My brother Andrew and his wife (ironically named Lisa, as well) arrived in Portland Thursday morning for the day. Michael got off work early and we all went to Papa Haydn’s for lunch (at their request).
I ordered the cheese burger with Gruyere and as my side I just HAD to order the asparagus and arugula puree soup with creme fraiche. It was amazing soup! YUM! I also had 1 Pale Ale beer. Nothing better than a beer at noon on VACATION!
BEER!
The burger was pretty good. Not the absolute best burger I’ve ever had in my life, but it’s pretty high up there on the list.
The gruyere was really mild. Michael got the burger too, with fries instead of the soup. And boy did he miss out!
Asparagus Puree
I’ve decided that my goal for this winter is to create my own soups from scratch. Asparagus puree will be my first attempt! My sister-in-law got the tuna sandwich with the soup. My brother got the Cubano sandwich that I had last time I went to Papa Haydn’s.
Lunch was very filling but after lunch the question was “Do we get dessert?” We happened to be at THE DESSERT place in Portland. I told Andy and Lisa to pick something and we’d all split it. They picked the Raspberry Gateau: fallen chocolate souffle topped with fresh raspberries and red currant glaze bordered with bittersweet chocolate ganache.
And oh my god was it good! Thank goodness we all had bites because it was really rich and I don’t feel guilty in the slightest! 😉
Dessert
The fresh raspberries really did make the dessert. It also came with homemade whipped cream.
Take a good look at the dessert. It lasted about 4 seconds. This is the aftermath:
How tacky is it to lick the plate at a restaurant? Hmmmm….. 😉 Don’t worry, I restrained myself–but just barely. After lunch, we dropped off Michael at the mall downtown where he stood in line for 4 hours to pick up the new iPhone. No thanks! It was 85 degrees and SUNNY in Portland. I wasn’t spending it inside!
Andy and Lisa wanted to go to Powell’s City of Books. We wandered around the humongous bookstore for over an hour.
Did I mention that my brother is tall?
Like 6’5. Did I also mention that I got the short end of that genetic stick–literally? Yeah I’m barely 5’5. SIGH. 😉
I bought one book (I restrained myself) and we walked to my office so I could give them a tour. We checked in with Michael–yep still in line! Next stop: playing outside in the sunshine!
Carbzilla
Isn’t it lovely to not feel guilty over something you ate? Such a luxury.
I only feel a little bit of guilt when the scale reflects an indulgence but mostly I feel more motivation.
I think I’m gonna start using my Vita for soups NOW. Drizzly and grey in Seattle.
Can’t wait to hear about the new IPhone (your husband and mine would get along GREAT). I have hubbie’s 1st generation (I’ll never let him forget how much $$$ it was), and he has the 2nd generation. I should have bought him an IPad for his 40th but he said he could wait. *shock*
hundredtenpounds
What is Vita? I am interested!
I am okay with my 3Gs phone. Maybe at a later date I’ll upgrade but I’m good with my phone!
Ivie
I have the short/stalky end of the stick.
I am barely 5’5″ and now the shortest person in the family.
Mom and dad both around 5’7″
Brothers – 6’1″, 5’11”, and the youngest (almost 16) passed me up last year and is around 5’7″
Ivie
I forgot to add, I am the oldest child as well!
And they are all slender/tall.
hundredtenpounds
Yep I am the shortest in the family too! lol
lisasfoods
I love sharing desserts when eating out. They almost always are way too big for one, or even two people. This made me think of many family dinners at The Cheesecake Factory, where we decide on a dessert to share after the meal.