Longer Days and Sunshine

When you live in a city like Portland, and you're a lover of the sun, weeks like the one we're having are like trying to find a bamboo toothpick in a haystack -- they're incredible tough to come by. And though the temperature is still a bit chilly, these bright blue skies and rays of sunshine paint our Portland faces with smiles and fill our heads with thoughts of what we know will be ahead.

For any Portland foodie who awaits the sounds, sights and smells of springtime in the Rose City, what lays ahead is famers' market season. The nationally recognized Portland Famers' Market at Portland State University opens on March 20, and the crew at PFM are welcoming two new spot this year where patrons can get their hands on all their locally grown, freshest fresh produce at Pioneer Courthouse Square and on NW 23rd Avenue at Savier. To read more about the new locations, click here. And for a list of farmers' markets all over Oregon, visit the Oregon Famers' Markets Association.

It pains me to say that our sunny days are short-lived for now. We have a couple of more days of seeing the big orange orb in the sky, but then it's back to rain for a while. Regardless, I'll continue to do what other Portlanders do and hang on for a few more months. The best days this city has to offer will soon be upon us!

Some other things I just loved this week:

• A visit to the coffee shop formerly known as Sydney's. Sydney's shut down for a day or two a short time ago, but the space has been re-opened and dons the name Breken Kitchen. I was pleasantly surprised to see not much had changed in the transition, and was further surprised by a lovely chicken salad sandwich I dined on while spending an afternoon there with laptop in tow. Delish.
• KOi Fusion tacos...in a bar. On Friday night I headed out into the Pearl with a friend for a cocktail and some eats. We went to check out the place formerly known as Studio 1. It's now KOi 1, which I learned was owned by the same folks that make their way around the city in the KOi Fusion Korean taco truck. Brilliant. Same great delicious eats indoors that makes for bar food unlike any other around town!
• The James Beard Foundation semifinalist nominees were announced this week, and Portland represented in 12 spots. To read more, visit my update at Examiner.com.     
• Ah, Oregon wine country. It was an absolutely perfect weekend to head out to Dundee and visit some favorite - as well as never-tried-before - wineries for some wine tasting in the sunshine. I was impressed that in about four hours, four girls visited five wineries and even stopped for lunch. Wineries graced with our presence were: Erath, Torii Mor, Lange, DePonte Cellars and Sokol Blosser. The fabulous lunch spot - which has never disappointed - was Dundee Bistro. The wineries were great, but, hands down, the winner of the day was Torii Mor with it's friendly and energetic staff (Scott & Tina) that just wanted us to have a good time, and it's amazing wine. I haven't stopped thinking about its 2006 Late Bottled Vintage Port. It's only sold at the winery. I think I'll be making a trip out there soon to pick up a bottle. Unfortunately, the pictures I had taken of the day aren't uploading to Blogger at this time. All the more reason for you to get yourself out and visit the haunts yourself. 

Cheers,

~JF