of explained our situation and we’re going to share a plate to not pay the $1.00 split plate charge but could we have extra silverware. Without missing a beat, he asked how much money we had and what we were looking to order and quietly told us “lets make this work”. He visited with us about our past week and how long he’d been working there and how often he worked. He arrived with plates for each of us that looked like a full order. When it was time for the check, he returned with our check saying “How about that, it came right to what you have including tip and told us to drive safe and looked forward to seeing us again. We returned about two months later with more money to give him the tip he was due to only find out he had moved away. We didn’t enjoy the service, the food was ok and we left disappointed.

As I was finishing this blog, I got another disappointment. McMenamins on the Columbia was not carrying my favorite Halloween meal this year. It’s our tradition to have Chicken-Pumpkin Mole Enchiladas with a Black Widow Porter. My first thought was some of the other McMenamins will have it so we’ll go there! But it’s not what your having but what memories you are making with that special one to cherish, so we’ll be there! We still go to Loowit’s and Wayfinder and have a great time with or without some favorite snacks. I’m sure The Hungry Hunter’s food and service was still wonderful but for some reason our waiter saw a very, very embarrassed couple counting their money at the table and wanted us to finish our vacation with a special memories, who knows he might have known he wouldn’t be there if we came back. In a past blog I wrote about my favorite brewery stop of all time, Bohemian Brewery. I know I’ll enjoy it when I return but the time with Fred sharing his passion for the food, beer and employees and going over the stories of each scooter and walking us to the door, now that’s a special memory!

In this time in such a crazy world, we all have special memories that will bring a smile or chuckle to us. We were able to turn being busted at Cannon Beach by Camlia from Fox 12 News during the Covid shutdown into a funny moment, every time we tell the whole story to people, we are laughing in the end. There are many ways to create special memories from many different occasions. If you can’t close your eyes and think of one, then GO OUT AND CREATE ONE!!I

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Muscle Cars, Rat Rods, Tricked Out School Bus, Luxury Cars, Teslas and Even Prius = Fun at Rod Run

This time a year ago I wrote about how Run Run to the End of the World was canceled but everyone came. This year it was back on track and I can’t remember a year that had so many people! We had to stay in the town of Ilwaco, about five miles away at a place called Sea Hotel and Pub. It’s an old small hotel, rough around the edges, but the port with fishing boats out your back window and a small pub ten feet from your hotel door made up for the old but clean room. This year seemed to also come with more rude people, when did sharing the sidewalk become a thing of the past. The later it gets, the crazier it gets. If it wasn’t for the love of seeing old friends, muscle cars, rat rods, classic cars and even chuckle at new ones who just want to cruise, very high hotel costs, I’d give it second thoughts on coming. And lets not forget the joy of snickering at what people are wearing and wondering if they ever looked in the mirror before leaving.

A few of our favorites like North Jetty Brewery and 42nd St. Cafe and Grill decided to close for this weekend, not sure if it’s because of the pandemic or just not wanting to put up with the crowds. We were still able to go to some of the ones we have enjoyed in the past and this year tried out Lost Roo that we had passed by many times because of the wait. I had to research how the name came about because neither owners are from Australia, he from Seattle and she from Scotland. After meeting in Brisbane at a youth hostel, he gave her the nickname Roo; they moved to Long Beach, WA and knew if they ever saw a Kangaroo there, it would definitely be Lost and there you have the story. I know what your thinking but don’t shoot me. I’m just the messenger.

A few of the menu items we tried were, of course, the calamari that were very good served with a peanut sauce. The Black Bean and Rice Bowl is a good choice. I’ve been on a kick to find a fried chicken sandwich that was as good as the one one I had in Scottsdale at Lucille’s. This Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich here was very close! As much as I was enjoying the taste, I was not enjoying the buttermilk slaw running down my arms. As soon as I was done, I had to shoot to the restroom to wash up. You can’t go wrong with the fish and chips either. They carry tap beers from local Breweries so there’s always a good one on tap to pair with your meal. On this trip, they had a Fort George IPA that used no hops and was pretty much one of the worst beers I’ve ever had! Our server said most people have sent it back after tasting it, I wish I could remember the name so I could remember not to ever order it.

The one meal that seems to be the hardest to find is a great breakfast, one of our favorites closed a couple years ago and now 42nd St. Cafe is going into hibernation during this weekend. But, as we were on the lookout for a new place to discover, we noticed a restaurant with cars in the parking lot called Drop Anchor (Formerly Dooger’s Seafood Grill) with a crab on the sign. It turned out to be a very nice small place also carrying great breakfasts and even better servers and host. Another year over and even if we see mostly the same cars, we still relive those memories days gone by with family and friends. Just finished making hotel reservations for year number twelve!

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Billy Blues Bar & Grill

Before the evil Covid hit, we were looking for places to visit and taste beers. I noticed this place on my list of future spots because I liked the name and reading the story behind how this bar came to be. Sorry it took so long to make it happen but glad I remembered I wanted to visit!

It’s large enough to have the option to reserve part of it for parties or special occasions or even the whole place. Normally they bring in entertainment but with Covid still lifting it’s ugly head, I’m not sure how much is still going on. I was going to tell the behind story but decide I’d just copy and paste it to get it right, I think they’ll be fine with it

Billy Blues is not just a bar, a grill or even a building. Billy Blues was two young men’s vision where friends, family and the common stranger could gather for great food, cutting edge drinks, and good times! A place where everyone, no matter what background they came from could feel like family. It started with lists and sketches on napkins, 100s of ideas and loads of passion. Their dream continued to grow as every year came to pass, hoping for the chance to make their visions and dreams a reality. After years of planning, the day came, a faithful promise to each other in July of 1998 to launch their dream by the end of the decade. As fate would have it, Blue was tragically taken in a car accident the very next day. Their dream never faded, but laid dormant.

On the fifteenth anniversary of Blues passing, his brother Bill, in honor of the promise they made to each other, opened Billy Blues Bar and Grill, fulfilling the dream of two brothers more than a decade later. The logo was created from sketches on one of those napkins. The name, combining the brothers names. Billy Blues Bar and Grill, a place for great food, cutting edge drinks and good times!

Blue’s laughter and smile could light up even the darkest of rooms, his compassion and heart always brought out the best in all he knew. At Billy Blues Bar and Grill we will continue his legacy of being the guy that everyone wanted to be around. To provide a place where everyone, no matter what your beliefs, background, style, race, religion or choice of beverage can come feel at home and smile when you walk in the door.

It has inside and outside seating, inside is pretty dark for my eyes but during our winters, I’m sure I’d find a way to make it work. It was a nice overcast day and we sat outside and had a great time. The staff was friendly as you walked through the doors and didn’t stop until we left. As the picture shows they have four boards with cacti and succulents hanging on a outside wall, not being one who likes cactus, even I enjoyed this. Whenever we get the chance to try calamari somewhere new, we do! It was one of the best we’d had in a while, not chewy like some and served with chipotle ranch that was much better than I expected. Sarah had the Blues Reuben that she enjoyed but usually can only eat half, takes the rest home with good intentions but it ends up you know where. Now I love fish and Halibut is one of my favorites but for some reason when you put in between two slices of bread, it loses it’s attraction for me. Yes, I still ordered it, took the halibut out and enjoyed my meal. Both of us ordered the tator tots as our side and just like my other restaurants, you take home enough to have for a few meals. There’s some beer choices so you should find something to your liking. They also serve wines, cocktails, coffee cocktails and yes, all those non-alcoholic drinks also. We had Heathen Brewing’s Transcend H-3.50 S-3.25 and Barrel Mountain’s No Bad Days H-3.25 S-3.75. What’s funny about this, we tasted each other’s beers and then switched because we like the other one best.

It always fun when you’re able to hear conversations at other tables, talking loudly enough so everyone can hear. We had a table with four elderly ladies who by the sounds of it, hadn’t got together in quite some time. As each lady would finish saying what they had been doing, where they were living; what their children accomplished and just how great life was going, the next one had to trump that story with one of their own. There was another couple and you could tell the man was wanting to get into these ladies conversation and finally did as he left, he unsuccessfully tried to make a joke with them, they pretty much looked at him like, Huh! Sometimes eavesdropping is the best entertainment.

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GODZILLA vs. KONG? Ok, Maybe Not!

I know this doesn’t sound as exciting as GODZILLA vs. KONG unless you’re a food junkie but just trying to get your attention!. Over the last few weeks we’ve checked out Hudson’s Bar & Grill and Who Song & Larry’s and ordered pretty much the same thing to see which one is our favorite. (Spoiler alert) Unlike Godzilla and Kong, we have a winner but like the movie, we will live to eat there again! The movie leaves you hanging for rematch after rematch, kind of like all those Rocky movies and the restaurants leave you craving another plate. I’m sure we all have favorite brunch place but still for me it was in South Lake Tahoe at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino. It was in the early 90’s and was very expensive for our budget but well worth it. You’d have to make reservations at least two weeks in advance with any hope of getting in. It would start out with a open bar with shrimp, crab, all kinds of salads, soups, breads and pastries: then came your entree that you had ordered in the beginning. It’s like when you go out for Mexican food and fill up on the chips and salsa and need a togo box when your meal arrives.

Lets start with Godzilla or  Who Song & Larry’s, it has been 15 years since our last visit, not real big on Mexican food but do love a good brunch. It’s located on the Columbia River on the Washington side in Vancouver. I’m not sure the year it opened but I can say it hasn’t changed much since our last visit and that’s not a bad thing. You have both indoor and outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the Columbia River and the very old interstate bridge which needs help to handle all the traffic which that I didn’t think it would ever have to handle. Even though at the time of this visit, all restrictions had been lifted, they still chose to keep indoor seating at pandemic rules. We first ordered the mimosa which was served in a large white wine glass that was not even to the half way point and was very diluted with orange juice. I’m sure they had smaller glasses that would have made you think you were getting your money’s worth. I know I can’t compare them to the mimosa I make at home where orange juice is strictly used for color! As you can see by the above picture, the Bloody Mary was the route to go! They served chips and salsa which were very good but had to resist for my entree. I had the Huevos Rancheros that tasted delicious but didn’t look anything like the picture in the menu. It said on crispy corn  tortillas instead of ones that were just warmed up. When the waiter asked what we thought, I said I was hoping for crispy tortillas to which he replied that they were when the menu was printed but management decided to do them this way. He was very nice and said on next visit, say you want them crispy and you will get them crispy. Sarah ordered one of her go to items, French Toast with bacon; something I can’t understand is why someone wants a plate of soggy bread. She enjoyed it but was curious why powder sugar didn’t come with it. We had a very nice time and do plan to come back sooner than 15 years next time. On a side note, as we arrived something weird but flew by our table and landed somewhere, I searched and found nothing but later felt something crawling on my leg, knocked it off and when I looked at it, it was a strange scary looking bug that I can’t find a picture to identify!

Now for the Kong of the brunch battle, Hudson’s Bar and Grill, also located in Vancouver inside of the Heathman Lodge with its rustic decor, has been opened more than 20 years and doesn’t show its age. I haven’t checked the prices but it seems like it would be a great place to stay. There is one sign of the coming of age, it advertises six car charging stations with four of them being for Teslas. I have to say for viewing pleasure, Hudson’s loses that battle. They have indoor and a very nice outdoor seating that could accommodate a large party. The mimosas were served in a smaller glass so it seemed like you were getting you money’s worth and you could even taste the champagne. I had the Huevos Rancheros, as the line of the movie Jerry Maguire “You Had Me At Hello” they had me at chorizo! The Huevos Rancheros had chorizo and black bean hash with actual fried tortillas with pepper cream topped with Queso Fresco and two beautiful over easy eggs. I used to always get the corned beef hash but as the song goes “Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye to the hash after this dish! Sarah continued with her soggy bread quest, she had Crispy Bread Pudding French Toast that was crispy as advertised and came with powdered sugar, caramelized pears and fresh strawberries. She’s like a one trick pony, it’s what she always gets here.

We may have enjoyed Hudson’s better on this trip but both places are a great place for brunch and the part I like is you can use Open Table for reservations and not have the long wait for your table.

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Our Favorite Brewery Experience!! So Far!

We had decided to visit here the day we went to Desert Edge Brewery but there was a 45 minute wait and the stomach had objections to such a long wait. So Monday, early afternoon, hoping most people would be at work, we decided to try our luck at Bohemian Brewery in Midvale, Utah. It was still crowded but we did get seated, we noticed all the employees were still required to wear masks but customers were not. We had been seated for a little while and starting to think maybe we were at one of those tables where the staff doesn’t know exactly whose table it is. Then came Fred and the BEST brewery experience had begun. Let me start off by saying whatever I write here will not do them justice! Fred, I believe the owner, asking us if anyone had helped us? We said no and he said, well, let me get you started! Wanting to get a flight, he told us the rules in Utah and how many flights each customer could order. Then said “Whatever, tell me all the ones you want” and here they came. Fred had quite a passion for telling us how the brewery begin with the original owner Joe Petras coming from Czechoslovakia with his European recipes in 2001 and starting brewing beer the way he felt it should be brewed. He went over the process they use and how it’s different from many other breweries. All the ingredients are from Germany and Czechoslovakia and none of their beers are pasteurized unlike most, if not all, commercial beers. After we received our flight he came over to see our choices and gave us the rundown on those. We prepared to order our food, which is made from scratch onsite using products from local vendors. It’s like a European restaurant where you can get a great beer or some American favorites. We did go with one of our favorites, the Calamari and weren’t disappointed! I’ve always watched chefs making pierogies on tv cooking shows which never really made me want them. But, Fred was on a local tv cooking show preparing pierogies and brats and by the time he was finished telling us about the process, I was all in for the Pierogies! I really enjoyed them and will try the brats on another visit. You’d have to be crazy not to find something on their menu that didn’t suit your taste buds. It went from the starters to sandwiches, salads, fish, wood-fired pizzas and you could get beef stroganoff and Bohemian goulash. Even brunch on Sundays! If I lived close, it wouldn’t be long before I couldn’t fit through the door!

  • Bavarian Weiss – This is a German white wheat beer that you could enjoy at a BBQ on a hot day and not worry about having too many. There’s a place for every beer. H-2.75 S-2.50
  • Cherny Bock Schwarzier – This was a very good looking dark beer which I really enjoyed! You could taste the roasted malts and I enjoyed the coffee and chocolate taste. H-4.0 S-3.5
  • Noble Hefewizen – We had planned on having a different heffe but they ran out so Fred convinced me to try this one. Note to self, still read the ingredients, more BANANAS!!! I don’t want them in my beers. I have only myself to blame. H -2.0 (Because I liked Fred) S-2.25
  • Dusseldorfer Altbier – I need to find out more about German beers, I know if I like them or not but am not able to compare them to others. I also enjoyed the flavor of this one, nice aroma, smooth to drink with a hint of caramel. H-3.25 S-3.75
  • Kolsch – A lager, I’ve had a few of these from different breweries and find them drinkable but maybe not my cup of tea. Sarah did enjoy it but there was something I did’t like in the finish. H-2.5 S-3.25
  • 1841 Viennese Amber Lager – A very nice amber lager that I enjoyed more than I thought I would. It was rich, smooth, very nice aroma and great color. H-4.25 (Could you get me another) S-3.75

As we were finishing our delicious meal, Fred came to see if we enjoyed it and our empty plates pretty much told the story. We had noticed there was upstairs seating and he said we should go up and look at his collections. As you see by the pictures, it was a great exhibit of old scooters and Fred gave us details on them and called them his retirement plan. It has a cabin-like feel with many vintage paintings and taxidermy mounts. It’s definitely a place to visit if you’re passing through.

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Remember Your License If You’re Going To A Pub In Utah!

It’s always an interesting time when visiting Utah. When we travel by vehicle, we pick out something to count to make the long drive more enjoyable, once we counted Amazon Prime trucks and during that one day, we counted 105, so I guess we aren’t the only ones using Prime. On this trip to Utah, we counted how many spires on the Mormon Churches you can see from the car at one time on the interstate. Take my word for it, there are lots of them. In a way Utah reminds me of Disneyland, not in a bad way but it seems like a clean city and I keep waiting to see people with little brooms and dust pans cleaning up litter like at Disneyland. It also makes me feel way under dressed when I run to the grocery store first thing in the morning looking like I just rolled out of bed and see families all dressed up grocery shopping.

As I mentioned in a former post, make sure you have your drivers license even if you look as old as Keith Richards when visiting a pub. We looked for a brewery we never heard of to try this time, Desert Edge Pub & Brewery, located in Trolley Square filled the bill. Trolley Square was once home of Utah Light and Railway Company. It has a lot of interesting history worth reading leading up to 1972 when it became a marketplace. It has a Trolley Museum and is listed on The National Register of Historic Places. As for the brewery, they were proud to serve Coor’s beer to the college students until 1995 when they expanded into craft beers. It’s a large restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, it was a warm day, we chose inside.

  • Latter Day Stout – A slight coffee taste but would have liked to have tasted the coffee and chocolate more. It was creamy and smooth but I’d like more in your face flavor. H-3.0 S-3.0
  • Utah Pale Ale – Just a nice smooth ale, light with a little hoppiness to it. Sarah was so so on this one, wanted more taste. H-3.25 S-2.75
  • Happy Valley Hefeweizen – Whenever I think hefeweizen, I always compare it to Widmer Brothers Heffe and they never match up to the flavor. This one was just way too light for us and it had a little banana flavor! Bananas are for splits, not beer! H-2.0 S-2.25
  • Cashmere in the Rye – It’s funny, I love rye bread so I think maybe I’ll love beer with rye in it, NOPE! Always disappointed after tasting it. The aroma was great, nice and hazy looking but taste didn’t live up to my expectations. I’ll stay with only rye bread. H-2.25 S-2.5
  • Dry Creek Pale Ale – We have a winner, the best beer we had on this day! A pale ale that was bitter, hoppy, aroma was great and just a good beer with anything. H-4.0 S-4.25

You will find most beer served in Utah and sold are pretty low in ABV and not real hoppy. Having said that, they do have a lot of good beers to choose from.

We had the brunch menu and Sarah wanted The Monte Cristo, she always loved the one at The Blue Bayou in Disneyland but for some reason the Ruben came out of her mouth. Not sure she enjoyed it because I think her tastebuds were still graving the Monte Cristo. The last time we had one at Disneyland, it was $29.00, happiest place on earth but do bring you wallet. I had the Chilequlies and Eggs. The waiter said mine was like having spicy nachos with guacamole, black bean and queso cheese. They were spicy but half way through, they were little too soggy to finish but the sides were great. Another fun visit with family!

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#McMenamins #Go Fund Me!

We could visit one McMenamins every week for a year and still not visit all of them, there are 59 as of this writing. I think we’re up for the challenge but here’s where the rubber meets the road, affording it might put a dent in the budget! So wanting to continue being your taste buds without leaving the comfort of your home, we needed to come up with a game plan. Then BAM, it occurred to me to set-up a Go Fund Me page! (JUST A JOKE)

We have visited 14 of the 59 McMenamins; most have used old school houses, train stations, farmhouses and some just in strip malls. Most of them have very interesting stories behind them. Most menus are all pretty much the same but certain ones carry different seasonal menus like McMenamins on the River that carries one of my favorites, Chicken-Pumpkin Mole Enchiladas! Some brew their own beer that’s only served at that brewery to go along with many McMenamins staple beers. This is one of their top producing breweries. Today we picked Cornelius Pass Roadhouse in Hillsboro, OR, one of their top producing breweries. You need to pay close attention or you’ll drive by it. This has Imbrie Hall which is a large restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. (Dogs are welcome) It was built from the timbers of the historic Henry Weinhards brewery, Henry was an immigrant who bought the first liquor license in Portland. Also The Little White Shed (used to be a milk storage shed) where you can enjoy your beer and a cigar outside that they have available. If you’re a whiskey connoisseur, the shed along with other McMenmans have the whiskey club. Well, lets talk beer!

  • 33rd State IPA – This one was where we were both on opposite sides of the road. I didn’t like the after taste and Sarah enjoyed everything about it. It had good aroma, fruity and hazy. H-2.75 S-4.0
  • Whiskey Peach Double IPA – We were wanting to show we will try different beers even if the name scares us. It lived up to the name; thought I’d opened a can of peaches and was drinking the juice! Reminding me again why I stay away from beers with fruit names. H-1.0 S-1.0
  • Once Upon a Bean – A dark porter that had a strong coffee aroma and taste, malty and smooth to drink. At first Sarah didn’t care for it but as it warmed up, it was more to her liking. H-3.75 S-3.25
  • Budbreak Hazy IPA – After the peaches fiasco above with the peaches, here comes one with orange blossoms and strawberries. Ok, I was wrong, this had great flavor, good hoppiness, and a light bitterness to it. Still was too strong on the orange and strawberry smell. H-3.25 S-4.25
  • Boxset DIPA – As the title says, the is a double IPA. It is high in ABV so your need a designated driver if you have a second one. It’s fruity, a little sweet and almost too hoppy for me. H-3.25 S-3.75 (She liked it lots)

To go along with our beer tasting, we decided to share a couple things on the starter menu. We picked the Cheeseburger Slider Trio, the burgers had a french onion seasoning and a great sauce. If you are in the mood for just a good old fashioned burger, this is it. We also picked the Scooby Snacks, they were mini corn dogs served only with yellow mustard and ketchup. I’m not a big corn dog fan but something about them was good! (Maybe it’s the beer talking)We felt like we were back at the state fair! When we ordered them, our server just chuckled, we might have been the oldest to asked for them.