As Alton Brown traverses the country on his Alton Brown Live tour, he happily documents his #ABRoadEats on Twitter, Instagram, and his blog. And the guy has good taste, or at least does his research. [Before hitting Portland he gobbled up some of Vancouver, B.C.'s best casual eats, including the iconic porchetta sandwich at Meat & Bread.]
But he documented more meals on his trip to Portland this past Monday and Tuesday, than he has for most other towns. And though it doesn't look like he had time for upscale dining, he did hit some of the best coffee shops and fast-casual places our city has to offer, prompting him to declare two dishes the best he's ever had. Read on for details:
His first stop was Mexican Coffee at Extracto, which, for some reason, inspired a slew of Instagram followers to implore him to go to Pip's Original. Brown apparently is a bottomless pit when it comes to hot caffeinated drinks, as he later stopped at Fresh Pot, and then Alma Chocolate for drinking chocolate.
Mexican pour over from @ExtractoCoffee #ABRoadEatsPDX #AltonBrownLive pic.twitter.com/pOt7O0lwQA
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 23, 2015
You can't visit Portland and not have at least one brunch, so he headed to one of the city's most popular joints.
I'm opening an elastic pants emporium next door to @tastynsons. Best chicken liver pate ever. Period. #ABRoadEatsPDX pic.twitter.com/nagki7O7gg
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 23, 2015
That night, where did he go for a classic Portland cocktail? Clyde Common for the iconic barrel-aged Negroni, of course.
Barrel-aged Negroni from @ClydeCommon #ABRoadEatsPDX #AltonBrownLive pic.twitter.com/F90tjHD6eh
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 24, 2015
And dinner came delivered from Boxer Ramen, just a short walk across the street.
Can't forget to thank @BoxerRamen for feeding me last night! #ABRoadEatsPDX #AltonBrownLive pic.twitter.com/sTKJSetuPI
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 24, 2015
The next day, he started the morning off right with a serious belly buster.
Now that's a hearty breakfast (The Reggie) from @pinest8biscuits #ABRoadEatsPDX pic.twitter.com/LPK4Rh0Oxg
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 24, 2015
Then he was back to sipping java juice, this time at Coava #2.
Morning macchiato from @coavacoffee. Great space. #ABRoadEatsPDX pic.twitter.com/Xg9jcDyFwM
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 24, 2015
He whiled away some time at the new Portland Knife House on SE Belmont. He'd be a fool to walk out of there empty-handed, Shun endorsement deal or no. And Alton's no fool, as evidenced by his purchase of a gorgeous Carter knife, made in Hillsboro. It's the perfect PDX souvenir.
Lucky enough to pick up a Carter Knife at the new Portland Knife House. #AltonBrownLive pic.twitter.com/yCBjQ4ptlJ
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 24, 2015
Then he wisely took everyone's advice and made time to jet up to NE Fremont for mini donuts at Pip's Original.
Crisp and perfectly fried, I loved the honey and sea salt doughnut from @PipsOriginal. #ABRoadEatsPDX pic.twitter.com/w35geczIyL
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 24, 2015
After his show last night at the Schnitz, he posted a pic of (presumably) his last meal in town at Lardo. Alton Brown, you did good.
This is the best chickpea sandwich I've ever had @lardopdx #ABRoadEatsPDX pic.twitter.com/oIQwdqYnVk
— Alton Brown (@altonbrown) February 25, 2015