tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837014955905427632024-03-12T23:50:38.572-07:00Good Food EugeneA blog about good restaurant food in Eugene, Oregon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-77956793333556263122013-11-11T19:55:00.004-08:002013-11-11T19:56:39.511-08:00Fly North: The Wild Duck Cafe (Coburg Rd. Edition)Remember when BJ's was just an overcrowded chain restaurant with a terrible parking lot in a scrunched up corner of Coburg at Willakenzie? Yeah, it seems like forever ago because the Gigantoplex that is the new BJ's fits in at VRC like kittens with YouTube cameras, I know. But hey, whatever happened to that strange little space it used to occupy over by Safeway and Dairy Queen and Sheldon?
Oh, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-11759905302401291172012-01-09T09:00:00.000-08:002012-01-18T18:14:48.284-08:00Everything Old is New Again: Revisiting Hop ValleyAs Hop Valley is basically where this blog started, for me, I figured it was an appropriate place to re-start it in the new year. The restaurant has gone through at least two major menu changes since I initially reviewed it in 2010, and the newest menu is one I'm happy to discuss (unlike the middle menu).
Gone is the heavy book of many choices. Instead, the new menu [in PDF] is exactly what one Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-3423732660950869382011-08-21T15:48:00.001-07:002011-08-21T15:52:13.456-07:00The Comfort Breakfast Club: The GlenwoodIf you've been a student at the U of O since the Animal House era, you've most likely been to The Glenwood at least once -- and probably, judging by the Sunday lines, it was on a parents' weekend because the Glenwood is the place everyone thinks of when they realize that their usual breakfast haunt (be it Keystone or the burrito refrigerator at 7-11) just isn't quite nice enough to take Mom and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-29548058020708439842011-08-05T22:12:00.000-07:002011-08-22T09:40:52.255-07:00Shockingly good: El Super BurritoTruth be told, I have eaten here three times in the last four days. Once, I told myself it was so that I could write this blog post and provide you with some photographs, but then I forgot my camera, and ended up eating here anyway. Twice. I think I am officially obsessed with this place.
Once, it was Bene Pizza, and it was the cheeky, upscale awesome pizza-and-salad place I craved most Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-49777101289165075642011-03-06T17:10:00.001-08:002011-03-06T17:15:24.271-08:00Two Cheers: Three Forks Wok and GrillThe avalanche of groupon-imitators that began last summer has brought C and I to a near-stand still on eating. We have a basket full of coupons and can never decide where to go next -- in part because once we use one, we usually want to go back to that place immediately. Such has been the case with Three Forks Wok & Grill, a restaurant we frequently shop and study near, but not one I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-65420047626994060092011-03-01T20:01:00.001-08:002011-03-03T21:34:27.737-08:00It's Delightful, It's Delicious, it's De... vegan?: Divine CupcakesI have an apology to make. I have tasted The Divine Cupcake's wares a few times before, but not under optimum circumstances. I've had them at food fairs three times: twice under a sun that's normally illegal in Oregon and once during a downpour no one was prepared for. I've also had them late in the day in a coffee shop, where they had been sitting in a plastic case that was probably left open Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-72446693647275573582011-03-01T09:26:00.001-08:002011-03-01T09:36:41.137-08:00Sidecar: Eat Charitably at Newman's and ChapalaSaturday night, C and I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor by the Eugene Concert Choir and the Eugene Symphony orchestra. While we waited for the show to begin, I noticed in our program that two -- and only two -- restaurants in Eugene are listed as sponsors of the choir. One of them, Newman's Fish Company, was the sponsor for the evening. The other, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-77905442090962095582011-02-13T17:51:00.001-08:002011-02-13T17:51:48.118-08:00Refresh, Refresh: Back to Food BloggingHas it really been two full months since I last posted it? It hasn't been two months of hunger, I promise, that's kept me from the blog. Rather it's been all the things that keeps one too silent -- work, namely, but also a bit too much fun in the downtime. I will again resolve (and usually fail a bit) to get back to work here!
I have also, since we last talked, acquired a new camera and a new Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-67329304855005281762010-12-13T07:40:00.000-08:002010-12-13T09:02:34.587-08:00Now, for something disgusting: Worst Foods in America, in EugeneYahoo! has released a list of the "Worst Foods in America, 2010" today. It's a list of the most unhealthy things you can eat at a chain restaurant. I thought it'd be fun to see which of these is available in Eugene. First, the list:PF Chang's Double Pan-Fried Noodles Combo (served with beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp): 1,820 calories/84 g of fat/7,692 mg sodium. This is certainly available in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-37124013862004091742010-12-08T07:32:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:44:28.490-08:00Closings, openings, etc.As announced via Cara Eddo's Facebook page and Web site, Eddo Burger has closed for good. If you're looking for a cute airstream trailer from which to make your (and my) dream of veggie burger tastiness come true, you should definitely keep an eye on Craig's list, where it is apparently listed.Fina Taqueria on Willamette has closed, and with its departure, the best chips in town have left the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-55550463232356136342010-12-04T14:40:00.001-08:002010-12-04T14:40:36.440-08:00The Burrito Chain Wars, Part III: Qdoba is Cheesy (cheesy goodness)There are two major differences between Qdoba and its closest competitor, Chipotle: cheese sauce and breakfast. Qdoba offers both; Chipotle offers neither. This may not be a point in Qdoba's favor, if you're some kind of chain burrito purist (and if you are: WTF?), but for me, it's often the winning move in an otherwise even chess match.Part of my affection for Qdoba comes from one simple fact: Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-85428696442151657982010-11-28T12:19:00.001-08:002010-11-28T12:23:15.074-08:00The Burrito Chain Wars, Part II: Chipotle is in your mindOf the entries in the Burrito Chain war, Chipotle (chi-POHT-lay) is the newest in Eugene and probably the best known. Chipotle fans are, admit it, cultish about the big burritos and small tacos that can be found at every one of these fast-casual "Mexican" grills. (A quick side note: Though once a member of the McDonald's family, Chipotle has been independent since 2006). I, myself, am a Chipotle Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-72246679315494298822010-11-22T17:32:00.000-08:002010-11-28T12:29:42.219-08:00The Burrito Chain Wars, Part I: Baja FreshA little introduction: In this town, we have three of the major national contenders for Best Burrito Chain (Baja Fresh, Chipotle, and Qdoba). All three function on largely the same business model: feed people huge burritos at mid-sized prices with recognizable vegetables and absolutely nothing "refried," and they will want more. All three inspire rather rabid devotion from fans. All three alsoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-20167247120611117692010-11-21T19:20:00.000-08:002010-11-21T19:41:01.791-08:00Chicken Bonz: Fried stuff done (mostly) rightIn the Great American Desert, where I hail from, the name in chicken wings is Buffalo Wild Wings, and when we moved here, it was with sadness that the first time the wings craving hit, I learned that Eugene didn't HAVE a BWW. It's not a craving that hits often, but at the start of the summer, one of the crappy Mexican fast food places on Franklin went toes up, and not long after the "Coming SoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-25091794302063204282010-11-10T17:55:00.000-08:002010-11-13T21:39:03.918-08:00No Place for Pros: Mio SushiWe've been to Mio Sushi several times, but hadn't been back for a while until recently. That's not because of a bad experience, it's just because, well, sushi is expensive, and neither C nor I have a "one roll will do it" appetite. Recently, though, with a helping hand from a coupon at Mobba and a wave of starvation while sitting at Borders, we found our way over to Oakway's oldest new Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-41667655287507214832010-09-14T10:25:00.001-07:002010-11-10T11:56:35.995-08:00Celebration Food: Osteria SfizioI've been doing a fair amount of celebrating recently. I've had a birthday come and go and new job prospects on the horizon. Between those and a trip home, I've had several charming chances to eat at lovely restaurants. Unfortunately (for this blog), many of them were in Kansas.
Before departing for the Sunflower State, though, I had a glorious birthday dinner at Eugene's newest sit-down ItalianUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-39777350069174334382010-09-08T11:55:00.000-07:002010-09-08T11:55:00.577-07:00My Romantic Year: Midtown MarketplaceFor one brilliant year, nearly my entire job was to sit in coffee shops and write. Every day, I'd wake up, pack my little computer into my gigantic bag, and trek down from my house to find a place to settle for the day. Over and over, that place wound up being Midtown Marketplace.
Now, I'm not a regular anywhere. I don't know until I wake up what food or drink will sound good during the day, andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-38894779703655150892010-09-06T11:24:00.000-07:002010-09-06T11:24:00.949-07:00Coffee for a certain crowd: The Supreme BeanStrange as it may seem, coffee snobbery in Eugene is usually practiced in places bearing a decidedly shabby-chic decor and a cultish clientele. Not so at The Supreme Bean, a coffee shop that also serves lunch, dinner, wine, and beer next to the palatial Willamette street Market of Choice. The Supreme Bean says it all right there in its name: they aim to make coffee that's superior, in quality andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-46896619488453789432010-09-05T01:05:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:36:49.022-07:00Daniel's Taco Cart: Take your chancesThere are two experiences to be had at Daniel's Taco Cart, which on Friday and Saturday nights, after 10 PM, moves from its Hwy 99 location to be parked in the lot between the Daniel's restaurant and Franklin. The first experience is transcendent. It's "I can't believe I paid 4.00 for this"--and the burrito is fresh and hot and tastes like fresh produce and well-marinated meat. It's huge, and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-39458543162030686902010-09-04T11:19:00.000-07:002010-09-04T11:19:00.764-07:00Ultimate hangover breakfast: Caspian RestaurantSo you walk into a restaurant called "Caspian Mediterranean Restaurant," and you see Mediterranean-ish food on the menu. What do you do? Probably the wrong thing: you order it. In so doing, you've already messed up. There's a right way and a wrong way to order at Caspian, and if you walk in expecting the restaurant to live up to its name instead of its decor, well, do you also think the Original Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-5438959970503950052010-09-02T10:50:00.001-07:002010-09-02T11:08:17.717-07:00Thanks for doing the dishes: Cafe YummLet me answer for what may not even be a burning question at your house: Is it possible to like Cafe Yumm without loving their namesake Yumm Sauce? Yes, my friends. It is.
Let's back up and talk about the sauce: It's an "egg-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, and low sodium" sauce that, if the Internet's imitation recipes are correct, consists mostly of hummus ingredients, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-6851374696586448732010-08-15T16:12:00.001-07:002010-08-15T16:12:40.483-07:00Meet your meat in Veganland: Keystone CafeIt took me three years of living in Eugene to make it over to Keystone Cafe for the first time, and then I went there about three weekends in a row. That's been a while, and I just revisited the place today to find, somewhat reassuringly, that nothing has changed at what remains one of the real staples of what I'd call "Only in Eugene" cuisine.Keystone serves breakfast and lunch -- well, I've Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-77686053550229642072010-07-27T11:30:00.001-07:002010-07-27T12:06:07.260-07:00Pizza like Uno's used to make: B.J.'s Restaurant and BrewhouseThis is an easy review to write for one audience: the audience that grew up/lived in a city with a Pizzeria Uno. Uno's was a chain of restaurants that served as their specialty a deep-dish Chicago-style pizza, alongside a few burgers, pasta dishes, and soups and salads. I had one in Lawrence, Kansas that I used to visit with some regularity because their lunch special (small pizza, soup, drink, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-78928180241844252552010-07-26T15:46:00.001-07:002010-07-26T15:46:08.947-07:00A Bite in ReviewSaturday, we braved the heat -- at least briefly -- to attend the second Bite of Eugene. There were more people in attendance than I would have expected, given the heat and that the event seemed to sneak up on me with almost no pre-event press. Booths from wine vendors, food vendors, and dessert companies made a neat little J-shaped line of goodness right near the river. Desserts -- including Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783701495590542763.post-79966554647068581482010-07-23T20:00:00.001-07:002010-07-23T20:00:02.734-07:00What to do with your weekend appetiteThere's a ton of events going on in Eugene involving food. Here's a few I'm intrigued by:Whiteaker Neighborhood River Festival. It promises "free food," which is, incidentally, my favorite kind. Also: gigantic slip-and-slide. Until 11 p.m. tonight at 301 Adams.Bite of Eugene. Free admission and tons and tons of food vendors and food events and wine and beer? YES. I will be there with bells onUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0