Portland Travel Diary - Dash Of Panache

Happy Monday! Today I’m sharing about my quick trip to Portland I took a couple of weeks back. Portland was such a unique and fun city! If you love food, coffee, nature and wine I highly recommend visiting one day. I wish we had more time to do the scenic and beautiful hikes, but that just gives me a great reason to go back! I thought it would be fun to share what I did, where I ate and where to get the best coffee. Enjoy!

coffee

Heart Coffee Roasters

Delicious coffee and minimal/cool aesthetic that doesn’t try too hard. If you love espresso, they roast a different one every day.

Daniel Wellington Watch | F21 Jacket c/o | Celine Sunnies

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Portland is actually the birthplace of the original Stumptown Coffee. You will see this coffee roasted in major coffee houses all around the country. They are famous for their Cold Brew (Iced Coffee)- delicious.

Wine Tasting

Some say Oregon will one day be the new Napa for wine tasting- my boyfriend and I love and appreciate great wine, so we decided to check it out for ourselves and visit some wineries. We were a bit spoiled having a friend in the wine industry take us around to some of the best spots. PS: This region is widely known for their delicious Pinot Noirs.

Domaine Drouhin Winery

What we loved about this spot was the beautiful location and the fact that we actually saw how the wine was made on the property. It’s incredible- the entire place smelled like freshly squeezed grapes. I don’t know if that’s how it is all the time, or if we just came on a great day. I would recommend this winery if you want the “Napa” experience in Oregon. It was a bit hectic and it felt like more of a bar than a tasting room. But like I said, it was a great experience and the vineyards are so scenic and beautiful.

L’Angolo Estate Winery *

*Coming Soon! – We were lucky enough to tour and taste a bit at L’Angolo Estates before its opening! Luke and I got a sneak peek of this beyond gorgeous property and wine room and we cannot wait to come back when it’s open for business. This one is going to be incredible – just look at the interior!

Soter Vineyards

Out of the tasting rooms we visited, this one is at the top of the list. You definitely need reservations for wine tasting, and you can even do a food and wine pairing package, (which I highly recommend – the kitchen smelled AMAZING). When you walk into Soter, you feel as if you are in a luxurious cabin in the Autumn. All of my senses were awakened. It smelled like Thanksgiving dinner was being cooked for you, sounds of relaxing Coldplay and Bon Iver resounded around the fireplace, and cozy leather chairs surrounded the fire. The wine was delectable to say the least. We tried everything from whites to reds to bubbles, and it was all incredible. The friendliness of the staff and sommeliers was like none other! I took so many pictures but they really don’t do the place justice. This is a winery that you must visit!

Where to eat

Olympia Provisions

If you love quality meats and charcuterie boards, this is the place for you! We had the most delicious tapas for lunch- salamis, sausages, prosciuttos, cheeses- the list can go on. It was a smorgasbord of deliciousness. The cooking has a Mediterranean and Spanish kind of flair to it. We even took some meats and cheese to-go for our dinner party that night.

Red Hills Market

This market/cafe is not in Portland, but in the Dundee wine region near the wineries visited. We grabbed lunch here before heading off to our wine tastings, and realized that this is a local hotspot where winemakers will grab a bite to eat. We had the most delicious wood-fire pizzas (3 to be exact), but if you are in the mood for a light salad or a sandwich, they have plenty of options on their menu.

Mediterranean Exploration Company

THIS PLACE. If you like Mediterranean food, go here! First off, they have great cocktails, but after a day of wine tasting I was feeling something like a light iced tea, which I had no idea that this was one of their specialties. This isn’t any ordinary iced tea. This is a Moroccan Mint Iced tea brewed in-house, which came in an adorable little cup filled with crushed ice (it looked like a snow cone) with a side of mint leaves and a vase filled with more iced tea for refills. What I loved most about the extensive menu at M.E.C. was their Chefs Tasting Menu. This option is a set price per person at your table, and you give the chef liberty to choose his favorite dishes and make a customized menu for your table. You don’t know what you are going to get, so it’s a surprise every time! We were not disappointed! He picked out the best plates that the restaurant had to offer, and even brought out food we probably would never have ordered, but so glad we tried.

Sincerely Jules Joggers || Nike Shoes ( I got these at the Nike Headquarters here in Portland!!) || Masur Gavriel Bag || Leather Jacket || Giving Keys Necklace

Other random Things

The Ace Hotel

Such a great spot to stay or even visit! They have a Stumptown Coffee shop in the hotel and also an old school Photo Booth- one of my favorite souvenirs from the trip is that black and white strip of pictures. I will keep it forever! If you appreciate interior design and architecture, you will love this spot.