Nine days ago, the weathermen predicted a storm so I went to the store and felt a little foolish but thought I’d stock up even if it was a conspiracy to get people shopping. The next day was snowy and I felt wonderfully wise. Now, it’s over a week later, 15 inches of snow higher, and I’m down to my last grapefruit.

My kitchen window view yesterday before another 6 inches came down.

So, it’s been a day of working from home, impromptu chicken (frozen breast) and noodles with peanut sauce (had to substitute ginger powder for fresh, and make my own version of chili sauce) and trying I am to remain optimistic despite losing our LAD holiday party today and many other inconveniences.

It does remind me of the NYC Blizzard of 96 when everything shut down except for my office. I was told that despite the state of emergency those of us who could still walk to work were expected in. I got there, had nothing to do, and made a lunch reservation for Bolo, Bobby Flay’s Spanish place across the street on 22nd. Three of us camped at a table, ordered a bottle of wine, had a 4 hour lunch and called it a day. Snow days are probably not the best days to impose autoritarian rules.

I guess the best thing about storms like this is the opportunity to be reminded that our tendency to think everything is within our control is a comfortable illusion.

It’s been fun to simply get caught up on house projects, pack for Mexico with the hope that I will in fact fly out on Thursday, and enjoy the scrumptous treats in my cabinets.

Tonight, I’ve tucked in with a ginger bread cookie from Two Tarts (Thanks Mark!) and a delicious Chocolate Stout from Rogue’s fantastic Thanksgiving Weekend garage sale. No complaints from this snowed in girl.

Late night Oregon snack -- stout and ginger cookies.

Katie and I hopped on a bus from downtown to Nostrana (very easy BTW, love the no. 15!) on Tuesday for a staff training at Nostrana about the 2008 fall harvest’s fresh olive oil.  Jeff Bergman from Seattle Bergman Culinary Concepts had arranged for 3 very special oils (Tenuta di Capezzana Olio Nuova, Frantoio Bechhina Olio Verde Olio Novello, and Frescobaldi Laudemio New Harvest) to be on the menu and for retail sale at the restaurant from Dec 16 – Dec 23rd.

Butter? Cough effect? Soft fruit? This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about how to taste olive oils.  Here are some of the sound bites we think are worth passing along:

Italians have long celebrated the harvest of the oils but it is only in the past few years that Americans have had access to these because importers are now willing to spend the money to airfreight the oils.  

The oil must be 45 days or younger to be considered Novello (southern Italy) or Nuovo (northern Italy).  The phenolics in new oil have not yet settled so they are vibrant and the oil has more health benefits.

Twenty or so years ago a consortium of producers in Tuscany introduced new technology that has become industry standard for harvesting the fruit in a way that provides more purity of flavor.  Until this technology was introduced, a lot of the fruit that was turned into oil came from bruised olives that had been harvested by trucks which would pull up to trees, bang the trunks, and let the fruit fall to the ground.  Truly gravity flow technology.

But the number one thing we learned is WHY cooks or diners should be interested in these oils.  

It’s because they are basically “liquid salt.”  All assertive flavors in the oil (the artichoke, banana leaf, tea, straw, fresh cut grass, butter) disappear when combined with food.  We found the oils did an amazing job of brightening the flavors of the vegetables, fish and other ingredients in the dishes prepared by Cathy.

We found the beets in the salad tasted more “beety.” Everything was brightened and special, and sort of came to life in 3-D.  

So, even though the oils we tasted retail for about $ 40 a bottle, they are completely worth it.  And, if you don’t want to commit to a bottle, trying these incredible dishes is a great way to start to appreciate the intensity of these wonderful new oils.  To enjoy the oils in Nostrana’s special menu of three dishes, visit the restaurant from today through December 23rd.  The oils will also be available for retail at Nostrana while supply lasts.

New LOCAL Product Watch – Viso

At LAD we are always looking for new companies to support, especially local brands with a great story and an exceptional product. Viso is one of them. What is it? Think red bull meets vitamin water infused with EmergenC. Viso is a new healthful drink that gives consumers that extra kick in their step the natural way. The blue bottle (darkened to protect the electrolytes, natural flavors and vitamins from prolonged light exposure) comes in a eight different flavors, all packed with 100% of the daily allowance of 12 vitamins and 2 minerals – the website has a ‘periodic table of Viso’ feature, detailing all ingredients. Four are sugar-free and four have 300 milligrams of caffeine (that’s about 3 cups of coffee). I love Strawkey – light and fruity, NOT syrupy or artificial-tasting. I also owe a thank you to Will Energy for getting me through a long, icy drive back from Seattle on Sunday night (w/o the sugar high)!

The best part, is the team behind the brand. A friend of mine told me that they called the number listed on the website and the Founder and President, Alex IIica picked up. They proceeded to have a friendly conversation about the product and Portland, and he’s been an avid supporter since. Got to love that transparency! Just from the website you get great a sense that the Portland-based Viso Beverage Co. crew are having a great time making their product (they started production in Alex’s kitchen in 2000) and are dedicated to creating loyal brand supporters. www.drinkviso.com

Hey Viso, do you have any PR?

We’ve launched a new, affordable PR seminar series for the small business owner who wants to learn how to design their own public relations campaign. Check out our press release below:

LAD comm. inc. Launches The Home Run Series:
A New Educational Program for the Small Business Owner

First Seminar: “How to Get into The New York Times”

Portland, OR (December 5, 2008) - LAD communications, inc., an independently owned national public relations firm based in Portland, Oregon with another location in New York City, announced today the launch of its new quarterly educational program, The Home Run Series. The series is designed to empower small business owners with the ability to promote their business to a national audience, and as the title suggests, create winning pitches and home run media placements. “A minor investment like a class can yield major results for a small business, and given today’s economy we feel even more motivated to share this knowledge and provide tools for supporting local businesses,” says Lisa Donoughe, LAD comm. founder.

The first four-hour seminar takes place on Tuesday, January 13th from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM and is followed by a prix-fixe lunch at Ten 01. “Our philosophy about gaining national media coverage for businesses is pretty simple – identify a genuine story idea that serves the audience of a specific media outlet. If you have a good story and do your homework, editors will want the content,” says Donoughe.

“We recognize how hard it sounds to take a small store or product and imagine it as a focus of a story in The New York Times, but this is something we do daily, and our goal is to help entrepreneurs and others understand this process in order to connect great publications, such as The Times, with people who have compelling stories to tell,” added Donoughe.

The four-hour seminar will cover specific topics including:

* How to find a great story within your business;
* Today’s most effective techniques for pitching a top national reporter and/or editor;
* How to craft a compelling story idea;
* How to cultivate a relationship with the right reporter for your story;
* How to use experiences, not just pitches, to develop the story;
* How to build in a news peg that creates a specific timeliness to the story;
* How to know when to take the story to another publication.

Participants will leave with tools to promote their business to national media as well as an actual story idea and strategy for pitching it.

The seminar is $ 395.00 and payable by check to LAD communications, 812 SW Washington, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97205 or major credit card by calling 503-827-6564. LAD will set aside two scholarship seats only available to qualified start-up businesses or non-profits. Please call for more details about how to apply for this scholarship. Space is limited, and reservations are required by January 6th. The seminar takes place in the private dining room at Ten 01, 1001 Couch Street at Tenth Avenue in the Pearl District.

Future topics for the quarterly educational seminars may include: “Tips for Building Powerful On-line PR Campaigns,” “How to Spot Trends” and “How to Pitch National Magazine Editors.”

About LAD:
LAD communications was founded in 1999 with a mission to grow businesses through effective strategic communications. The company specializes in narrative marketing in support of its national clients in the areas of natural foods, wine, spirits and beer, restaurants and hotels. As a supporter of local artisan and non-profit businesses, LAD has had the privilege of training many entrepreneurs about ways to build their businesses through good PR. Clients include: Aviation Gin, Honey Ridge Farms, Mix Magazine, Downtown Marketing Initiative, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, Deschutes Brewery, Nancy’s Yogurt and Hotel Monaco Portland. For more information about LAD, visit www.ladcommunicationsblog.com.

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Congratulations to Matthew Locricchio who was mentioned along with his newly released cookbook, “The 2nd International Cookbook for Kids”, in The New York Times today.

“The 2nd International Cookbook for Kids” exposes young chefs to authentic flavors and cultures from around the world – Brazil, Greece, India and Thailand. While there are many new cookbooks for kids this winter, Locricchio’s cookbook is getting rave reviews from both adults (The New York Times) and the most important critics – kids (Oregonian).

Click on the article below to view the whole story.

As much as I love decorating for the holidays, it’s hard for me to feel good about buying more “stuff” that gets used only once a year, and sits in a basement the rest of the time. So making ornaments from recycled materials last night just felt… good! The Hotel Monaco Portland and SCRAP (School & Community Reuse Action Project) came together for a DIY eco-ornament night during the hotel’s nightly wine hour – though last night we also imbibed on local beer from MacTarnahans (Snow Cap Ale – Yummmm).

Katie and I cut, glued, pasted and laughed the evening away, and ended up with some very cool danglies for our trees. The favorite materials ended up being used CDs – they really shine on the trees and are a perfect surface to work on. Plus they have this kind of 80’s 90’s retro coolness to them. In fact, I’m thinking of doing an entire tree of them next year, all with pop culture clippings pasted on.

I highly recommend doing some of your own! Once you get started it’s addictive, but the best inspiration to get going is to look at what other people have done.

BTW – You can buy eco-ornaments made by SCRAP that have DIY kits inside them for $5 at the Monaco. All proceeds go to the non-profit SCRAP.

Ever since I graduated college in Orange County, California I have tried to make it back down at least twice a year to see friends, get my fill of nice weather during the rainy months in Oregon and to get a fix of my favorite spots. A couple weeks ago, I booked a cheap ticket to John Wayne Airport and began mentally planning my trip. From the second I arrived in Orange County, I found myself flying by the seat of my pants trying to fit everything into three days. Here is my top 10 list of places to visit in Orange County during the winter months.

1. Citrus City Grille
Located in the heart of the City of Orange in the Orange Circle, this restaurant is at the top of my all time favorite restaurants list. A well-known hotspot for great food and drinks, this cute and cozy restaurant offers the best focaccia and balsamic dipping sauce for an appetizer and Seafood Linguini. Some other hits I would recommend are the Ahi Poke Salad (seasonal) and the Wild Mushroom Meatloaf.

2. Balboa Island
From boutique clothing shops to ice cream shops to art stores, Balboa Island is a fun place to wander around even if you are just window shopping. Find unique tops and jewelry, eat handmade “original” chocolate covered bananas, or just stroll down the beach and check out the sailboats. This is a great place, but beware of the limited parking.

3. Opah
I didn’t make it to Opah this trip, but it’s a spot I look forward to visiting. This is a perfect date spot for dinner or just a great place to go to for happy hour. Happy Hour features half price starters, and boy are they good!

I have been to Opah on several occasions, and I can say that these dishes are among my favs. All contain seafood, but hey that’s just me.

Frutti di Mare – Shrimp, New Zealand mussels, Manila clams, fish and calamari in a spicy vegetable marinara over linguine.

Pacific Northwest Cioppino – A rich shellfish and seafood broth, simmered with 1⁄2 Maine lobster, New Zealand mussels, prawns, Manila clams, scallops, calamari and fish.

Sesame Peppercorn Seared Ahi (rare) – Pickled cucumber relish and Thai citrus sauce.

4. Roger’s Gardens
Oh Roger’s Gardens… During the holiday season this place is a gold mine! Roger’s Gardens is open all year to people interested in horticulture, but it’s the holiday season that attracts me to this place. From November through the beginning of January, Roger’s Gardens transforms into a Christmas paradise. If you too get really excited about Christmas and holiday decorations, you should make a special trip just to visit this place.

Check out their website to see what I’m talking about.

5. South Coast Plaza

A Shop-a-holics dream. Even though you pay a 7.75% sales tax, it’s worth it. From European stores such as Zara, H&M and MNG-Mango to stores like Steve Madden, you can’t leave this place without blowing your paycheck – or maybe that’s just me.

6. Yard House
Yes, this is a chain restaurant. I am crossing my fingers we get one in Portland very soon. This is a great restaurant for a beer lover, offering between 100-250 beers on tap. Besides the beers, I would recommend starting off with the Spicy Tuna Roll or California Roll. This is not your typical sushi roll (See photo below). The Seared Ahi Sashimi and Vodka Shrimp Pasta are also very tasty.

Happy hour at Yard House is a great value with selected half price appetizers and discounted drinks.

7. Newport Beach – Night Life
Huntington Beach, Fullerton and Newport Beach are the hot spots to go out as all of these places are loaded with bars and clubs. Newport Brewing Company, Rudy’s and Woody’s are three of the bars I enjoy wandering into.

8. Rutebegorz

Voted the #1 Vegetarian Restaurant in Orange County and #2 for Most Unique Salad, this restaurant located in an old house close to the Orange Circle is popular among both the college kids and the locals. Although it’s vegetarian, Rutebegorz offers a variety of meat dishes. The Chicken Garlic Wrap is to die for and the Pizza Bagel is simple but very yummy.

9. Antique Shops in the Orange Circle
Ok, it’s out there. I’m a 23 year old that likes to go antiquing. All those years my mom hauled me to the Antique and Collectible Shows at the Oregon Convention Center, also known as the largest antique and collectible show in the world, paid off – I finally appreciate antiques. Check out these stores. I bet you’ll go home with some one-of-a-kind items. Click here to see a map.

10. Ho Sum Bistro
A next-door neighbor to my college internship, this small restaurant offers the best chicken salad, the Ho Sum Chicken Salad. Next time you’re down in Orange County driving down Newport Boulevard during lunchtime, keep your eyes peeled for bustling little restaurant.

If you have any favorite spots in Orange County let me know – I would love to check them out!

Bring out the kids and head over to Red Star Tavern & Roast House this holiday season. The November 27th issue of the Downtown Monthly reviewed Red Star, and wow do some of the dishes sound good! Warm Chicory Salad with Crispy Egg? Sounds good to me! Check out the clip below to read the full review.