Melissa is a journalist based out of Eugene, Oregon. Her work has appeared in Ethos Magazine, KVAL, The Register-Guard and MyEugene.org. Currently she is a graduate student at the University of Oregon pursuing a master’s in magazine journalism. She laughs, she giggles, she orders dessert first, dances and loves ’90s TV shows and music. She … Continue reading »
Food reviewing doesn’t have to be about $123 plates of food, unpronounceable words, and fancy wines. As evidenced by Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Gold, it can be about hole in the wall restaurants and everyday food. For me, this blog is an outlet to find my voice as a food reviewer. For you, I hope … Continue reading »
Located in the bottom of the new Skybox apartment complex, Little Big Burger offers a simple, affordable menu. Eugene’s location is one of four for the Portland-based company. Inside, the atmosphere is modern meets gymnasium. The loud ’90s music encourages conversation that would otherwise echo off the walls for all to hear. Burgers, veggie burgers, … Continue reading »
Just south of Sweet Life, you’ll pass a small building with a red door. Don’t miss it. Inside you’ll find Nib, Modern Eatery, a small eatery owned by Shane & Tiffany Tracey. According to a Register Guard article, the restaurant can seat about 30, though when summer rolls around an additional 25 seats open on … Continue reading »
With the advent of the Internet, food reviewers have faced a new problem: people want reviews of new restaurants now. Chicago Magazine food critic Jeff Ruby said in the 2010 issue, “Anthony Bourdain told a crowd at a Manhattan Barnes & Noble that I was dead. My cause of death was Yelp.” Readers can turn … Continue reading »
A Valentine’s Day co-post by Melissa Haskin and Anneka Miller. Pop! Either on the deck under the stars or at The Nines Hotel with a rose petal turn down service, why is it always a bottle of sparkling wine? It’s a tradition that goes back to the Roman conquest. But back then it wasn’t the … Continue reading »
A couple places I know have special menus (not that food is the only way to a woman’s heart* or that the only thing to do on Valentine’s day. Certainly a hike to the top of Spencer’s along with a bottle of Cook’s is an excellent idea): Agate Alley Laboratory Izakaya Meiji King Estate Nib … Continue reading »
Reviewing chains is not exactly my thing. Everyone knows what chain food tastes like. But here’s the deal, I went to Five Guys Burgers yesterday thinking “hey, I’ll get a cheap burger and I think I’ve heard good things about this place.” So what do I end up doing? Spending almost $5 on a burger. … Continue reading »
Happy New Year Animations provided by MySpaceAnimations.com Foie gras, fancy wine and $100 dinner tabs not on your Eugene New Year’s Eve list? Yah, mine either. I’ve compiled a list of places that might be more fun for us college kids. This is meant more for the low-key, grab a couple girlfriends and chat over … Continue reading »
Here’s a list of places I know are open (you might want to call for reservations, that is if you’re not looking for dinner because of an accident that involved the words “fire” and “ham”): Agate Alley| 1461 E 19th Avenue| (541) 485-8887| 9 a.m.-1 a.m.| Open Christmas as well. Bates Steakhouse|433 East Broadway| (541) 683-3108| 4 p.m.-9p.m.| … Continue reading »
This is a directory of where to get food next to campus. It most assuredly doesn’t exist so that you can read menus and decide where you’re going to dash to after class while still in class. That would just be rude. You’d never do that… The theme is places within a few blocks of … Continue reading »
In my life, dessert is a symbol. When I go to a restaurant, I order it first because it’s what makes me happy. In fact, I’d almost always rather go out for dessert than dinner. I see the girls next to me ordering salads, picking at their plates and getting boxes and that’s just not … Continue reading »
Want to try pumpkin in your dinner? Check out these local restaurants in my most recent MyEugene article. Continue reading »
The Fisherman’s Market on 7th Ave. is just what you’d expect: good food, quick service, and fresh fish. As is expected the market serves clam chowder, though they also have a tomato-based seafood stew. The appetizer list is comprehensive including things from drunken clams to calamari. And with 12 different options, fish and chips has … Continue reading »
Metropol Bakery Our adventure continues with Metropol Bakery, a bakery where everything is made from scratch and the dessert case is full of both classic and unconventional creations. It is very obvious that the bakers at Metropol put a lot of love and care into each pie. Apple Crumble: The crumble is perfectly crunchy, … Continue reading »
In the last few months I have really thrown myself into journalism. I have a short time to impress the people around me, build an amazing portfolio and learn many, many things. I don’t want to be one of the students that falls through the cracks. Today, I had an article published with MyEugene. I … Continue reading »
Here’s some of the typical basics: Cereal • Cereal is always on sale. Keep looking down the isle, you’ll find a box for $2.50 or less most anywhere here in Eugene, I promise. Noodles • Don’t make me end the nameless things you can do with them. Milk Blocks of cheddar cheese • if you … Continue reading »
Chocolate fondue is actually super quick and super easy to make. You can even get aw with not having a fancy-shmancy fondue pot. Makes a great snack or dessert. Here’s what you’ll need: Chocolate Chips Heavy whipping cream Stuff to put in the fondue: strawberries, pretzels, your face, etc. Here’s what you do: Put the … Continue reading »
Soup is always an excellent idea (especially during dead week) because you can make a big pot and then eat left overs for a while. Here you’ll find: Potato Soup Chili & Tequila Soup. Yes, that’s right, I said tequila. Shot glasses are optional. Continue reading »
If you are lucky enough to afford chicken here are some great ideas: Chicken Pot Pie Chicken with Tomato Basil Butter Feta Topped Chicken Continue reading »
Here you will find some quick, easy and cheap pasta ideas. There’s Carbonara Broccoli Garlic Chicken Pasta Garlic Shrimp Pasta & Tomato Garlic Pasta Continue reading »
Here are some valuable resources for your college eating career: 50 Best Food Blogs for the College Budget — This website lists lots of handy blogs which cover topics from recipes to shopping and eating out. Oregon State University Housing and Dining Services Nutrition Blog — On the topic of blogs, OSU has this one … Continue reading »
We’re going to take a detour this week. This week is about my fellow ducklings. I have composed a poem for this event, Dear Ducklings/Flock whatever lame name we’re calling you, welcome to UO. Please don’t starve that would make me sad. So, in honor of the incoming flock I have composed a weeks worth … Continue reading »
On the corner of 4th and Blair sits Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen where outside sketchy men in their 20s have no qualms telling you that your bike might get stolen because the lock isn’t thick enough and inside the staff calls you ma’am. The menu reads like an early 1900s newspaper ad, and the prices … Continue reading »
Click title to view full review Fisherman’s Market October 15, 2011 The Fisherman’s Market|830 W 7th Ave., Eugene, OR 97402, Eugene, OR 97402|541-484-2722| Menu here|Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Must tries: seafood stew, fish and chips with Tijuana terror tartar sauce, shrimp scampi. Full review here. Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5. College … Continue reading »
Pie. Across Eugene there has to be an array of it; vegan, local, mushy, buttery, unconventional, Crisco-y, from a Sysco truck, from the farm down the road–this is The Great Pie Adventure and it will go as far as my measly graduate student budget will allow. Bottoms up kids, we’re going in! Reviewed so far: … Continue reading »
As per request, a pie recipe! A safe bet is always the Better Homes recipe: Continue reading »
I’ve been thinking about all the recipes I want to share with you. I’m not really much of a make-your-own recipe gal, I’ve kinda shied away from telling y’all how to cook because I figure the internet it full of people doing that, but occasionally a girl has to share her secrets. This one is … Continue reading »
Make yourself some mashed sweet potatoes instead of plain boring russet potatoes, you’ll like them so much more. 1. Peel sweet potatoes. 2. Cut potatoes into chunks. What size? Who cares. Just cut them 3. Add potatoes to pot with cold water (no, not that kind of pot silly). 4. Boil until munchable. 5. Add … Continue reading »
And thus our journey begins with mixed berry pie from Sweet Life. Part of what’s unique about Sweet Life is that you can just look at the pie and know that it wasn’t made in a factory. You can see where the filling bubbled over while it was baked. It is served warm (upon request) … Continue reading »
One of the best parts about a baseball game is the food. Overly priced hot dogs, pretzels, candy, soda and beer–things we find at many other sporting events. But it just seems that hot dogs go with baseball more so than any other sport. It could be the endless movie scenes of fathers eating them … Continue reading »
Happy hour at Rogue is not that impressive. In fact, it might be renamed “mediocre hour not featuring any exciting drink specials, actually you might as well just come in later because you’re not going to save any money drinking.” In order to be special enough for happy hour, you have to actually sit at … Continue reading »
Bite of Eugene is an annual event where local food vendors offer “bites” of their fare. Most plates cost between $1 and $6. During the event, which is held in Alton Baker Park, there is also live music, cooking classes and an Iron Chef competition. Continue reading »
Agate Alley is known for quite a few things–Mac and Cheese that is well worth the $9 they charge for it, an extensive cocktail list, outside seating and local food–but the creme brulee is worthy of its own blog post. Of course the best part of dessert at Agate Alley is that the waiters don’t … Continue reading »
I’m not a cake person. I don’t know why, but I never have been. I’m also not one for spending just as much money on one cupcake as I would an entire batch of homemade cupcakes. Yet, circumstances led me to the Divine Cupcake earlier this week and being a person fully in support of … Continue reading »
The sad thing about food writing is that you can’t write “and then I gagged,” because food writing is about describing what you’re eating and what you may not like, someone else may like. Not that I have gagged on anything… Continue reading »
Monday nights at the downtown Cornucopia are busy. According to bartender Danny, most people come for the Monday night trivia which started about a year and a half ago. Located at 207 East 5th Avenue, the downtown Cornucopia is adorned with decorative alcohol bottle lights, dark red walls and candles. It serves typical bar food, … Continue reading »
I recently wrote this for Suzi Steffen’s reporting class. I went a little bit out of my borders and included Poppi’s Anatolia and The Vintage. Though mostly residential, the Jefferson Westside Neighborhood holds its own as far as food goes. The border of the neighborhood, which stretches from 7th Avenue to 18th Avenue and from … Continue reading »
About halfway though the term I couldn’t resist trying Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen. Classmates professed of its amazingness, telling of large plates of food at marginal prices and it was conveniently located next to my house. I convinced myself that taking the time to enjoy a meal out would save me time so I could … Continue reading »
A couple of weeks ago, students had the opportunity to learn how to make cornflower pancakes, tortillas with salsa, fried plantains, and chilled sweet drinks at the Ethos Cinco de Mayo cooking class. Allen Faigin, Director of Food Services at the University of Oregon, taught the class and I had a chance to sit down … Continue reading »
Earlier this term I took a weekend course with Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Gold. With lines like “What is lasagna fritta? Apparently rolled lasagna sliced into thick discs, crisped in trans-fat-free boiling oil and served with a marinara dipping sauce. Words for once fail me,” his writing is evidence that food writing need not be … Continue reading »
Food reviewing doesn’t have to be about $123 plates of food, unpronounceable words, and fancy wines. As evidenced by Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Gold, it can be about hole in the wall restaurants and everyday food. For me, this blog is an outlet to find my voice as a food reviewer. For you, I hope … Continue reading »
Brrrrrrr–wait for it–illiant. Brilliant. I picked up a Willamette Week and was more than happy to find a whole map devoted to one of my favorite foods: ice cream. Ice cream in the summer, ice cream in the winter, ice cream with spaghetti or hamburgers, or on pie or covered is child-like gobs of sickening … Continue reading »
Reblogged from Slow Food: University of Oregon: The Episcopal Campus Ministry provides a food resource for all college students in the Eugene area. The pantry is at the ministry, which provides free supplemental food for students and families who are searching for this type of support. Students will have the choice of selecting a variety … Continue reading »
As a general policy I’ve decided to wait to fully review a restaurant so that it can work its kinks out. After all, my allegiance is to you, the reader and I want to make sure I’m describing a typical experience. Given that, I’d like to share my initial thoughts of Webfoot Bar and Grill. … Continue reading »
Melissa is available for freelance work, from copy editing to photojournalism, video and writing. All of course come bundled with giggles and a cheery disposition. Contact her for more information and pricing. Melissa’s portfolio can be found at melissahaskin.com Continue reading »
