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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 2007)
36 , Stout IU FEBRUARY 16. 2007 out out out out out out out BY JENNY NGUYEN The Culinary Cupid n case you didn’t get the nookie you were hoping for this Valentine’s Day or you didn’t play your heartstrings to the tune of a commer cialized Cupid, I’ve compiled a tiny list of three locales dedicated to well-known aphrodisiacs: oysters, chocolate and chilies. Because really, there’s always a time for.. .love. I Alberta Street Oyster Bar & Grill • 2926 N.E. Alberta St. a Violet*» Café 5204 NE Sacramento at 52nd & Sandy Blvd Open 7am-2pm,Thurs-Mon Not only does Alberta bring the freshest pearl purses, but they also have an admirable selection. We were met with seven varieties from Htxxl Canal to British Columbia to Maine. Served with four different mignonettes, half-dozen prices (around $16) were well worth the extra buck. Don’t let the name fool you: From seared scallops with beluga lentils to perfectly cooked monkfish with braised oxtail, nearly every item on the menu is stellar. Portions are small and prices are steep, but with every aspect of every dish done to perfection, mon ey really is no object. For those in more of a hurry to eat out, happy hour from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and from 10 to 11 p.m. is off the hook. Come in Sunday or Monday and eat at the bar all day for happy hour prices. They’ll have you sucking, shucking and eating ’em raw in no time. Pix Hawthorne • 3731 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Just when you thought you’d heard enough about Cheryl “I Can’t Stop the Baker” Wakerhauser and her Pix Patisserie empire, BAM! She quickly flipped her previous partnership, Bar Pastiche, into another cute little venue for petit pastries. For Bar Pastiche fans, there’s still the great wines, ports and bar displaying a smaller tapas selection and flamenco events. But one of the best features of this chocolate destination location is its dedication to the idea of topos or “the small plate.” Many of the most popular desserts have miniature versions of themselves so Kill c WINE SHOP & BAR Enjoy local and European artisan-style wines. 721 NW 10TH Autentica • 5507 N.E. 30th Ave. 503-546-7377 FREE pool FREE foosbail FREE WiFi 3551 SE Division St, 503-236-6890 www.badgirlwines.com FEATURING Beer, wine, art, INTERACTIVE MUSICAL COMEDY AT ITS BEST! comedy, live music ino y¿¡L'! 77CKE7S ON SALE NOW! WWW. WHOSIOLEMYDFADHl/SBAND or 800-966-886 >rn VISIT www. havencoffee for our events calendar that you really don’t have to choose just one or two (or three). Now you can literally have your cakes and eat them two...at a time. 2929 SE Powell Blvd. (503) 231-VINO My newest crush, the Mexican restaurant Autentica, has it all—the perfect bod in a growing neighborhood, warm and cozy atmosphere, knowl edgeable staff and tastes to tantalize the tongue— making me feeling giddy inside. The ceviche is perfectly balanced with seafood, fresh chile and lime. The com tortillas are homemade and brought out hot to every table. The taco al pastor is tender and full of flavor, and the tostada with shredded chicken is ♦ superb with cabbage, radishes and guajillo pepper. The standout dish is the lomitos de puerco en mole verde, meltingly tender pork medallions served in a green mole made with pumpkin seeds, tomatillos and Serrano chiles. Although Autentica’s ftxxl isn’t necessarily spicy hot, its perfected use of chi lies could just spark a certain other type of fire. JENNY N guyen is a freelance food writer, which means she needs your comments to help guide her. Help her help you by writing to epiqueerean@comcast.net.
