Portland Dining Month 2016

It's no secret that Portland is a great dining hub. Our city is full of upscale restaurants (and just as many gourmet food carts) and endless food possibilities. Unfortunately, even as a lover of food, it's not financially possible to hit up all the restaurants I want to try throughout the year, but Portland Dining Month is when to plan to hit up the most coveted on your list. The whole of March is set aside for food, food and more food, and I love it.

Here's why Portland Dining Month is awesome (and those in other cities across the nation, too): You dine at any of the participating restaurants and get three courses for $29 per diner. Now, last year we dined at three restaurants. This year, a lot has been going on and we have only made it to the one so far, but there's still a week to go.

Our choice for dinner this last week was Urban Fondue. We'd been there before, but not for many years. I'm a lover of fondue and this place basically gives you all the fixings to create a filling and relaxing dinner with mix-and-match meals that come with your choice of meats (or veggies), a bunch of awesome sauces and a broth in which to cook said meats and veggies. First course was a choose-your-own cheese fondue in which to dip breads in (though you can add on other dippers, like apples). Two share the starter and dessert, so we compromised on the brie and Gorgonzola fondue that had crunchy hazelnuts in it that made for a fun mix of textures.

In between our first course and second course, the waiter came by to tell us all about the 9 different sauces. Obviously, the meats and veggies have no seasoning on them, so you're getting extra flavor from the broth and sauces. My favorites were the blackberry ketchup and the mushroom demi, and of course Eric loved the peanut sauce. The smoked tomato aioli was also pretty yummy. So, then we ordered:

photo credit: Eric Botteron

I picked the East Meets West, which was basically a twist on surf and turf. It came with chicken, pork, prawns and scallops. Eric ordered the Chef's Cut, which was strictly pork and steak. Each selection comes with other items to mix it up. Ours came with little tortellinis, mushrooms, asparagus, squash, zucchini, carrots and parsnips. We got our foods with beef broth, because that was the chef's suggestion, but there are several others to choose from to go with any of your selections. The waiter gives you a quick low down on how to cook your stuff: 

use your timer to cook everything for 3 minutes

don't put raw meats on your plate

don't use the sauces until after you've cooked your meats

have fun!

click on pic to see the menu larger

You might think that waiting 3 minutes between each bite might be boring and make you twice as hungry, but you can do two fondue forks at a time, plus it allows you to slow down and enjoy each thing you put in your mouth. Also, by the time you've made it through your plate of meats and extras, you find that you're actually full, but hopefully not too full for dessert!

Again, we had to choose a dipping chocolate to share for our dessert. I would have picked tiramisu, Eric probably would have picked peanut butter and chocolate, but we decided to forgo either of our go-tos and went instead with the Heath Bar chocolate fondue. Your dessert plate comes with a variety of yummy options: marshmallows, cream puffs, cheesecake, cookie dough, bananas, strawberries, pineapple, doughnut pieces and pound cake. 

  

There is clearly something for everyone on the dessert plate and we were able to give everything a try and then decide who would eat more of what the other didn't like as much. Case in point: I can't eat pineapple, so Eric ate those bites and I had the strawberries. Of course, if neither of you can eat something, or you have food allergies, the wait staff point blank asks if this is the case before recommending anything or bringing anything to your table. That way they can leave something out and sub in something else or can steer you toward a better option based on your tastes and requirements.

I look forward to trying more restaurants this year, in what is left of March and beyond. Portland has opened quite a few new venues that sound amazing. Look for Dining Month in your own city, or plan your next trip to Portland in March. Our new campaign states "Portland is Happening Now" and it isn't wrong. We are becoming more and more popular every year, especially in the summer. Find more participating restaurants at Travel Portland, and more resources to plan your trip. Make your dining reservations through OpenTable to get points that you can trade in for free dining.

Which restaurants on the list would you be most excited to try?

Disclosure: I received a gift certificate to dine at Urban Fondue from Travel Portland, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Travel More Comfortably with Zensah Coffee Socks

When I travel, I almost always bring along a pair of slippers or fuzzy socks to wear in the hotel room, because my feet are always cold. The problem is that they sometimes get gross and I can't wear them outside with shoes, because slippers. Zensah started out making compression socks, which I also wear on long plane rides, because I have poor circulation, hence my feet being cold much of the time. They have now branched out into other travel socks that are also a must for your trips.

Who's ever sat next to that person who gets really comfortable on the plane? I want to be that person, but gross, right? This is why I always have something on my feet when I fly. Zensah knows about people like me. Worried about regular socks being stinky or not warm enough, so I just leave my shoes on and feel uncomfortable. Or I pull out my slippers and then have to struggle to get them on in the no leg room and then back on when we land. Zensah has developed comfort socks for travelers made with coffee fibers. Say what? It's true. This eco-friendly fiber is both green and doesn't trap odors, so your socks won't ever smell and gross out your fellow passengers. 

These coffee socks are woven with Far Infrared Ray fibers (called Innergy yarn) that make them more durable, give your foot more support and better circulation and also traps your body heat to keep your feet warm without making them sweaty. The fabric is moisture-wicking and breathable while being warm and comfortable.

So, when you're on the plane and it's super chilly, which it seems to be a lot of the time, you can wear these without needing extra warmth. They are also cushiony, so walking down the aisle to the bathroom isn't hard on your feet and you won't feel like you're picking up all the dirt and germs.

I was given a sample pair of coffee socks at the Travel Goods Show and even though I was in Vegas, I knew I'd still be testing them out. My room was pretty cold, even with the air conditioner on low, because it had hardwood and tile floors. I swapped out my normal slippers for these socks and walked around making food and such, then sat on the couch to do a bit of work and watch TV. I was surprised by how cushioning they really were. It was like I was wearing my slippers again, except my ankles were also warm. Bonus! I couldn't feel the hard floors like I would with regular socks on and the cold didn't seep in either. 

Not only that, but they have a bit of arch support, which you can see as the band in the middle of the foot. That's the other cool thing about these socks: They have a clear right and left foot, so it can mold to your foot instead of stretching out to fit either foot like a regular sock. I felt like these were nice and tight (but not too tight) and supportive and kept my feet from getting chilly when the air blew on me even when the rest of me was cold and I had to put on a sweater. I'll definitely be packing these for my future trips, and I would even if they weren't cute. Luckily, they are. They come in several colors for both men and women and wear fairly good inside your favorite sneakers, though you might have to loosen the laces.

Now, if you think that wasting perfectly good coffee on socks is a shame, know that these are made from the fiber of the shell residue, so the same plants that provide the beans that you have for your morning cup of Joe can also be used for warming your feet! That's pretty awesome and multi-tasking.

Other Specs

Where to buy: On Zensah website

How much: $29.99/pair

Colors: Cloud | Sky | Rosy (shown) | Twilight

Fabric: Special fibers coated with oxide minerals retain naturally occurring Far Infrared (FIR) Rays. Extra-soft looped knitting on inside.

Loving Zensah's sock innovation? Find them online:

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Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of Zensah coffee socks for the purposes of this review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Cheeki Ready-to-Wear Undies For Faster Packing

I don't know about you, but I like to keep my travel bag packed with as many necessities as possible, so when I'm ready to travel, I only have to toss in my shoes and travel wardrobe (which obviously will be different, depending on where I'm going, so I can't keep everything packed like I would like). Having fresh undies in my bag at all times is on the top of my list and having new ones is always nice, but then you gotta wash the before you can wear them and they can get all musty hanging around in your carry-on. Cheeki, apparently, knows my pain.

For ladies that always like to have a spare pair in their purse, their car or their gym bag (and their carry-on), Cheeki has created adorable undies for ladies in different styles that are individually packaged and hermetically-sealed, so you can wear them immediately. You don't have to worry about who touched them at the store, because no one has ever touched them. They're clean and ready to wear right out of the pouch. 

I snagged a pair of the Frisky Business at the Travel Goods Show. These are one size fits most and have the most coverage. I wore them on my car ride back from Vegas. That amounted to a full 17 hours of sitting in the car, with a few pit stops for food and potty breaks. You know how a regular long day of sitting at your desk can make that situation down there.

I love the look of the Frisky Business bikini. They are soft and edged with lace. (You can get a similar bikini without lace, too.) Now, I don't know about you, but many times when you get lacy undies, they either create pantylines (boo to VPL!) or the lace has no give and cuts into your hips...or both. I had neither of these problems with Cheeki. In fact, they were so comfortable, it was like I has owned them for years, except the lace wasn't all stretched out and they didn't slide down the longer I wore them. They were like my second skin, but in a good way. 

Now, don't judge me, but after I finally made it home, I basically just fell into bed. I took two seconds to chuck off my jeans before burrowing under the covers and succumbing to sleep. That means I also slept in these undies. Even after a full 24+ hours, these didn't ride up on me either, even with moving around in bed during sleep. You'll be glad to know that I did get up and immediately throw them in the wash. After, they were just as awesome as when they came out of the bag. I'm a convert.

Okay, so here's what I will say regarding the sizing. These fit me perfectly. I generally will wear a size 6 or S/M in undies, so I'm not sure if they will fit "most". Anything larger than a Medium or 7 probably won't find these that comfortable or get the desired coverage. However, the other two style (the thongs and g-string) will probably fit more people who like less coverage.

So, no matter where you might need an extra pair of undies, or if you just like having brand new ones on hand when you travel or hit the gym, you don't have to keep your emergency pair in a zip top bag like you're carrying around your lunch. Invest in a pair (or seven) of Cheeki undies and carry them wherever you need them, because you never know what'd going to happen. The airline could lose your luggage (if you make the mistake of checking a bag). You could accidentally dump orange juice in your lap (this has totally happened to me). Your "friend" may come unexpectedly. You end up spontaneously spending the night somewhere. You name it and a spare pair could be a lifesaver.

Other specs
Where to purchase: On the Cheeki website
How much: $12/pair, with free shipping in the U.S.
Colors available: In classic black or blush (so they go under everything you own)
Fabric: Microfiber with 100% cotton lining
Styles: Frisky Business lace-lined bikini (shown) | Racy Lacy thong | Sleekini Bikini | Go-Go g-string | Minima thong 

I'm in love with this brand and this little packet and will definitely be getting more for my life. If you love this idea too, go buy your own pair or find them here:

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Disclosure: I was given a pair of Cheeki undies for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.