Tom Douglas

Pok Pok, Portland/ by Shelley Lance and Robyn Wolfe

Last Wednesday’s lunch at Pok Pok was one of the highlights of our Portland adventure.  The place was jamming, so our pleasant server invited us to sit in the outdoor covered dining area.  We were seated near the take out window (photo second from top) at a  wooden picnic table with its own heat lamp where we were perfectly comfortable.  Bamboo, sheets of corrugated metal, strings of twinkly lights, and pitchers filled with cold water and strips of Asian palm leaves set the stage for a casual, exotic, and festive atmosphere.

First we ordered drinks.  There’s a whole list of  “drinking vinegars, ” some housemade, some not, which are diluted with soda water.  A tall glass of grapefruit drinking vinegar with soda was my favorite- so refreshing and delicious!  We also tried the tamarind drinking vinegar (bottom photo), and honey drinking vinegar with tequila and lime.  In the interests of research, we ordered a cocktail of coconut milk, vodka, and lime which was served in a cold, stainless steel martini glass.  Then our food arrived.

First up was Kung Yak Phao, a plate of giant prawns (photo third from top), brined and charcoal grilled and served with a delicious “burn yer lips” lime-garlic-cilantro and roast chile sauce. The aroma coming off those prawns was divine!  Next we tried Phat Siew Muu, a plate of fresh wide rice noodles with pork, Chinese broccoli, and egg.  Soft noodly succulence!

We didn’t have enough time or appetite to try more food as we’d been eating all day long and had to grab a cab back downtown for the IACP conference, but I’m definitely heading straight to Pok Pok on my next trip to Portland.

April 27th, 2010