(Beaverton, Oregon)
In the spirit of the late, great "New York Times" political reporter and food critic R.W. Apple, Jr., today we continue our series about great dining on the campaign trail. This week's trip to the Oregon primary took me to "Jake's Crawfish and Seafood," which was recommended by Mike, the photographer from KPTV, with whom I was working. My old friend Brad Belstock, of KOIN-TV, also said it was great.
I was told they have a wonderful "Happy Hour," so I arrived promptly at 5 p.m., since the Obama "victory rally" was not for another two hours." It's an old wooden barroom-style restaurant, first opened in 1892. Cool place, with lots of photos of famous political figures.
The food was spectacular; and the prices, unreal! From the "Happy Hour" $1.95 menu, I chose a local oyster shooter, in cocktail sauce. Also for $1.95, I ordered the Tempura Seared Ahi Spring Roll. OHMIGOD! With wasabi, fresh ginger and a soy dipping sauce. Not to be satisfied, I had to try the local Seafood Etouffee. Chunks of salmon, dungeness crab, shrimp, crawfish and God-only-knows-what else was in a huge bowl with nut brown sauce and white rice. It could have fed three people. The price? Just $3.95, plus bread and butter. My meal was under nine bucks! (The Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay from Sonoma was a bit extra!). Happy hour ends at 6 p.m., so get there before and order food at the bar!
The bartenders and waitresses are very friendly and chatty. Joe, the bartender, has been here 16 years and loves it. "Never a dull moment," he says. "Jake's" is a popular tourist spot, as well as a haunt for locals.
"Jake's" is also something of a political mini-museum, with some classic photos, including Harry Truman's famed 1948 presidential victory, when the "Chicago Tribune" got it all wrong.
There is also an old Nixon campaign poster. 
The talk of the bar, though, is a photo showing Presidents Kennedy, Johnson (then VP), Eisenhower and Truman in a church pew. It's one of those rare, "Mt. Rushmore" type pictures. A handful of us argued for about thirty minutes about where it was taken. Finally, I correctly guessed it was at the funeral for legendary House Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas.
Anyway, "Jake's Crawfish" is a real Portland treat for the food, the history and the good company. It is located at 410 12th Street SW, Portland, OR.
Thursday I will be covering a rally for GOP Sen. John McCain in Stockton. Keep it tuned to www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.
Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
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