Bunk Sandwiches

Found along the busy Morrison St. on the 600 block, you’d drive by this tiny sandwich shop if you didn’t know it was there.  Those of us that do know about Bunk are certainly not willing to give up the knowledge easily…the line on a typical weekday lunch is upwards of 20 minutes long!  This give you some idea of the quickly growing popularity of the place, but don’t the let the line stop you from coming here, it has some of the better and most unique sandwiches in town. 

Any given day you can order the $5 breakfast sandwich, which is a large sesame bun with your choice of meat, egg, and Jarlsberg cheese all melted together; not for the health conscious, but absolutely Delicious!  The lunch selection is a bit more pricey, ranging from $8 – $12 a sandwich.  I’ve yet to have a taste of anything there that isn’t perfectly built and made with just the right amount of each ingredient. 

One of the best things about Bunk is that any sandwich can be ordered with what they label as “The Trifecta” – hot red peppers, pepper bacon, and anchovies!  It may sound odd, but try it on the grilled cheese…a superb sandwich you won’t find somewhere else.

Bunk Sandwiches 621 SE Morrison – 503-477-9515

Nasca

I visited Nasca for the first time this past weekend, and am quite happy that I finally made the trip.  This small restaurant off of busy Sandy Boulevard at 47th Avenue barely seats twenty people, but serves some of the best traditional Peruvian food around.  

Nasca has a minimalist atmosphere, with only small, unadorned tables and little artwork or decoration.  This feeling is fitting with the food selection, in that the menu only carries half-a-dozen appetizers and again as many entrees.  Because the food is quite authentic (confirmed by Peruvians in my family) many are unadorned and straightforward.  This does not mean, however, that they lack in flavor or presentation. 

I ordered Empanadas as an appetizer, Creamed Quinoa (kee-no-a) for dinner, and Picarones for dessert.  The Empanadas came two to an order, and were small but well sized for a starter.  The crust was flaky and crisp, while the filling remained moist; it was a good combination of flavors, combining sweet and savory well.  The creamed Quinoa with caramelized onions and goat cheese is the only vegetarian option on the menu, but it holds up well to the meatier dishes.  This dish is indicative of many, given that the title describes all aspects of what it is.  The flavor of the quinoa was subtle, while the tart vinegar notes from the onions blended well, adding a much-needed complexity to the dish.  The dessert, Picarones, is a traditional pumpkin dough fritter, topped with warm maple syrup.  They were crispy, dense yet soft, not too sweet, and they left me satisfied, yet wanting just one more – a perfect end to a great meal!

Nasca is a gem tucked into a small corner on an oft-overlooked area of Northeast Portland.  Very well prepared traditional food, great service, and for those of us watching our wallets, two people can easily have a three-course meal for less than $50.   There aren’t too many places featuring Latin-American (other than Mexican) food, and Nasca is a welcome addition to the city.

4644 NE Sandy Blvd‎ – (503) 493-4298

An Open Invitation…

I have a love for food and drink, and it seems that there is no better place for it than here in the great city of Portland.  There seems to be a never-ending supply of new and unique eateries: bars, restaurants, neighborhood cafes…

So, as I tend to try and get out to new places then and again, I’ve decided to begin to catalogue and track my experiences here.  Whenever I go somewhere, and eat or drink anything (no fast food, that doesn’t count) I’ll write about my experience.  Hopefully you, my dedicated reader, will take a little something away from it, and maybe try somewhere new.  If, by chance, you have a favorite local spot, or know a great little out-of-the-way diner, let me know.  It may just end up here…

Roots Organic Brewery

 I visited Roots brewery, in its very inconspicuous location just off of SE Hawthorne on SE 7th, this evening for the first time since they expanded their menu.  As always, the beer and beer selection is excellent, and the menu finally makes Roots worthy of visiting for an evening out with friends.  On my previous visits, the beer was good, but the menu was significantly lacking, and therefore this local brewpub was not a great destination for anything but a quick beer.  With the new menu and expanded kitchen, the food is very well prepared, and the selection is quite good.  They hold true to the “organic” feel that they have created for their beers, and the menu is organic as well, offering several choices for both the vegetarians and omnivores among us.  

I ordered both “Helmey’s Burger” (named after the head chef) and the Vegetarian Quesadilla.  The burger was a healthy sized patty on a chiabatta roll; the meat was juicy and flavorful, and the toppings were plentiful and gave good character to the burger.  The bun was soft, fresh, and lightly grilled to warm it up, and it came with a side of the perennial favorite “Tim’s Cascade” potato chips.  The Quesadilla was also very well prepared, and was healthily sized for an appetizer order.  The tortilla was crisp while not too greasy, and the filling was very flavorful with a good portion of melted cheese. 

Moving on to the beer, I am typically impressed with the quality of brew at Roots.  I was equally happy today, with one exception.  I had three distinct brews, the “Epic Ale,” the “Woody IPA,” and the “Flanders Red.”  The IPA is a staple at Roots, and is consistently excellent.  It is overly hoppy with a slightly bitter finish, and the flavor lingers long after you drink it.  This years’ Epic Ale was also quite delicious, with an almost sweet overtone lingering on the palate.  It is very reminiscent of a barley wine, but not with the typical tanginess associated with one.  I was somewhat disappointed with the “Flanders Red” although several of my friends enjoyed it.  It was aged in Pino Noir barrels, which made its’ flavor a cross between beer and light red wine.  I heard it described as a “sweet and sour” beer. 

Overall, I found Roots to be very improved in recent months over its previous state.  Most weekends they have live music (always free) and have a large screen TV to watch the day’s game.  Most game days they have specials, and they have several throughout the week as well.  Roots has excellent beer (in my opinion some of the best Portland has to offer), and finally has a menu to match.  While it may not be the largest selection in town, it gives Roots the feel of an evening destination, not just somewhere to grab a quick pint.

1520 SE 7th, Portland, Oregon