First Blush at Casa Naranja

Aaron and I received a phone invitation to have dinner with Aaron’s mom (Laurie) and step-dad (Jim) last Wednesday. I’m always happy when they call with a last minute idea because they are delightful and interesting people. Aaron and Laurie are alike in far more ways than they are different: they share a nearly identical view of the human experience (bad circumstances lead to unexpectedly awesome results) and they have an uncanny way of disarming people to create friendly and informative verbal banner. I’m pleased that Jim and I share a similar viewpoint on dinning out: know where you’re going before you get in the car and try new restaurants as often as possible (this is Portland, after all).

Casa Naranja is a laid back restaurant in North Portland with genuine service and good food. They have a patio that surrounds 3/4 of a cute little house. We scouted the back patio where tanned men were lounging in hammock chairs and smoking cigarettes. Laurie requires a smoke free exsistence (she’s classy like that) so we turned back to sit on the front deck. Our table provided ample seating for a party of four and a great view of North Mississippi Avenue.

We shared many small plates throughout the evening and I was very pleased with the vegetarian options that Laurie and I were able to enjoy while Aaron and Jim sampled wild boar ribs and a unrelated dish of chorizo in puffed pastry.

Spicy Basil

The cocktails were good but they all seemed to explore the sweeter side of alcohol charged libations. This Spicy Basil concoction lived up to it’s name. . .in the Basil department. Not as spicy as I would have liked. The real cocktail winner of the evening was the Portland Manhattan that Jim ordered, a Pacific Northwest berry-centric delight with just the right amount of bourbon.

I decided to post about Casa Naranja because I wanted to share the following dish with a few vegetarian friends who read this blog.

Veggie Tartar

The Veggie Tartar is great, almost as great as the smoked tofu salad with roasted beets, arugula and sherry vinigrette. A micro thin slice of zucchini surrounds an army of diced veggies that are perched on a fantastic sun-dried tomato base. The dish is topped with micro greens and crispy wontons. This is truly a great veggie take on a classic meat-centric French dish.  The whole package is drizzled with quality olive oil.

When I lived in the South I tried to visit a restaurant several times before posting an opinion. Some restaurants (like a certain Ryan Adams themed pizza parlor) were strong contenders for a great blog review and over time the consistency failed and I chose not to write about the restaurant instead of writing a negative review. I feel a bit more bold in Portland so if my initial experience with a restaurant warrants an A or B average I’ll write about here and you are welcome to read my unsolicited (and anosmic) advice.

Buttermilk Ranch

Did anyone else think that Hidden Valley was a real destination? I was so enamored by those silly commercials. The rolling green hills void of cow patties, the delicately hued cotton blowing on the line. . .rocking chairs. . .perfectly shaped trees. 

However, I’m not a fan of the dressing that inspired those commercials. I’m more of a balsamic and red wine vinegar sort of gal.  But Aaron loves ranch dressing and I love making homemade mayo and combining it with buttermilk, yogurt, lemon, dill, oregano, and garlic.  Put the mixture in a closed container and leave it in the fridge overnight so the flavors can bloom.

Bunny Bread Surprise Snack

ETA (live journal style): If you want a good recipe for homemade mayo go here, half the recipe to make a small pickle jar for your Hidden Valley Guilty Pleasure. I look to the Gluten Free Girl for all manner of innovative recipes and I used her Buttermilk Ranch formula for this jawn.

Golden Birthday at Belly Timber

I turned 30 years old on May 30th. From the wiki, “A person’s Golden or Grand Birthday, more commonly referred to as the “Star Birthday” occurs when they turn the age of their birth day (i.e. when someone born on the 12thof the monthturns 12).”  Being far away from family (including my identical twin Anna) and most friends (with the glaring exception of Aaron) allowed me to focus on the the things in my life that I enjoy doing, and doing well. The short list includes waking up and stretching, drinking water and green tea, reading a few of my favorite Adrienne Rich poems out loud, walking downtown, buying a bracelet, Vinyasa. . .and eating.

Lunch was an epic fail. I don’t like to offer negative reviews on this blog, and I refuse to add my voice to the chorus of unsolicited opinions on Yelp so I’ll just say that I ate lunch at a deli. . .a deli I was excited about. . .and the service was hilariously terrible. Aaron and I suffered in silent dignity and erupted into laughter after paying the over priced check and stumbling in a horrified stupor out of the door.

My birthday dinner was the diametric opposite of my birthday lunch.

Belly Timber

For months I labored over where to spend my golden dinner. Maybe Beast or Le Pigeon? But I dislike communal dinning because I spent four years at a Quaker College. Sushi? But I always eat sushi on my birthday. This place features wine? I’m more of a cocktail/bourbon gal. I was looking for somewhere fantastic within walking distance of my house where Aaron and I could wear whatever we wanted and LOVE the food. And of course I was looking for the grand principle of dining out – not being able to make the food at home.

Belly Timber made the golden birthday cut. Their press is good, they have a great location and after dining here I’m shocked that I don’t see more “OMG Belly Timber!” reviews. The restaurant is housed in an old Victorian house very similar to my first home in San Francisco at 3rd and Clement. This house has seen many businesses move in and out of the front door. Aaron (born and bread in Portland with 6 years of  Southern Living under his belt) remembers that the space was once a coffee house “with open mics and stuff like that”. I understand it was also another full service restaurant at some point.

We were seated in a beautiful 3 table room adjacent to the main area; perfect for an introvert on her birthday. Our waitress. . .she was amazing. . .a combination of culinary guide and yoga teacher. She immediately put Aaron and I at ease and offered consistently spot-on advice throughout the entire evening. 

For starters we selected the House Rillette.  Juicy, meltly, perfectly salted and pressented. I loved this treat including the fine bread and lightly brined fruits and vegetables (including grapes!)  presented with the goods. Aaron drooled and devoured his serving with Oregon farm strength furvor. 

We split two small plates. Escargot, bone marrow, spring garlic, yellow beets and chick peas. This dish is incredibly well conceived and a far cry from the first time I consummed escargot in a dark Czech cafe yet it retains the simplicity of snails/butter/garlic: the mirepoix of gypsies. I insisted we order the Porchetta Raviolio. I believe it was served on a swath of basil or parsley oil. I don’t recall the nuances because it was the first time I’ve ever tried this delectable pork soil and I was transfixed like a die hard Parton fan at Dollywood. My heart and waistline were thankful to savor a single and delectable small pillow.

Next up. . .

Ling cod, thin sliced fennel, saffron broth and green olive relish

The cod was cooked perfectly. I wish I had a delicate touch for cookingbecause this broth was so darling. What you get with this dish embodies mathematical and celestial opposition. I cannot stop thinking about fennel and saffron. They are a new top hit on the list of dualities that define me. . . and everybody else. They taunt each other on the playground and after school they carve “Fennel + Saffron = Forever”  into a tree. The olive relish is the brave ex who belts a love song from the side of the soccer field. Ya’ get me? This is the harmony of dissonance.  Also, this is a HALF SERVING and so inexpensive. I can’t even say what it cost, I feel like I stole something.

BT Burger, house made fries, and bone marrow aioli

 I knew Aaron would order this dish!  Honestly, I think this is what makes Belly Timber so romantic and date-y. After any lover escorts their golden birthday partner around all day, a burger like this (providing they eat meat) validates the experience. I mean, just look at this face.

Post-Burger

 

For dessert. . .

Golden Dessert

This BT White Russian includes monopolowa vodka, Stumptown hairbender espresso liqueur, cocoa-guajillo bitters, and a splash of cream. Aaron mixed his before the photo.  I enjoyed a few other cocktails that night, most importantly the BT Collins which included smoked New Deal vodka. A perfect celebration pairing for the cod.

A special Thank You to Belly Timber from the bottom of my 30 year old heart.

Golden Emily