We just got back from a week visiting the neighbor to the south. We had
a wonderful time and ate very well. First stop was Portland. Saturday
we had dinner at South Park, which was okay. Sunday, after brunch at
the Heathman (where we also stayed), we headed for the Oregon Brewers'
Festival. Many microbrews from Oregon, Washington, and as far away as
Illinois. We sampled 10 different beers (about 2-3 ounces of each). SO
tried Stumptown coffee prior to hitting the Brewers' Festival and was
underwhelmed. Dinner Sunday night was at Higgins. He got the pork
sampler, while I got the lamb shank. Very tasty.

Monday it was up the Columbia to Hood River and the Columbia Gorge
Hotel. We had the prix fixe menu (his entree was steak, mine was
salmon). We saved the cheese and fruit course for the following day,
when we went to Maryhill Winery for tasting. We've had their wines
before, and were very impressed. The cheese and fruit were perfect for
dining on their patio.

Wednesday we headed for Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. The hotel was
built as a WPA project during the Depression. The architectural details
are amazing. The lodge has excellent dinners, both in the dining room
and in the Ram's Head Bar. We did some hiking on and around the
mountain, although the SO was unimpressed by the photographic
possibilities: "It's a giant slag heap." Timberline is a year-round
ski and snowboard resort, so we amused ourselves by watching a steady
stream of snow bums head up and down the slopes. I managed to get in a
few laps in the pool one afternoon.

On our way back through Portland, we stopped at Bob's Red Mill. This is
a huge flour and grain purveyor on the west coast. I picked up a few
provisions for baking. Earlier in the trip, we stopped at Powell's and
drooled over cookbooks. Yes, I bought two on sale. (One advantage of
shopping in Oregon--no sales tax.)

It's good to be home.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

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