SAY CHEESE

Oregon is rightly famous for its fine wines. But did you know that Oregon also produces some of the best cheeses in the U.S.?

Standard, well-known and well-liked cheeses like yellow and white Cheddar (mild, medium, sharp and extra sharp), Monterey Jack, Mozzerella and Swiss are made in Oregon, as are a wide variety of artisan cow, goat and sheep cheeses. All are available in upscale grocery stores very near The Fulton House, one only a block and a half away and the other about a 2-minute drive.

Also, a wide variety of domestic and imported wines can be found for sale in our well-stocked wine cellar; corkscrews, glasses -- including plastic for enjoying wine in our large hot tub (see prior blog below) -- stoppers, ice buckets, tongs and refrigeration are available for wine; cheese cutters, plates and napkins are on hand for enjoying your cheeses; you'll have to supply the bread, crackers and condiments.

There are almost 10 cheese makers within easy driving distance from Portland, from about 40-110 miles away. And all of them are located in wine country, so you can take a day and sample and purchase both for a very enjoyable lunch or afternoon snack.

Tillamook Cheese, Oregon's largest producer, has produced a handy and comprehensive guide to pairing wines and cheeses. Here are the company's recommendations:

Sparkling Wine-Camembert, Chaource, Fontina
Viognier-White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Chaource
Sauvignon Blanc-Herb de Provence, Fontina, White Extra Sharp Cheddar
Pinot Gris-Medium Cheddar, Fontina, Camembert
Chardonnay-Smoked Black Pepper White Cheddar, White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Blue
Riesling-Smoked Cheddar, Long-Aged White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Blue
Whole Cluster Pinot Noir-Aged Extra Sharp Cheddar, White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Blue
Pinot Noir-Long-Aged White Extra Sharp Smoked Cheddar, Long-Aged White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Chaource
Cabernet Franc-Smoked Black Pepper White Cheddar, Long-Aged White, Extra Sharp Cheddar, PepperJack
Merlot-Long-Aged White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Gouda, Blue
Syrah-Garlic White Cheddar, Blue, Fontina
Tempranillo-Long-Aged White Extra Sharp Cheddar, Medium Cheddar, Gouda
Cabernet Sauvignon-Chaource, Smokey Blue, Camembert

Of course, it's really fun and enlightening to experiment pairing with a variety of cheeses and wines. Just mix and match to discover what taste combinations you like best.

A final note.....One of my inviolate rules is that one should never diet on vacation. The creative, hearty breakfasts we serve at The Fulton House in the morning, the wine and cheese snacks for the late afternoon or evening, and the wide variety of good restaurants within walking or easy driving distance of us all will contribute mightily to your enjoyment of Portland and Oregon.

HOT TUB SEASON HAS ARRIVED!

Summer is over in Portland, the temperature has dropped and autumn has arrived. Leaves are falling and the weather has cooled.

At The Fulton House, that means hot tub weather is finally here. Even if it drizzles, there's nothing more relaxing than climbing into our large hot tub -- it can easily accommodate 4-6 persons -- turning on the Jacuzzi jets, settling into 102-degree water and sipping the complimentary wine (cabernet sauvignon, shiraz or chardonnay) you'll find in your private refrigerator. There's also free pop, diet pop or bottled water to choose from.

So bring your bathing suits and we'll provide the terry cloth bath robes, towels and plastic glasses, everything you'll need to enjoy yourselves.

The Fulton House hot tub, located just steps away from our rear door on a private patio, is open from 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Since our large back yard is completely fenced, you'll have total privacy.

Come and relax and enjoy! After all, isn't that what an out-of-town trip, whether for business or pleasure or both, is all about?

THE GREATEST BUMPER STRIP IN THE U.S.

Several years ago the owner of Music Millenium, a Portland retail record store, printed 500 bumper stickers with the advice to "Keep Portland Weird." To date, he's sold more than 10,000.

Why? Well, in many ways Portland is weird, but we sure have a lot of fun here. For example, the City's public library, located in the heart of downtown, has just hosted a festival of weirdness, including belly dancing demonstrations, testimonials about the need to recycle, and a mass ukulele performance by a local association which counts more than 500 members who regularly strum Arthur Godfrey's favorite instrument. (By the way, I recognize that if you're under 40, you probably don't know who Arthur Godfrey was, so please Google it and learn.)

So why not plan on coming here for a week or a weekend and discover for yourself how many ways there are to have a good time in Portland. The city is a great music venue -- from rock to bluegrass to country to classical to easy listening to whatever your preference in music is. We have more breweries than any other city in the world, having zipped by Munich, Germany a few years ago to grab top honors. "Food and Wine" magazine just voted us the best restaurant city in the U.S. We're within easy driving distance of dozens upon dozens of top wineries. Our pro basketball team, the Trailblazers, is the one which a number of years ago passed up on drafting Michael Jordan and instead picked Sam Bowie (weird enough for you?!?), and this year, with the first selection in the draft, picked Greg Oden, who promptly underwent a knee operation that will sideline him for at least a year and maybe forever.

We are proud to host Powell's Books, the largest bookstore west of the Mississippi, and a major tourist attraction. Just last week, The Fulton House hosted two visitors from England. The husband was an engineer in an exotic field who complained he could never find any books about his profession; at Powell's, he found three feet of books on the shelves pertaining to his job.

Portland was recently voted the most bike friendly city in the country. And I'm certain some of you remember one of our former mayors who biked to work every day in lederhosen, was elected with the campaign slogan of "Whoop, whoop!", and regularly crossed the Willamette River (which flows through downtown and divides the city into east and west sides) in a canoe.

We don't claim to be particularly weird at The Fulton House, but we are dedicated to offering you the most comfortable accomodations in the most convenient location with the best breakfasts in town.

Book a room and judge for yourself if we don't live up to that boast!