The Cure All

Let’s say that you had a little too much to drink the night before… and let’s say, that you wake up with a terrible headache because of it…and let’s guess that you have some tomato juice in the fridge and some vodka on the bar… WELL, you are IN LUCK! Nothing quite cures a “headache” (aka – a hangover), quite like a Bloody Mary. As luck would have it, I have just the recipe to suit your needs…

Bloody Mary

Ingredients:

8 oz tomato juice
3 oz vodka
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp celery salt
1 tsp of Tabasco sauce
fresh lemon wedge
fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Fill a large glass with ice. To the ice, add the black pepper (to your taste) and Worcestershire sauce, then add remaining ingredients (except the Tabasco sauce).
2. Pour everything into a shaker and shake well. Pour back into glass and add tobacco sauce – give it a little stir.
3. Garnish with green olives or a celery stalk and take your “medicine” down like a big boy or girl!

Beignets in the Big City

Brunch plus soul food? Sounds divine, doesn’t it!?!?!? In San Francisco, there is a fantastic café called BRENDA’S French Soul Food, that serves the most AMAZING brunch. From omelets to croque-monsieur (a fancy ham & cheese sandwich), Brenda’s fills anyone’s craving for breakfast/brunch food!
The most delectable item on Brenda’s menu though, is the Beignet Flight. Brenda’s offers four styles of beignets: the traditional, chocolate, apple and…wait for it…a savory crawfish! The Beignet Flight is the best of all these worlds, offering a sample of each flavor.

My personal favorite is…the Crawfish beignet! Now I know there are some beignet purists out there that think filling any beignet is sacrilege but I beg these purists to give the crawfish beignet at Brenda’s a chance. The crawfish filling is savory and creamy at the same time and its flavor profile is off the charts!

If you find yourself in San Francisco, Brenda’s French Soul Food is one place you cannot miss!

Brenda’s French Soul Food
652 Polk Street
Cross: Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Ph. (415) 345-8100

Full Time Fancy

Here’s a quick tip….Dress up store bought brownies with homemade frosting. It’s a quick and easy way to add a little glamour to an everyday dessert! I recently whipped up an Orange Buttercream Frosting to go with some brownie bites and it was a hit!

Orange Buttercream Frosting

*3 cups of powdered sugar
*1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
*1 tbls of orange juice (Fresh squeezed or store bought OJ)
*Zest of one orange
*1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
*1-2 tbls of milk (Depending on the consistency you wish)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add milk until desired consistency is reached.
2. Add vanilla extract, orange juice & zest. Mix into frosting.
3. Add it into a gallon size Ziploc bag, clip the corner, and pipe onto brownies – VOILA! Your everyday dessert is now full-time fancy!
4. Pop one in your mouth and smile!

What the heck is POK POK?

Pok Pok sounds odd, I know. But let me tell you, this wonderful restaurant in Portland is SO worth traveling to the Pacific Northwest! Pok Pok Noi was featured on Guy Fieri's, Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and it deserves every bit of the publicity!

Pok Pok serves Thai Fusion cuisine that is not only delicious, but affordable. Some of their specialities include sweet and savory chicken wings, chicken satay and an addicting papaya salad. Perhaps the most enjoyable thing on the menu though, is their drinking vinegars. Don't be scared! Let me explain... drinking vinegars are flavored vinegars that are reduced down to a syrup and then mixed into soda water. It is akin to an Italian soda...Carbonated goodness!

Next time you are in Portland, give POK POK NOI a try!


POK POK NOI
1469 Northeast Prescott Street
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 287-4149