And here we are; the end of the year! One of the highlights of 2015 has certainly been the series
#ThursdayToursPDX. with Erin of
Bakery Bingo! It has been so much fun asking some of Portland's best bloggers and taste makers their favorite spots. To close out the year we went through every post and picked our top recommendations. I read - and salivated - through all of the BB posts and picked my top fives, and Erin did the same over here. So head on over to Bakery Bingo to find out my Top 5 recommendations from 2015 - and where I need to go in 2016!
Can't wait for you to see what we have in store next year.
And be sure to read on and find out Erin's favorite picks that were featured on Martha Chartreuse.
Hello Martha Chartreuse fans and happy holidays!
We’ve had a lot of killer recommendations from our Thursday Tours series this year, so it’s pretty hard to narrow it down to my Top 5 favorites but I’ve done my best for you!
2015 #ThursdayToursPDX Top 5 Favorites:
Cozy, dark, romantic, welcoming. That’s the vibe at The Box Social on Williams. Perfect for a bar with unique, delicious cocktails. I’ve particularly enjoyed their happy hour with a great selection of $6 cocktails and nibbles like Herbed Croutons for $3 – yes, you read that right. You can get just a bowl of homemade croutons. Don’t lie, that’s your favorite part of salads also.
Obviously it may not be food cart weather in terms of hanging out outside while it’s pouring rain, but this is still one of my favorite finds of 2015 for sure. I love the wide selection of carts, that you can also enjoy beer or cider, and that they’ve got tons of picnic benches surrounding a fire pit. My top picks are Hapa Ramen and Ingrid’s Scandinavian Food.
I am so in love with this little urban winery slash wine bar off of SE Division. Not only is it fun to watch the wine making happening right onsite, but you can also do a flight of all their member wines like Division Wine Making Company that Andy highlighted. The staff at SE Wine Collective are inviting and helpful, not pretentious like some wine bars can be. Even better, their food is outstanding.
This is definitely one of my top Portland places. With casual counter service funky décor and some of the best Indian street food anywhere around, it’s a constant go-to for me. Plus, it’s well priced – you can order about 3 entrees and 2 sides for only $25 and leave stuffed. My order almost always includes their kati rolls, like an Indian burrito filled with housemade paneer cheese, cabbage and green chutney rolled in a chewy Indian flatbread. Their original location is off Alberta, but I prefer their larger joint on Division.
Sure, this winery is not on the cheap side when it comes to wine tasting (it will run you $20 a person). But still, it is worth it for the experience of being transported to Italy once you pull up. The tasting room is on the bottom floor of their gorgeous villa that looks straight out of Tuscany. With views of the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley vineyards and incredible pinots, you won’t want to leave.
2016 Must Do’s – where I need to get to: I can’t believe I haven’t been to these places yet. New Year’s resolution 2016: get to these three places!!
#ThursdayToursPDX is a collaborative series between Portland, OR bloggers {Erin} Bakery Bingo + {Meredith} Martha Chartreuse. In a city filled with amazing restaurants, artisan experiences, and fantastic tastemakers the inside scoop is a must. We will be asking our friends and fellow bloggers for their recommendations and tips for all the City of Roses has to offer.
