Portland in spring: coffee shop hopping, cherry blossoms, and delicious eats.
three days of remote work around Portland and a book review!
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I write about many things personal: stories of growing up in China, finding home in the U.S., becoming a first-time parent, and everything in between.
Hi friends,
I tagged along on my husband’s conference trip and spent three days working remotely from downtown Portland. Unlike the city’s usual rainy, gray spring, the weather was sunny and warm.
Here is what I drank and ate. Plus, stay until the end for a gripping thriller I devoured during the trip.
Day 1
The moment I step out of our hotel lobby, I am greeted by cherry blossoms in full bloom. They demand my full attention. The last time I saw them like this, bursting open in clusters, was also here, almost exactly this time of the year, eleven years ago.
It’s early morning, the sky still gray. But spring is here.
I walk across a bridge to my first stop of the morning: Roseline Coffee Cafe & Roastery. I order Call Your Cardamon Latte and a Pistachio Rose Croissant. I am traveling, so I go all out. I take a bite of the croissant. I sip my latte. I taste the full-fat milk flavored with cardamon. Both are sweet, maybe too sweet for the start of the day. I regret my decision not ordering my usual Americano. I ride the sugar high for the next two hours and get most of my emails out of the way.
I leave the Roseline Coffee and walk down the street. It’s almost 11 am now, and the sun is out. My next stop is just around the corner. Along the way, more cherry blossom trees greet me. They seem to be everywhere in this city and are impossible to ignore. A cluster of them stands right in front of my next stop: Crema Coffee + Bakery.
I take it easy now and order a decaf Americano. I didn’t expect much from a decaf, but this one is surprisingly delicious. I sit down by the window, watching the world outside. Cherry blossom petals drift through the air, swirling in the breeze. It feels like a dream. I thank my past self for choosing to come to Portland, for craving a change of scenery. And what a change it is.
I work for another two hours until my stomach starts to growl again. Now that I am in my second trimester, I feel hungry every two hours. Usually, that’s an inconvenience at the office when I constantly search for snacks. But today, it works perfectly. I linger under the cherry blossoms for a little while before reluctantly packing up and heading to my lunch spot: Kinboshi Ramen.
I order Tonkotsu Red, a spicy pork bone broth with chashu pork, seasonal vegetables, and a soft-boiled egg. Coming from the Bay Area, I don’t have high expectations for ramen in Portland. But I am pleasantly surprised. The broth is rich and full of depth, not overly salty (one of my pet peeves). The “red” in the broth adds more flavor than the heat.
I take an eight-minute walk to my final coffee shop of the day: Grendel's Coffee House. I order a peach black tea to balance out the ramen. The unsweetened black tea is exactly what I need after a spicy meal. The coldness snaps me back into focus.
I settle in and get back to work. I lose track of time until the barista announces they are closing. With most coffee shops already closed for the day, I head back to our hotel to finish working for the day.
It’s dinner time, and it’s Arthur’s birthday. We were born three months apart in the same year. And he jokes that for three months each year, I am a year older than him. Coming from an engineer, the math doesn’t make sense to me. But regardless, I am glad that his birthday marks the end of those three months when I am a year older. So we celebrate.
We go to Shalom Y'all for dinner. Everything we order is delicious with a delightful twist.
If you go, I recommend roasted eggplant, harvest moon mushrooms, smashed fingerling potatoes (the best potato dish we’ve ever had anywhere), and finally, the chocolate olive oil cake. You don’t need a birthday to enjoy it. The cake is not too sweet and topped with labneh, or Middle Eastern strained yogurt. The slight acidity of the labneh complements the light sweetness of the cake so well that you’d want another piece right away. That is, if you are not yet too full, like us.
Day 2
Not too much to report. I spend the entire day in my hotel room, taking remote calls and grabbing breakfast and dinner from the lobby cafe, with a Chipotle lunch (so creative!).
Day 3
With a few hours to spend before we leave for the airport, I cross the river and venture to Old Town Portland for some last-minute bites and coffee.
For lunch, I stop by Pine Street Market, a bustling food hall with multiple vendors to choose from. After way too much review reading, I settle on Little Thai Peacock, convinced by a review posted from a Thai person who visited with friends. I order #16 House Curry Noodle. It is hearty, bursting with flavors, but balanced out by the freshness of the raw bean sprouts and Chinese broccoli.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters is my last stop before leaving town. I have had plenty of their coffee beans over the years, but it’s my first time visiting one of their physical locations. I am just a little fangirled out. I order a decaf mocha after double checking with the barista that they use dark chocolate and it’s not too sweet. I sit down at a giant table, spread out my things, and try to get some work done before making my way to the airport.
The rain starts to pour as we ride an Uber to the airport. The sunny days are over. It’s okay. I’ve gotten more sun this time in Portland than my last visit. I am content.
This Week’s Tiny Thoughts: a book review!
The Plot (2021) by Jean Hanff Korelitz
This suspenseful mystery-thriller follows Jacob, a struggling writer who learns about a genius plot from one of his most arrogant students, Evan Parker, while teaching at a third-rate MFA program. Years later, Jacob learns of Evan’s sudden death and decides to write the story himself, believing it deserves to be told. The novel becomes a massive success. Until one day, he receives an anonymous message that says: You are a thief.
I’ve never read anything quite like this. It’s a plot within a plot. The book seamlessly weaves between Jacob’s search for the person behind the message and chapters of the novel that he publishes. Eventually, the two worlds collide. You won’t be able to put it down once you start. Be prepared for a wild ride.
I’ll see you next week!
Portland looks like some place! Would have to visit it someday. Great pictures by the way! 🙏
You got the best of Portland in such short trip!