Ba MeeThai Noodle House

 Ba Mee Thai Noodle House

10/24

Really only one word needed to describe our meal YUM!!!

Shrimp Crispy Noodles - large shrimp wrapped in a web of noodles and fried - sweet hot dipping sauce 
Unique and delicious.

Wings- not to spicy, crisp and lovely

For me, the draw, which I noticed while looking for this week's restaurant, was roasted duck on the noodle soup - and handmade noodles for which they are noted. the description on the menu for HOuse Noodle soup choices were either pork and wontons or duck. I love wontons - somehow I wound up with a double order of the MOST delicious, silky, glutinous and plump wontons in addition to succulent roast duck in a perfectly seasoned broth.

H had a dry noodle dish in garlic sauce with a variety of pork preps including tiny crunchy squares of fried belly. He cleaned his plate - not to mention half of the appetizers. I brought home a full meal of half my dinner.

Sticky rice Mango for dessert.

This was a great meal - lovely service, pleasing atmosphere. 

$64.50 = $78.69 

10 0f 10

Tillamook and Garibaldi

 Tillamook and Garibaldi 

October 10

A trip to the coast to buy a fish on the Garibaldi peer. Then fish sandwiches and chowder at Fisherman's Corner on the pier next to the fish store. We ate my favorite sandwich as we waited while our so fresh still bleeding Ling Cod was fileted for us. We were very happy to get the head and trim as well. Fish stock in our future.

My favorite sandwich is the fried fish with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, red onions and tartar sauce on a brioche roll with perfect coleslaw and chowder. 

then we drove to beach for a walk for the dogs and us - then our second stop of the day at Tillamook Dairy - this time for ice cream

It was a beautiful day and a delight to travel to the beach under autumn trees.

10 0f 10

$58 plus seven pounds of fish

Yokohama Skyline Eatery

 Yokohama Skyline Eatery

Oct 3 - Saturday

Another beautiful day - still in birthday mode. Though we had gone to Banning's Pie House for dinner (and awesome cake - enough for four treats) - we still planned dinner out for Saturday. But first a stop at the Saturday Market. I chose this restaurant  - "an authentic ramen restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Nestled in the heart of the city, we offer a one-of-a-kind ramen experience that you won't find elsewhere. From carefully selected ingredients to rich, flavorful broth and cooked noodles, every element of our dishes reflects the authenticity and tradition of Japanese cuisine. We were the only patrons when we arrived - the place was immaculate and inviting - very simple. So simple in fact we ordered at the counter and waited for our ramen to arrive.

That's all we had - a simple and satisfying meal and a fun day all around.

8 for food

6 for atmosphere

Belle Pente Winery and Filbert Farmhouse Kitchen

Belle Pente Winery and Filbert Farmhouse Kitchen

Sunday Sept 27

Gorgeous day to be out in wine country. First stop was an appointment at the winery that produces the wine that H enjoyed so much at the Filbert farmhouse. Then the plan was to return to that restaurant for dinner and a chance to reserve the restaurant for our party of nine Anniversary dinner.

All went according to plan. We had a private meet with the vintner, a very nice man originally from NY - Fordham University. Seventy sunlit acres had been harvested and glowed with yellow. The winery is a farm complete with goats and at least three gorgeous white geese.

I was not a fan of the white wines - too dry, but we bought three reds.

On to dinner. Indoors this time. The restaurant was full and busy on this lovely Sunday afternoon. Steelhead pate, chicken and dumplings, beef ribs - food was comforting and filling if not exciting. Free dessert - hazelnut panna cotta. No wine because we had tasted our fill.

A lovely day.

7 for food, 10 for the day

&$79 + 2.37 credit card charge

$100

Brooklyn Trattoria

 

Brooklyn Trattoria

Sep 21

This was the first restaurant we did not like. And for a fairly inconsequential reason. On arrival in Bethany, entering a nicer and larger than expected restaurant, we were led through two largely empty rooms, to our table for two facing a large, well-stocked and tended bar. On the table was a small laptop computer and a VR code image. No menu. We were instructed that everything was online.

Since the place promotes itself on "It’s our take on NYC Italian food," I was quite interested to see what was offered. So, two of us, who read at different speeds, and like different things to eat, had to scroll up and down and around the screen to find anything that caught our eye. I asked for a paper menu but was told in no uncertain terms that this was the only way. Why this set the wrong tone for our enjoyment is not really clear, but though the food was good enough, the vibe was off. I think the online menu takes away a sense of human graciousness - aka class -  in a place that is trying to have atmosphere.

H had cioppino (no surprise) and I had chicken piccata which was over rich but tasty. No starters, in part because of the way info was organized. 

We shared dessert and brought home the leftovers. there was a table of four seniors next to us as we ate. I watched as they fiddled with the online menu as well.

So 6 from both of us

Dahlias and Filbert Farmhouse Kitchen

 Dahlias and Filbert Farmhouse Kitchen

 

Sept 10

In preparation for H's birthday and in appreciation for the beautiful weather, we decided to visit the Dahlia festival in Canby. The place, the array of colors and bloom is simply uplifting. The abundance of flowers and colors fills me with joy -  and my camera with beauty.

As I was taking pix, H searched for a place to eat and discovered a place with a name so perfect, and a write up so inviting, we knew we could not resist. 

"Filberts Farmhouse Kitchen was born from a love of quality food, exceptional service and a sense of community. We serve classic American comfort food executed with culinary expertise and Farmhouse flavor. Cultivated from a passion for high-quality cuisine, outstanding hospitality, and fostering community ties, Filberts Farmhouse Kitchen embodies these values at its core."

This was our favorite celebration dinner so far. We drove up to a sparkling white farmhouse. Parked in front of a full hedge of bright yellow roses. As we entered the lovely dining room, we noticed a veranda set with tables through the windows. Can we sit out there? We had it to ourselves (which we loved) - giving us an unobstructed view of the filbert orchard in which the farmhouse is set, and the perfect weather for dining outdoors.

One of the things that impressed us is that the menu and the wine list include information about the source and location of ingredients and wines. We each had a local wine - mine was 4.2 miles distant, and H's Gamay Noir, (which he loved) was from another local winery.

We started with a fig flat bread - local figs, which was good enough for a complete meal. H had fish and chips, and I had a chicken and cherry salad. All delicious. In honor of a birthday, we were comped a chocolate hazelnut pot o creme - yum.

All in all, a perfect part of a lovely day. We hope to go back - and to celebrate our anniversary there with family. 

$90  + $18

10 of 10

Screen Door

 Screen Door 9/5/26

My turn to pick. I'd seen a write up for Screen Door describing Southern food and hospitality - fried chicken, shrimp and grits, pecan pie. Oy. I needed some of that. Also, I was reading Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings, so things southern was on my mind.

The restaurant, in the Pearl, was crowded and very noisy. I loved seeing pink and green flowered wallpaper on the side walls that matched an ancient, papered cigar box that belonged to my mother. 

I had wine. We started with hush puppies - crisp with a spicy sweet dipping sauce. H had jambalaya. My chicken dinner was huge. The chicken was perfect - succulent, spicy, crispy. Heavenly mashed potatoes and gravy. Pecan pie for dessert. Too full, too rich, too good.

But too noisy. Great leftovers for us both.

7 of 10 for noise. 10 of 10 for doing what they are known for extremely well. Good service as well.

$108 total