On the set

Of James Westby's new movie. We are acting...as food stylists! Nobody seems to mind that we have never actually styled food for a movie before.
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TFT: The "No, You Don't Have To Eat On a Blanket!" Edition

Dear food-loving friends,

We're Euro-mutts here at TableTalkPortland, and proud of it. Our tasty blend of Greek, Italian, French, Polish, Irish and German heritage ensures that a)we've got ample curves, b)we have slight attitude problems, and c)we eat well. It's our birthright.

But just the other day, during a rare moment of champagne-induced self-reflection, Michelle and I realized we aren't nearly multicultural enough. We can't remember the last time we ate Cambodian food. Someone at work asked us where the best Ethiopian food in town is, and we stammered and blushed. We haven't been to Hot Pot City. And when our friend Gloria told us we HAD to eat at Kabobi on SE Hawthorne because their Afghan food was to die for, we wondered aloud what she meant by "Afghan"--would we be eating on handknit blankets? This was embarrassing.

So, next week we're taking Table For Twelve to Kabobi restaurant, the self-proclaimed "first and only" Afghan restaurant in Portland. We're in for a treat. According to the Willamette Week, the lentils are "magical." The Kabobi website says all meat entrees are "halel." What does this mean? We have no idea! But we intend to find out. We can't wait to try the Borawni Kadoo, mostly because it is so fun to say. The Kofta Chalaw looks amazing, and the Kabuli Palaw with lamb shank is causing us to drool all over our keyboard. For a sneak peek at the menu, go to www.kabobipdx.com. As an added bonus, considering that we're in tight times and dining out budgets are lean, we even found a 10 percent off coupon on Kabobi's website for first-time customers, and Kabobi has agreed to honor this discount on all our party's entrees. Wow!

We hope you will join us next Wednesday for our slightly abashed exploration of Borawani Bandinjan, Shornakhod, and Sabzi, at Table For Twelve: The "No, You Don't Have To Eat On a Blanket" Edition!

Details, Details

When: Wednesday, February 11, 6:30 pm

Where: Kabobi Afghan Cuisine, 3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd., www.kabobipdx.com

Why: Because we are embarrassed that we don't know a Mantoo from a Gulpi, and because the lentils are magical.

Dress Code: Do NOT even think about wearing a blanket. We won't think it's funny at ALL.

RSVP: Email us at tabletalkportland@gmail.com or send a carrier pigeon to the M Bar with your name, number, and three hazelnut-topped salted caramels from Sahagún. Thank you.

See you at the table!

Jen & Michelle

TableTalkPortland.com
What is Table For Twelve all about? Click HERE to find out.

Nuvrei Pastry Platter = Flawless Meeting Attendance

Sometimes it can be hard to get people at your workplace really, truly excited to come to early morning meetings. Morning Meeting Dread can be so severe that people call in with "flat tires" and "sick kids", or somehow manage to "spill hot coffee" on their arms just before the meeting starts--creating burns that require "immediate medical attention", or they "get lost" on the way to the conference room and hide in a bathroom stall with their feet up, or they "go out for a quick smoke" and then "accidentally get on a train to Seattle." 


But I have found a way to ensure that everyone on your meeting invite list accepts AND actually attends your morning meetings--the Nuvrei pastry platter. For a mere $18, you can purchase a beautiful tray of 10 luscious Nuvrei pastries, as I did this morning. You can also get a large tray, or a small/large tray of petite pastries. I've included the menu for your convenience. You can email your order in the night before your early morning meeting and it's waiting for pickup by 7 am the next day, giving you plenty of time to get it on the conference table nice and early and watch with smug satisfaction as it sends out its sweet siren scent to the tired, grouchy meeting-hating masses.


This strategy is so successful, you'll not only have 100 percent meeting attendance hereforth, you'll even get some opportunist stragglers who were NOT invited to the meeting, and possibly don't even work in your office, try to sneak in and filch one of your glorious pastries for their "sick kid" or "train ride to Seattle." Be prepared to perform some evictions, marveling that your morning meetings are now so popular you are actually having to kick people out of them! You will also notice a steep decline in reported office coffee burns. Thank goodness for Nuvrei.

-J

Nuvrei Fine Cakes and Pastries * www.nuvrei.com * 503.546.3032 * order pastry platters at order@nuvrei.com

$1 PBR's and bingo at Boxxes on Sunday nights!
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Michelle and her new purse. It is made out of a placemat. Woo hoo! We are going dancing!
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Bottle No. 2

When bottles of champagne are half price, it only makes sense to get two.

Extra credit question: who just wants to be Ty's mom?

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Dessert: chocolate and scotch ice cream roulade with butterscotch, candied walnuts and cream.
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Tagliatelle, pork ragu, and a generous shaving of grana padano.
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Ravioli of sweetbreads, carmelized onions, and bacon.
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The kitchen in action.
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Half price bubbly night at Clyde Common!

Michelle is tres excited about our $16 bottle of Lucien Albrecht Brut Rose.
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We are loving the soundtrack at Broder: Cindy Lauper rocks. Between the tunes and the food, we are two very happy girls.
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Danish pancakes with lemon curd, marionberry preserves, and maple syrup.
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Brian had a rough night, but a Broder Bloody Mary will remedy that.
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Broder Brunch

Watching our brunch being made by cute boys in tight tshirts
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Nuestra Çocina

Mmmmmmm… serano lime drop.
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Countdown to Portland Farmer's Market 2009 Begins!

DAYS UNTIL PORTLAND FARMER'S MARKET OPENS FOR THE 2009 SEASON: 50

NEWS YOU CAN USE FROM PORTLAND FARMER'S MARKET

Portland Farmers Market @ PSU Saturdays will return March 21just in time for the Spring Equinox! Join us between 8:30 and 2:00 to welcome the farmers back to the city. In the meantime check out these exciting upcoming events and classes.

Cochon555
Executive Director Ann Forsthoefel will be a judge in Cochon555, a new pork centric event to be held March 1st at Ecotrust to benefit Raphael House. See event details at www.amusecochon.com

Urban Growth Bounty
The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is presenting Urban Growth Bounty. These classes, taught by Portland experts, will provide the tools to make 2009 a more sustainable, healthier year for you and your budget. See www.portlandonline.com for details.

One Week Left to Apply for the 2009 Season!
For those interested in participating on the other side of the vendors tables please visit the PFM website for details. There you will find the Vendor Handbook which outlines all rules, policies and selection criteria. Spaces filling fast in all five markets so check it out today!

Pizza Magherita topped with arugula

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Nostrana

Keeping warm by the beautiful brick oven that is cooking our pizza. We are enjoying the radicchio caesar salad.
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Happy Chinese New Years

Celebrating Chinese New Year at Legin with sticky rice stuffed chicken. Gung hay fat choy!
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Sis where are you?

Did you run off with Chef Tom Colicchio?
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Dreams Really Do Come True

The tasso benedict at Genies.
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Jen likes her peach bellinis in a pint glass.
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Waiting for breakfast at Genie's

We dreamt about tasso eggs benedict last night.
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Rob loves the Bunk-mosa!

Miller High Life and OJ, poured at the front counter and you keep the bottle. The perfect companion to Bunk's Oregon albacore tuna melt.

-J