Peruvian pleasure at Andina

As much as we get into eating and drinking, if we can do both for less it is even sweeter. Hence our fascination with happy hours around town. At dinner the other night our enabling friends D&K were mentioning the HH at Andina, PDX's bastion of Peruvian cuisine, where not only are all the fabulously fresh house cocktails just $5 every day from 4-6, but certain apps are also to be had on the cheap. We hit it this past Sunday. I hadn't hung out in the Andina bar much, but I have to say it is really cool. Great lighting, comfy bar stools, very friendly and more importantly competent bartenders, plus some of the best happy hour grub in town. Here's what we got ourselves into.....

Of course we have to start with the national drink of Peru,

a couple of perfectly foamy Pisco Sours

Incredibly delicious Anticucho de Pulpo, skewered and grilled octopus, perfectly cooked, with perhaps the most kick ass mashers ever, which are potatoes smushed up with olives, garlic, parsley, and olive oil. Freakish!!

Oysters on the half shell for a buck each? Can you say "Hell yeah"??!

This was one of their Causas, which the menu describes as "a traditional preparation of fresh lime-flavored potato mixture pressed into a cake with assorted fillings, served with avocado." Your reporter will simply describe it as "one of the best fucking things I've ever put into my mouth!!" They do three different versions. We had the Mixta Nikkei, which was crispy shrimp on top of spicy raw tuna, which was on top of fresh crab salad which was stuffed inside of the potatoes........do I really need to say any more? SERIOUS swoon here.
Not on the happy hour menu, but so damn worth every freaking penny!

Normally I wouldn't get too geeked over Hemingway's favorite drink, but this was their Daiquiri Natural, which is what all others should aspire to be. Although I have to say my home version rocks it pretty hard, too!

w also had their Ron-Yki-On cocktail which she loved and was made with roasted ginger infused
silver rum with fresh citrus juice. I'll also be back soon for not only more pulpo and potatoes, but their gin-based Tortuga cocktail, which I somehow overlooked. There is so much good to be had here at such a great price, you can't afford not to get your Happy Hour groove on here!

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one year ago today at E.D.T.: Tagliatelle with Sausage, Basil, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Cheap Eats PDX, pt.1: Serratto

I don't get out for it often, and don't know how widespread it is in other cities, but here in Portland you can eat for a ridiculously cheap amount of jack by hitting happy hours at various restaurant bars. And here it's not just divey bars offering semi-petrified hard boiled eggs floating like a science experiment in a jar behind the bar. Practically every high end restaurant in town has some sort of cheap eats. Usually it is a discount on their appetizer menu, or a special happy hour menu. This is the first in what I promise will be an ongoing report on how tio get yur food groove on for less. One of the best in town that I've come across is at Serratto on NW 21st & Kearney. We stopped in yesterday for a quick bite. The burger above, with smoked bacon, white cheddar, house-made bbq sauce and crispy fried onions and a nice size pile of frites was a mere six bucks! And it was actually one of the best burgers I've had in town, perfectly cooked, a good quality hand-formed beef patty, meltingly cheesy, although next time I'll have them hold the bbq sauce. It was good but I'm not a big fan of that particular condiment. It was a crazy bargain! Serratto has a ton of other tempting options you can snag from 4:30-6:00 every day, including pastas, pizzas, french onion soup, etc. We opted for a really delicious bowl of manila clams steamed with saffron, white wine, and other well chosen flavoring agents ($6), an excellent beet, pear, and chevre on baby greens salad ($4), and their crispy fried calamari with a lemon-caper remoulade ($5) that was slightly underdone but if it was made correctly it would be a killer deal. Let's see...four different (not small) plates of satisfaction at one of Portland's best restaurants for $21. Let me hear you say "Hell yeah" people!!

The Hour for Happyness on the cheap!

After Sunday's outdoor adventure hiking in the gorge (see previous post), a nice early morning run, and to take advantage of a rare holiday Monday off together, w and I opted for some afternoon indoor activity...and NO, not THAT kind of indoor activity! We had in mind a visit to one of our favorite late afternoon happy hour destinations here in PDX, Ten-01. Their happy hour menu (served 3-6pm) has to be one of the best in town as far as the quality of the discounted grub. Plus barman Kelly has a rocking cocktail list that begs for my attention.

Settling into our seats at the bar, we knew coming in we had to order some fresh shucked oysters, especially at a mere dollar each. Plus an order of their salty, satisfying truffle oil fries (below). While we waited for our appetizing appetizers, we ordered some refreshing adult beverages. w had their Henry II, a mix of bubbly, Clear Creek pear brandy, and a salted almond floating on top. I had the intriguingly named Alaska (above), which I would estimate was about 2.5 ounces gin, maybe 1/2 oz. yellow chartreuse, and a dash or two of Regan's orange bitters (see pic below) served up. w was so-so on hers (after tasting it, I had to agree. Seemed a little heavy on the brandy.). I really liked my libation though, especially that eye-pleasing green tinged color and pleasantly biting bitterness. Our fries and brine-a-licious oysters followed soon after, and both hit it just right. Looking over the happy hour menu, I was also intrigued by the Daily Charcuterie Plate at $6. I know they cure all their own meats, having seen several different chubs curing in their wine room on a previous visit, and our waitress told us it was a great deal, considering that on their dinner menu it is about $15 (with an added slice of pâté). Loving all things porky and, I was all in on that one, so we ordered it up, and what a freaking great deal! Five different samplings of their wares, all really delicious. Definitely put this on your list of future indulgences!

The Daily Charcuterie Plate of all things porky and good!




ADD Ten-01: While we were enjoying our afternoon treats, we noticed a flyer for a new lunch deal they instituted a couple of weeks ago. Monday through Saturday they serve a three course $15 dollar lunch that looks like an amazing bargain. An appetizer, entrée, and dessert for fifteen bones is a steal, especially considering the food quality these guys seem to be pumping out of the kitchen! I'd love to hear from anyone who's experienced it.

The Ten-01 bitters lined up on the bar. Can you say "we take our mixology seriously!"