How I spent my autumn vacation, part 1

[rivka]

Friday, October 26
The alarm rings at 3:30am, because Misha and I need to be at the airport at 4:30 for our 6:30 flight. Actually, it turns out that we should've been at the airport before 4:30, because by 6:00 we're still waiting in the security line, and have to be brought to the front along with everyone else who had no idea it would take so long. Then, at the gate, we're both taken aside at random for a closer screening: our bags opened and hand-searched, our bodies hand-scanned.

Fortunately, that's the only hassle with the whole trip. Our flights are uneventful, and our luggage meets us in Portland. So does my ex-boyfriend Jeff. (Those of you who went to alt.polycon 7 in Seattle may or may not remember him: tall skinny guy, very quiet, occasionally posts to alt.poly as "Needle.") We have lunch at some weird hippie cafe, a choice necessitated by Jeff's inability to eat gluten or garlic or any of several other things I am currently forgetting. Then we go to the house where Jeff lives part-time with my dear friend Wynona. Many hugs ensue. I am mortified to discover that I've been so horribly far out of contact that Wynona's dearest companion, her dog Rachel, died in May and I didn't even know.

Jeff is loaning us his car for this portion of the trip. We drive out to our motel and nap for a few hours. Then we meet Wynona and Jeff at a restaurant called Ichidai for the first of many sybaritic vacation meals. It's a sushi bar, and we order lots of sushi, but we also order toro sashimi in ponzu sauce and a strange dish involving enormous oysters baked in the shell with some sort of delectable creamy sauce. Speculation about what the creamy sauce is made of is hampered by our suspicions that it includes unfamiliar Japanese ingredients.

We follow dinner with a trip to Inner City Hot Springs, a small, beautiful, and intensely peaceful spa in a residential part of northeast Portland. Misha and I spend most of our time in the hot tubs on the outdoor deck; Wynona and Jeff switch back and forth between hot tubs and sauna. The remaining stresses of travelling float away. Then we go on to the Rimsky-Korsakoffee House for dessert, because it is my birthday and There Must Be Cake. Actually, there is chocolate pot de creme. (It would indeed be unwise to attempt to take Rimsky's pot de creme away from me and replace it with cake, even on my birthday.) Finally, we visit the Barley Mill Pub, although at this point all any of us can manage is a 10-oz glass of beer. Black Butte Porter is my friend, and I had forgotten just how true and important that is.

In fact, the theme of this vacation might be said to be "___ is my friend, and I had forgotten how true and important that is."

Further development of this theme in subsequent posts, as time permits.

Comments

[jenett]

It all sounds very cool so far, in what you've written, and wonderfully enjoyable.

I'm also in serious food-envy. Don't let that stop you from posting further wonderful things you ate, however. I'm enjoying it vicariously.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Yeah...What she said! And what is a chocolate pot de creme? In detail! *grin*

[rivka.livejournal.com]

It's an intense chocolate mousse-type thing. Here's a recipe (http://www.simplygoodfood.com/pages/potcreme.html), although it calls for brandy and I don't think there was any in the version I had at Rimsky's. Here's another recipe (http://www.southernaccents.com/art/bookclub.asp) that's somewhat different.

Re:

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Ooooo...they look grand! Thank you!

Strange creamy sauce

[(Anonymous)]

...probably was Japanese mayonnaise (or possibly Best Foods), baked.

Re: Strange creamy sauce

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Hi, anonymous! *happy wave*

Mayonnaise would be fairly liquid when baked? I can't say that I've ever tried using it that way, and actually my mind is kind of shying away from the whole idea. Can you explain how Japanese mayonnaise differs from Best Foods/Hellman's?

Re: Strange creamy sauce

[(Anonymous)]

Ues, it would be sort of liquidy. Like a loose pudding. (The egg ends up cooking and causing the emulsion to break a little.) Japanese mayo, usually "Kewpie" brand is, to the best of my recollection, creamier and sweeter, but not like Miracle Whip. A touch more mustardy, maybe. The best way to find out would be to go to your local Asian food emporium and find a squeeze bottle of Kewpie and try it for yourself.

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Ues, it would be sort of liquidy. Like a loose pudding. (The egg ends up cooking and causing the emulsion to break a little.) Japanese mayo, usually "Kewpie" brand is, to the best of my recollection, creamier and sweeter, but not like Miracle Whip. A touch more mustardy, maybe. The best way to find out would be to go to your local Asian food emporium and find a squeeze bottle of Kewpie and try it for yourself.

<wavewave!>

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd realized when you were going. Wim and I both ended up being sick that weekend, but I would have liked to see you.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I thought you did know when we were coming, and had just decided not to come down. I'm sorry not to have seen you again, and I know Misha is crushed at having missed the chance to meet you.

I hear Baltimore is a lovely vacation destination this time of year... *grin*

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I sort of knew, but I was oblivious about when things were going to realy happen. Sorry! There are a couple of places on my trip list before Baltimore, but I'm sure I'll see you again eventually.