We wanted to stop and do the Bob’s Red Mill factory tour. Bob’s world headquarters are located just outside of Portland. It was a nice tour with some free samples. We saw their gluten free operation and how they guard against any cross contamination. We also learned how the company started with Bob and Charlene Moore. They started this venture later on in their lives.. Bob will be 89 next month and still comes into the office daily unless he is traveling. He also still visits grocery stores to check on his products. There is also a Bob’s store near factory, which sells all the products they produce. Bob’s is the largest stone ground miller in regards to the variety of grains processed.
We must have still been hungry after all those free samples because we decided to drive an hour and a half to see the Tillamook cheese factory. Tillamook is a farmer owned co-op and has been for over 100 years. Unfortunately for us, they are in the process of building a new visitors center and are currently operating out of a temporary building.. So, not much of a tour, but we did get free cheese samples and bought some of their ice cream. Really nice and creamy. And of course since we were in the neighborhood might as well stop at the Blue Heron cheese store as well.
Drove into Portland and checked into the hotel. We stayed at the Park Inn and Suites. This hotel is in a great location and is walkable to downtown and to Washington Park.
We were joining a friend of Will’s, Andra, for dinner. Met at an Italian restaurant called Gilda’s. The gluten free pasta dish I had was pretty good. I think Portland specializes in food allergies. It seems most every restaurant has no problem accommodating gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, or whatever. Andra then suggested an ice cream place called Salt and Straw. The line was quite long and went around the corner. This really surprised us for a Friday night, mid-winter, and close to 10pm. It was good ice cream and if you’re vegan there were plenty of flavors to choose. I sampled at least 3 vegan flavors and I couldn’t tell the difference between them and regular ice cream.
Woke up to a beautiful sunny day. Yes, the first day in a week that we’ve seen anything more than a few minutes of sun. Walked to the Japanese Gardens, a short walk from the hotel. The gardens are very beautiful even in winter.
We walked to where Andra’s daughter works at Root for lunch. It’s a spa. Yes, massages, yoga, steam rooms and a café. I know, we had never really thought of enjoying lunch at a spa before, but our food was really good, healthy, and satisfying. So if you’re in Portland, give it try.
Headed over to check out the Chinese Gardens. These gardens are also very beautiful, but quite small. So, unless you’re really into gardens I’d skip this one. We had wanted to tour the Pittock Mansion , but they are closed in January. So, no tour, but I had read that the mansion has great views of Portland, Mt Hood and Mt Rainer. We drove up and apparently everyone else had the same idea. With the great weather and it being a weekend it was crowded on top of the hill.
That night we felt like getting dessert again and found a gluten-free and vegan pastry shop, Petunia’s Pies and Pastries. So, nice to be able to walk in and see a dessert and know I can eat it. They also list other known allergens for each product that people might be allergic to.
