Lacquer Lizzard

With my new full time big girl j-o-b I haven't have very much spare time to write. I've been meaning to document all the happenings around this fabulous new post I've been given- especially since it's in the beauty & fashion world.

I'm constantly surrounded by gorgeous colors, trendy sales women from the first floor, and a top notch fashionista who sits right next door to me. It's been a whirlwind- is it already the middle of March? With that said, here are a few images I've been meaning to share. It's a little inside scoop on what I've been up to and stylist people I've been spending time with...

Tasty & Alder

My love of Portlandia food is a little outrageous.
Every time I leave the 503, I'm already planning on where I want to eat the next time I'm in town.
One this such spontaneous trip I had nothing in mind for dinner, so it was quite a treat with B and Pmun decided to family style dinner at Tasty & Alder.

The restaurant is new to Downtown, but the sister restaurant [Tasty & Sons] in North Portland, is renown. The menu's are similar, and the ambiance is intimately trendy. Since I loved the food so much at Tasty & Sons, I figured I would have the same feelings at Tasty & Alder.

And I was right!

The food was amazing and the ambiance was perfect.
We got there at 5:15, 15 minutes before the restaurant floor officially opened for dinner. We waited at the bar, had some hush puppies, got a drink and waited patiently for 5:30.

Low Country Hush Puppies

It's a good thing we got there early, because as soon as 5:30 hit, the entrance was packed.
The three of us were seated at the end of a large table that we shared with other hungry Portlanders.
By the time we got our first dish, the restaurant was completely full.

Pork Jagerschnitzel

Goat Cheese Dumplings

Simple Greens

It was a delicious meal shared with my two best buds in Portland. Not pictured is the Brick Chicken and the cocktail nuts-- yum!
After we stuffed ourselves with gourmet comfort food, we headed off to the Jeld-Wen Field to watch the Timbers game.

For info about Tasty & Alder go HERE! 

Black Bottle Business

My dear friend who I met while studying abroad in London came to visit last weekend!
She actually lives in Colorado (thank goodness- if she lived any further away I'd have some serious withdrawals ) and came to play in the Pacific Northwest.

There are always new spots popping up around the Eastside, and Black Bottle Postern is one of them. The original Black Bottle is in Seattle, and I've been dying to try out Postern. So H.Toth's holiday out here to see me was the perfect excuse to check it out!

 She also brought Wilson, so that was also perfect.

The restaurant is dimly lit, with lots of gorgeous wooden tables and a fully stocked bar. The whole menu is designed to be shared- which I absolutely love!

After we ordered some drinks, we started with the gorgonzola cream chicken. Oh. My. God. Creamy and perfectly cooked, the chicken was to die for.

Next came the flatbread loaded with arugula (my favorite), pulled pork tacos, and Black Bottle's infamous blasted broccoli. Now, I'm not sure what they "blast" the broccoli with, but let me tell you... it was AMAZING. Slightly grilled, garlic-y and scrumptious. Mmmm. Yum!

For details about Black Bottle Postern on the Eastside, check out their menu.
It's a great place for girlfriends, dates, or big parties. I love the whole "family style" small plates and if you do too, this place is for you! Yum!

Can't Run from Dim Sum

For the last year or so dim sum has become one of the most popular foods on the Eastside.
I'm a huge fan of the Chinese dumplings.  So much so that when the dim sum restaurant Din Tai Fung opened in Bellevue a few years ago, I was so excited.

The front of the restaurant has glass windows that look into the kitchen so, while you're waiting for your table, you can drool shamelessly at the cooks freshly making the dumplings. Surprisingly, it helps pass the time...

Now dinner at the trendy dumpling house has become some what of a regular thing for me and my friend K. She and I like to meet up for a late dinner, gossip and share stories while satisfying our taste buds with delicious dim sum.

Sharing is the best way to do dim sum.
Our usual meal consists of fried rice, pork dumplings, bok choi, and (our personal favorite) vegetable and pork wontons in spicy sauce.

For the full menu click HERE.

Official Member!

It's official: I'm a Paddy Coynes Club Member!

After months of hard work and perseverance, I have finally finished my first Drink Card at Paddy's.

When you fill out the 1st card you get your Membership card, a fancy Polo, and 10% your tab.
When you fill out the 2nd card, you get a membership jacket.
When you fill out the 3rd card, you get nothing.
No, seriously, absolutely nothing.
But when you fill out the 4th card, you get your name on a shiny plaque that sits in the pub forever.

I want the plaque.

And last night I became one card closer to my goal!

To find a Paddy's and start your quest to the plaque, click HERE.