Showing posts with label Yelp Elite Event. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yelp Elite Event. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Red Star Tavern (Yelp Elite Event)
On August 3, 2014, I attended a Yelp Elite Event at Red Star Tavern, located in downtown Portland, Oregon.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Portland Meadows (Yelp Elite Event)
I've been ridiculously busy with a new job and my endless string of YouTube videos. However, I did make it to Yelp's final Elite event of 2013 last week at Portland Meadows.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Veggie Grill (Yelp Elite Event)
After several months away from Yelp Elite events, I attended the November 3 Yelp Elite event at Veggie Grill. Before this event, it was usually one of three situations: (1) too far of a drive (when I still lived in Salem); (2) too late for me to attend (I'm a weird guy who goes to bed early and gets up stupid early); or (3) had other plans that day.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Bossa Nova (Yelp Event)
On February 2, 2012, I attended a Yelp function at Bossa Nova Ballroom. Several food vendors were present, including Pine State Biscuits, The Original Diner, and Crave Bake Shop.
Yelp Elites had exclusive access for an hour (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.). After that, the event was opened to other Yelpers. There was alcohol at the event, but I passed on it. Heard it was a good selection. I only stayed for the Elite hour, then left. I had already been eating for about six straight hours by that point, and a food coma was imminent.
My Yelp review, posted mere hours after the event, appropriately sums up my positive experience. Pictures will follow my review Enjoy!
___________________
(Review posted on Yelp 2/4/12)
(Reads sign at The Original booth)
"Pork apple fritters and bacon icing."
(grabs food, eats, blacks out from experience)
(Goes to Pine State Biscuits booth)
"Biscuits and Gravy...mushroom gravy or sausage gravy"
(takes a bowl, eats, blacks out again)
(Goes to Crave Bake Shop booth)
"Gluten-free, dairy-free hot chocolate cupcakes!"
(does a happy panda dance in my head)
Yeah, you get the point. The food was awesome.
Oh yeah, a vivid event actually happened. Am I allowed to mention it in more detail on this site, or should I have stuck to the first rule of Fight Club? Guess I already failed on that. Um, am I even allowed to take photos of this? Out of professionalism, I didn't, but I'll never be able to look at a skateboard or listen to "The Power of Love" the same way ever again. Who woulda thunk "Back to the Future" would have such a vivid effect? Thanks, Don B. Or should I say..."DOC!!!! DOC!!!!" :-)
For food, the aforementioned pork apple fritter was the star. The quintessential combination of sweet and savory met a slightly crunchy exterior. Bacon icing is the bomb diggity. It'll be a regular menu item at The Original very soon. Holy mother of win!
The seafood chowder from Salty's also deserves a mention. Just money. So I can't pull off the saying like Guy Fieri (and will never be mistaken for him), but whatever. It's delicious.
Since I was driving, no alcohol for me again, but would it have been OK to do several shots of bacon icing instead? Oh, too weird, eh? Sad panda.
While the food and company were great, as always, I have to say the experience was not necessarily five stars overall. In general, I'm not a fan of the bar or club-like scenes, preferring the quieter, intimate functions. Also, the lines for food (if going at the wrong time) was the equivalent of an orderly zoo. I'm personally happy I got my few bites in. But I snapped pics of most of the food, so I consider that a win.
Thanks again, Don B., for a cool event!
Yelp Elites had exclusive access for an hour (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.). After that, the event was opened to other Yelpers. There was alcohol at the event, but I passed on it. Heard it was a good selection. I only stayed for the Elite hour, then left. I had already been eating for about six straight hours by that point, and a food coma was imminent.
My Yelp review, posted mere hours after the event, appropriately sums up my positive experience. Pictures will follow my review Enjoy!
___________________
(Review posted on Yelp 2/4/12)
(Reads sign at The Original booth)
"Pork apple fritters and bacon icing."
(grabs food, eats, blacks out from experience)
(Goes to Pine State Biscuits booth)
"Biscuits and Gravy...mushroom gravy or sausage gravy"
(takes a bowl, eats, blacks out again)
(Goes to Crave Bake Shop booth)
"Gluten-free, dairy-free hot chocolate cupcakes!"
(does a happy panda dance in my head)
Yeah, you get the point. The food was awesome.
Oh yeah, a vivid event actually happened. Am I allowed to mention it in more detail on this site, or should I have stuck to the first rule of Fight Club? Guess I already failed on that. Um, am I even allowed to take photos of this? Out of professionalism, I didn't, but I'll never be able to look at a skateboard or listen to "The Power of Love" the same way ever again. Who woulda thunk "Back to the Future" would have such a vivid effect? Thanks, Don B. Or should I say..."DOC!!!! DOC!!!!" :-)
For food, the aforementioned pork apple fritter was the star. The quintessential combination of sweet and savory met a slightly crunchy exterior. Bacon icing is the bomb diggity. It'll be a regular menu item at The Original very soon. Holy mother of win!
The seafood chowder from Salty's also deserves a mention. Just money. So I can't pull off the saying like Guy Fieri (and will never be mistaken for him), but whatever. It's delicious.
Since I was driving, no alcohol for me again, but would it have been OK to do several shots of bacon icing instead? Oh, too weird, eh? Sad panda.
While the food and company were great, as always, I have to say the experience was not necessarily five stars overall. In general, I'm not a fan of the bar or club-like scenes, preferring the quieter, intimate functions. Also, the lines for food (if going at the wrong time) was the equivalent of an orderly zoo. I'm personally happy I got my few bites in. But I snapped pics of most of the food, so I consider that a win.
Thanks again, Don B., for a cool event!
 |
| Biscuit w/mushroom gravy from Pine State Biscuits |
 |
| Pork apple fritter w/bacon icing Worship the pig! |
 |
| Crave Bake Shop was there! Yes! |
 |
| It's glorious...! |
 |
| Banh mi samplers |
 |
| Potato salad |
 |
| Seafood chowder! |
Friday, February 3, 2012
Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe (Yelp Elite Event)
On January 23, 2012, Yelp Elite members gathered in Beaverton to basically eat all the chocolate and alcohol at Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe.
Dangit, why can't I have reserve stomachs? Even one more stomach would be convenient for occasions like this.
Everything was amazing, as always. Don B. strikes again with another epic event! Already coming in with a full belly (bad idea, Aaron), I still sampled a few chocolates. My personal favorite was the dark chocolate and almond bark with sea salt. The use of dark chocolate allows the sea salt to punch the palate even harder, making it more of a savory experience. Even the bittersweet chocolate cake I sampled was awesome. "Gotta let the food speak for itself." It did. Time for this panda to go to his happy place!
Master chocolatier Julian Rose unveiled his latest truffle creation (available to the public February 1) that uses Pinot Noir. He will have a new creation every month, so be sure to keep going back! That Pinot Noir truffle (wine from Willamette Valley) was breathtaking. A slightly crunchy-hard shell encased a mind-blowing soft chocolaty interior. I'm surprised I didn't start dancing as I ate it. Maybe I coulda set off an impromptu flash mob. I still detected a fruity hint of the Pinor Noir in all that. A true testament to Mr. Rose's skill. Yes, he's one of the 10 best chocolatiers in North America. Now I know why. All the chocolates are stunning, some too beautiful to eat. I'd eventually muster the courage to nosh away, but damn.
I'm sure the milkshakes and the hot cocoa (each laced with House Spirits Coffee Liqueur) were off the charts. People raved about the wine. Heck man, there was beer there! But yeah, gotta be responsible...I had to drive home! Hold the phone...we could take chocolate home with us, too?! Winner winner, chocolate dinner! All we needed was the kitchen sink to make a Yelp appearance!
And see? There's a good reason to have chocolate at night. Enough sugar to stave the food coma off until you reach home. So my stomach felt like I ingested two medicine balls after about 10 hours of eating. No worries! Still had room for chocolate -- and I was up early the next morning for the gym as always!
Enough talk. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves now. Enjoy!
Dangit, why can't I have reserve stomachs? Even one more stomach would be convenient for occasions like this.
Everything was amazing, as always. Don B. strikes again with another epic event! Already coming in with a full belly (bad idea, Aaron), I still sampled a few chocolates. My personal favorite was the dark chocolate and almond bark with sea salt. The use of dark chocolate allows the sea salt to punch the palate even harder, making it more of a savory experience. Even the bittersweet chocolate cake I sampled was awesome. "Gotta let the food speak for itself." It did. Time for this panda to go to his happy place!
Master chocolatier Julian Rose unveiled his latest truffle creation (available to the public February 1) that uses Pinot Noir. He will have a new creation every month, so be sure to keep going back! That Pinot Noir truffle (wine from Willamette Valley) was breathtaking. A slightly crunchy-hard shell encased a mind-blowing soft chocolaty interior. I'm surprised I didn't start dancing as I ate it. Maybe I coulda set off an impromptu flash mob. I still detected a fruity hint of the Pinor Noir in all that. A true testament to Mr. Rose's skill. Yes, he's one of the 10 best chocolatiers in North America. Now I know why. All the chocolates are stunning, some too beautiful to eat. I'd eventually muster the courage to nosh away, but damn.
I'm sure the milkshakes and the hot cocoa (each laced with House Spirits Coffee Liqueur) were off the charts. People raved about the wine. Heck man, there was beer there! But yeah, gotta be responsible...I had to drive home! Hold the phone...we could take chocolate home with us, too?! Winner winner, chocolate dinner! All we needed was the kitchen sink to make a Yelp appearance!
And see? There's a good reason to have chocolate at night. Enough sugar to stave the food coma off until you reach home. So my stomach felt like I ingested two medicine balls after about 10 hours of eating. No worries! Still had room for chocolate -- and I was up early the next morning for the gym as always!
Enough talk. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves now. Enjoy!
 |
| Along with this sampling menu, we could try ANY chocolate in the cases! |
 |
| One of my personal favorites Dark Chocolate Almond Bark with Sea Salt |
 |
| Champagne Raspberry Moose Truffle (foreground) |
 |
| Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Bark |
 |
| Master Chocolatier Julian Rose with his Pinot Noir Truffles! |
 |
| Pinot Noir Truffles Using wine from the Willamette Valley...breathtaking! |
 |
| The wine that goes in those Pinot Noir Truffles! |
 |
| Bittersweet Chocolate Layer Cake...amazing! |
 |
| More free chocolate to take home! |
 |
| Tried the Creme Brulee Heart Truffle Again, just out of this world! |
 |
| Don B. (Yelp Portland) thanking everyone! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)