Ticket Winners – A Tie
Thanks to everyone who participated in the pancake eating challenge at Stepping Stone. Although some came close and gave it a commendable try, it turned out to be a tie between these two who each managed to scarf down three huge pancakes. That is a heck of an impressive feat. Check out their videos and see for yourself.
For their efforts, they each won two tickets to a Blazers home game. Congrats and enjoy.
Oliver:
Danny:
Off the hook good food
On my quest to reach the best restaurants in Portland, I've found two gigantic contenders for some of the best food I've ever had. I'm even writing about these separately from my Favs page.
With everyone talking about this Mediterranean restaurant called Toro Bravo and me having two Spanish teammates, I thought it essential that I check out the authenticity of this place.
I was blown away by how good their tapas were. I don't know what tapas is or means, but the way they cook it is awesome. If this is what all Spanish food tastes like, please book me two tickets to Spain after June 30. People were all having a good time eating and drinking wine. There seemed to be no problems with anyone anywhere in this place.
I give it 5 patatas with extra mole sauce because it was legit.
The second contender is Pok Pok. Okay, what's a sign of a place being freaking off-the-chain good..? Maybe a line in 35-degree weather waiting for a table OUTSIDE. Yes, I waited. I've heard many, many things so I chose this Friday to venture east and go see what's up. I can only imagine how sweet this place is during the summer.
The table heaters and the water with a huge branch thingy in it are just two things that caught my eye when I first sat down. I then had the pork skewers and the world famous wings... Someone call the
police because I did a serious 187 (murder) on it. I sat there almost in awe of how good everything was, no lie. I even tried to lick my plate. Bad manners, I know, but it's worth it. Every dish that we had was so fresh I wanted to slap its mamma. I mean, it's hard to find a place where everything is organic and fresh and you can taste the difference.
Where have we been, Portland, that this place isn't nationally nominated for best Restaurant of the World? I have a new favorite. If you like great food, this is the spot. I'm gonna keep looking around though to see if anyone can dethrone Pok Pok. If it's possible, I'll find it.
Oh, and thank you to our friends The Sanfords for telling us to go there.
Want to win 2 tickets?
I was eating at Stepping Stone Cafe and the pancakes there are huge.
So, here's my new challenge: send in preferably a video, but at least a photo, with the food server who will vouch for you of you eating as many pancakes as you can. You can send them to info@channingfrye.com if you don't have your own link available. The person who eats the most pancakes in one sitting will get two tickets to any home game (not a playoff game).
The deadline is March 1, 2009.
Who’s up for kickball?
With all the traveling we've been doing, I've had plenty of time to think about what I'm gonna do this summer for a charity game in Portland and through it all I came up with a kickball game.
I don't know where it's gonna be yet and don't know what month, but I feel like it will be the best idea and way for kids and parents and everyone in the community to get out and have a great day for a good cause in Portland.
So let me know how you feel about it, where I should have it, and if you had to have one thing there (food, beer, roller coaster, etc.) let me know. I want my kickball day to be the best day in Portland every year.
Places I Should Check Out
Okay, so I get all these suggestions throughout different posts on places I should go, so I'm making this THE spot to pump your place. I'll go and give my opinion on all of them. I'm sure I'll think most of them are great, but I want to check them out for myself anyway.
Is there some place you think is the bomb? List it here with the name and address.
Leonardo’s
I don't usually write about restaurants on a whim, but when something really explodes my palette, it deserves a special blog entry.
I drove past this pizza place called Leonardo's at 10th and Lovejoy in the Pearl District and stopped in. I'm speechless. It is, no lie, the BEST pizza maybe not only in Portland but in the top 5 I've had in my life.
The toppings are so large it's like eating a sandwich. The ingredients are fresh and the crust is thick yet soft. What more can I say? Flat out, try this place. And here's a challenge: if any one person can eat a 23" Combo Grande by themselves and send in a photo of the experience, I'll send them a signed photograph.
I understand I'm just one human, but know that I know my pizza and you have to try this place at least once. If you don't you're missing the best pizza in Portland.
I give this a super size fries with all the the sauce you can hold in your hands. It's that good.
And if you haven't seen my other latest favs, click here with more to come soon.
Some of my favs
Hey guys, check out the other parts of my website. I've been wandering around Portland for almost a year so I know some places. Check out my favs to see if you've been there. I'm constantly updating it, so if you have any bar, restaurant, or whatever that you think is the hot-spot, let me know.
The Channing Frye Show – Tonight @ 5:25pm
Check out Primetime tonight with Isaac and Big Suke on 1080 The Fan because Channing is back every Tuesday at 5:25pm. Listen for your chance to win prizes, courtesy of channingfrye.com and the C. Frye Foundation.
If you miss the show, check out the archives so you can catch it later. The audio archives can be found by clicking here.
This week, enter to win a size 17 shoe autographed by Channing by clicking here and submitting the required information. A winner will be chosen and notified by noon on 11/4.
And, don't forget to watch the Blazers take on the Lakers at 7:30 pm tonight on Fox Sports.
Also, if you read HOOP, look for Channing as the magazine's Straight Shooter this season where he answers fan and reader questions.
The Channing Frye Show is back
As published on OregonLive.com
JOE FREEMAN
The Oregonian Staff
TUALATIN -- Channing Frye returned to Trail Blazers practice Tuesday, roughly three weeks ahead of his projected return date, and you know what that means: The Northwest-loving, glass-half-full, down-to-earth personality of this revitalized franchise was back.
Post-practice interviews turned into Night at the Improv.
On his speedy recovery from Sept. 8 surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle: "There's been a lot of prayers and a lot of milk," Frye said, laughing. "Hopefully I can get a milk contract."
On when he might be game-ready: "I'd say tomorrow. I might die in the first five minutes, but I'm just going to continue to work on my conditioning. I think that's the biggest thing. Like coach says, 'I have a little money in the bank and I'm taking a deposit out.' "
But in the midst of all the humor, Frye revealed a hint of his serious side, dissecting opinions on a host of issues, including the fact that this season, his fourth in the NBA, might be his most important. It's the last year of his rookie contract and Frye has made no secret that he loves living in Portland and longs to be a part of the Blazers' long-term future.
"I think that's No. 1," Frye said. "It's probably not the right thing to say, but I really want to stay here. And I think at the end of the year it's going to be evaluated. I don't think anyone on this team is about numbers, it's about your value to this team and how you're going to be able to fit into this program for the next few years. So that's a unique position. I'm focused on (being) the best player I can be and (figuring out) how I'm going to fit in here."
Frye -- who was jerked in and out of the starting lineup, and sometimes out of the playing rotation altogether -- says he feels more comfortable entering his second season with the Blazers. He's a reserve power forward behind starter LaMarcus Aldridge, a role he embraces, and figures to be an integral part of a second unit that could be an exciting, high-scoring group.
Although his ankle surgery was a setback, Frye said his offseason regimen should help him get back in shape quickly. He spent much of the offseason working on his outside jump shot and working out at the Blazers' practice facility in Tualatin -- so much so that he earned the team's most outstanding worker award, given to the player who demonstrates the best offseason work ethic in Portland.
Much of the extra work focused on three-point shooting. Already a standout mid-range shooter -- remember that 20-point outburst in Denver last season when Aldridge was hurt? -- Frye has added a three-point shot to his offensive repertoire.
In addition to his on-again, off-again playing time last season, Frye also routinely played out of position at center because of Greg Oden's injury. And while Frye had his standout moments -- he averaged 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in the final five games of the season as a substitute starter for Joel Przybilla -- Frye is more suited for his role this season.
But the question remains: With so many offensive weapons and only so many shots to go around on the second unit, will Frye get many opportunities to flash that newfound three-pointer? That's irrelevant, Frye said. Although it's a contract season, he refuses to dwell on individual statistics. Like seemingly everyone on this team, Frye said he believes his value will be measured in how many games the Blazers win.
"It really comes down to . . . one of two things," Frye said. "I can either come out here (and) be a jerk and be selfish and think about myself and ruin everything that everyone's worked on. Or I can trust in this program and everyone here and myself and just be a great team player. And I'm not trying to be cliche, but you figure the farther we get the better everyone looks. So the better we are, even if I have to sacrifice a few minutes, teams are going to see that. I'm able to put my pride to the side and fit in and do what's best for this team and not just for me."
Frye participated in all aspects of practice Tuesday and said his ankle was 95 percent healthy. His conditioning is another story. He estimates he's at 75 percent game shape and said it should take approximately two weeks for him to return to normal.
That said, if coach Nate McMillan gives the OK, Frye would like to play between 10 and 15 minutes in the Blazers' exhibition game Monday night at Sacramento. Either way, Frye is three weeks ahead of his projected return date and that much closer to deciding his future.
"We worked out all the time (in the offseason) when I first got back," Oden said. "It was good to get him back out here. He's going to bring a lot to this team."
Be the coach
Now that I'm getting back into the swing of it and getting really close to playing again, a lot of people have been telling me their opinions about whether we should play our star players during pre-season or play people who wouldn't normally get a lot of minutes so the coach can try different players, etc.
So here it is: if you were a coach and it was a perfect world, like all the players are healthy and ready to play during pre-season, what would you do? How would you run the team during pre-season?