Go ahead, throw darts at it! That’s what I think about when I give birth to a new idea and then share it with the world. Will the idea stick or will the dart find a fatal flaw? Such were my musings as I walked past the dartboard at Brix Tavern for the first hashcapade of 2014, ready to dominate the world of hash!
For newbies to my blog, I’ve spent the past 3 years stoking my passion for all things hash – creating recipes, publishing a cookbook, building my website and hosting hashcapades. These monthly “hash communions” energize me as I baptize new converts in restaurants around Portland and beyond. Brix was next!
When you enter Brix, the winding pathway leads you past an island of tables, past the bar (fabulous libations!) to an open space with ample light and impossibly high ceilings. My 22 guests occupied 5 tables along the wall with framed mirrors and a large flat screen TVs.
With Bottomless Mimosas, Bloody Marys and coffee, lively chatter on a variety of topics quickly filled the room – sushi lessons, running, snowshoeing, starting a business, travel to Hong Kong, casa in Spain, adventures in Mexico and Australia. I could have stayed all day……and would have if my Denver Broncos hadn’t been scheduled to play that day!
Suddenly, the wait staff appeared and served us delicious, fresh, hot donuts. Smartphones and cameras clicked in unison followed by lip smacking and adulation. Next, we were given a sample of Prime Rib Hash – prime rib, potatoes, caramelized onion, with a chipotle hollandaise sauce – ridiculously tasty!
As always, I ordered hash, but some of the other peeps had mushroom & brie omelettes and a seductive-looking salmon eggs benedict with smoked salmon on polenta cakes – yum! Now on to the custom Smoked Salmon Hash.
Freshly smoked salmon, caramelized onion, small diced potatoes, crème fraîche, parsley, baked eggs all bathed in hollandaise sauce made for an inviting and decadent hash. The smoked salmon was amazingly moist and tender, very impressive.
So, here I am, 3 years into an idea; an idea that sharing my passion for hash will pay dividends. Throw darts if you want, but I’m already a rich man!
Thanks to Cristina, Mark, Cassi, Mary, Cory, Jenice, Steve, Julie, Kristin, Sara, Gina, Isaac, Alina, Justin, Nitya, Zack, Rachel, and Angela for the perfect start to the new year. Special thanks to Annette for arranging for a custom hash, Chef Kevin for culinary skills, Elliot and Bridget for excellent service, Garett for food surprises, and Derek for helping our crew expand.
Happy Hashcapades,
Clark
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