netphemera's Profile
Mexican Market (PDX)
I gotta thank you for turning us onto TyT. We finally went there after reading your recommendation a while ago and really love it. Our daughter loves it too and calls it "Woodburn" (see my earlier post about Woodburn Mexican Restaurants).
Their deli/prepared food is excellent, The tostadas are top notch (although I still think I like Juanitas chips better), but the best thing we get there are their sauces. That mole sauce it the best I've ever had.
What Portland does better than SF...
Maybe this list will help. It's a comparison between San Franciso and Portland that I wrote a while ago.
Gordon Biersch Brewery = Bridgeport Brewery
San Francisco Brewing Company = Widmer Brothers Gasthaus
Mad Dog in the Fog = Horse Brass
Pelican Inn = Walking Man Brewing Company
North Beach Pizza = Hot Lips Pizza
Giorgio’s Pizza = Accuardi's Old Town Pizza Co
Golden Boy Pizza = Vincente's Gourmet Pizza
Tomatina = Pizzacato
Pizzetta 211 = Apizza Scholls
El Toro/Pancho Villa = Cha Cha Cha
Udupi Palace Sunnyvale = Udupi Palace Seattle
Bay Bread = Pearl Bakery
The Pasta Shop = Pastaworks
Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market = PSU Saturday Farmer’s Market
Michael Rechutti = Sahagun
Point Reyes Blue Cheese= Rogue Creamery Blue Cheese
Sharfenberger = Dagoba
California Cabernet = Oregon Pinot Noir
PDX Chinese Moon Cakes
I was just at Fubon (on 82nd) and they had a huge display (with prices in the range of $17 for a box of nine cakes). I would also try that bakery on Foster, near 50th.
Great Mexican grocery in Hood River
We've been religiously buying Juanitas tortilla chips in WinCo and Food4Less. After sampling many different locally made chips we found theirs to be the best. I look for is something fresh and locally made and I appreciate the fact that they're made just over in Hood River.
After noticing the address listed in the package I've been obsessed with visiting their factory (to the point of Google-mapping them and noting between which orchid it is. I gave up after a while figuring that they probably don't want any visitors poking around.
On my last visit to Hood River I went off the beaten track a bit, and explored some of the less touristy places. Low and behold I finally found it, Juanitas Market at 1401 13th Street. It's a wonderful Mexican grocery store, featuring all of the Juanitas products as well as a wide variety of Mexican pastries, grocery items, and a sizable selection of prepared foods.
As always, I didn't try the meat items, but they did offer a few vegetarian things. They even have a few tables in the shop for you convenience.
I highly recommend checking it out next time you're passing by.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1401+13th+Street,+hood+river+or&ie=UTF8&om=1
Need advice for a few meals around Southern Oregon Coast
Runninrob,
I don't want to start a flame war or anything, and I totally respect your opinion, but I lived on Clement Street and Second Avenue in San Francisco for 10 year. I know and love my Asian food. While the place in Bandon isn't as good as some of the places I loved on Clement, I believe it stands up very strongly, expecially considering it's relative remote location.
Check it out if you're there. At least look at the menu. But please stay away from the Mexican place around the corner across from the water. Cheap, but not particuarly good.
Need advice for a few meals around Southern Oregon Coast
As a vegitarian I like the Thai place in Bandon. Surprisingly good, very good even. I've never really liked the food in Gold Beach, so I usually have lunch at the tiny health food shop in Port Orford. The Italian place in Port Orford is supposed to be very good, but I haven't had a chance to eat there yet. (Pick up a loaf of bread from there if you can.)
Bandon Eats
My favorite place in Bandon, nearly my favorite on the entire south coast is Thai Talay. I used to live on Clement Street in San Francisco so I am very particular about my Asian food. This one comes through and is highly recommended.
(http://www.bandon.com/webfront/merchants/merchantdetails.php?merchantid=585)
Mexican food meca in Woodburn, OR (I-5 near Salem)
After lunch we looked around the grocery store attached to Salvador's and picked up something pasty and dark in a plastic tub. I was hoping that it was some sort of mole sauce but there was no identifying marks or ingredient list on the label.
I took it home and prepared it the same as I would a jar of Dona Maria mole. The results were spectacular. It's the best mole I've ever had from a grocery store. Most likely it's the same sauce they use when preparing mole dishes at the restaurant. It's very reasonable at $4.50 a pound.
It's sitting on the shelf in the grocery section. You'll find a deli-style plastic tub with some dark chocalate-colored paste inside and a simle price/weight sticker on the top. If you ask them I'm sure they will show you where it is. (If you need any help preparing the sauce let me know or you can post/search on the main food boards)
Along with the tortillas, I would say this as a must-buy on your next stop in Woodburn.
Mexican food meca in Woodburn, OR (I-5 near Salem)
On our way back From Silver Falls SP we passed through a number of picturesque towns but it wasn't until we hit Woodburn that we said "wow!" This little enclave turned out to be home to some of the finest Mexican foods around. We counted at least five Mexican restaurant/bakery/grocery shops, but there were most likely many more.
We selected Salvador's Bakery for our lunch and were extremely pleased with our choice. We got some fabulous Sopes and Chile Relenos, but the highlights were the on-the-spot handmade tortillas and salsa bar. So many great sauces and salsas but the smokey red sauce that was so good I had to pick up a bunch of Chipoltes in an attempt to duplicate it at home. We didn't try the meat (Netphemera's family is veg) but I'm sure any carnivore would be pleased with the offerings. They had a full bakery pastry bar which I found adequate but similar to many other Pandarias.
Salvador's Bakery
405 North First Street
Woodburn, OR 97071
(503) 982-4513
Across the street might be the real gem. A much smaller restaurant which seemed to specialize in seafood. Since we don't eat seafood we had to skip it but the place was packed, which is always a good sign.
Around the corner from Salvador's you'll find Morenita Tortilla factory. Stop in there and get a package of tostadas, cold tortillas and one package of hot tortillas (for eating right away). While these tortillas are of the machine-made variety, you see the machines making them and with a freshness you can taste. I think they also sell a variety of tacos and other take-out foods, but we didn't get anything else from there.
La Morenita Tortilleria
270 Grant Street
Woodburn, OR 97071
(503) 982-3959
We also spied a place that had signs saying "Pizza" and "Mexican Products" but I don't think they made any "Mexican Pizza". There was another place that looked very promising but it seemed to be closed at the time we were there.
It's easy to get to. Just a few miles off of the Woodburn exit of I-5. Take the exit and head East (on the West side of the highway is the factory outlet mall). Follow the signs that say "Silver Falls Tour Route".
