Quan Nem Ninh Hoa - Sacramento, CA

An all-appetizer lunch from Vietnamese legend Quan Nem Ninh Hoa, if Eater is to be believed.

It's instant love for the Banh Beo, these adorable little savory-meets-sweet-meets-umami rice-flour rounds topped with fried onion, ground shrimp, and chives.

Cha Gio are "just" egg rolls...with an egg-ceptional filling. 

They're known for their Nem Nuong Cuon, the softest, savoriest ground pork patties with parallel grill lines. Dunk liberally in a thick orange sauce. 

I've had some of the best in Garden Grove, and this one holds up among the best. Great snack-meals to be had, great meals as well, I'm sure.

Fairytale Town - Sacramento, Ca

Last day of vacation, a fabulous note to end on. 

Don’t bother with the zoo. A Fairytale Town ticket is 1/3 the price and not a single one of its attractions was asleep or hiding. 

The old lady’s shoe is a slide with a stair-climb, and Izzy loved it. Kids were lining up for this one. 

There are animals to climb and stationary trains to sit on if you’re looking to relax. 

Cinderella’s carriage can carry you through your princess dreams. 

Fear of missing out on animals? No need. Fairytale Town has all your farm staples; bunnies, sheep, a giant cow, and a sweet little pony. Not open for petting all day, but I’m sure they’re all on the schedule.

You can only come to accompany your kids so creepers need not try. It’s the safest, sweetest, most detailed kids park I’ve ever seen, and if you are with any children, ever, don't miss an opportunity to bring them here. 

Oregon Trip - Day 14 - Orphan Breakfast House - Sacramento, CA

Ah, a bit of breakfast. 

Fluffy French Toast is fun, a cinnamon baguette-like, housemade bread. 

Eight dollars is a lot for this little bit of Fruit, but at least it’s fresh and varied. 

I'm not blown away by this place, but I didn't get to try much so I can't honestly tell if it's good or just alright. The French toast is a bit meh, especially with the weirdly sour aftertaste, but I feel like this menu has potential. 

Gold Dust Pizza - Sutter Creek, CA

A fluffy, chewy, all-air crust cradles mozzarella so supple it stretches into foot-long ropes with every bite. Chunks of sun-sweet tomato bask in fragrant basil, and fresh garlic adds some pungence to make an absolutely perfect pizza. 

It's the only place we visited, but if I were to come back to Sutter Creek, I would definitely visit again. 

Oregon Trip - Day 13 - Sacramento, CA - Cooper Vineyards, Plymouth, CA & Flynn Creek Circus - Sutter Creek, CA

A pretty property with a strong variety of wines. Their Blondie is an exceptional white. This, from someone who doesn't like whites. Others include a bold Barbera, a strong Syrah, and a zesty Zin. Plenty to buy, many to try. A nice stop outside of Sac if you're looking for a sip. 

Flynn Creek Circus - Sutter Creek, CA

An indie circus troupe under an old-fashioned big top, a cirque-style show with aerialists doing legit routines with shapes that make me sigh and releases that make me hold my breath. Lyra, Chinese pole, cyr wheel, acro, rope. They have all the apparatuses and few extras to boot, as well as some cute kids who were born triple threats. 

Add a live band to rock the tent, and you have a beautiful event. 

The Coconut on T - Sacramento, CA

We arrive in Sacramento after nine hours on the road. We are weary and in dire need of something scrumptious. No one delivers, despite the short distance between our airbnb and downtown, but we manage to make do with Doordash, and they fetch us some Thai staples from The Coconut on T. 

A few bites in and I understand the fuss. The Pineapple Fried Rice is truly flavorful, full of kickin' curry powder and plenty of pineapple chunks.

A Papaya Salad boasts a sweeter, fish sauce-esque house-made "dressing". My fault for not seeing the option to select a level of spice. It tastes funny with no heat so make sure you get at least mild or medium. 

There's magic in the mundane. The Fried Calamari is skillfully battered, and the golden pieces keep their crunch despite the transit. 

You won't be surprised by the menu, but you will be surprised by the quality. The Coconut on T makes basic Thai, but they make it really well. On the days you just want a great fried rice, you can count on the Coconut to make yours exceptional. 

Mix Bakeshop - Ashland, OR

Ashland claims to have an amazing food scene, but I had my doubts about this sweet but smaller city. 

A single bite a Mix Bakery Baguette and I'm sold. It's the best baguette I’ve had stateside, with a crispy, rippin' crust and a chewy, airy center. There is just the slightest lift of sourdough spelt to finish, and let's just say my kid walked out of the bakery hugging the remaining half to her chest. 

They make a mean half-sweet Mocha with a house-made syrup to go with any bread you choose. 

Get a baguette, but also make time for the Ham & Thyme. The ham is sliced beautifully thin and arranged in ribbons, a delicate meat completed by butter and herbs.

There's a Chocolate & Bourbon Pecan Tart that is to die for, a beautiful confection.  

The Lemon Meringue Tart is pure perfection, tangy custard topped with a cloud-swirl that's almost too pretty to eat. 

There is something special about Ashland, a serenity and peace I wasn't expecting. I fell in love with Ashland within an hour, and Mix Bakery got me with a single bite of baguette.

Oregon Trip - Day 12 - Portland to Sacramento

Portland is picturesque but good god, who designed these streets?? Narrow AF, all the way one-way, harrowing hairpins every half-a-mile. Our temporary home in Homestead is a bit out there, but these upward-winding roads to the reputable university hospital make medical care seem like a breeze...assuming you survive the treacherous drive up that hill. To their credit, Portland drivers are super cool. They let you into their lane as you weave your way across the maze of freeway bridges that span the Willamette, sometimes with a nod of forgiveness and always the utmost understanding. Not a single honk as they willingly allow you to cut them off, as you span four lanes in under a mile, one of many reasons Portland has a permanent place in my heart.

I’m surprised to say this might be my favorite trip our family has taken so far. I love this city, I love the vibe, the people, the "weird", which is not really weird. It's just cool people with sleek and unique fashion, making their passions fly. 

Ripping off the band-aid today, sadly starting the nine-hour struggle to Sacramento, the longest leg of our trip. 

But it's not all bad as we drink in the sights and scenes of multiple national forests. 

Idyllic Ashland, home of the three-season Shakespeare festival, lies at our halfway point, and we stop here to stretch our legs. 

Lithia Park lies adjacent to Main Street/main square, art stalls lining its lengths. There’s a pond with turtles and ducks, 

A wading area with cold water for dipping hot, tired feet, a whopping 93 acres of anything you could want. 

Kabba’s Kitchen - Portland, OR

It's our last meal in Portland so it's bittersweet and it better be good. No pressure.

Oh, it's all good, even this Ndambe Sandwich, which I had serious doubts about. It looks like a less sloppy black-eyed-bean sloppy joe, but it's so much better. The beans have real flavor in a kickin' tomato and onion sauce for a lighter lunch that is bean-tasically messy to eat. 

A tart Hibiscus drink and a bold Ginger drink both go great with all the spices. 

The Mafe Yapp is a hearty, slightly more hefty selection. Shredded beef is tender in a thick peanut sauce, a stew so thick it's practically solid. Serve over rice to savor.

And a side of sweet Plantains is a must.

It's all so good, but you're really here for Fataya. Flaky, crispy crust encasing a fabulous filling, full of spice. Dip in a chunky onion chutney for best results.

African food is an adventure for us, the perfect conclusion to our adventure in Portland. A lot of great things to be discovered in this crafty kitchen at Kabba's, just go with an open mind and eat.  

Oregon Trip - Day 11 - Barista - Portland, OR

A cute coffee shop on Alberta, one of several in this local chain. 

An iced coffee with ube salted cream calls my name. The cream is mustache-making thick and cushions the coffee that filters through.

Shrub, a drinking vinegar, carbonates an iced coffee, cutting out the bitterness and creating a smoother soft drink. 

Pastries from a nearby bakery include a still-chewy Black Sesame Mochi Donut, a fluffy Croissant, and a crumbly Marionberry scone. Great little snacks to grab before or during your Alberta art adventure.

Ruthie’s - Portland, OR

Hailed by critics as Portland's most ambitious food truck, Ruthie's realizes a level of potential that most food trucks never reach. Food is seared in a scorching wood-fired oven, and during Portland's heat wave, I imagine this is how fanning the flames of hell might feel. 

When you subject coal to a hellfire, i.e. a lot of heat and pressure, it turns into a diamond, and Ruthie's is an undoubtable gem. Seemingly simple stables like Grandma Ruth’s Rolls are much more special than they seem. These fluffy, fold-overs are a wonder, and I swear I've never had a better roll.

Sandwich a slab of rockfish for a Slider you won't soon forget. Well-seasoned, perfectly cooked, wish the fish had been less fishy.

The Cucumber Salad is a staple of summer, cool cukes beaming with blueberry. 

The Pork Chop is a bone-in beauty, toasted tender and evenly sliced. It sits in a bed of tomato garlic basil, topped with fresh arugula.

They keep it simple at Ruthie's, with rolls, salad, and just a single entree. They do what they do well, and it's fine dining-quality food sold out of a stall. Grab it to go or sit in the shade. It's worth the trek and it's worth wait.

Afterglow Aerial Arts - Portland, OR

I started legit withdrawing from working out, waking up gasping, anxiety on my chest, heavier than Manny at his fattest. 

Afterglow Aerial Arts had an open gym, and I got an easy approval from the owner who graciously took my call while visiting family in Montana. Lovely people all around, and $25 almost nothing for two hours of sanity. Seemed worth mentioning. 

International Rose Test Garden - Portland, OR

Gorgeous. 

These colors don’t even seem real, and even on a rainy day they pop, glamming up the gloom. 

I don’t have words to describe how amazing this FREE garden is. Here are the terrible photos I took. 

Oregon Trip - Day 10 - Voodoo Doughnut - Portland, OR

Well, that was unexpected. I was all worked up for Voodoo and wow, what a letdown. 

To start, the donuts were stale. Sat-out-for-more-than-a-day stale. We ordered them early in the morning so there’s no reason they shouldn't have a fresher batch. 

Sadly, the donuts had some potential, had they not been old. Not nearly as creative as Blue Star and very gimicky but could have at least tasted good. The Voodoo Doll was cute, the jelly filling was great, but even that pretzel stick was stale. Great cream in the Portland Cream and the Canolo, which reminds me of those cream horns I loved as a kid. Bacon Maple Butter was a would-be winner as well - gotta love the combo of sweet and salty. 

Meh on the Apple Fritter, especially compared to Blue Star’s masterpiece. Oh Captain, My Captain was a surprising favorite. Less stale than the others and the cereal crunch was key. 

I cared less about the creativity and more about the fact that every donut was really old. Freshness matters in all things fried, and these really missed the mark. 

Breakside Brewing - Portland, OR

A Slabtown brewery all about the beer. Lots of interesting selections, and a six-serving flight is the best way to try them.

The menu descriptions are incredibly accurate, comprehensively cataloging and capturing every flavor to a tee. 

All the IPAs are insanely bitter, and descriptions like “dank” and “marijuana” are on the nose. There’s also a Pilsner that tastes like a textbook Pilsner and a passion fruit sour that finishes like fruit juice.

Food comes in generous portions - only order what you need. 

The Bavarian Pretzel is the size of a torso. Okay pretzel, cheese sauce has the texture of something over-stirred. 

Chicken Tenders are generic, though my toddler is a fan. 

They make a great patty for the Cheeseburger, and you have your choice of cheese. 

Come for the brews, not for the food. They make bar food just fine, but they only make food to help you drink. 

Fifty Licks - Portland, OR

I am obsessed with this ice cream! Subtler flavors are almost understated but precisely balanced.  

The Fig & Chevre, for example, has to be the best  cream I’ve had to date. Figs frolic with goat cheese cream, and it tastes like something you’d spread across a toast point at teatime. 

My least favorite is the Lavender Salted Caramel, which is lively with lavender but needs more caramel. 

Cornbread Honey Butter is just crumbly cornbread mixed into buttery ice cream, like buttering your bread but more like breading your butter.

Mango Sticky Rice is a marvel. A vegan ice cream but you can’t even tell they subbed the milk. It tastes exactly like that beloved Thai dessert, down to the authentic streaks of yellow mango. 

Amazing ice cream, best I’ve had to date. I’d take 12 pints home if I could. 

Rollin’ Fresh - Portland, OR

Curiosity was killing me - I just had to try a sushi burrito.

Decided on the Spidey Sense, and it had a soft shelled crab that was to die for. But here’s the thing; I didn’t care for or care about anything else. The rice wasn’t seasoned like sushi rice, and some bites were bland because the burrito was thick and didn’t distribute the ingredients evenly. The Fresca slaw was weird and the salsa didn’t go with the theme. 

Spam Musubi was a pleasant surprise. A simple slab of spam on rice and wrapped in nori. They fried every surface crispy, just the right contrast of texture and taste. 

I liked Rollin’ Fresh in general, but I won’t be rollin’ up again. I didn’t mind it, but I also didn’t need it and certainly don’t need it again. Great idea and a fun concept but not the best in execution.