I have abandoned SE in the PNW for too long! It's time to rejuvenate the connections between The South and The Northwest. I have too much to say for one blog post, so I'll start with Garden and Gun magazine. I had created the unofficial Facebook fan page for the magazine several years ago when it had to skip an issue because of the tanking economy. Since then, they have gotten digitized, have a fan page, include FB comments in the letters section, etc. However, my little fan page is still quite popular, with people asking to be added daily.

In their February/March 2012 edition, G&G published an article on "Best Southern Bars" and included a shout out to five bars around the country that "do Dixie right." Portland got mentioned with The Woodsman. While I very much enjoyed the atmosphere of this place, I don't think it gives off a distinctly southern vibe. I think they have some aspects that are southern, but I wouldn't even call it a Portland-Southern fusion. I personally think it's Portland doing Portland, and I give it big thumbs up. This lead me to consider spots in town that are definitively southern inspired. Portland definitely has a soft spot for southern tinged cultural influences, from music to food. The following are my top picks.

Screen Door 
If only Screen Door could have been on the other side of Burnside, it could have made it to the southeast. Shockingly, this establishment does not have a website, but their delectable menu is linked above. I hardly ever use it, because I always know I will be getting some version of their fried chicken. For brunch, I must opt for the Gin Fizz and cathead chicken and waffles. At $12, it seems like a steep price, but when you consider you can eat for the next 3 days, it's incredibly economical.

While this is down home food done upscale, it is done right. I used to think fancy dining and southern style were oxymorons, but apparently not.

Tennessee Red's

While many a Volunteer is turning in his grave, Tennessee Red's is located on 11th and Sherman. Since Grant and Lincoln streets are adjacent, I appreciate the intersection of irony. T.R. is definitely casual and southern, although they removed the fried okra from their menu, much to my chagrin. It's lost a bit of its luster for me, but I still enjoy getting a beverage and sitting outside on their picnic tables from time to time. It's just up the street from me, and their BBQ smoker can be sniffed from blocks away. You can select from several different sauces, and I enjoy the vinegar Memphis the best. I wish their mustard sauce was less sweet and more vinegar.





Pine State Biscuits
This was one of the first places I went in Portland, mainly because it was recommended by my friend from Charlotte who knew the owners. I was instructed to say hi from Cameron. They now have added a location on Alberta, but I have only ever been to the one on SE Belmont. On weekends, the line is always out the door and there's no where to sit inside. The biscuits are worth any inconvenience.


The Bye and Bye
I learned of this spot from one of the actual owners who happened to be my bartender from my past life in Athens, GA. I ran into him at Blitz Ladd while watching a UGA football game. Those types of coincidences are what this blog is all about. A certain type of Southerner moves to Portland on purpose, and it's always great to run into each other in our next lives.

This is a vegan place with strong drinks, often served in mason jars. Lots of peaches and bourbon happening here. This is a little slice of Athens hipster heaven up here in the ultimate hipster PNW. It's an informal, casual bar, but if you're in the mood for southern service this is not the place. However, if you want to mosey up to the bar and place your order, they're plenty friendly.