Posted by
Eric Bell on Mon, Oct 17, 2011 @ 04:08 PM
Posted on September 13, 2011: Several sweeping generalizations can be made about the culinary habits of different professional groups in society. For example, construction workers are generally pictured with a lunch pail and a cup of soup in hand (my favorite image of a construction worker meal a grilled cheese that was grilled with a butane torch, a la Tim Allen’s Home Improvement). Cowboys eat steaks and other meats out on the open prairie. Video game enthusiasts eat pizza (both warm and cold). The people we work with at EnGn are urban professionals with busy schedules and international tastes. The melding of these two characteristics brings to mind one specific cuisine: Chinese food. Chinese take-out is a staple of many households that have busy occupants. We at the EnGn decided to visit a local Chinese restaurant to sample the delicacies for lunch. The location we landed on was Golden Horse Chinese Restaurant in Downtown Portland.
Golden Horse is characteristic of many of the best authentic restaurants in town. The interior is sparsely decorated with few wall hangings and trinkets from China itself. There is no kitsch; the dining area feels like an extension of a family’s dinner table. The wait staff greets you as if you are a family member coming home for a quick lunch, and the quality of the food is just that. There are no plating gimmicks or fancy silverware; the intent is to serve you warm food that tastes good and have you out on your way. Each plate is sizable, and contains the basic ingredients in Chinese food: garlic, green onions, and sesame seeds. The food was simple, but tasty and filling. However, the restaurant does have questionable service, as I was given a scowl when I asked if a dish had egg in it. All in all, EnGn enjoyed our Chinese meal outing, as it was like heading home for lunch, if we lived in Beijing.
Golden Horse is located in the China Town district in Downtown Portland, on the corner of 4th and Everett. They serve everything from seafood, to poultry, and they have limited vegetarian options. We will continue to work hard (by eating out) to identify unique places for our candidates that we bring to Portland to enjoy while in our great little city. Ravi Parikh, Researcher/Bloat House Guide
Posted by
Eric Bell on Mon, Oct 17, 2011 @ 04:03 PM
Posted on September 13, 2011: One of the best attributes of the city of Portland is its rich cultural diversity. From all walks of life individuals come together, creating a landscape that embodies the best facets of the people who make up the city. Nowhere is this more apparent than within Portland’s renowned music scene, where on any given night a person can see just about any style of music being performed, at any number of great music venues. You want Jazz music? Head down to Jimmy Mak’s to catch the best Portland has to offer. Interested in Indie Rock? The Doug Fir Lounge regularly features great local and national acts. Wherever your tastes lie, the great thing about Portland is that your interests will always be satiated.
Being a young professional and lifelong musician, I understand the importance of any music lover’s work-life balance. For many, music is the lifeblood that makes one feel alive, and Portland is a city that can fulfill this passion. I am fortunate to work at a company I enjoy my time with, but also, I’m fortunate to work in a city that has a musical culture that fulfills my musical interests. I could go on forever about the specifics of Portland’s music scene, and will delve more deeply in the future, but most important to understand is that Portland is a city in which no fan of music leaves unsatisfied.
-Aaron McCoy, Researcher/Heavy Metal Aficionado