This past Monday I plated hors d’oeuvres for a whiskey tasting in the mezzanine.  I readied a charcuterie board and heated up butternut squash soup.  People started piling in the front door, pausing briefly at the host post, drifting their way upstairs.  I began frying off the scallop lollipops Miguel had ready for me.  The next two hours were a blur of steaming soup shots and crispy-fried scallops on sticks.  Ingrid was on the pantry station, frying off multiple orders of truffle fries. The line was cooking Happy Hour for our regulars, and the service staff was bustling plates of food into the dining room and up the stairs whiskey revelers.  I sent out the last of the appetizers and cleaned up quickly.   Once clocked out and changed, I got with Kelley to find out the scoop.  In partnership with four other Portland restaurants, Ten-01 is now proudly pouring Buffalo Trace Lucky Tiger single barrel bourbon.  Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley was in house to unveil the limited edition whiskey that will be available only at Victory, Clyde Common, Beaker and Flask, Park Kitchen and here at Ten-01.  Uptown Liquor in Portland’s northwest will carry it for retail consumption.  Over a hundred bourbon lovers congregated; our mezzanine was packed with cheersing patrons.  My first taste was scrumptious, rich and buttery with a gentle bite.  Smooth and flavorful; a subtle personality.   Once again Ten-01 offers up something special, a hand crafted product delivered via time honored technique and poured by appreiciative hands.  The Lucky Tiger Club of bars and restaurants plans to continue this practice, this union of skilled artisan and lover of fine spirit.  I left the restaurant with a smile, I wondered about having my own custom cask.   Later in the week I read an article from Ben Waterhouse at the Willamette Week, rounding out my knowledge of the nights’ events.

At the corner of Tenth and Couch in Portland’s Pearl District, you’ll find truly amazing thai style pork ribs.  I’ve heard comments from “finger-licking” to  “I feel like I saw god.”   You’ll also find an accessible and multifaceted wine list, appealing to beginners palates and connoisseurs alike.  The atmosphere has a subtle warm energy, like visiting  a beloved wealthy relative.  Smart cocktails are audible, elegant tinkling of ice and spirit.  The bar pulses, a low-key base line just below the senses, libations reach hands as high notes; the melody complete.  Smiles meet smiles in the dining room, servers and diners engaged in an elusive subconscious dance, an exchange of understanding and steaming plates.  When I first walked into the place to apply for a job, I was struck by the coin-flip from inside to outside, quiet simplicity to grandiose; the eye drawn up with the spirit.  Since then I’ve settled into a love affair of devotion to another happy customer.  A back and forth of good food and good moods between talented staff and satisfied guest.  In the kitchen you’ll find more smiles,  people doing what they love and doing it well with others like them.  Most overheard conversation is about food, but usually heads are down and hands are moving.  On the line you’ll witness another dance, this one a speeding jostle of spinning and bending, tasting and plating; a frenetic blur until that final instant.  That instant where hand is poised eyes are locked and delicious is cradled lovingly onto each plate.

As the pastry chef here at Ten-01 and a lover of good food, I occupy a unique position.  A position where I can observe and learn, and report my findings.  I’d like  to share these experiences with our guests.  I envision our quests walking through the door with a virtual ear to the ground, a finger on the pulse of what it is we do here, and why, and how.  This blog will be a web based birds-eye view of our day to day happenings and well as special events, catering missions, and no small amount of information.  Instructional videos, pictures galore and recipes, all made available to you, the diner.  Visit this site often food lover, you won’t want to miss any exciting detail.