Salt & Straw

Oh Salt & Straw...words cannot express how much I love thee. Oops, I didn't realize you were here. How embarrassing! But hey, if you have ever tried the delicious gourmet ice cream found at Salt & Straw, you would be able to understand my love affair for this innovative ice cream parlor. First of all, I should note that this place has been featured on Unique Sweets, so that's already a +1. After seeing pictures of their creamy concoctions, I knew I had to stop here when I was in Portland. Unfortunately, it seemed time wouldn't permit me to try Salt & Straw, but then all of a sudden while we were driving down Alberta, my friend was like, "What's that long line for?!" and I was like "OH MY GOD. IT'S SALT & STRAW." I guess God just wanted me to try this amazing ice cream.

We jumped in our car and stood in line with the other dozens of ice cream enthusiasts. I would say it took us about 30 minutes to get to the front of the line, which is probably the longest I have ever waited to eat ice cream. But it was amazing. Unfortunately, I couldn't get that many quality photos because of the dark dusk lighting, but trust me, this little ice cream shop was adorable. Unlimited samples to try any flavor, just be aware of all the people waiting behind you.

I ended up getting the Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper which was surprisingly amazing. It is well known that strawberry and balsamic vinegar go together like PB&J, but the black pepper just threw me through a loop. It was not overpowering, but you could definitely taste how it contributed to the overall flavor. Very nice. My friend got the Black Currant Sorbet, and my other friend got the Pear and Bleu Cheese. Everything was so creamy and delicious, it was definitely worth the wait. All of their ice cream is made fresh and is homemade, what more can you ask for. Also, where else can you say you tried black pepper in an ice cream?

Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper
(kids size)

Roy's Restaurant

So, this past Friday was my boyfriend and my three year anniversary! Yay! I told my boyfriend that I wanted him to plan our big date night because I am usually the one to decide where we eat and what we do. He decided to keep everything a surprise (just as like I like), and the night ended up being magical!

He picked me up with a white bouquet of flowers waiting in the car for me, and we drove to Waikiki. We parked at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and walked from there. There could have been so many places that we could have gone from there. At that point, I was thinking, "Are we going to Ruth's Chris?" But then we walked right pass, and then that's when I knew....WE'RE GOING TO ROY'S!

Living in Hawaii, Roy's is one of those big name restaurants that you hear people going to on dates but I have never actually been to it because we never go to such extravagant places for dates. If I have ever been to Roy's before, I don't remember. So this was pretty much my first time going.

Anyway, we walked up to the hostess and Gavin told her that we had a reservation.  We got moved to a seating area inside while our table was being prepared for us. After about one or two minutes, we were guided to our table which had purple, blue, and white ribbons on it! The ribbons were special for us since Gavin had notified them ahead of time that we were celebrating an anniversary. As soon as we sat down our waiter rushed to get us water and complimentary chili/garlic/sesame edamame. We probably got like one or two more refills after we cleaned off the first bowl, and what made it better was that it was free!

The ambiance of this restaurant is actually more casual than I imagined, probably because it is located in Waikiki and everyone is in resort clothes. There were also a lot of children. Not as romantic as I would have imagined, but it was still amazing. The only downside was that we were seated next to a table of 12 Japanese tourists that had been drinking a little too much. Anyway, we decided to order the shinsato pork and local beef potstickers for our appetizer.

Shinsato Pork and Local Beef Potstickers

These were amazing! I am usually not a super fan of potstickers, just because they are usually really oily...but these were amazing! We split it half-half exactly! I would usually just let Gavin have three and I would take two, but this time I wanted to be equal. The meat inside was so tender, the flavor literally gushes from the gyoza skin as seen as your teeth pierces the crispy exterior.

For our main meal, I decided to get the smoked duck breast, citrus marmalade, bok choy, and this triangular bread pudding creation. I have no idea what it was. The outside had a crispiness to it and the inside was like soft bread pudding. I got my duck medium-rare, and it was perfect. The excitement of dipping the fatty bird into the citrus marmalade was so overwhelming.

Gavin got the macadamia nut crusted shutome, which is a white fish. It had a Maine lobster sauce and another buttery sauce for variety. It was also very good! The chef recommended it prepared medium, so that's what we got. The shutome was incredibly moist, and the macadamia nut flavor shined through just enough.

Macadamia Nut Crusted Shutome

So the ONE requirement I gave Gavin was to choose a place that gives complimentary anniversary dessert. You know, the kind where they write the message on the plate? We had never gone to a place like that, so I knew that this would be the perfect occasion to go to a place like that. We ended up ordering the Roy's Classic Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle because that's what they are known for.

Roy's Classic Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle 

The only thing I was sad about was the fact that none of my cross-section pictures of the souffle came out nice because of the dim lighting!

Just when I thought I wasn't going to get my free dessert, BAM! It came out of the kitchen! 

A dense chocolate cake with raspberry sauce, topped with a raspberry and a blackberry, and a message written in chocolate. Best of all, it was free!

Our meal came out to to about $83, plus tip. Not bad if you ask me, considering we had fine service and a gourmet meal. Our glasses never even got to half full because the busser was constantly refilling them. The night meal was perfect, especially with such fine company. Thank you so much Gavin for the most romantic night ever!

Newman's Fish Co.

Here's another throwback from when I was on my food journey at the end of my spring 2012 semester at the UO. One place that I knew I had to try because of it's rave reviews was Newman's Fish Co., the local spot to get supposedly the best fish n' chips. There are two locations, so I can only speak on behalf of the one located on Willamette.

Now, I just have to get this off my chest. I don't really like fried foods. I mean, I'll take a bite out of it... but then I feel so oily and yucky. That being said, I fairly enjoyed the fish n' chips from Newman's, much more than the other fish n' chips option at the Saturday Market...not sure which restaurant that is. It wasn't as oily, and the fish tasted fresher.

Prawn Roll [$5.50]

Prawn Roll (inside) [$7.75]

Salmon Fish n' Chips [$7.75]

The prawn roll had a little too much mayo than I would have preferred, but it was still decent. The fish n' chips definitely out shined the prawn roll...but I am not sure if it was worth $7.75.  Food is competitively priced in Eugene, so this was a bit spendy for what you get. For fish n' chips lovers, this may be worth it, but for me...not so much. On the bright side, I did try their clam chowder (no image because the quality was really bad) and it was pretty good. Nothing was outstandingly memorable. The most memorable aspect of this restaurant is the glass case by the cash register showcasing the fresh fish that you can purchase. It really puts you in the mood to eat some fish n' chips!

Eugene City Bakery

One of the closest bakeries to campus is the Eugene City Bakery, known for their fresh baked breads. I am going to say right off the the bat that I prefer Noisette Pastry Kitchen's baked goods over Eugene City Bakery. That being said, Eugene City Bakery has a lot more choices in terms of little cookies and sweets.

Sorry for not putting captions! I took these photos over a year ago, so I don't remember what anything was. However, I do know that they are VERY affordable. Each item is about $1-$3, the REALLY spendy things would be about $4.

I would highly recommend this place if you are craving some baked goods and are by the University of Oregon. Everything is really tasty, but the vibe cannot compare with Noisette Pastry Kitchen. Also, for some reason I feel like Noisette's pastries are fresher, but that may just be because there is an open kitchen. If you do go to Eugene City Bakery, I recommend getting a box to share with others and just get a lot of different things to try! Everything is pretty yummy and affordable, so I am sure that you will be happy with whatever you grab! You can also catch Eugene City Bakery at the Saturday Market!

Studio One Cafe

During my freshmen year, I met a guardian angel named Sarah who told me about her favorite eating spots in Eugene (because she is one of the biggest eaters I have ever met). Conveniently located right across of her apartment was Studio Once Cafe, so she decided to take me there one day. Boy, this place is adorable. It has a very old Hollywood diner feel once you enter, with black and white pictures of celebrities adorning the walls. Restaurants with a certain theme automatically catch my attention because I enjoy searching for the subtle and not-so subtle hints of the certain theme throughout the restaurant.

First of all, I have to say this place is probably one of the most affordable breakfast joints in Eugene. You definitely get a very delicious band for your buck.

Pulled Pork Sandwich [$8.25] 

The Big Easy [8.25] 

The Original French Toast [$5.75]
(topped with almond custard, creamy Romanov sauce, and berry compote)

Avocado and Turkey Wrap [$8.00]

Soup&Salad Combo [$7.00]
(Caesar Salad)

Soup&Salad Combo [$7.00]
(Chile Verde)

I would highly recommend this place if you are in search of a hearty and affordable breakfast or lunch. I haven't been to Glenwood's, but from what I have heard, Studio One Cafe blows it out of the water. My favorite thing that I have tried from Studio One has got to be the french toast. YOU NEED TO TRY THE FRENCH TOAST. Prior to eating their french toast, I wasn't really a french toasty kind of person, but now I am converted. It opened my world to how amazing french toast can actually be! The berry compote is unbeatable. Must try. Although everything is yummy, nothing is really "kick-in-the-pants" memorable besides the french toast.

Off the Waffle

One of the quirkiest places to grab breakfast in all of Eugene has to be Off the Waffle, a waffle joint that serves only liege waffles. No syrup required! These waffles are thick and soft on the inside. So the age old question is, "is Off the Waffle all hype?"

I have ventured to this establishment twice and they are doing VERY well. So well, that they just opened another location in downtown Eugene! Whenever I have gone to the original location, there is always a ton of people squeezed into the small eating area and even the outside area. Table hunting is not on my list of things I want to spend my morning doing, but if the waffles are delicious...it is well worth it.

The first thing you will want to try upon going to Off the Waffle is there freshly squeezed orange juice. We were watching the girl in the kitchen tirelessly shove orange through the juicer, her hands must have been ridiculously itchy.

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice [$2.50]

The following waffles were shared among my friends and family, so I got to try a little bit of everything! I have to say, I prefer their sweet options over their savory...but that's just my personal preference.

The Beloved Bully [$6.25]
(Belgian chocolate chips, strawberries)

The Sweet Funk Machine [$6.00]
(pear, gorgonzola, cinnamon, local wildflower honey)

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy [$7.00]
(sunny-side up egg, bacon, real maple syrup)

The Fruit Party [$6.75]
(strawberry, pear, banana, and whipped cream) 

The Fruit Party [$6.75]
(strawberry, pear, banana, yogurt)

Cyclops the Greek [$8.25]
(kalamata olives, tomato, caramelized red onion, feta, egg, spinach,
homemade tzatziki sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika)

The Giuseppe [$6.00]
(Nancy's yogurt, banana, walnuts, coconut flakes)

Out of all these waffles, my favorite was by far the Beloved Bully (I know, I know, I'm boring). I think the fact that the flavors in the Beloved Bully were so familiar, I could appreciate the actual flavor and texture of the waffle itself.

Now would I recommend this place? Yeah, I guess. As you can tell I am not SUPER excited, but it is a fun place to visit with out-of-town guests. This place embodies the vibe of Eugene for an affordable price. The waffles are small, so small that many people argue that the portion is way too small for what you pay. I am someone that can accept paying higher prices for higher quality, so this doesn't bother me THAT much. I am a small eater, so a waffle any bigger would have been too much for me anyway.  A part of me does feel that this place is a little overrated, only because their waffles aren't over-the-top memorable and delicious. However, I do feel like you should try this place at least once if you are in Eugene, just to say you went...but if the there is no seating and the line is really long, there are other options in Eugene much better than Off the Waffle.

Yogurt Extreme

Due to the fact that Eugene is a HUGE college town, it only makes sense that there are a million frozen yogurt options. Two of the main yogurt joints that are competing against each other are Yogurt Extreme and Peachwave. Personally I prefer Yogurt Extreme, and that is exactly why I chose to go there during my recent trip.

I met up with my friend Mikayla and we had a sample smörgåsbord! The flavors are pretty standard, with different types of vanilla (french and custard), chocolate, cake batter, key lime, pistachio, and a few sorbet flavors. The topping bar is what wins me over! So many choices, and because this chain is located in Oregon, there is a huge selection of fresh berries and fruits to choose from! My bowl was literally stuffed with Oreo crumbs (my standard) and fresh fruits! The wonderful part about this whole adventure was that my bowl was only $3.80! Usually, when I get the same amount back home I am easily paying $5.00 or more.

University of Oregon

If you are in the Eugene area (and I have no idea why you would be), you need to visit the University of Oregon campus. I attended the University of Oregon for one year (Fall 2011-Spring 2012), and let me tell you, the campus is beautiful. The whole ambiance is something worth experiencing. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing campus, but the vibe it gives off is what gives it life. Walking around the campus by myself after not being here for about a year really made me appreciate the simple beauty of the university.

The "Jesus Loves You" Man's Bike

Among "Frog" and the "LTD Guy," "Jesus Loves You" man is an integral part of the UO experience. He is not one of those "crazies," as far as I know. He's just always on campus with his bright and colorful bike wearing his very religious signs (that people often ignore).

Hamilton: McClain Hall

Ah, good ol' McClain. This was my dorm during my freshman year. So many memories took place in this building. I am very fond of this building and all of the good (and bad) times that took place in it.

Lillis (Business)

Lillis has to be the most beautiful building on campus, and the inside is even more stunning. Love it, and I love that they kept the giant "O" on it. They originally put the "O" on the building for College Gameday so it could be seen in the background. I can proudly say that I woke up at like 4:30 in the morning to be at the College Gameday (for marching band).

Deady Hall

 During my freshman year, I had an 8:30 math discussion class at McKenzie (building right past Deady), so I would always have to walk past this beautiful historic building. There was something about walking back to my dorm after my class, past the looming trees and creepy ol' Deady, that made my mornings very peaceful.

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History

This particular structure is very nostalgic for me because it was my first impression of the University of Oregon when I was still touring the campus as a high school senior. To meet up with our tour group, we had to walk past the museum from the parking lot and I thought this specific structure was so amazing.

Hayward Field

Hayward Field is the field that made Eugene famous because of the Olympic trials. Due to that, Eugene calls itself "Tracktown USA." It is a track runners dream to be able to run on this specific field and I could say it was the view from my room. Very blessed.

Pink Roses

This is just one example, because there are many, of the beautiful flowers that grow on the campus. I never noticed how beautiful the flowers in spring/summer are!

Marching Band Field

This field (used for lacrosse), was where I spent my Wednesday and Friday nights during fall term for marching band. I wonder if my blood, sweat, and tears are still saturated in the astroturf...When I saw this field I felt really nostalgic because this is where I first met all of my band friends during the two-week band camp. I didn't have any other friends up because it was before school actually started, so I was forced to bond with completely new people. When I see this field, I see all of the friendships I have made, dedication, and inner strength. The human spirit really is a powerful thing, isn't it?