Portland Eats

Why is that southern California hasn't developed funky little neighborhoods that are pedestrian friendly with great restaurants? Instead, cold climate places such as Portland and Seattle have character to spare with neighborhoods with inventive names and trendy acronyms. In "the OC" we don't refer to places by neighborhoods but simply by the city name. No "NOLO" or "Laurelwood" or "Eastside" but just Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. Spent the weekend in Portland and they have a vibrant downtown that is reinventing itself with converted lofts, progressive cuisine, highrises and easy to navigate blocks. Went to a gorgeous, Zagat-lauded Vietnamese pho restaurant (Pho Van, noodles with lemongrass pork and eggrolls), trendy neighborhood Mediterranean bistro (Tabla, duck pate on crostini, fettucini with rabbit ragu and flank steak on chive mashed potatoes), and an up and coming Tuscan pizzeria and comfort food star (Nostrana, MUST try the corona beans with tuna appetizer and cauliflower souffle). I guess it's just too bad that it was freezing, cloudy and generally depressing at this time of the year. You can't have it all!

Tues 2/21:
$7 lunch at Greek place
$72 two pairs of jeans at Robinsons May
$4 supermarket
$0 prepared dinner

Wed 2/22:
$0 expensed lunch for 3 at Habana ($46)
$0 leftovers for dinner

Thurs 2/23:
$0 friend treated to lunch at The Clubhouse ($24, saved $11 with Entertainment card)
$0 frozen dinner

Fri 2/24:
$3 parking at John Wayne Airport
$8 breakfast for two at McDonald's at Airport
$0 dinner for four at Nostrana (a new, happening Italian place in Portland, brother in law picked up bill for $170)

Sat 2/25:
$0 homemade breakfast
$24 admission and tour of Pittock Mansion (Portland pioneer and founder of The Oregonian)
$52 lunch for four at Pho Van in the Pearl District of Portland
$0 picked up 6 pastries from Prix Patisserie (brother in law has unlimited tab for building their bar, $30)
$176 dinner for four at Tabla in Laurelhurst neighborhood of Portland (3 course prix fix)

Sun 2/26:
$0 pastries for breakfast
$30 lunch for two at Portland airport
$39 2.5 days parking at John Wayne Airport
$76 groceries (saved $23 in coupons)
$0 prepared green onion and parmesan risotto and pan fried salmon

Mon 2/27:
$7 lunch at Pho restaurant
$0 prepared dinner