The Blackwells

cheers,
l

And you are NOT a lousy interviewer. I do know the feeling of listening back to something and wondering why I didn’t ask the obvious question — roughly once a week, in fact — but you do an amazing job.

Anyway, I don’t have kids, and I always assume a place will let kids eat there. I guess I’ll have to reconsider that assumption. So thanks for letting me know, and sorry it was a hassle.

We have a copy of your first edition and use it all the time. Since adding two little ones to our family, our culinary adventures have switched from gourmet dinners to breakfast and brunch outings. Your review of Arleta Library Bakery Cafe made it impossible to pass up, even though it is completely across town. After packing up the two little ones and picking up my sister, to treat her to this “great breakfast place,” I was very disappointed to find out they apparently do not want young children in their restaurant (absolutely no provision for seating children needing high chairs or booster seats and I needed one of each). Now, this is probably a big bonus for lots of folks. However, it was extremely inconvenient and a huge let-down for us. Since the place was labeled mom & pop and I’d never encountered this situation at any of the restaurants you’ve reviewed (actually it’s the first time I’ve EVER encountered it…), I didn’t even think to call to ask. So, I thought it might be worth adding a mention about it in the next edition. Hopefully it will save other families from a huge disappointment and the hungry temper tantrums soon to follow (since there is basically nowhere else to eat anywhere near there).

Thanks for all the (usually) great recommendations!
Amy

The Original Hotcake House rocks on and on and on and on…..

Open 24/7/365 — What happens at the Hotcake House on graveyard shift, STAYS at the Hotcake House. It’s vibes from another planet on graveyard!

The current menu offerings include a cheese souffle–perfection!–a bacon, egg and potato pie in a most luscious pastry–yu-um!–and a homemade chicken mushroom sausage with whipped eggs (can you say creamy perfection!) and a rhubarb cobbler and a dried cherry cake to name just a few items.

If there seem to be a lot of exclamation points in this writing, it’s because this place and its food and service are a perfect 10!

Niki’s appears to only be open during the week now. I never see it open, but the phone number still works, and I only go past one weekends and fairly late in the evening.

Best Waffles = Bread & Ink
Best Omelets = The Heathman
Best Corned Beef Hash = Kenny & Zuke’s
Best Desserts
Best Bloody Marys
and so on….

Bars are a tricky area for me. What do with Laurelthirst, Holman’s, Roxy, and My Father’s Place? And donuts, forget about it. Although Joe’s in Sandy will make the out-of-town section.

#3 – editing is good for the soul.

#4 – !!! I love this idea, especially an article about ethnic breakfast — I loved your podcast with Nick Z. I’ve been really into jook or pho for breakfast lately so this makes me very happy.

#5 – like in the suburbs? Or further afield like Eugene or the Coast?

#10 – Years ago I made a Palm Pilot compatible database of breakfast places in Portland and shared it with friends who had Palms. I’ve really missed having that and even though I don’t have an iPhone, I can see how useful and popular this would be.

Cutting the text to two pages is a good idea. I just read through a few of the current selection thinking they may be a bit long. On the one hand, the local color is entertaining, but if you’re just looking for a place to go right way maybe you don’t want to spend more time reading.

Better pictures would be better.

I like the idea of limiting the major reviews to 100 and doing a catchall in a separate section.

I hope you keep the “By Location” directory too. I like that feature.

Or maybe I rule out the hotel restaurants (Red Star, Jake’s, etc.) and/or the outright bars (Roxy, Laurelthirst, Holman’s). Or go with the old, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

You are the master. We couldn’t have found these treasures without you. We had two stupendous days of shooting. We wish there were a Paul Gerald in every city.

I like your comment about TV production: “last-minute, exciting, chaotic, might not even happen.” What? In the newspaper world everything is carefully planned, scheduled months in advance, calm, cool and collected? Yeah. The suspense keeps our energy up.

I loved this tale of Breakfast Guy meets TV World. Thanks all over again.

RICK

I just stopped by to get your email address to zip you a line and saw this great post – how fun is that! We’ve had a couple of similar type experiences – it is great fun to be a rock star for a day. Let us know when it will air. Good story for NWABP – sent this post to the other Paul G.

Carol