{frolic!}

foodie field trip: a visit to DOC

DOC is one of my favorite foodie spots in Portland so I invited myself and photographer, Lisa Warninger, to visit their kitchen on a chilly fall morning last month. This cozy little restaurant feels like eating in a friend's home. When you walk through the doors to be seated, you walk straight through a tiny farmhouse kitchen where chefs, Paul and Jobie, prepare farmer's market-inspired meals. 

On the morning we visited, the guys had just finished making fifteen gallons of tomato sauce with the last harvest of garden tomatoes. They'll use them all winter in sauces and stews. And the cans will sit on those pretty window shelves which are an awesome use of space.

The menus at DOC are very intuitive and based on whatever the chefs happen to be inspired by that week at market. When we visited, the guys were really excited about these little kuri squash and they showed us how to cook them with saffron couscous. We (OK, I) gobbled it down that afternoon for lunch. If you are willing to forgo tradition, these would be lovely individual servings for Thanksgiving or even served as a side dish. Recipe, below. (Graphic design + lettering by Scout's Honor Co.)

Lisa snapped a few photos of the process. Paul taught us to square off the ends of the squash so they can easily sit on the pan when cooking. 

Paul cleaning out the centers of the squash.

Adding tomatoes to the couscous.

A dramatic gingham curtain separates the kitchen from the dining area. I am impressed that they work in such a small space! 

I love talking to people who are passionate about what they do and it's obvious that these guys love creating fresh, seasonal food and enjoy supporting our local farmers. Thanks, Paul and Jobie for letting us hang out in your kitchen! 

Download the instructions to make Kuri Squash with Saffron Couscous Stuffing below in two recipe cards designed by Scout's Honor Co. Click here to download: Part I and Part II. 

Photography by Lisa Warninger. Graphic design, hand-lettering and illustration by Scout's Honor Co. Recipe by DOC. Created for Frolic!

 

remodelista portland market

I am so excited for The Remodelista Market tomorrow! If you are in Portland, be sure and stop by. It's at Schoolhouse Electric Factory ( 2181 NW Nicolai, Portland, OR 97210 ) from 11-4. Vendors include Anna Mara Flowers, Alder and Co., Olo Fragrance and many, many more! Additional info here!

Photo: Alder and Co. 

alder and co. now online!

So happy to see that Alder and Co. has opened an online shop. They are pretty much my favorite Portland store right now. When I go in, I realize I've blogged like every product they carry. Ha! I think that's a good sign (for me anyways!).

Photos: Alder and Co. Thanks for the heads up, Jane!

etsy pop-up shop at west elm

This is fun! Lynn at Satsuma Press has curated an Etsy pop-up shop that will be held at West Elm in Portland later this month. Some of the amazing vendors include: Pigeon Toe Ceramics, Cori Kindred, Kiki and Polly, Satsuma Press and more. Check out more details right here.

Image courtesy of West Elm.

a walk in the park

One of my resolutions when I returned from Sweden last year, was to look at my hometown with new eyes, through the eyes of a tourist. I noticed when living abroad, I was hyper sensitive to every single detail surrounding me, things I might overlook if I were home. So, lately, I've been trying to take advantage of all the parks in Portland. There are a lot that I never knew about, or just took for granted. 

One of my favorites is Willamette Park on the South side of town. It goes all along the river where you can walk or run on trails, watch sailboats, bicycle, or take a kayak out on the water, all with a perfect view of the skyline. Right now, the lawns are just a mass of little English daisies (Remember the Fleur De Lawn?). It almost looks like snow. It's just heavenly. They have swings too! Have you been swinging lately? I'll admit that I have. It's quite therapeutic. 

Photo of my friend Amber, by me.

ace hotel portland + lisa warninger photography

The Ace Hotel and Lisa Warninger Photography are teaming up for a super fun event this month. Mini Valentine's Day Photo Shoots! You can have your photo taken, editorial-style, at The Ace in Portland for a special rate.

I am pretty in love with these sample shots Lisa took with Skye Velten. So cute. So Portland!

Here are the details:

Valentine's Day Mini Photo Shoots by Lisa Warninger Photography 

At The Ace Hotel.

January 29th + 30th.

$195 Includes styling by Lauren Hartmann + Hair by BlowOut Bar.

Limited availability. Only 8 spots left!

Contact Lisa Warninger for more information: lisawarninger@mac.com

new years trip: the olympic peninsula

I spent New Years up in The Olympic Peninsula with two lovely girlfriends and some strangers. I often dream about jetting off to foreign lands but I forget that there's some pretty cool stuff right under my nose (or a few hours away at any rate). I was floored by the scenery at Lake Crescent, Lake Sutherland and at Hurricane Ridge (pictured). These snapshots don't do it justice at all! Snowshoeing is my snow sport of choice as it requires the least amount of coordination. Ha! 

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend a visit to The Olympic Peninsula and then you can hop over to Canada via the Port Angeles ferries. I didn't have time for Canada this trip.We used to catch the ferry to Victoria every summer to visit my grandfather and I want to go soon. Hoping to make time this year to get out of town at least once a month! What did you all do for New Years?

Snapshots by me.

shop visit: marguerite

 

A few weeks ago, Elizabeth Dye mentioned something about a new boutique over in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood. During my staycation I decided to go visit on a whim, thinking that if Elizabeth liked the shop then I probably would too.

When I walked into Marguerite, I immediately loved it and the friendly sales lady at once seemed familiar. As she chatted away, I suddenly relized that this was Donna, a loyal flower shop customer who used to drive into Portland weekly for a hand-tied bouquet from my tiny shop. We had a lovely reunion and Donna agreed that I could come back soon and snap some photos for you. 

Marguerite was started by Donna's friend, the lovely Daisy Philips and Donna + Daisy (how cute is that?) run the shop together. 

Daisy is a self-professed Anglophile and says she believes everything in your home should be pretty. She clarifies,  "It's not about having a lot of possessions but having a few well-made necessities that make your home beautiful."  I have to agree.

Daisy works long and hard to source unusual items, often from overseas or from small craftspeople in the states. There are luxurious French candles, Austier ceramics , antique bits and bobs, and lots of lovely little things like historic cross-stitch patterns, handmade brooms from Tennessee, and sweet letterpress cards.

Every season the store changes out completely. For summer, the theme is "Eastern Seashore" so the shop is filled with Sea Salts from France, Breton Striped shirts, and French picnic baskets. It's nearly a lifestyle store, stocking everything from pajamas, to papergoods. 

 

Donna is camera-shy but she was sporting adorable espadrilles to coincide with the shop's summer theme!

No blog or website for Marguerite, so you'll have to visit in person at the address below:

Marguerite, 1520 SE Bybee Blvd, Portland. 503-234-7202

Thank you to Donna and Daisy for letting me spend a morning at the shop. Photos by me. More photos on my Flickr.

a very special event!

 

I am so excited to announce a collaboration with Abby Powell Thompson called little winter! Taking place in November, little winter, is one part handmade market and one part blogger meet-up (remember Summer Social?) If you've been wanting to visit Portland, this might be the perfect excuse!  Check out the little winter blog for more details, an amazing list of vendors,  and more updates soon! 

local events: le train bleu + finishing school

1. Le Train Bleu has a pop-up shop open this week. See here for more info!

2. The girls at The English Dept. are hosting a styling workshop for brides. You can make embellishments for your dress, hairpieces, corsages, and veils out of gorgeous flowers and trimmings in a workshop assisted by Elizabeth and all the shop girls! More info here.

Photo: Le Train Bleu.