Two Days in Ohio

After all of our July 4th shenanigans, Z and I unfortunately had to make a quick - and unexpected - trip out to Ohio for a funeral. Although we were only in the state for a little over two days, we decided to make the most of our time there, outside of the sad yet touching services.

We flew in and out of Cleveland, although the bulk of our trip was spent in Wooster, Ohio. (We actually stopped here first when we started making our way cross-country!). We revisited JAFB Brewery (this place rocks - the bartender even remembered us from our last visit), and also tried the cheesiest pizza I've ever had in my life at Coccia House - a no-frills spot right in town. This pizza is an odd yet deliciously indulgent obsession of the locals (at least, the locals we know), so we had to try it! (Um, and you can also get the pizza with "extra cheese." As if it doesn't already have enough cheese on it...).

(Side note: After getting your fill of beer and extra cheesy pizza in Wooster, be sure to stay at the Market Street Inn. Everything about it is delightful!).

From Wooster, we also made the 45-minute drive (ish) to Akron to visit Hoppin' Frog Brewery, a spot that's been on Z's bucket list for quite some time now.

Hoppin' Frog had a ton of tap room-only beers on tap (I love that!), so we both ended up getting a sampler tray of four 5-ounce pours. Hoppin' Frog also has tap room-only "Infusions," typically blending two of their current draft beers - such as the Peanut Butter & Jelly I ordered after my sampler. So. Good.

On our second day in Ohio, we both worked at our B&B before making the trip to Cleveland a little early for our evening flight. (Which was delayed about 600 times. But that's besides the point).

For lunch, we sat outside at Great Lakes Brewing, which had an awesome patio.

The beers were fine here, although the tap list was not as impressive as we had hoped. Nonetheless, the food was worth the visit alone - especially the Housemade Tater Tots, which are filled with cheese. (We obviously needed more cheese...).

For my entree, I went with the Salmon Salad, made with Homestead Springs salmon, mixed peppers, red onion, tomato, and feta, and served with a simple dressing of oil and vinegar on the side. It was fantastic, and a nice balance from those giant, cheese-filled tater tots.

After Great Lakes, we made a quick pit stop at Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon. We love visiting their Portland location, so it was fun checking out their Cleveland spot! (Side note: There's a second Fat Head's location in/around Cleveland, but we opted for this one as it was closest to the airport).

Despite our quick trip, we were able to fit a lot in! I just don't know if I can eat cheese again anytime soon....

4th of July Weekend in Government Camp, Oregon

When your husband's birthday is July 4th, you celebrate all weekend long.

This year, Z, myself, and a group of our friends rented a house in Government Camp, Oregon. We were late to the game in renting - so the Coast, etc. was booked solid - but Government Camp ended up being the perfect summer getaway.

Kicking things off Saturday morning, Z and I enjoyed perfectly spicy Bloody Marys at Ratskeller - a no-frills spot right in town with a giant patio, complete with corn hole, picnic tables, and a fire pit.

From there, we spent the day relaxing and greeting friends before we went to Mt. Hood Skibowl, a short walk from where we were staying. A ski resort during the winter, the park transforms into a summer playground during the warmer months - complete with Alpine Slides, which you take the ski lifts to get up to (sooo fun!), mini golf, tubing (on the grass), and more.

Before hitting the Alpine Slides, however, we indulged on the patio with beers and nachos. (Vegetarians: make sure to ask for the nachos without the meat chili - the menu doesn't mention it).

Taking the ski lift up!

On Sunday, we decided to be a little more low-key and our entire group setup camp at one of the picnic areas at Trillium Lake. We spent most of the day playing corn hole, card games, floating in the water, and exploring. Talk about an absolutely gorgeous area!

On Monday, before heading back to Portland, we popped into Hood River for the afternoon. After beers at Pfriem, we walked a block or two to have lunch at Solstice Wood Fire Cafe & Bar. After a short wait (they text you when your table's ready so you don't have to wait around), we somehow got lucky enough to score a table on their patio, despite our large group!

The pizza at Solstice was phenomenal. I enjoyed a small 10-inch pie of Cremini ($13), topped with Hood River Organic cremini mushrooms, goat cheese, shredded mozzarella, lemon zest, truffle oil, and herbs. It was delicious, but I loved Z's pie even more: he ordered the Country Girl Cherry ($14 for a 10-inch), topped with fresh cherries, Field Roast sausage (although the original pie comes with house-made chorizo), goat cheese, shredded mozzarella, and marinara sauce. The combination of the sweet, plump cherries with the salty sausage and cheese was incredible. 

I washed down my pizza with a great summer cocktail, too - the Sweet Suzanne Basil Gimlet ($9), made with your choice of vodka or gin (I chose gin), basil simple syrup, and organic lime juice. It was refreshing, and perfectly strong.

We then sat by the river, ate Z's "homemade" (thanks, Betty Crocker) angel food birthday cake - complete with whipped cream and fresh berries - and then made the trip back to Portland. We went out to dinner in town, then enjoyed the fireworks on the waterfront.

It was an epic weekend spent with great friends in some wonderful towns here in Oregon. And all for such a great celebration!

How did you spend the July 4th weekend?

Garlic Naan Pizzas with Goat Cheese, Sausage, and Onion

I actually am trying to be more fit these days.

To help balance out all those beer calories, I've been eating healthier (during the week, at least) and hopping on the treadmill at least four times a week. And it's working. However, I still crave some freakin' pizza Monday through Friday. I'm only human!

That's where these healthier, super-easy-to-make, weekday delights come in.

These Garlic Naan pizzas are the perfect thing to whip up when you have leftover naan (like I did); or, if you just want to buy a brand new package and make a quick, healthier version of your favorite pizza.

I used toppings that were already in my fridge, but feel free to change up the toppings to your preferences. 

Here's what it took to make three of these little guys:

Garlic Naan Pizzas with Goat Cheese, Sausage, & Onion

Yields: 3 servings (with a large side salad)

-3 pieces of garlic naan

-1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

-1 clove garlic, minced

-1 cup pizza sauce (jarred or homemade)

-Toppings: goat cheese; 1 link Field Roast Italian Sausage, sliced; thinly sliced red onion

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place naan on an ungreased, non-stick baking sheet. Brush each piece of naan with olive oil, and evenly sprinkle on minced garlic. Spoon pizza sauce evenly over each piece; top with your desired toppings (or, toppings mentioned above).

2.) Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until naan is crisp and goat cheese is softened/starting to brown.

I mean...how easy is that? Leftover naan no longer stands a chance.

What's your biggest, guilty pleasure craving? Besides pizza, I'm always craving nachos. Always.

Adventures + Eats in Bend, Oregon

Last weekend, Z and I spent a fun-filled few days in Bend, Oregon - a little over three hours south of Portland. Planning a trip there yourself sometime soon? Here are some great places to eat, plus a fun adventure to help you burn off all those food calories.

Adventure:

Hiking through Tumalo Falls. Easy 3-ish-mile hike (each way) with gorgeous scenery and a breathtaking waterfall.

Food:

Pizza: From 10 Barrel Brewing. (More on all the beers/breweries/bottle shops to visit later). We needed pizza in a bad way on Friday night, and this hit the spot.

Brunch: Chow. It's worth the 1+-hour wait (they even have live music outside, and a separate bar to order drinks from while you wait). I was a bad blogger (read: hangry) and documented nothing - and there online menu is outdated - but get the brunch dish with polenta. It's amazing. And wash it down with the garlic Bloody Mary!

Bagels: Rockin' Daves, fo sho. Pictured above is Dave's Oh Nelly ($7.25), a bagel of your choice piled high with wild salmon lox, cucumber, tomato, red onion, and dill cream cheese. We even got to meet Dave, and he's super nice - so be sure to say hello to him when you visit!

Dinner: Barrio (not pictured) came highly recommended from Dave, and it did not disappoint. Focusing on Latin-inspired tapas, everything we ate here was incredibly delicious - and had us longing for more. I highly recommend the Fried Asparagus ($11) with shaved fennel and Manchego; the Vegetarian Paella ($14 for a small; $26 for a large), which came with an out-of-this-world Caesar salad, complete with vegan (!!) Caesar dressing; and the Potato Gnocchi ($11) with mushroom confit, butternut squash, and kale. (Bonus: Barrio has some solid local beers on tap, too).

More on our Bend beer adventures - and the adorable B&B we stayed in - soon!

My Top 5 Pizza Places in Portland

Very few people think of Portland as a pizza destination.

That's because it's not...but we do have some damn good pies here in the Rose City.

I shamelessly admit that I get a craving for pizza at least once a week (but, if we're being honest here, it pretty much happens once a day). So, as soon as we moved to Portland in October, I knew I needed to seek out some of the best slices this city had to offer. And while I do have a ton more research to do, here are my top five favorites so far:

1.) Sizzle Pie
Those cravings for pizza I get? Nine times out of 10, I'm craving Sizzle Pie. Sizze Pie offers a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and meat-topped slices and pies, with decent beers on tap to boot. I love their creative names and topping combinations - such as the Vegan Angel of Doom ($19/$28), topped with Daiya mozzarella “cheese,” fresh jalapeños, pineapple, shaved almonds, and cilantro.

2.) Life of Pie

Specializing in brick oven pies perfectly split between two people (or one, if you're extra hungry), Life of Pie not only makes great pizza - they're also ideally located two doors down from Tin Bucket. (Yes, you can bring your pies into the bar for some epic pizza-and-beer indulging). Life of Pie's Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese, and Garlic Confit pie ($10) is a personal favorite, but the simple Margherita ($10) is fresh and delicious, too. (Bonus: from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, the Margherita pie is only $5 if you dine-in!).

3.) Escape From New York Pizza
Who knew we'd find authentic New York slices right in our own 'hood? This place is anything but friendly, but the slices (and personalities) are just what you'd expect from a NY pizzeria. Everyday there's a new featured slice, but I've always gone for the classic cheese. (Side note: I also love how their slogan is "Ranch-free since '83." Good crust doesn't need to be dipped in Ranch dressing!).

4.) Pizzicato

I've had several pies and slices from Pizzicato now, and every single one has been consistently delicious (they also deliver for free to our door here in NW Portland, so that helps, too). Pizzicato's toppings are varied and inventive, and the prices are quite reasonable, too. One recent pie I had and loved was the Puttanesca ($14.50, $20.50, or $26.50, for small, medium, or large). It's topped with tomatoes, artichokes, kalamata olives, and feta on a garlic/olive oil base. I also love it with plump garlic shrimp added! (Pro tip: During happy hour, a slice and a pint of beer is just $6.50).

5.) Lucky Labrador Beer Hall
Lucky Labrador's pizza is on-point. Again, they have a location not far from our apartment, so I've walked over on many occasions to order a slice (or two) and drink a beer while I wait. They almost always have a cheese, vegetarian, and meat slice option available, and their toppings are plentiful - while the crust stays ideally crisp. The Veggie Deluxe ($22.95 for a pie) at the NW Quimby location is my favorite so far, topped with artichoke hearts, fresh spinach, onion, mushroom, green pepper, black olives, and tomatoes.

Alright, I'm still on the quest for pizza (despite eating my way through all of these places...several times). What are your recommendations for the best pizza in Portland?