Todd's Place
I don't do these:
  • Last Seen
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Air Quality

Happy Halloween!

10/28/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Best Pho in the Portland area

10/27/2015

1 Comment

 

We LOVE the pho noodle bowls at Rose VL restaurant in Portland. The broth is light and rich. They use no MSG, and the owner showed us a spice packet, sans MSG, imported from Japan. Meats are light and excellent. Gorgeous crisp local veggies finish it perfectly, with unusual variants such as tiny baby celery instead of basil. Wow!

Picture
Rose VL is colorful, and immaculately clean!!
Picture
Quail eggs, good fish balls, heavenly crisp veggies, yummy pork...
Picture
I like mine extra spicy!
Picture
Before...
Picture
After. YUM!
Picture
We haven't tried Ha VL yet.
1 Comment

Making the second best Thai green papaya salad on earth

10/26/2015

0 Comments

 

OK, well I can't realllly say it's almost the best on earth. I think it is. It's too spicy for my wife, so you'll have to take my word :)

I have eaten it in many countries. The best I've ever had was in a remote, hidden, beach-side fish market near Phuket Thailand. If you know what a perfect green papaya salad should taste like, and you've seen it prepared in a traditional large wooden mortar and pestle, then you should go for it!! Here's how:

First, get a good recipe. This Christmas gift Pok Pok cookbook below, from the lovely Erickson family, is excellent. Just omit the tamarind juice and water. I substitute shredded carrot for cabbage too.

Picture

Next, you need a good mortar and pestle, either wood or stone, at least 5" in diameter.

Finally, you need to go on a scavenger hunt for all the specialized ingredients. This is the hardest part. If you live near Seattle or Portland OR, we recommend Uwagimya.

Here is my salad (with tons of spicy peppers), with marinated, roasted quail and stir-fried squash. YUM!!

Picture
0 Comments

Installing a murphy bed and storage system

10/25/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
See that foot? This is with the bed folded up, behind the couch.
Picture
Fixing a hinge in the corner wardrobe.
Picture
We love this purple accent we picked out!
0 Comments

Best burgers in the Portland Oregon area

10/20/2015

0 Comments

 

Best Gourmet Burgers

The best gourmet burgers are at Dick's Kitchen. There are super-fresh, local, standard burgers. There is also the Special Burger of the day. In this case, it's the Dork Burger. Super Delicious. Even the shakes are gourmet!
Picture

Best Basic Burgers

Best basic burgers are at Boardwalk Fries, Burgers, and Shakes. These are light and healthy, with fresh-baked brioche buns.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

The Best Taiwanese food in the Portland OR area

10/18/2015

0 Comments

 
The best Taiwanese food comes from a small strip-mall in Beaverton OR. Taiwan Eats used to be an amazing food truck and has recently moved to more permanent digs. The milk tea is heavenly. It is also the reason I can't get to sleep until daybreak on many nights. Worth it.
Alas, the best Taiwanese pineapple tea cakes are my wife's. If you visit, she can make you a batch. They are very labor intensive, and very worth it! YUM!!
Picture
0 Comments

New one is anxious to get out and practice...

10/18/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Another beautiful day in paradise...

10/18/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Best Dim Sum in America

10/16/2015

0 Comments

 

Sun Kong restaurant in Malden MA


I've eaten dim sum all over the country, and all over the world. I've eaten dim sum at dozens of places in Hong Kong and its suburbs, following natives to local treasures. I'm a lucky guy. Take it from me though, you don't have to fly 16-20 hours for the good stuff.

The best dim sum in the US is, by far, Sun Kong, in Malden Massachusetts. It doesn't look like much, from the outside or inside. The dinner and lunch menus are good, but not great. However, show up before 1pm on a weekend, wait a long time for a number, and be transported to Asia. Really!

This is authentic, light, perfectly-seasoned dim sum, with the most authentic selection and flavor in America. The only way to get better dim sum is to book a flight to Hong Kong!

This is a classic, with chopped up shrimp and goodies, wrapped in a tofu skin. It's perfect!
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Best Gourmet Hot Dogs in the Portland OR area

10/12/2015

0 Comments

 

Hop Dog

The best gourmet hot dogs are at Hop Dog. The selection changes weekly, and yes, those are fresh-baked pretzel brioche buns! They have a great beer selection on tap, of course.

This is a super-gourmet interpretation of a Chicago style hot dog:
Picture
This is a special of the week, with a sort-of light thai salad on it. Super Yummy!
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    I'm an applied-math-research Ph.D. and serial startup founder. I am a recognized computer security expert, fortunate to join the ranks of many, great CTO's. I've founded and seed-funded multiple, successful, VC-backed companies. I'm still at it!

    My wonderful wife and I moved from New England to near the Portland Oregon area. We LOVE the Pacific Northwest, and we've been here a few years now. We have an adorable baby girl, Vivi.

    People here are nice and smile a lot. Vegetables are insanely delicious. Driving is not like Mad Max.

    This blog is very Vivi-centric. Our family just can't resist. :) Also, there are some stupid hacking and geek tricks.


    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2012-2021  Todd Brennan