It’s difficult to maintain the illusion that I’m a dominant alphamale when I have such a girly-looking drink in front of me. Next time, I’m requesting a cup with skulls, dinosaurs, and big rockets. With a biscotti the shape of a medieval saber.

Previously on Cut & Taste

• Coffee Art
• I Heart Coffee

I’m not sure if all of you know but our daughter Sofia is an IVF baby. Since my hubby’s been gone, well I’m human, I have days where I feel like I’m going to pull my hair out and want to run into the closet and let out a BIG SCREAM from frustration. What Mother doesn’t sometimes…

Today she pointed out the bubbles and yelled, “Bubbles, Momma! Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?” Of course! Great way to entertain her and get her to wear out by trying to pop each bubble! hahaha

And as I watched her face full of joy and heard her beautiful laughter, I realized remembered how blessed we are to have her here. I can’t even imagine how empty our lives would be if she had never been conceived. I watch her in amazement and pride because she’s the fruit of our lives. I love her. =)

Half chocolate half maple bar with buttercream filling from Tulip Pastry Shop in St. John’s neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.

I’ve had 2 of these in the past three days. But I walk 3 blocks to the bakery to get them. I think that evens it out. Plus, I have to walk 3 blocks back to my house. So after a few more donuts, I’ll probably be super buff and fit and practically a bodybuilder. I think that’s how it works. Shut up.

In my defense, this isn’t all I had for breakfast… I also got a slice of brandied pear & dark chocolate pie with candied ginger streusel from Random Order Coffeehouse & Bakery. It has… fruit… and… ginger, which as everyone knows, is much ballyhooed for its countless health benefits. Shut up.

Today’s breakfast: A buttermilk biscuit sandwich, filled with fried chicken, thick-cut bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried egg, topped with sausage gravy. All before 7:30 AM.

I’m wandering around Portland, Oregon this week, trying all the local eateries. This behemoth of a sandwich is known as The Reggie Deluxe and is available at Pine State Biscuits. If you’re searching for a meal that can simultaneously start and end your day, look no further.

Every component of this fork-and-knife sandwich is well-prepared. Biscuit? Freshly baked. Chicken? Crispy and moist. Bacon? Thick and chewy. All the individual ingredients come together to form this super sandwich (that requires super arteries, should you choose to eat the whole thing.)

I had to travel across state lines, but I finally found a morning meal that rivals the dangerous breakfast burrito from Rose’s Cafe. Thanks Pine State Biscuits!

Here are the results:

Well, a girl’s gotta eat, right?

The view from above. Farley’s East in Oakland, CA.

The decision was a piece of cake.

• Pan-roasted chicken with sherry vinegar & marsala wine sauce
• Carrot mashed potatoes with fresh chives
• Asparagus with crushed garlic & olive oil

The past few weeks I’ve been traveling and moving around. I just set up shop in a new place in Oakland, next to Lake Merritt & Piedmont. So this is the first meal I’ve cooked in a long while. Luckily, I had the help of my friend, Brian.

I asked Brian to drop a whole chicken in a large bowl of salt water to brine it. Well, I misjudged the capacity of the bowl and the water (or “salmonella water” as Brian would call it) spilled onto our counter (or “salmonella counter” as Brian would call it) soaking a roll of paper towels (or “salmonella paper towels”) and his clothes (or “salmonella clothes” as Brian would call it).

He showered, changed clothes and did everything short of calling for a government Hazmat team to come sanitize the kitchen.

Everything else went smoothly and the mashed potatoes have been dubbed by Brian, “The best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had… That I can remember.” So unless he’s had mashed potatoes that were so tasty that it caused memory loss, I think that’s a good review.

Jina Bolton just posted this photo I took on her new site, Art in my coffee! If you want to see how it’s done, watch this video of a barista in action. And just think of all the times their parents told them to stop playing with their food.

Eggs benedict: 3 poached eggs, smoked salmon, Hollandaise & caviar on top of an English muffin. Country potatoes. Fresh coffee.

Done.

• chris: I just paid $26 for eggs
• brian: Knowing you, it probably came with a side of fish from outer space. “Can you make sure the fish was orbiting a moon of Jupiter?”

• All-natural, free-range chicken. Pan-seared. Olive oil, paprika, salt & pepper. (Complicated, isn’t it?)
• Organic petite peas, nitrate-free pancetta, shallots.
• Drizzled olive oil.
• No butter.

Chocolate mousse topped with strawberries; Raspberry mousse with whipped cream, Lemon mousse topped with blueberries; Triple chocolate brownie a la mode, Apple cinnamon crisp a la mode, Bread pudding with raisins & vanilla, with buttery whiskey sauce:

Done.

(Actually, there’s still some left in the photo above, but it really was completely finished before we left. I wouldn’t lie to you.)

After eating nothing but americanos, eggs and apples for several days, I’ve been indulging in all the foods I was craving the past few weeks:

• Turkey burger with bacon & onion rings
• Chicken fried steak and eggs. I haven’t had this in years.
• Crab-cake benedicts. Yes, plural.
• Chicken tenders. What the hell is a “tender” anyway?
• Espresso almond brownie, Chocolate chip cookies, Oreo cream cake, Bostom cream pie, Princess cake. Probably some other terrible desserts that I have no recollection of eating.

All I’m missing is the pizza and ice cream. (Together.)