Roxy: Portland, OR

28 March 2008

The facts:

Roxy offers a wide selection of breakfast items in a hipped-up-diner atmosphere. Alternative decor and a thoughtfully funny menu. My favorite entry was the "Vagetarian Omlette." Service was prompt and friendly and left a carafe of coffee for each of us. Everything was less expensive than I expected. Maybe thats a Portland thing.
My Opinion:
Notice that I talked about the atmosphere before the food. Roxy is a utility breakfast. I would eat there if I woke up in the neighborhood, but I would not cross town craving some specific dish they prepare. Everything I ate was up to par and I have no complaints, but nothing really beat par either. I enjoyed the time spent their more than the food.
Overall:
I recommend Roxy to people looking for culture spots in Portland, not those looking for the best breakfast of all time.

Mission's Kitchen: San Francisco, CA

January 2008
The Facts:
Clean, friendly atmosphere offering Mexican and American options. I always get huevos rancheros. The dish can be liquidey, but the tortillas stay wonderfully crisp. They use three eggs instead of two. The salsa is all pico that is not really spicy. There is no enchilada nor green sauce.
My Opinion: This is the highest quality "cheap" breakfast I have found. Very consistent quality and totally decent (and plentiful) coffee. Quick service and a chance to work on my Spanish. I appreciate the third egg and don't mind the wetness from the pico style salsa. I often find myseld adding hot sauce at the table.
Overall:
I wish I was there right now. I stop in pretty much every time I wake up in the mission.

Dhamma Mahavana (California Vipassana Center): North Fork, CA

06 March 2008 - 16 March 2008
The Facts:
Over the ten days my routine changed very little:
Oatmeal, cooked with just water and maybe a pinch of salt. To this added: one banana sliced into half rounds and about five stewed prunes with juice. Mixed up so the bananas weren't so cold. Cleaned the bowl with an end piece of sprouted barley, whole wheat, or rye bread with miso paste spread on it. Some days I finished with a peanut butter, miso, and jelly sandwich on two different kinds of sprouted bread. Some days there was a rice porridge with fennel that I would have instead of the sandwich. One day it had kale in it.
My Opinion:
It would be nice if the food was organic, but beggars can't be choosers.
The oatmeal was fine. Made the way I would, but missing the ghee. I prefer multi whole grain hot cereals, but again beggars...choosers.
The stewed prunes were probably my favorite part. I asked the cooking staff for the recipie. They soak prunes over night and then simmer them with cinnamon and fennel. Apples can also be added.
The rice porridge was awesome, especcially with the kale. The fennel gave it a slight sweetness. I love fennel. The porridge was also really good for my digestive system.
Overall:
I was more than satisfied by the breakfast provided. I would have made the few changes listed above, but hey, the food was free.

Indigo Smoke: Montclair, NJ

2 March 2008
The Facts:
Neo-Southern brunch is served buffet style including grits, sweet potatoes, collard greens, fried and broiled fish, pork ribs, all to the sound of live jazz. There are also omelettes and waffles made to order. Each table gets a carafe of orange juice. Cost is $30 per adult, $15 for children.
I broke my vegetarian diet.
My Opinion:
The collards were the highlight for me. Subtly sweet and not overcooked. Though at first I found myself picking out little pieces of bacon, by the second helping I didn't care.
The sweet potatoes were so sweet they would have been better served with the desserts.
Both preparations of fish were fine, but in no way outstanding.
The pork ribs were were tender, and would probably be the greatest draw for carnivores. I was glad to find crispy end pieces and slightly burned parts. The sauce was sweet, but not so much that it overshadowed the smoky flavor.
The desserts were not special, but that didn't stop me from having two miniature slices of pumpkin pie. I love miniature food.
The service was very slow, which did not bother me at all until I wanted more coffee.
Overall:
I probably would not have enjoyed myself if I hadn't known someone else was flipping the bill, but I blame that mostly on my own dietary habits. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes jazz, collards, and thinks they can eat $30 worth of ribs.