Tag: foodie vacation

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Travel Eats

Travel Eats: A day trip to Michigan’s Harbor Country

Travel Eats documents my food adventures outside of Chicago.

Picking our own peaches at Crane Orchard in Fennville
Picking our own peaches at Crane Orchard in Fennville

Spending a gorgeous Saturday in southwest Michigan does present convincing evidence that the state is as magical as depicted in the “Pure Michigan” commercials, especially when it comes to food. From a picnic by the water in Saugatuck to picking peaches and apples in South Haven and tasting cider in Fennville, we fit in as many delicious summer activities as we could. I was impressed by the quality of everything we tried: excellent bottled cold brew coffee, mellow pear and blueberry fruit wines that would make excellent pairings, five nuanced styles of the Virtue Cider that’s already beloved in Chicago, and a lovely farm-to-table meal at Salt of the Earth, where I also drank the best lemonade I’ve had all summer (white whiskey, grilled lemon, and thyme add up to greatness).

Uncommon Grounds' bottled cold brew coffee in Saugatuck
Uncommon Coffee Roasters’ bottled cold brew coffee in Saugatuck
Nebraska wrap from Boardwalk Deli in Saugatuck
Nebraska wrap from Boardwalk Deli in Saugatuck
Tasting fruit wines at McIntosh Cellars in South Haven
Tasting fruit wines at McIntosh Wine Cellars in South Haven
Where cider is made at Virtue Farms
Where cider is made at Virtue Farms
The Virtue Cider sign
The Virtue Cider sign
Grilled lemonade with Journeyman white whiskey, lemon sour, thyme, and soda at Salt of the Earth in Fennville
Grilled lemonade with Journeyman white whiskey, lemon sour, thyme, and soda at Salt of the Earth in Fennville
Feta and herb pizza at Salt of the Earth in Fennvile
Feta and herb pizza at Salt of the Earth in Fennvile
Eating apple pie from Crane's Pie Pantry by moonlight
Eating apple pie from Crane’s Pie Pantry by moonlight

The details: Uncommon Coffee Roasters, 127 Hoffman St., Saugatuck; Boardwalk Deli, 311 Water St., Saugatuck; McIntosh Wine Cellars, 6431 107th Ave., South Haven; Virtue Farms, 2170 62nd St. (122nd Ave.), Fennville; Crane’s Pie Pantry, 6054 124th Ave. (M-89), Fennville; Salt of the Earth, 144 E Main St., Fennville.

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Travel Eats

Travel Eats: Portland by the numbers & photo recap

This is part of a series of posts about my vacation to Portland, Oregon, in late February 2013. Jump to all posts.

Beer flights and bread pudding at Deschutes Brewery
Beer sample flights and caramel mocha bread pudding at Deschutes Brewery

I’m back from Portland, and let’s just say it far surpassed my gastronomic expectations. I was impressed by the quality and originality of everything I ate and drank, and generally had a blast. We got to explore the majority of the city – mostly on foot, to burn off at least a few calories! – and also ventured to nearby scenic areas during the last two days.

And now, a quick numerical breakdown:

Full days spent in Portland: 4
Types of cuisine tried: 9
Local beers sampled: 29
Local wines sampled: 7
Donut varieties tasted: 4
Food carts visited: 4
Coffee beverages consumed: 8+
Sit-down meals enjoyed: 7
Sales tax paid: $0!!
Waterfalls seen: 3

Wahkeena Falls
Wahkeena Falls

Needless to say, I have a lot to talk about here on the blog.

All posts:

Look for these posts throughout the next week. In the meantime, check out the slideshow below to see my Instagram photos from the trip.

Categories
Travel Eats

Travel Eats: Off to Portland!

These bikes were in Chicago...but I'll be seeing a lot more in Portland!
I found these bikes on a snowy morning in Chicago…but I’ll be seeing a whole lot more of them in Portland!

Just a quick update: I’ll be spending the next five days in Portland, Oregon, on vacation. I’ve never been before, but absolutely cannot wait to dive into a food scene I’ve heard so much about. We have an ambitious itinerary – for example, a different pairing of coffee shop and doughnut/bagel/biscuit place is planned for each morning – and hope to fit in as many food trucks, craft brews, and local fare as possible (while also taking in the beautiful scenery and culture of the city, of course). I’m especially looking forward to legendary Thai food on Saturday and a seasonal four-course brunch on Sunday!

Check back on the blog next week for a full report of my Portland adventures.