January 4, 2004
Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, Portland, Oregon
On our recent trip to Portland, Oregon, we walked the streets in the evening hours after rolling into town and stopped into downtown's Dan & Louis Oyster Bar. I ordered their "Bloody Mary" made with oyster juice (below), and it was fantastic. My friend James, in conversation at the recent New Year's eve party we attended, insists that this drink is actually a variant called a "Caesar":
Another friend of ours, Stephany, asked at that same party, "Which oysters did you have there?" Being the compulsive note-taker that I am, I actually kept the label note I'd pulled off the serving tray and annotated:
- Hammersley (British Columbia)
- Kumamoto (Oregon)
- Netarts Bay (Oregon)
- Olympia (Washington)
- Willapa Bay (Washington)
- Yaquina Bay (Oregon)
The best, I think, were the tiny, flavorful Kumamotos, followed by the rather large and similarly flavorful Yaquina Bay oysters. I was least impressed with the relatively bland Olympias. Unrelated to taste, but interesting to those of us fascinated by nature is the fact that the Willapa Bays had the most unusual shell morphology: deep and narrow, more like a jai-lai cesta than a fielder's glove (hope the sports analogy helps... otherwise, sorry, look it up yourself.)
We took our drinks and repeated plates of oysters in the small, pubbish barroom with a view into the rainy alley street fronting the meandering cluster of rooms at the Oyster Bar. This turned out a good choice, since we had the excellent company of the 20-something bartender Kevin, a font of knowledge about All Things Oregon. If you're interested in visiting this place, try to find a seat near his bar. Oh, and do look at - or through - the floor near the end of the bar: there's a lucite window covering a lighted cistern accidently excavated during a renovation the owners undertook a couple of years ago. Pretty neat.
Posted by Russell Whitaker at January 4, 2004 9:55 AM | TrackBackRuss
I agree about the Kumamotos. They're my favorite. We get the fresh from just out in Bellingham Bay through the local fish market.
I'll add this bar to my list for next time in PDX.
Posted by: Steve Pegram on January 4, 2004 3:58 PMSteve,
Nice to have Kumamotos available locally!
Next time you're in PDX, consider meeting up with Michael Reed too.
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on January 4, 2004 7:54 PMHi Steph,
Thanks for the recommendations! I'm sure Steve Pegram will really appreciate the Seattle tip, since he's near there. Whenever I'm next there I'll check it out too. As for Zuni, that sounds like a great night out for the four of us too.
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on January 4, 2004 10:22 PMMichael, I've just now sent Steve your number, and now he also have your actual email address.
Indeed, you should come down here and visit Zuni's with us!
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on January 4, 2004 11:14 PMJames: yes, let's make arrangements to head up there in the next couple of weeks. Steph: I had no idea this was your debut message on a Web venue... you seemed like such a pro on that first first post! No kidding. Welcome!
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on January 5, 2004 9:49 AMMichael,
I just now finished reading Crichton's lecture, and it was indeed good.
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on January 5, 2004 11:12 PMMichael/Russ, et al.
You bet, next time I'm "down south" in PDX we'll have to make a night of it. When you make it up to Seattle or Bellingham, give me a shout.
As far as the best Bloody Mary goes, well, you can believe it or leave it alone, but the Monroe LA (MLU) airport has one that's at least in the top five. The bar reeks of stale cigs and beer as the dark paneling and red leatherette hasn't been cleaned since, I'd guess, the 1960's. But the Bloody is outstanding. A local recommended it. I wasn't sure, but had a hour befor my flight. Kitzy, fun, great Bloody. Life is good.
For you aviation fans, MLU is the home of Delta Airlines. DL still has daily jet service. Your other choice is NW Airlink.
Posted by: Steve Pegram on March 1, 2004 8:58 PMMy name is Lauren Hammersley and I am from British columbia. I like oysters and have never heard of one named a 'hammersley' especially one from British Columbia...
This means one thing... I am an aphrodesiac, you ate me... I must have been drunk, because I don't remember it.
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