We arrived in Portland today in order to enjoy two days of rest and relaxation before we make our way north for the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference.
I've started relying more and more on Yelp to help me pick where to eat when visiting somewhere new. Tonight it led me to The Farm Cafe, a superb vegetarian restaurant specializing in local, usually organic ingredients from small farms.
The meal started with asparagus fritters. They were deep-fried, but still light and airy, reminding me a bit of a pop-over. The fritters came with a horseradish creme fraiche that was so good I almost ate the leftovers with a spoon.
The entrée was a pan-fried Idaho trout that was both simple and spectacular. It was easily one of the best fish dishes I've ever had in a restaurant. Patrick, our waiter/bartender, told us that a customer liked it so much he ate the tail when he was done. Despite the portion being large, I was also tempted to eat the tail.
The dessert was a sunken chocolate soufflé with a molten center that was baked to order. It too was amazing, and the kitchen was nice enough to allow us to try both the coffee and the vanilla ice creams. Each ice cream comes from a different local vendor. If the presentation is a little off in this photo, it is only because I couldn't wait to dig my spoon in beforehand.
I also enjoyed a unique cocktail that was invented by the bartender, Patrick. It's called the LoBu Gimlet, and has a local gin, local mint, two fresh egg whites, some simple syrup, and a cucumber slice.
The total bill was only $41, and shockingly for this Californian, there was no sales tax. If the rest of Portland compares to this, it might be time for me to relocate.
