Ooo... steak! Or is it?

My girlfriend was able to snag one of those 'free steaks' that the Outback Steak House had a promo on.

So we get to have a good excuse to grab some food and see how good (or bad) it is.

I personally didn't expect too much, and it was a good thing too. The steak I got looked better than it tasted. It was ok, but nothing more. The brown bread was good though, and we had a couple of those. But alas, the steaks themselves gave a mediocre performance.

I remember the last time I went to an Outback, the steak was good. It could be that mine wasn't prepped well I guess. Based on my current experience, there are other and better steak houses out there to try.

Aside from one of our steaks being free, and the good bread, I couldn't think of anything else food-wise that was above 'ho-hum'.

Everything on it... please!

There's always room in one's heart for a good 'ol classic cheeseburger/hamburger (except for vegetarians, that is).

Some like it plain, but for others, it's what you pile on it that makes it even better!

We checked out the Five Guys burger joint to see what all the fuss is. Ever since they opened here, we've been hearing good feedback about them.

Upon entering, you get that classic burger resto feel (and smell) - nothing fancy. Menu is simple. Pick a burger size, then throw in your toppings. As much as you like. And while waiting for your order, one can grab some peanuts and munch on them like appetizers.

The burgers are nicely done. I can't remember if you can specify how the meat is done, but I think you can. What I like about hand made patties is that irregular shape it gets. It adds to the novelty of the burger and the feel of it being like 'the ones made at home'.

Overall, Five Guys is definitely a recommendation, and a very good one at that.

So if you are a true burger fan, you'll do yourself a favor to head out and grab some burgers at Five Guys. You won't be disappointed.

Nice boat :-D

Did a sailing tour with my love a few months back and we managed to avoid nasty weather.

The tour was along the Willamette river and our captain took us around the bridges and even gave us an opportunity to 'pilot' the boat. When my girlfriend manned the boat, she did it quite nicely and managed to keep us on course.

The boat we rode on was a classic Norwegian fishing boat. Aside from the normal sail, it also had a small diesel inboard engine to help it move along when wind is unavailable and for maneuvering.

Once the captain unfurled the sails and shut off the engine, it was so calming and peaceful. I didn't get that feeling about folks talking about 'sailing in the wind' and how relaxing it is, but after this, I believe I get their point now.

I got it enough that for a few minutes I contemplated and wondered what it would take to get my own boat :-D

But I guess I'll leave the seafaring to them - I'm still a 'landlubber' at heart.

Wonton goodness...

What's good to eat during these cold fall/winter nights?

Nothing beats a warm bowl of wonton noodle soup with roast pork! Yummy specialty at the Good Taste restaurant.

Come get some while they're hot! Oishii desu!!!

Ma-ri-mo!

While browsing for some fishes in a local pet store, we came across this thing. For a moment I thought it was just a sponge.

Turns out it was actually a living thing - a 'moss ball', or as it is fondly called, a 'Marimo ball'.

The Marimo ball is actually well known, specially in Japan where it is protected and considered a national treasure. They have Marimo balls in the wild that can grow up to 12" in diameter.

What's interesting is how they end up in a ball form. Credit this to the water currents and evolution I guess. It does also propagate in 'loose form' and lay on the bottom like a carpet, but normally they 'ball up' and grow in such a manner.

With it's hardiness and low light needs, aquarium enthusiasts eventually discovered that it is a good addition to marine plants. It requires almost no maintenance at all, just the occasional cleaning with running water and 'palming' to keep it in a good round shape.

Another good plus is that algae-eating fishes don't really care for it (my Pleco avoids it) so one doesn't have to worry about it ending up as fish food.

Even though it is a bit pricey for a ball of moss, I'm still glad to have taken the plunge to add it to our aquarium. And we may even add one or more in the future!

DIY Car Tech

I always enjoy a good DIY project, specially car stuff. Been a car nut since a kid.

But before taking on such projects, always do your research. And having some sort of mechanical/electrical know-how and sense definitely helps - including the will to get down n' dirty because projects like these can go from butter-smooth to all out chaos in a matter of seconds!

Give yourself enough time and get help too. An additional hand will be good to have, as long as you two don't keep on bumping into each other.

So I tackled one of my fave car projects, a stereo install. Once you know how to remove (and return) the console panel and trim, everything else is a piece of cake ;-)

Took my time and got the unit in, and quite happy with the result. There are still two more pending sub-projects with this that are to be done - the reverse camera and HD radio module installs. The reverse camera is partly done, but the HD tunere will require a takedown of the head unit again.

More man-hours to come! Can't wait to get it all done;-) But never rush!

In the meantime, I'll study the layout first and finish some Angry Bird levels!

Cheers!

Duck!

You got to be real tall to duck under this sign! ;-)

Bite of Oregon

Another yearly fair, the Bite of Oregon showcases food vendors, that range from small carts to big time/mainstream vendors alike.

You can sample things from desserts to full blown entrees. They also offer full servings if one decides that the $3 sampler is not enough.

The good thing about this is that it is a ticketed and gated event, so there is some crowd control in place. But it does get packed, specially towards the evening.

The food samplers range from $3-5, and there are drinks from $2 and up. Got beer? Lots of it! There is also a wine tasting section with lots of good selections.

We got a one day pass and it we made the most of it.

And we'll definitely be back for next year's!

Pig out?

Well, not quite, but the food in Pig N' Pancake is good enough if one would decide to go pig out and have some good eats.

The nice thing is they serve breakfast all day. Having pancakes for dinner is definitely a treat!

After a good stroll at the beach and downtown Seaside, why not swing by Pig N' Pancake and have an omelette or two? Oh, and a cup of clam chowder to top it off!

Sushi n Kirin!

@Makoto - yum!

Customer service

Now there's some customer service there!

I should've tried it - if only I wasn't too busy haggling with the car salesperson :-D

What is that...

Yes... it's a chicken. No tricks. I promise!

Amazing dogs!

We watched the famous K-9 Kings perform at the Washington Fairplex, and they were pretty good.

Wish they had a longer show though. All their dogs were amazing and it appeared that they had a good time too while doing their acts.

Gave us a chance to hone our zoom-track-focus with the camera. That was a challenge in itself too!

End of the line...

For Lightning McQueen, that is. :-D

Sunset at the beach

Watching the sun set at the beach is always a mesmerizing thing.

There's just something alluring as you see the sun gradually 'sink' in the horizon and leaving a soft glow of colors behind.

It's the signal of the end of the day, and also a remnder of tomorrow to come :-)

Fish n chips n bread

Fish n chips platter at Mo's by the Oregon coast.

This would be the place to try out first when in the Cannon Beach area. The food is good and price is just right. The place also has a good view of the beach and of course, offers outdoor seating.

We were wondering whether they had birds (sea birds) that join folks while eating at the outdoor seating, but we didn't see any. Perhaps they have some sort of deterrent installed...

Check out Mo's if you happen to find yourself around the Cannon Beach area in Oregon. Grab a cup of chowder and enjoy - and yes, they do have saltine crackers and you can get as much as you want.

Cheers!

Mobile blog - Under (remote) control!

I got to get me one of these! :-D

There's no way you can 'fat finger' buttons here. Wish it had a LCD display like the Logitech Harmony series. But I guess for this it would've been a 4.3" display!

Sugoi desu!!

Mobile blog - Smith Rock

The photo below was taken at the 'summit of one of Smith Rock's trails, aptly named Misery Ridge - and we can attest to that misery. It's a trail one has to be really prepped and focused for.

But upon reaching the summit, one will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the state park, and Crooked River. And of course, that feeling of finishing the trail is priceless.

Coming back was faster since it was downhill, but you still need to be alert and aware since the trail is narrow and has lots of loose sand and gravel.

It is a place definitely worth checking out if you like hiking and wall climbing. The vertical walls provide an excellent workout for climbers and vary in difficulty. Maybe next time we'll try to climb!

Smith Rock is considered one of the major venues for 'sport climbing', and some say it is considered the 'birthplace' of sport climbing.

Mobile blog - Ella, ella...

Finally got a backyard umbrella to match the table we got.

It was also perfect timing on our part - the umbrellas and stands we're literally sold out the following day! It's probably due to the fact that people want to make the most use out of their outdoor equipment since it most of the season we get rain.

So now that the sun is really out, everyone is just raring to get a piece of it!

Enjoy the summer and be safe!!

Mobile blog - Trail restrictions

As the sign says.... no horsing around!!! :-D

Happy trails!

Mobile blog - Signs!

Literally, that is.

Kudos to those who setup signs for trails and such. One can easily get lost and run in circles without these guides.

Granted, there are tools that can still guide one out, but there's also this thing called 'keen sense of direction' which varies in each one.

So we are grateful for these markers that guide our way in our favorite trails and camps/parks.

I wonder if they could install solar lighting on them too so that it has illumination at night... hmmm, I may just suggest that! ;-)

Be safe all!

Mobile blog - Shake it!

Cool drinks on a hot day? Grab some melons, ice, sugar and toss in the blender

Tadah! Two melon shakes to go!

Beat the heat! ;-)

Mobile blog - Makin' trails

Had a blast volunteering with my sweetie to lend a hand in clearing some new trails in the LL Stub Stewart Park.

The park is quite new and there are lots of good trails and campsites, and cabins too! And most of the trails, if not all, are bike-friendly.

It was worth the trip with all the experience and goodies/freebies we got. Plus of course that 'feel-good' feeling of being able to take part in the betterment of the park. Now that's priceless.

Sugoi desu!!

Mobile blog - More Geese

I thought there were only two - but turns out they have a big family!

They come out at around 7-ish to walk through the parking area. Must be their routine 'stroll' :-D

Next time I'll get better and closer pics with a real camera. These geese get pretty defensive if you walk too close to them.

Mobile blog - Bike Assembly

No, it's not a folding bike (wish it was) but just a standard run-of-the-mill mountain bike about to be assembled.

Fairly easy to put togther, and during the course of the assembly I was already thinking of upgrades :-D

Time to hit the bike trails! Hope the bike holds up :-p

Mobile blog - Rice bowl

Smile for the camera! Corned beef rice bowl custom made ;-)

Mobile blog - Katsu!

A nice and quiet dinner celebration for my sweetie's birthday at Syun Izakaya.

This is my third foray to the place and I can definitely say tht I am a fan indeed.

The food is very good, and so is the service. Plus there's this authentic feel that adds to the quality of the place.

Like sake? I think they have enough selections to keep you busy and drinking ;-)

I'm sure that we'll be visiting Syun again soon - we've barely scratched the surface of the selections they have to offer!

Itadakimasu mina-san!

Mobile blog - Cupcake Wedding Cake

Yep, it's a bunch of mini cupcakes stacked to form a cake.

Taken during the wedding reception of a friend, at the Bridgeport Brewery.

And we were able to try out most, if not all of the flavors.

Cool idea for a wedding cake indeed.

Mobile blog - Geese!

Pulling out of the office parking, I was greeted by this scene - a geese family on an afternoon stroll :-)

I guess even geese come out to enjoy a short walk from time to time.

Cheers!

Mobile blog - Petite...

...Sirloin steak at Ruby Tuesday's.

Medium. With fries.

Oishii!!

Mobile blog - Home cookin'

Nothing beats the savings of home cooking!

Plus you get to practice your skills and wares. If you can follow instructions and have a good sense of gauging things, then cooking should be a snap! Well, ok, learning curves differ :-p

On hand is a beef steak style entree prepped by my sweetie. With onion rings on the side (which disappeared quite suddenly after the photo was taken).

A very good meal served! Arigato gozaimasu!!

Time to tackle 'kare-kare'... :-D

Mobile blog - Fried dough... D'oh!!!

Fried dough indeed. Also known as 'elephant ears', it is a common snack sold at festivals and the like.

It is crunchy and normally large in serving. And lots of sugar on it. Ours had brown sugar on it :-)

Hmmm, maybe we should've gotten corn dogs instead :-D

Mobile blog - Oooo-melette

> My sweetie's omelette brunch. Filled to the brim!
>
> And some hot choco on the side ;-)
>

Mobile blog - Tulip Fest

Visitied thr Tulip festival at the Wooden Shoe Tulip farm in Woodburn.

The fields were amass with color and the weather was just right. Though we could've used a little more sun I guess.

It is an amazing sight to see. Rows and rows of tulips in all the colors you can imagine.

But I think the best row were the last few rows that had the mixed colors, as seen in the pic.

And all that walking and picture taking deserves a snack break! Time for some elephant ears!

Mobile blog - Country Fried

Had brunch at Camp 18 with my sweetie and I ordered their Country Fried Steak.

And I forgot how big their servings are!

Seriously enough for two, I really took my time eating, and so did my sweetie who ordered an omelette that rivaled the size of my meal.

So if you are along Highway 26 and headed to the coast and want a big serving of food, do check out Camp 18. And while you're there, enjoy a stroll outside and check the back trails and the old heavy equipment on display too. There's a lot of photo opportunities!

Cheers!

Mobile blog - Tokens :-)

Rin showcasing some precious tokens I got for my 'birfday'.

All of which I'll treasure very much.

Again, it's the quality that counts here. Each token was given with all heart and sincerity. And that is really priceless. :-)

Arigato gozaimasu!!

Mobile blog - More cake!

And on the morning of my day, yet another cake from my love!

This time, a special concoction made with mocha and dark chocolate. Mmm, oishii desu!!

Cake from St. Honore at NW Thurman in the Portland uptown area.

Itadakimasu!!

Mobile blog - Cake days

Mmmm, birthday cake from my sweetie!! Thanks love!

Gotta love the Beaverton Bakery cakes. They make it just right ;-)

Omedetou gozaimasu!!!

Mobile blog - 26

A special and romantic evening courtesy of my sweetie.

Trees is a nice and cozy restaurant along Sw 5th in downtown Portland.

She personally picked the place as a surprise for my birthday. And I loved every minute of it.

She could've just packed two Nutella sandwiches and eat them at a park and I'd be ecstatic! But she went the extra mile and looked for a nice place to have a quiet and personal 'two-gether' for my birthday.

And we'll come back here for sure. Food and service is good, and I like the ambience a lot too.

Thanks very much, my love! :-) 'Til the next event :-*

Mobile blog - Custard Heart

Literally, a heart-shaped custard/ flan.

It was too good to break up and eat so I took a pic of it before everyone 'dug in'.

It was a 'flan' to remember. And flan works great with sweet coconut (macapuno) ice cream!

Happy Eatster everyone!!

Mobile blog - Voodoo Doughnuts

When Vooodoo Doughnuts opened their store, most didn't really mind it too much. Then someone got a taste of their bacon maple bar and word spread out. Not only about the bacon maple bar, but of the 'odd' and 'weird' doughnut combinations that Voodoo Doughnuts has to offer.

Now Voodoo Doughnuts is part of the mainstream 'places to try' in Oregon.

People line up for a long time to get their doughnut fix. It's amazing to see folks really stick around despite the long queue. Last time we went, we were lined up for 30 minutes!

So you ask, 'is it worth it?' For just a piece or a dozen? I guess normally one would say 'no, not worth it'. But there are the fans - as there are for each and every novelty on Earth - and they'd say 'yes it's worth it indeed!'

I guess the owners were able to carve a niche here and managed to make a good name. And good timing too!

Again, not really a healthy choice (but they have 'vegan' doughnuts!), but one or two won't hurt from time to time. And by that I meant pieces... not one or two truckloads!

So go get your Voodoo doughnuts while they're hot!

As their slogan says... "good things come in pink boxes" ;-)

Mobile blog - Unagi!

Now one the faves of my sweetie too, the Unagi (eel) Nigiri.

Specially the freshly prepped ones - and at $1.25 for any sushi plate, hey that's definitely something to be 'eel'-ated about! :-D

I Love Sushi along SW Hall in Beaverton.

Itadakimasu!

Mobile blog - For the love of bread...

A cold and rainy Friday evening...

A bread bowl with clam chowder and a cafe mocha...

Just right!

More at the Panera Bread Cafe. Look 'em up ;-)

To get banned from buffet restaurants...

...arm yourselves with the utensils in the picture!

You won't only get banned from buffets but practically in any gathering where food is involved.

On the bright side, the fork serves also as a rake and a defensive weapon. The spoon can double as a shovel. The knife can be a paddle!

Now go get a set! (I think they are at least 3'- 4' long).

And no, we did not see a Swiss army knife version of it, sorry.

But will let the store owners know. ;-)

Indian cuisine

Last week I was teasing my Indian co-workers on how they should be buying me lunch since India won the Cricket World tournament. And to my surprise, they agreed!

We went to an Indian buffet restaurant called Mayura. When we got there, there was a big group of Indians already there and the place was a bit packed. I honestly felt that I was in India for a moment there!

So with some guidance, I trudged along the buffet line and got food. They only serve chicken for the meat and most of the food is veggie-based. And lots of curry.

I got some yellow curry, this 'Indian pancake' deal, some rice, butter chicken (really good and tasty!), and this grilled chicken (forgot the name).

The food is really good, and when I asked my colleagues how close the food was to the real thing, they said very close.

Overall a very good experience. And yes, I'll be coming to Mayura again and bring sweetie there to try out some good Indian cuisine!

If you're along Nw 23rd in downtown Portland and want to try some Indian food, do check Mayura out.

Cheers!

Mobile blog - Lobster-tilapia feast!

Mmmm... this is really a good combo we got at Red Lobster.

I forgot to take a pic of my dish which was sirloin steak and lobster tail with veggies! So seafood vs. 'landfood' on the same plate. Interesting indeed ;-)

Mobile blog - 54.4?

So... is that the time or temperature showing in the info gauge?

Well... both ;-) 5:44 and 54.4 F. Good timing for the shot!

Mobile blog - Sakura...

It is Cherry Blossom season once again, and my sweetie and I decided to swing by the state capitol and marvel at the Cherry Blossom trees in the park.

It does not rival in any way the blossoms in Seattle, but nevertheless shines on its own. The trees are indeed very nice, specially when in full bloom.

Too bad they don't stay too long in such a state and in a few weeks, their petals will start falling. Which is also another event that is worth seeing - whenever the wind bloes and the soft whitish-pink petals fall. It's like a scene from a Japanese film.

Will be visiting the blossoms again once the petals start falling in 2-3 weeks.

In memoriam...

Our good friend's long time pet and companion just passed away the other day...

It is a sad day for us too, as his pet is not just 'only a dog', but is family. I guess that goes for all animal lovers, regardless.

But as sad as this event is, it also highlights the 'humanity' of people.

That quality of humans to love and care, not only for fellow humans, but for other living things alike. It exemplifies how strong a bond one can have and that we are indeed capable of such, if we really put our minds to it.

But for now... we offer a prayer and moment of silence... *pray*

Mobile blog - Canned Kraft?

There was a small discussion about cheese in a can during one get together with friends.

And it centered on whether there is Kraft cheese in a can. One of our friends swears there is one and I backed her up on it.

I knew it existed since I've seen it personally. And I knew a particular store had it, so we scooted on there, took a pic of the thing, and sent it via mms to my friends.

Proof is served. :-)

Mobile blog - Mizu...

Hai... ;-)