I just cannot stay away from Portland, it is the only town where I can go out and eat without any worry about my crazy diet.   This last weekend I was down for the SIBO Symposium with my doctor and some SIBO friends and got to check out a new restaurant and a few old favorites from our last visit.

Departure Re-dux

On Friday night three of us walked downtown to go to Departure since it was a beautiful day and sitting out on the terrace just seemed like the thing to do. It was either that or go wait in line at Ox and hope we got in before we starved.    We ordered a LOT of food, tables full of food.  We ate for 2 hours non-stop.  It was great.  I think, if I remember correctly we ended up ordering:

• Big Eye Tuna Poke
• Scallops
• Miso Cod
• Charred Skin Chicken
• Ishiyaki Steak – this was incredible wagu beef done on a hot rock

• Garlic Fried Rice – I know, not really Paleo but I do eat rice some.
• Brussels Sprouts
• Crispy Pork Belly – not on the Gluten-Free menu but I was OK with it last time around
• Smoked Duck Curry – this was amazing though again not on the GF menu

Finally we got the desert special which was gluten-free.  I’m not even sure I want to know what was in this cake but it was sooooo good.

So, another fantastic dining experience at Departure.

Brooklyn House

On Saturday night we had a group of six that all went to the Brooklyn House, a place that advertises they can handle any dietary needs.  When I made the reservation I told them we were all on some form of low FODMAP Paleo or SIBO diet so to be prepared.  This is the only place around that actually knows Dr. Siebecker’s SIBO Diet so I knew we would be in good hands.

Ordering was a process.  The wait person spent time explaining the menu, the specials and then went around one by one at the table and found out what that person could and could not eat.  If there was something on the menu that they wanted then any substitutions or changes were made to fit that person’s dietary needs and/or preferences. No need to apologize for not being able to handle butter, they will just cook yours in olive oil.  It was amazing.

I ordered the special – Lapin au Vin, a rabbit hind quarter braised in red wine with bacon, root veggies and fresh herbs.  It came with grilled potato and seared asparagus but I substituted sweet potato for the potato.  It was amazing, I want the recipe to do at home.  My plate was so clean that the waitress actually took it back to show the chef.  I hadn’t quite licked it but it almost looked like it.  Everyone at the table was pretty happy with their food which is something for a bunch of people who each has their own strange blend of what they can and cannot handle.

For desert we had the lemon curd made with nothing but duck eggs, lemon and honey.  I really liked it a lot, so much that I ate any that other people didn’t like.  I think I put down two of them, no wonder I gained a few pounds on the trip.

I’ll be back at the Brooklyn House on a future trip for sure.

Cultured Caveman

Third time, still a charm for me.  The Caveman rocks as far as I’m concerned, good Paleo comfort food at a decent price.   My travel companions were so excited to see the pantry and the menu, it is always fun to take people there for the first time.    No pictures this time for me though, I was too hungry.    I got the Shepard’s Pie again with Bone Broth and a Rasperry Kombucha.  I also had a few of the Bacon Wrapped Dates and some of the Lamb Liver and Bacon Pate which was off the charts good.  I too hit the pantry and ended up buying The Homegrown Paleo Cookbook, an awesome cookbook that is all about sustainably living a Paleo lifestyle.   I also got a couple of EatingEVOLVED Coconut Butter Cups.  I know these are candy bars but geez, they are so good.

Another great food adventure in Portland.  We still have a few places on our list to try out so obviously need another trip to the Rose City in order to check them off and do part three of the Paleo Portland posts.