The tweet was seductive: “Hey, @cowboyecho Just spoke with Chef @rsturmer64 about a possible sirloin hash sometime in the future. Will keep you informed!” Straight from Urban Farmer was a siren call to action, to a hashcapade. Well, this cowboy from Wyoming wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to mosey on up to a rustic potato hash with his posse in an urban oasis!
Located on the 8th floor of the old Meier & Frank building in the heart of Portland, Urban Farmer fêtes guests from the The Nines and hungry patrons throughout the city. Departure Lounge on top of the building is another popular draw, especially when the sun graces us! As we exited the elevator, we were reminded of the building’s past with mannequins, obviously pointing the way to a memorable culinary adventure at Urban Farmer! (As an aside, a previous post that mentions Naked Famous People gets a lots of hits from Google, perhaps it will happen again!)
And so we entered the spacious and impressive atrium and announced to Sue our intention to order enough hash to fill a small John Deere tractor with a 40″ shovel! With an engaging smile and a magical wave of her hand, she showed us to the “communal table” a massive, 20-foot elevated table hewn from an old-growth Douglas Fir. Communal, tractors, farming, urban setting – brilliant!
When Sue gave us our special menu, shivers ran down my spine. I had created a video, “Think Outside the Can” and here on the menu was Hash in a Can! Was this some sort of cosmic sign? Destiny? Yes! And what of the regular menu? Oregon Beef Hash. Yes, please!
Decisions, decisions, decisions. My heart was set on the Oregon Beef Hash – beef tenderloin, fingerling potatoes, peas, fava beans, poached egg and tomato jam. Peter described it as “more of a stew” treatment. To me, that sounded (and tasted) like heaven!
Others in my hashcapade posse ordered Cheddar Bacon Biscuit with Sausage & Pork Belly, Farm Vegetable Quiche, Brioche French Toast and Dungeness Crab Omelet from the brunch menu. After all, it’s about having fun and eating what you want. Hash is optional for everyone, except for this cowboy 🙂
And now, back to Hash in a Can. What a clever idea! First, the corned beef tongue, potatoes, onion and spices are packed in the can to form a cylinder of deliciousness. Then the has is released so that a basted egg is placed on top and then covered with the can. Finally, the can is brought out in a beautiful dish and the can lifted to reveal the gastronomic equivalent of a Doric column. And to top it all off? Bernaise sauce – genius!
I sampled some of the Hash in a Can. Luscious, silky Bernaise and yolk enveloped the hash, which was tender, perfectly salted and simply amazing. Next time, I’ll order both of the hashes!
Thanks to my hashcapade posse: Mike, Mary, Angela, Mary, Suzanne, Lisa, Dana, Tony, Tamara, Andy, Michelle, Elizabeth, Mark, Jessica, Maria, Hilary, Nick, Rose, Barbara, Marci and Darla; special thanks to Peter, Naomi, Carmae and Sue for impeccable service; to Eric & Ryan for a lovely custom hash creation – Hash In A Can; and Kara for engaging tweets that reeled us in!
Happy Hashcapades,
Clark
Man, that’s a lot of hashcateers! Looks and sounds yummy.
Next one is looking like July 15th…hope you can make it, Paul!