For our second night in Portland, we chose a place that has gotten rave
reviews for its superb seafood, and we asked a friend of ours, who owns one of
Oregon's top wineries to join us. It was a very memorable evening. for the four
of us from start to finish.
CABEZON (www.cabezonrestaurant.com) is about 10 minutes from
downtown with no traffic in the Hollywood neighborhood; it is unassuming and
would probably go unnoticed by most. We were greeted by owner Jackie upon
arrival and then had the tough decisions to make when we saw the menus. Drinks
here are fun and I loved my Crater Lake Oregon-made vodka martini with Shaft's
Bleu cheese stuffed olives that were divine.
Our starters were tasty Chive BLINIS with TROUT Caviar & Crème Fraiche,
a huge ROMAINE & Radicchio CAESAR Salad with Garlic Croutons & GRan
Padano and the easy winner
SAVORY CLAMS with Borlotti BEANS, Spanish CHORIZO, fries and Rouille. This
is a huge dish and must be shared or could be a main course. The sauce at the
bottom is thick and rich from the beans and the fries and rouille that top the
dish are the icing on the tasty little clams. It's a brilliant creation.
Main courses were all excellent from the Local LING COD with fava bean
succotash, cauliflower, Walla Walla Onion Rings and creamy Dill Sauce. The fish
was tender, the veggies local and the amazing sweet and salty onion rings have
to be the best on earth.
Cioppino with white gulf Shrimp, local fish, Dungeness crab, clams, mussels
and calamari has everything for everyone
and my Pan roasted troll KING SALMON with grilled Chicories, beets, snow
peas and pea-pistachio sauce was an amazingly flavorful local Oregon salmon and
the sauce was a gorgeous treat with local fresh peas.
Maker's Mark whiskey Ice Cream Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce &
Candied Hazelnuts is a great dessert for whiskey/profiterole lovers and the
crunchy nuts are a treat. Callebaut Belgian Chocolate Pot de Crème is properly
chocolatey and creamy and rich.
A bottle of Elio Perrone Moscato d'Asti "Sourgal" 2012 was a nice palate
cleanser before we headed home from a wonderful evening with old friends and
superb food.
Janessa our server was also great; sweet, considerate, and always there
with anything we needed....
I have to mention the adorable glass jellyfish light fixtures at the bar
(very Chihouly) and the sink in the WC which is hammered metal with cool fish
design.
Cabezon, by the way, is a Pacific coastal predatory Scorpion
fish-or-Spanish for "stubborn & bullheaded," which this place definitely is
NOT!
