Coppia's....Fancy

Last Friday night we went to a new restaurant, Coppia.  Coppia's is an Italian restaurant in the Pearl that used to be Vino Paradiso.  It's actually the same owners, and went from being a wine bar to a Piedmont-style eatery with good wine.  I'd been to Vino Paradiso a handful of times, and always liked it.  Our restaurant group is going there as their next dinner and we couldn't make it, so we thought we'd check it out with our friends Brandy and Dave. 

The restaurant was really nice - definitely a little updated since it was Vino Paradiso.  Now that we have a baby we're not going to many places like this.  It was baby friendly (although ours was the only kid in the place), but is a restaurant in the Pearl all the same.  It wasn't cheap...hence the "fancy" designation.  But it was good. 

We got a few dishes.  I got the bagna caoda for an appetizer, which is kind of like fondue, it's a creamy, buttery dip served with bread and veggies.  Dave and Brandy got a salami plate.  For our main dishes, I got the golden stuffed trout (very good), Julian got the fresh fettucini with smoked trout and shaved brussels sprouts.  Brandy can't have dairy, so she got the same fettucini dish but they were able to exclude the dairy (and Dave actually said he liked it better than the creamy version).  Dave got the butternut squash risotto.  Everyone loved their food, and they do have a great wine selection. 

Coppia
417 NW 10th Ave., Pdx
www.coppiaportland.com

Brandy, myself and Hank

Brandy with Hank

Julian holding Hank, with Dave

My dish: golden stuffed trout with grilled fennel and polenta with a mushroom sauce

Julian's dish: handmade fresh fettucini with shaved brussels sprouts and smoked trout

Dave's dish: butternut squash risotto, hazelnuts and leeks

Brandy's dish: fresh fettucini with smoked trout and brussels sprouts (non-dairy, custom version)

Hank is past his bedtime and ready to go

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Mother's Little Helper...A Box Wine Review

I love me some wine....My bowling name was "Wineaux" for a reason.  I'm no wine snob either.  While I would prefer to drink a $50 bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir every night, my budget instead is more box wine.  And luckily box wines have come far.  Franzia is still sold, but it's also easy to find some pretty good stuff. 

Plus box wine runs in my family.  I remember going up to visit my grandparents and there always being a box of Franzia in the fridge.  Years ago I remember my Grandpa saying that he was looking forward to a "nice box of box wine" at a family gathering.

The first two months of Hank's life definitely drove me to drink.  He cried nearly non-stop when he was awake.  Boy, did I look forward to some wine every night!  So I've had time to sample quite a few box wines, here are the most recent ones.   Some are definitely worth buying, some are not. 

I wouldn't say they are each really worth their own review.  Instead, I've ordered them - from the one I liked least, to the one I like the best.  All of them are available at Fred Meyers and/or Safeway.  They are always on sale, and generally run between $15-25.  There are the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine in each box and it lasts for a month or so after opening (although not for me!).

Not so good.  Very dry.  Leaves you parched.

I don't remember much about this one.  Just ok.

Pretty good.  Pretty flat though.

I think I've had every Bota Box by now.  This is a new one called "Redvolution".  This was the runner up.

This is my definite favorite - it's a Spanish wine available at the Hollywood Freddy's. 

I believe that children are our future.....a tribute to Whitney (aka baby play group)

Last weekend some girlfriends came over with their lil' ones to drink some wine, eat some food, and let the kiddos play.  This marked Hank's official first time ever sitting up on his own!  My Mom is to thank.  She sat him up with Oliver and Miyu, and Hank saw how it was done and made it happen. 

My friend Sheila brought Oliver (9.5 months old), Yumi brought Miyu (9 months old) and Hayley brought her sweet little newborn, Elsa.  My sister, Anne, brought her daughter/my niece, Scarlett (2 years and 4 months old). 

Scarlett is a livewire - she provides a glimpse at what the rest of us have in store for us.  As soon as she comes over she has to be the center of attention.  When she isn't throwing Hank's socks down the heating vent (her new little game), she's stripping down to her diaper, jumping around and generally being a crazy (but very sweet) toddler. 

This was Hayley's first outing with just her and Elsa (she's brave!) since Elsa was only 2 weeks old.  And they had a great time (well, I think Hayley did at least, Elsa mostly slept of course).  I hope these guys all stay really good friends.....   

Oliver (left), Hank, and Miyu

Yumi (with Miyu), Sheila (with Oliver) and my Mom (with Hank).  I did warn Sheila that this would be a sexy picture of her.

Miyu, Hank's future girlfriend, who loved hogging the toys - what a cutie pie

Here's proof - Hank watching Miyu - look, no hand's, it's all Hank!

My sister, Emily, with Yumi and Miyu

New mom, Hayley, with 2 week old Elsa - I had to take a picture quick while she was awake

Hank checking out Oliver - probably trying to figure out how to do that next.

Me with the sweet little bundle, Elsa

Hitting the Estate Sales

We used to hit the estate sales every weekend for a while. My Mom and I would go, often with various sisters and brothers. We kind of became regulars, and used to really make an effort to get on the list the night before (the order you get to go in). But the lists were so frustrating - often times we'd turn up the next morning and find that the list our names had been on was no where to be found, and another one (without our names) was being used. It was so unorganized, and irritating when you had to go to the back of the line the next morning.
But it actually is pretty worth it - we've all got some pretty cool stuff - lots of vintage stuff, collectibles, books, furniture, etc. And it's always fun, we get coffee/bagels, etc., and make a morning (or longer) of it. Plus you get to go through some really cool old houses.

I hadn't been to an estate sale since before Hank was born. This past Saturday was the first, and Hank came along (and of course he loved them).

Here are some pics I took with my camera phone (which explains the poor quality).  We hit Petite Provence on Division for some food afterwards.

Here's a selection of books for sale at the Estate Sale - you can tell this was a bachelor's house.  There were quite a few "sexy" books.

Here we are at the sale - no line!

The pastry case at Petite Provence.  I'll take one of each....I wish!

The selection goes on, and on....

My sister,  Anne, showing off her yummy dish

I got the crab omlette.

My Mom got poached eggs with hash browns.

Hank, being a good boy at Petite Provence