It seems our time here is coming to an end. I’m in Birmingham, and I signed one of those dreadful documents saying I wouldn’t write for anyone anymore. Before we end our relationship and bury ourselves in buckets of Ben and Jerry’s and cheap tequila, I have a few final thoughts and reviews I’d like … Continue reading »
Dear readers, This blog is packing up and moving with me to Birmingham, Alabama, where I will be a fellow for Cooking Light magazine. In the coming weeks, I will try to post the reviews that have been simmering/burning on my desk for the last few months. I don’t think I’ll be continuing this blog … Continue reading »
Late-night is the best time to eat. There are no rules and almost anything can happen. Whatever the case — whether it involves innocent studying or a bit too much rum — you know you’re in for adventure. Whatever the result, cookies covered in frosting shoved inside Oreos, goldfish on your pizza, or a food … Continue reading »
Thanksgiving (aka National Everyone Get Fat Day) is almost here. Do you suck at cooking or have no friends? Don’t worry, with this all-inclusive package you get pilgrims, a live turkey and even a full-size replica of the Mayflower (ocean not included)! All for just 82 payments of $99.99, what a deal! Ok, you caught … Continue reading »
Breakfast should be easy, flavorful and fun. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite finds in Eugene that are under $5. All are local, maybe made with love, for sure-packed with flavor and maybe healthy. Some you can sit down to eat, others you can grab on your way to class. Whatever the case I … Continue reading »
A play-by-play guide to eating in Beaver territory It’s bound to happen, you have a friend or two in Corvallis and they want you to come visit and though you won’t admit it, you kind of want to get away from Eugene for a bit. Here’s my no-fail guide to having a great time in … Continue reading »
I made myself a silly goal this week and posted it on a pink sticky note to my computer screen: to make it to 12,000 blog views. You see, the thing about that is that I started the week at 11,000. If my math skills haven’t withered away into the dark hole of journalism that … Continue reading »
It’s pumpkin season! I lassoed a few friends for a pumpkin-picking adventure. One friend suggested we go to “The coolest pumpkin patch ever,” which later led to a Google search for “Springfield junkyard pumpkin patch.” As you can see, we had a blast at the junkyard farm. Picking your pumpkin doesn’t have to mean going … Continue reading »
A few of my favorite things Once a year, Eugene Weekly hosts a survey in search of Eugene’s bests, from eateries to sexy shops (Freudian Slip of course!). I, of course, encourage you to vote me for best journalist/blogger/singles scene but I’m a bit biased, since I have slept with me. Anyways, the survey is … Continue reading »
Welcome back! I trust that you had a sun-filled summer and spent your much anticipated financial aid check responsibly at the grocery store. In case you somehow managed to black out all of last year, or you’re new to this blog, I’m your host, Melissa, and I write about food. Generally my articles relate to … 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 »
Have you ever stopped at a diner in rural Oregon. The kind with endearingly mismatched chairs, a small staff and good home-style cooking? It’s the kind of thing you occasionally crave, maybe it reminds you of dinner at grandmas house. That’s exactly what Mom’s Pies on Willamette Street in Eugene is. A small menu offers … Continue reading »
Perfect lunch size portion. Chicken breast, olive oil, basil, Parmesan and garlic in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. A mainstay, it has been on the menu for over 20 years. I must admit, I’m still quite taken with the classic spaghetti alla bolognese (Plum tomato sauce, ground beef, pork, basil and oregano. $12), although the … Continue reading »
Want to know more about Eugene’s up and coming Blue Dog Mead? Check out my article in the Oregon Quarterly, about half way down the page here. Enjoy! <3 Melissa Continue reading »
Cheers! Continue reading »
I’m working on a post about UO’s chapter of Slow Food. I haven’t had a chance to put everything together and I was hoping to tell you a little about the event they are putting on today. So how about I just tell you and you can come back to read more about them later? … Continue reading »
It’s a sad day in the neighborhood. I just found out that Nib, one of my very favorite restaurants EVER will be closing. You ALL better make sure and stop by before they close their doors in six weeks : ( Here is an article I recently wrote about Nib. Nib| 769 Monroe Street.|(541) 485-1269 … Continue reading »
Think Southern cooking and a spicy aroma might linger in your nose while thoughts of grits, fried food and sweet tea dance in your mind. You’d best not forget the gumbo. Plump shrimp mingling with several types of sausage in a complex peppery-hot tomato roux base, poured over rice. Mama’s gonna put a jumble of … Continue reading »
When I say I am a food writer the conversation usually turns to “Have you tried this? What would you recommend for this? You have to go here!” It’s only natural and it’s a conversation I enjoy having over and over. My favorite bakery is Metropol. My favorite date spot is Meiji. Yes, Sam Bond’s … Continue reading »
My first mouthful of Red Wagon ice cream came on a summer afternoon in Springfield. I stuffed two melting mini ice cream cones in my mouth, alternating between salted caramel and chocolate. At $1 a piece, it would have been a shame to get just one. They were rich, creamy and most importantly in cute-sized … Continue reading »
Eugene will be putting on its second annual beer week May 7-13 . The event’s purpose is to”celebrate craft beer culture in the Willamette Valley.” So basically it’s to get sloshed and have fun. We sure as hell can do that. Some events are free, some are beery expensive ( <—see what I did there, … Continue reading »
It was a cloudy warm day when we skyped Martina Russial from the second floor of Agate Hall. In the background a car alarm persistently let us know that its owner was NOT getting stolen, and a vacuum sounded in the hall below the ceiling tile that had just caved in. Martina Russial was the … Continue reading »
There are few places in this town I wouldn’t dare try alone. Tiny Tavern is one of those places. And so, when the ever-wonderful and artsy Jordan Eddy proposed a food/art adventure, I threw out the idea of Tiny. I knew if anyone would be daring enough to try the tavern it would be Jordan, … Continue reading »
Eugene goes through restaurants like Emily Gilmore goes through maids. One day an eatry is just barely bustling at lunch and the next its doors are locked, a simple sign declaring “Closed.” Here are some updates on the Eugene Food Scene: Rye just opened in the old Bridge Bar and Grill building (444 E. 3rd … Continue reading »
Today I got an email from a graduate student at UO. I had recently followed her blog, the eugene coloring book blog, a black-and-white blog with pages that look like they came out of a coloring book. Each page features something in Eugene. I figured it was a cute idea for Eugene kids. In actuality … Continue reading »
College student or not, Burger-and-a-Brew is the perfect chance to chill and have a conversation on the cheap. Below is a list of where to get your decidedly glorious yet slightly gluttonous fix: Monday Cafe 440 Knee Deep burger, fries and a craft beer. $9 440 Coburg Rd. • 541-505-8493 Cornucopia 1/2 lb. Knee Deep … 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
