10 Things to Try this Summer

Food + Travel

It’s the 4th of July holiday week! Are you fully ready to get your summer on? This is that odd time of the season when it feels like summer will stretch on forever, but I know in the back of my mind that I’ll in fact blink, and it’ll be September. So this year I’m looking to make a little summer bucket list – before there’s only a week of August left.

DECLUTTER SOMETHING

I know we usually focus on spring cleaning, but summer is the perfect time to tackle a major purge. Things are a little slower, the kids might be out of school, you might have relatives visiting. So take the opportunity to tackle a little something. It doesn’t have to be major. Maybe it’s just a dresser. Or the pantry. Or the utility closet that just collects…whatever is lying around. Make a point to fully clean out one thing and you’ll be amazed at how much lighter your spirit feels. And who knows, you may get on a roll and tackle more than you thought you ever could!

READ SOMETHING (that isn’t digital)

Have you heard about Audible? It’s apparently what all the kids are doing while they run, wash dishes, or commute these day. And while I’m a big fan of maximizing time, I firmly believe there is something to be said for reading. Actual reading. Words on a page, held by your actual hands, that requires attention and focus. And I’m also a big fan of picking up a physical book. Something on your phone or tablet doesn’t count. Get immersed in something that isn’t backlit, even if it’s just the latest exposé in Vanity Fair (no shame in catching up on your magazines). I’ve let go of the massive summer reading list goal because #reallife but I would like to knock out at least one full book. I’m considering options off of this list, this list, this list or this list.

HIT THE BEACH (duh)

While Bay Area beaches are not usually the lay out and bake kind (more like the bundle up and power walk until you can’t stand the wind anymore), but there’s still something about sticking your toes in the sand that screams summer. Then there’s always hopping a plane to Hawaii – which I’m also seriously considering.

HIT THE ROAD

There’s something to be said for a good ole fashioned road trip. I’m lucky that places like wine country, Big Sur and the Sonoma Coast are in my backyard making short trips super easy. We’ve yet to brave a super long road trip with a toddler. Airplane travel doesn’t intimidate but hours upon hours in a car with a threenager who does not sleep….I’m not feeling so brave. Anyone done it and not only survived but had fun?! I’d love your tips.

MAKE FROSÉ

Yes, I remember it was the thing last summer, but frosé is still just so good.

AND FIND YOUR SIGNATURE COCKTAIL

Summer is primetime for impromptu guests, making it very handy to have an impromptu cocktail recipe up your sleeve. Find something that you truly love and that doesn’t include a lot of esoteric ingredients. Whip one up for a couple of nights until you feel confident you’ve got it down. Then you’ll never leave your friends feeling thirsty but you always won’t be bumbling around at the bar.

MAKE SOMETHING TASTY

A spicy pesto with soft and creamy ricotta and a touch of salty prosciutto – this is the perfect 30-minute summer dinner.

THROW A PAR-TAY

When throwing a summer party, yes, you can go all out and while it’s certainly rather fun, it is by no means required. This is the season for super easy entertaining. Nothing needs to be complicated. Little details can elevate the dining room table you only just cleared of this month’s mail. Throw down a simple linen table cloth, layer your plates and tie a cloth napkin in an off kilter knot. Break out a beautiful bowl for salad. Vintage wood boards make perfect serving platters. And while my yard isn’t really party ready, I’m certainly an advocate for bringing your gathering outside! Alicia’s yard is definitely goals.

SIMPLIFY YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE

I’ve fully embraced the five minute face and consider myself better for it.

What’s on your summer to-do list? Maybe a little camping? An outdoor movie night? Make your own ice cream? The days are long but the weeks are going to fly by friends. I hope you can enjoy every precious moment.

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Where to Eat in Portland

Food + Travel

Did you catch yesterday’s post about my recent jaunt to Portland?? I was so inspired by all the gorgeous design I saw in just 36 hours in the city. In fact, I saw so much I saved all the beautiful (and delicious) places to eat in Portland for today’s post. Think of this an install of my Delicious Spaces series on overdrive.

Obviously, Portland is quite the food mecca – it’s virtually impossible to eat (or drink) poorly there. However, I am particularly fond of eating in places whose spaces also inspire. I visited some gorgeous spots during my stay, but I suspect they’re only a drop in the beautiful Portland restaurant bucket. Travel Portland, might you have me back just for a restaurant-focused visit? I’d gladly eat seven meals a day!

Without further ado, pretty and yummy spots to eat in Portland.

CAFFEINATE: COAVA COFFEE
1300 Southeast Grand Avenue
Open weekdays 6am – 6pm, weekends 7am to 6pm

Coava Coffee is a well known Portland-based coffee roaster with multiple locations in the city. However, their space on Grand Ave was formerly the original roastery that they’ve since turned into a cool industrial-style coffee house. While it offers a more typically Portland industrial vibe, I loved the beautiful wood-wrapped espresso bar.

Coava serves selections of hand poured coffee using their self-designed coffee cone filter – it was quite pretty – as well as espresso. If you’re headed to Spartan Shop (click here if you don’t know what I’m talking about), this is a great space to grab a yummy coffee either before or after your browsing session.

EAT: PROUD MARY
2012 NE Alberta St
open 7am – 4pm, kitchen closes at 3pm

As soon as I heard Proud Mary was an Australia-based cafe, I knew I had to check it out. I loved both the food and the coffee in Australia so much. The Flat White is a genius coffee invention. I would hop a plane back to Sydney for the perfect cup. Or now, just hop a plane back to Portland!

Proud Mary is in Northeast on well-known Alberta Street, but if you aren’t looking carefully you might miss her. She’s on a block with just a couple of other little shops, but she’s worth searching out. The space itself is light-filled thanks to a bevy of skylights. Polished concrete floors juxtapose Muuto pendants and simple picnic table-style seating. I sat at the bar and was able to watch the nonstop coffee making in action.

Proud Mary offers all-day breakfast, delicious lunch, specialty coffee (roasted in-house), specialty tea, fresh juice, smoothies, cakes, and pastries. You can order at the counter or sit and enjoy table service. There was many an Aussie working there when I visited and I totally felt that genuine, warm, fun and sometimes a little bit cheeky Australian vibe. I had the most amazing hot cake (below!) while there. It was stunning and definitely the most decadent (cream cheese is involved) yet beautiful pancake meal I’ve ever had. If you love breakfast food at any time of the day, I highly recommend this Proud Mary.

EAT: MILK GLASS MRKT
2150 N Killingsworth St
open 9am – 3pm daily

Milk Glass Mrkt is a darling gem of a lunch spot tucked into the Overlook neighborhood of North Portland. What started out as a food-truck years ago has turned into an order-at-the-counter cafe that serves amazingly delicious, fresh, seasonal dishes that put your sandwich-from-the-corner-store to shame.

TREAT: BLUE STAR DONUTS
921 NW 23rd Ave, among multiple locations
open 7:30am – 8pm, or until they run out

While I’m not typically a donut person, when I heard that Blue Star bills themselves as donuts for grownups, I was intrigued. Flavors include Meyer Lemon and Key Lime Curd, Orange Pistachio and Buttermilk Old Fashioned. Definitely more interesting then your grocery store variety. I appreciated that my donut was not a total sugar bomb, wasn’t overly fried or squishy. This donut definitely knew how to adult. With Blue Star locations dotted throughout Portland, I think I’d probably succumb to a donut craving more often than not.

EAT: MÅURICE
921 SW Oak Street
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm

One of my favorite things about dining in Europe is enjoying a glass of wine with lunch. It’s a very typical habit. Scandanavian-inspired luncheonette Måurice in the West End of downtown Portland seemed like the perfect place to practice that lovely European tradition. With only a smattering of seats all painted a bright white, a mix of antique flatware and a lovingly handwritten daily menu, everything about Måurice is picture perfect.

Opened by well-known Portland pastry chef Kelly Murray, Måurice offers what’s called fika, the traditional Scandinavian coffee-break that often features beautiful baked goods starting at 10am. At lunch deliciously pretty light fare comes from the kitchen. While there I enjoyed everything from oysters and mussels to a gorgeous risotto and of course a few tasty desserts. I could have stayed all day. Well at least until they close at 3pm.

EAT: NOMAD.PDX
575 NE 24th Ave
open 5pm – 12am

Last but not least, I present you Nomad PDX. It’s rare that I have a dining experience that I know will stick with me for a long time. But the dinner I enjoyed at Nomad, a gorgeous yet unassuming space in Northeast Portland was truly special. Nomad features a multi-course tasting menu – which I know sounds super fancy. But Nomad’s genius is the delivery of sophisticated, truly creative dishes in a really accessible environment. There’s no need for fancy outfits or stuffy white tablecloths. This is modern elevated dining at its very best.

Nomads’ executive chef Ryan Fox knows his stuff. He trained for five years at Robuchon in Las Vegas. But Ryan diverts from all the traditional French recipes for dishes with a decidedly Asian influence. Every dish is conceptual, presented with artful expertise, but most importantly seriously delicious. I particularly loved a trio of duck, prepared and presented three ways, a dashi-based broth and a modern take on a tradition asian custard dish. The single shigoku oyster brought to me over a bed of smoking rocks was awe-inspiring. If I sound overly poetic – well, this type of meal deserves it. It’s truly that special.

Nomad also features Ash Bar – this really cool space tucked into a super an awesome cave-like room. The bar is now open seven days a week and serves bar bites like a stellar burger and lobster rolls. While you’ll probably want to save Nomad’s tasting menu for a special occasion – multi-course meals aren’t typically random Tuesday fare – I would gladly hit up the Ash bar any time the desire strikes for a really tasty cocktail and a super good meal.

I can’t remember the last time I ate better than my day and half in Portland. And I know I missed so many other amazing restaurants. I guess it just means I have to go back sooner rather than later.

Are there are Portland faves you care to share? I’d love for you to leave recommendations in the comments below. I’m always adding to my must-try-restaurant list. For all of Travel Portland’s recommended restaurants, CLICK HERE.

For the entire recap of my Portland trip, CLICK HERE.

For more travel ideas, CLICK HERE.

original photography for apartment 34 by Carly Diaz

This post is in partnership with Travel Portland. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations I’m super excited about and that have kept apartment 34’s doors open.

New Series: Delicious Spaces

Food + Travel

As 2018 gets ramped up, I’ve avoided a standard list of resolutions again this year (confused: check out this post), but I do have a 2018 to-do list. On the tippy top is to get out and about more. Since this is Apt34’s 10th anniversary, I really want to focus on the making the most of every moment this year. And most moments I’m thinking about food. That includes exploring restaurants, bars, coffee shops in San Francisco and the Bay Area, but also beyond. There are so many good spots that need to be seen and experienced so I thought instead of simply screen shotting Instagrams, I would share my finds here. I’m going to call this series Delicious Spaces – any and every space I want to both dine and simply hang out this year.

First on my list requires a return to New York, but that’s just fine with me. Sel Rrose is a raw bar on the Lower East Side. You don’t have to sell me hard on oysters and champagne but when you put them in such a gorgeous setting I’m ready to book a ticket. The restaurant, on the corner of Delancey and Bowery, juxtaposes a rough industrial vibe with softer edges like custom wallpaper designed by Candice Kaye.

The menu features a revolving variety of daily fresh oysters, full raw bar and a selection of seasonal and well-constructed French inflected plates. The bar offers a French-focused cocktail list, featuring guest favorite, the effervescent house prosecco, alongside an array of premium spirits, natural wines and select beers on tap.

Sel Rrose offers a daily oyster happy hour from 4:00pm. to 7:00pm, ideal for a cozy winter evenings in the city. So if you’re in New York, go and have a drink on me and tag your instagram #deliciousspaces. I’ll be tracking and reposting favorites!

images courtesy of sel rrose

check out more of my favorite spots in the Bay and beyond RIGHT HERE

Wine Wednesday: A Hot Spot for the Cool Crowd

Food + Travel

If you live in the Bay Area, are under 35 and have ever worn a boho hat or sport a beard, then you’ve probably already heard of Scribe Winery. But there’s a reason all the cool kids go there and why Scribe is my current Wine Wednesday obsession. It’s just too dang pretty! We actually featured Scribe and their gorgeous property a few years back. But they’ve taken the cool factor to a whole new level with their recently renovated Hacienda.

One of the oldest buildings in Sonoma, the hacienda sat abandoned for more than 20 years. Even after Scribe opened it remained untouched. It was used for impromptu parties (and even I may have snuck into it for a photo shoot!), but after nearly two years the Hacienda has been reborn. It now features beautiful sitting rooms, a commercial kitchen and I hear three guest rooms that will house visiting chefs and possibly a writer in residence. Did I mention the coolness oooozes out of this place?? What I love most is that the renovation kept the original patina intact. From walls whose peeling paint revealed period wallpaper beneath to restoring original glass, built-ins, and fixtures, if you didn’t know better you might think the space hadn’t actually been renovated!

The day I visited, the property was abloom because Louesa Roebuck and Sara Londsdale were on hand to celebrate their new flower-focused tome, Foraged Flora. So gorgeous right?

You can now book wine tastings at the Hacienda that include a beautifully prepared lunch straight from that stunning kitchen. You’ll enjoy farm fresh salads (like fresh off their farm on the property), cheese boards, sandwiches – whatever the resident chef invents for that day. Food is served in bowls designed by artist and Scribe friend Jess Hirsch and you’ll dine on tables made of redwood trees that fell on the property a few years back. Again, does it get cooler? I think not. But as beautiful as the place is, the wines are also quite good too. Run by brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani, who are fourth-generation California farmers, the brothers decided it was time to breathe new life into not only into the property’s structures, but most importantly into the land for their sustainable winemaking.

Scribe is located on one of the older vineyards in Sonoma. It was shut down during prohibition, then turned into an orchard and at one time a turkey farm. But it is certainly back to life now. The brothers planted Reisling and Sylvaner (a german varietal) as that’s what had grown on the property since the turn of the last century. Scribe also produces Chardonnay, Rosés, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignons with grapes sourced from throughout the valley. Scribe uses old world, natural wine making processes like skin-fermentation and really focus on infusing the uniqueness of place into all of their wines. Having tasted at Scribe for a number of years now I think it’s fair to say that the wines vary a bit from year to year, but what they’re pouring now is particularly strong. The Rosés are exceptionally light and crisp; perfect for really hot days. The Pinot has a bit more body and structure than past years. It’s a lovely wine to sip on its own or enjoy with food. But I’m actually particularly loving their Cab right now. At over $70 a bottle, it’s certainly a special occasion wine but I’m finding it pretty special.

So the next time you’re planning a visit to wine country, make sure a visit to Scribe is on your list. Just make a point to call and book ahead. This place is cool remember, so of course, it’s nearly impossible to get in!

For more Wine Wednesday posts, CLICK HERE

For my favorite getaways, CLICK HERE

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