900 Wall

Hiatus is over. It's been 3 years, is that all? I swear it had been at least 5, but then time slows down when you're busy living life -- or the perception of it does when you pack it full of good livin' and have the photos and the journals to back it up.

What have I been up to? Lot's of working, a few good eats and a little travel. Maybe I'll share it with you someday, maybe not, life happens after all and eventually we have to move on.

And that's what I'm doing now, moving on and getting the blog back on line.

I have to say, I've been inspired by BOR to get some good content out there for people to read who like to eat. In the past I laughed out loud and subjected The Hubby to my outloud reading of good lines of the this blog. I have to say BOR, you are a very funny guy and H-band still thinks he knows you and your intials are Kevin Donnelly, I'm not sure, I see the resemblance, but I think you're actually different people who have the same taste in food and same sense of humor, actually I think Kevin has way better taste in food (and is way funnier). But anyways, I read the most recent posts and I have to say, they were almost good, but not nearly as good as they used to be. Short, boring and not detailed enough. Maybe BOR is bored? Whatever, the Bend food scene is still sweet sauce in my book and is only getting better with all the renewed vitality and creativity the Food Cart revolution / real estate bust has infused.

So since I'm inspired to write, that's what I'm doing. Move over BOR, or thanks for the room, or whatever... anyways, I'm here, not sure how long I'll be here, but I'll see what I can do. No promises.

So, tonight I met a friend at 900 Wall for Happy Hour.

How long has this place been open after Merenda s*** the bed? A while. And this was the first meal I've had. What can I say, living on 1 paycheck makes for lots of homemade yum bowls.

I effing loved the meal.

Was I just easily pleased after so long out of the dining scene? Maybe... but I am a mighty good cook myself and I'll be the first to say (privately to H-man) that I am a damn good cook and if I'm paying for a meal out it better be awesome.

First of all, the Happy Hour deals were great. And the staff seemed stoked to go out of their way to give us way more than we were paying for. Yes, we were 2 hot women (1 prego) but still... I think they really were pumped to give us great food, lots of it, for a great value, and with excellent, attentive service.

Happy Hour at 900 Wall 3-6 pm, nightly. A nice big window since most of us poor suckers work for the man until 5.

I had a $5 glass of house red, some cab/shiraz blend from Penfolds that pregnant lady drooled over and said she could smell from across the table, yes, it was fruity and delicious. And now that I try to find it online I see it for $7, I should buy a bottle of this for home use.

I also had 1 raw oyster for $1.5o. I am easily seduced by oysters and like to pretend that they are more bug than animal and therefore I am still a vegetarian while consuming them. What can I say, there's somthing forbidden and naughty about eating raw flesh, especially raw flesh that feels so velvety and slippery. It was from Fanny Bay, WA (nice, again, naughty), and it was fresh, delicious and super oceany in a refreshing seabreeze kind of way. The squeeze of my lemon wedge made the little guy contract (not very vegetable-like) and the mignonette (think vinaigrette) was a nice touch to dip it in that didn't overpower its subtle flavor with oniony-shallot.

We shared the $5 Caesar Salad (which they split onto 2 plates, thanks guys, above and beyond) and the $6 Portobello Sandwich with Fries (which they also split on 2 plates, at no charge, yes, they are awesome).

Caesar was excellent with a huge thin toast-crisp crouton thing, fine micro-planed grated parm, and some salty roasted things that looked like peppercorns but were more like tiny freeze-dried peas. The lettuce was mostly whole leaves, and the dressing was strong and anchovy-flavored with enough lemon to pass my Caesar test. Win.

Still reading even though I said "Portobello" earlier? Good. The Portobello sandwich is the nemesis of all vegetarians, viewed as the ultimate uninspired cop-out of menu offerings, it is the ususally the last thing I'll order. I'd rather get a side of mashed potatoes and a salad. But this one, this one had onion jam, Gorgonzola, a slice of eggplant, some kind of green (probably arugula) and all on a buttered brioche bun. It was a whole new breed. The onion jam and the Gorgonzola made it, sweet and caramelized with that pungent creaminess.... oh man. And the mushroom was cooked to the perfect medium-rare (meat eaters, STFU, it takes skills to do this right). Served with salt and pepper fries, that were good when hot and fresh but started to harden up and dry out as they cooled. Not the best fries, but delicious dipped in the little blue dish of ketchup - so fancy.

The total for 2 full bellies, was $20. With a generous tip as a thank you for the really nice plate ups, I definitely got my dollar's worth. If I bring hubby next time we'd probably have to spend $30 to get him full, but still, for fancy food, this would be well worth it.

I think I put off going to 900 Wall for so long because I really didn't think it could stand up to my memory of Merenda. But, I'm happy to say it was really delicious, and they'll always have that great big wall of windows offering the scenic view of the peasants scurrying by on the street.