I love teaching bike safety to 5th graders at Metzger elementary out in Tigard.
First of all, the kids there are a lot of fun. They pay attention and they’re really excited about riding bikes. They can turn left (shoulder check, signal, move into the left side of the lane, signal, turn…) and they don’t crash much.
Second, I’ve really come to enjoy my ride out there. For the first few days I was riding downtown, fighting for a hook on MAX, getting off at Beaverton Central, and riding SW Hall for a few harrowing miles. Now, I just ride right up Barbur and out Multnomah, Garden Home, etc. It’s faster and it’s actually a lot of fun. I don’t get as much reading in, but I know SW far better now, and it’s a great way to start the morning.
More than anything else though (sorry kids!), I love going to the Original Bavarian Sausage Delicatessen at the end of each day. It’s within smelling distance from the Metzger schoolyard and I can’t get enough of the place.
Welcome to the BTA’s first restaurant review…
Lederhosen hanging in the window, oom-pah music in the air, and copious Warsteiner advertising does not a tasty meal make. I’m generally turned off by such cartoonish displays of commodified culture and what I saw in Metzger was no exception. Sure, it tickled my ironic hipster sensibilities to an extent, but hunger dictated that The Original Bavarian Sausage Delicatessen would be judged as it should be: by the quality of their Bavarian Sausages. After the customer in front of me, a stylishly-dressed elderly woman, finished her lengthy deli order (in very friendly bubbly German), I stepped up and ordered what was to be the first of a daily tradition.
Spicy Beerwurst ($4.45 w/ choice of potato salads or cole slaw)
I know quite a bit about bikes, have a good nose for cheese, and have snobby sensibilities in a handful of other departments not including sausage. That said, the Spicy Beerwurst that I got on that day insured that I’d be back for more. It wasn’t as spicy as its oozy red exterior suggested but it did have a pleasant nip and lots of flavor to back it up. It was served on a pair (?) of toasty buns with a side of German Potato Salad which stole the show. I quickly forgot about the sausage I’d just inhaled and tried to remember savor what was left of the tart but sweet potato salad in front of me. It was punctuated with chewy little bits of ham and when I washed it down with the last of my Reeds Extra Ginger Beer, I was sad for the flavor to go.
French Dip ($5.45 w/ choice of potato salads or cole slaw)
I have to admit that I forgot what French Dip is. What’s more, I forgot that I don’t really like it. That said, the hot stack of meat on a bun was quite tasty when dipped into its au jus. Aside from being salty, it was a bit bland for my taste. The german potato salad, however? Delicious.
NY Pastrami ($5.45 w/ choice of potato salads or cole slaw)
At the Bavarian Sausage Delicatessen, “Pastrami” is just a stack of cold pastrami on a bun. “NY Pastrami,” however, has swiss cheese and mustard, and it’s grilled–grilled just right. As a proud New Englander, I’m not going to go so far as to say that I like New York, but the Bavarian Sausage Delicatessen’s interpretation of how that city would prepare Pastrami was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. There wasn’t a whole bunch of meat, as you’d see in some delis, but what was there was delicious. Not sure what else to say. Really good. Go there. Have the NY Pastrami. I’m not sure I’m good at this food reviewing gig.
Pot Roast with mashed potatoes ($6.45 w/ choice of potato salads or cole slaw)
Again, a poor choice on my part. I love the German Potato Salad so much that I almost ordered it in addition to the mashed potatoes that already come with this meal, but wiser, more adventurous sensibilities prevailed and I got the cole slaw. I don’t really love cole slaw, but I enjoyed this and it made me reassess my feelings toward the dish. The mashed potatoes were rather boring, though, and I even briefly entertained the notion that they might be those awful instant mashed potato things. They may have been. The meat, though, was fine and tasty, tender and juicy. Yum.
Weisswurst ($4.45 w/ choice of potato salads or cole slaw)
After the program was over, I got carried away with my deli visit as it was likely to be my last for a while. I sampled the enormous beer selection (“Celebrator” seemed an appropriate beer for the occasion) and had the German Potato Salad for old times’ sake. I also picked up some hazelnut treats and pepperoni. The Weisswurst was mild and pleasant. I think I prefer the spicy beerwurst, but I’d have to come back to re-test them.
Conclusion: if you like bike rides into Tigard and eating meat, you should check out the Bavarian Sausage Delicatessen.
