Portland Oregon Travel Preparations

I'm heading to Portland Oregon, PDX, for the 2012 SIGIR conference.

If you're lucky, you'll have some time to explore the sights, and tastes of Portland when you attend theconference.  Here are some of my raw research notes.

Let me start with some references and reading material on Portland. 

Portland food links:

http://www.oregonlive.com/diner-2012/

http://www.thekitchn.com/a-foodlovers-guide-to-portland-90802

http://www.portlandfoodanddrink.com/reviews/dining-on-a-budget-in-portland/

http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/blogs/eat-beat/

http://pdx.eater.com/archives/2012/07/18/the-17-most-iconic-restaurant-dishes-in-portland.php

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/726972

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/06/where-to-eat-in-portland-oregon-pdx-ken-gordon-burgers-sandwiches-pizza-street-food.html

Go for a hike

http://openplac.es/trips/pittock-mansion-in-portland-or-97210

Fine dining Restaurants:

Beast  (think meat!) 

Le Pigeon (think Paris!) and their new place (foie gras profiteroles!) Little Bird (another french bistro)

Portland is big into food trucks

http://www.foodcartsportland.com/

Nong's Khao Man Gai, Koi Fusion, Wolf and Bear, Big A$ sandwich, Lardo

Good Food Here

Many are only open for lunch in downtown, so check their hours.  For late night nosh, check the east side of town (great after a night imbibing at one of the east side bars/pubs)

Mai Pho (lemongrass tofu over rice), Pyro Pizza and Give Pizza a Chance (same owner), and Sugar Cube for desert.

Top places to eat.

Ken and Zuke's Deli (think Portland's version of Katz's in NY)

People's Pig (a food truck serving lunch, famous for it's Porchetta sandwich, see serious eats coverage)

Pok Pok - Thai street food (get the drinking vinegar) - be prepared to wait, there is always a long line (think 1 to 1.5 hours.  Go across the street and wait at the whisky soda lounge), famous for its wings

Beaker and Flask (restaurant of the year by Willamette Week)

Ken's Artisan Pizza

Olympic Provisions - great lunch places known for salumi

The Meadow - Artisan chocolates and food

Bakeshop - artisan croissants and bakery

Salt and Straw - ice cream

Fine dining

Little BIrd

Gruner

Toro Bravo 

Beast (James Beard nominated (winner?) chef Naomi Pomeroy makes killer meat.  I have a crush on her)

Le Pigeon

Nostrana

Castagna

PSU Portland farmer's market (on Saturday)

http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/markets/psu/

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/844561

Cocktails

Beaker and Flask (restaurant of the year by Willamette Week, awesome cocktails!)

Clyde Common (great food + drinks, casual, great for a group in downtown)

Rum Club

Interurban

Food 

Coco Donut -- the locals prefer it to the more touristy Voodoo Donuts

ken's bakery

Must visit beer places:

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/pdx-best-brewery.15814/

http://www.ratebeer.com/forums/portland-or-trip_189721.htm

http://beervana.blogspot.com/2008/04/beervana-bests-pubs-and-alehouses.html

http://beervana.blogspot.com/2007/07/beervana-bests-best-portland-brewpubs.html

http://beervana.blogspot.com/2009/12/challenge-five-beers-in-portland.html

Distillery Row

http://www.distilleryrowpdx.com/distillery-row-map/

Clear Creek Distillery

http://openplac.es/trips/clear-creek-distillery-in-portland-or

Brewpubs to visit

Hopworks urban brewery  (classic portland - eco-brewpub -- bikes, beer, and great food)

Pelican 

Roots Organic brewpub

Breakside

Bridgeport 

Top pubs / Bars

Bailey's Taproom (an icon)

Horse Brass (an icon)

Apex

Belmont Station

Beer Mongers

Green Dragon

Breweries

See the Portland entries in 2012 top breweries in the world: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbrewers_012012.asp

Hair of the dog (the gold standard of portland breweries - best brewery in portland -- also has great food.  A must visit!)

Upright brewing company (hot new upcoming - just beer, in an hard to find location.  hard core beer geeks need apply)

Deschutes (large, popular standby)

Cascade Brewing (known for crazy sour beer!)

Breakside Brewery

Hopworks urban brewery

Gigantic Brewing

 -> brand new brewery just opened in may.

Rogue brewery is a hometime favorite --> their current Voodoo donut maple bacon beer is really unique

Must try beers

BridgePort IPA

Deschutes Bachelor Bitter

DOA, Hopworks

Consider for a simple beer walking tour:  cascade --> green dragon --> hair of the dog