Hankerings for anything of the warm, caloric, and hot-buttered variety can only mean one thing: winter is finally here. Luckily for New Yorkers, those hankerings can be satisfied by  some trend-setting hot toddies crafted at the East Village cocktail bar and restaurant, the Beagle, selected by Florence Fabricant for  The New York Times Dining Journal.

Beagle owner Matthew Piacentini and head bartender Dan Greenbaum’s pre-prohibition-inspired drinks are worthy of the honorable mention. To keep the flavors intense, Greenbaum steams them through an espresso steamer rather than adding the traditional hot water. And, while we trust anything the innovative cocktail pair creates, you can personalize your own toddies by choosing from a variety of belly-warming whiskeys.

The Beagle offers four toddy varieties: hot toddy, whiskey skin, brick and hot buttered rum—all served with a plate of deliciously caloric savory shortbread cookies in flavors like bacon fat. I guess we know where our New York team member Helen Baldus will be spending her cold winter evenings.

Tomatoes for dessert? Indeed, Clyde Common’s love affair with the tomato runs deep. So, as we bid adieu to Executive Chef Chris DiMinno’s summertime tomato salad, we transition into fall with a perfectly inspired seasonal dessert from another Clyde star – Pastry Chef Danielle Pruett.

Food & Wine’s popular blog, Mouthing Off, just published a roundup of their five favorite restaurant dessert trends for Fall, and included in the mix is Pruett’s tomato upside-down cake. Writer, Kate Heddings mentions a few popular takes on this classic American dessert, but notes that “the most interesting fruit in rotation has to be tomato, seen at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon.” This local gastropub has a way of creating some of the most unique and delicious creations with the use of local and seasonal Northwest ingredients, and sure enough, people are taking note.

Click here to read the full article: http://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/mouthing-off/2011/9/27/top-5-trends-in-restaurant-desserts

One step closer to Steven Smith’s personal mission…to bring the freshest full-leaf tea experience to consumers. With praises from Bon Appetit, Imbibe, and now The Wall Street Journal – we’re proud to be storytellers for Steven Smith Teamaker. Watershed’s mission is to help brands grow in today’s artisan economy, so blending our passion with Smith’s is just our cup of tea. It might be yours too…Now, you can find blends from this small batch teamaker nationally, at Williams-Sonoma. See below for Charlotte Druckman’s take on this “Small Brew Tea Party.”

What a dream come true…being listed as a Portland favorite of Bon Appetit’s Andrew Knowlton, is quite an honor. With hot restaurant bars like Clyde Common and innovative businesses like Smith Tea, it’s no wonder that national media still has their eyes on us. After all, where else would you find bartenders tinkering with barrel-aged cocktails and once-retired teamakers pulled back into their passion. Our city is a place where passion and creativity blend perfectly, so it takes working on a story like this to remember that we’re still  stirring up cutting edge concepts. Click here to see get the full scoop – Drinklandia: Where to Get Buzzed in Portland.



On March 19th The Wall Street Journal featured Nancy’s Organic Cottage Cheese With Fruit On Top, the first-ever organic one of its kind, in their Bits & Bites: News You Can Eat section. It’s not often that we get to help launch a new product from this pioneering creamery and in case you haven’t tried it yet, take the advice of the WSJ and pick some up at your local Whole Foods. Check out the full hit below…

The March 2011 edition of Sunset Magazine has a story all too familiar to us – Pop Up Stores!  Our winter promotion with DMI included a pitch to local, regional and national media to share the news about pop-up stores including Crafty Wonderland and Portland Design Collective (need Facebook to access that link) – both featuring talented artisans from across the region.  Here it is below, in all of its glory!

Yesterday a throng of Portlanders gathered with Portland Mayor Sam Adams in the rain, wind and a temperature hovering around 40-degrees to kick off the holiday shopping season.

The event was part of the Downtown Marketing Initiative’s efforts to promote pop-up shops and to spread the word on the holidate program, featuring in-store events and free parking at SmartPark garages in December when you enter between 4-6p.m.

For more on our “Hit of the Week” check out this great hit from The Oregonian.

Or, if you’re a visual person, here’s a great clip from KGW.

Dining Month Portland may be coming to an end, but savvy foodies can continue to enjoy some of the promotions amazing dishes courtesy of recipes on KOIN’s Studio 6.  Throughout the month, 10 restaurants appeared on the show to share the recipes for some of the dishes on their 3-course prixe fixe menus.

Check out this fantastic recipe for Orecchiette with Spring Vegetables and Speck from Chef Brock Willis of Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar:

Koin Studio 6

Yes, it’s true.  In addition to running Watershed, Lisa also runs the coolest wine event in town.  Lisa founded the festival in 2004 to celebrate Oregon’s incredible independent craft winemakers – many of these guys do not have tasting rooms and all make fewer than 2500 cases of wine per year.  The Indie Wine Festival is modeled after the Sundance Film Festival (it’s the only juried wine festival out there) and is set up like a farmer’s market (you can buy direct from the winemakers while you have your fill of bites from PDX’s top chefs).  This is one ticket you won’t regret buying, so if you haven’t already, get to it!  The festival is THIS Saturday at the Bison Building.  Buy tickets here.

Last Friday, The Oregonian’s Sara Perry caught up with Lisa to chat Indie wine.  Check it out here and see below.

Looking for a great deal on your next trip to Portland?  If you’re traveling between now and May 9th, then be sure to take advantage of the fantastic Portland Perks offer available through Travel Portland.  The Portland Perks package includes free parking, breakfast, a coupon book filled with amazing deals at attractions, shops and restaurants throughout the city, and – for a limited time only – $50 cash at participating hotels.

Check out some of the great press coverage the package is getting nationally in the LA Times, Seattle Times and Frommers.com.