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ILLUSTRATION: Adam Krueger
Tom Waits and fine dining: With his Cookie Monster voice and propensity to chain smoke, mumble and down bourbon like a fish, Waits has a catalog that isn't exactly a recipe for a 30-point Zagat rating. Yet the second annual Tom Waits For No One tribute show at the LaurelThirst gets us halfway there. In addition to more than 29 musicians—including Little Sue, Fernando and Casey Neill—taking the stage and tackling Waits' dark songs, the show and fundraiser for the Jeremy Wilson Foundation serves as a launch for Recipes For Disaster: A Cookbook By and For Portland Musicians, a book of culinary delights submitted by local rockers and folkies.
But why not make like Waits and clap hands, bringing the two worlds together? With Waits on the brain, WW dreamed up a succulent menu of items inspired by the master's works. It goes without saying that each recipe is best enjoyed with a pack of unfiltered cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey. Bon appétit.
Recipes
Bad Liver and a Broken Heart: A delightful variation on haggis, with extra heart and liver chunks mixed with charred lung bits and stuffed into a (rain) dog's stomach.
Frank's Wild Skewers: The scourge of any esophagus, these Buffalo-style chicken kebabs include ample jalapeños and red onions marinated in Frank's RedHot sauce for at least 72 hours prior to cooking.
Coney Island Baby: A New York favorite for the PETA set: Bockwurst (veal sausage) served on a fresh bun and smothered in tangy Coney sauce.
Filipino Box-Spring Hog: A delicious twist on Pinoy stew adobo, with bone-in pork shoulder slow cooked in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce and bourbon served on a bed of dirty rice.
Mango-Till-They're-Sore Salsa: A wonderfully tropical take on the Argentinean favorite, made more dour by forlorn piano in the background. Best left in the sun for a few hours to get that withered, gray look.
I'll Take New York Cheesecake: The classic, delectable dessert, doused in Wild Turkey 101 and set ablaze on a serving tray.
16 Shells from a 30.06: Sixteen Pacific oysters on the half shell, served raw, smashed with a hammer and garnished with black peppercorns and capers.
Heart Attack and Vine: A healthier version of the Scotch egg: a Lipitor capsule encased in ground chuck and bacon, wrapped in grape leaves, breaded and deep-fried to perfection.
Chocolate Jesus: A braised leg of lamb drizzled in a cocoa/sacramental wine/mint reduction and served with unleavened bread.
GO: Tom Waits For No One at the LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., 232-1504. 9:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 18. $10. Visit laurelthirst.com for details and full show lineup.
Headout Picks
WEDNESDAY NOV. 17
[WORDS]
Some people wonder if Bob Barker goes around off-camera telling people to spay and neuter their dogs. You may get the answer at the Back Fence PDX, where booze will be served and hilarious true stories will be recounted by several zany people including Molly Norton, a personal friend of the "actual retail price" wizard.
[SHOP] CRAFTY WONDERLAND POP-UP SHOP
The city's favorite DIY crafting expo takes over a vacant storefront downtown for the holiday season to sell arts and goods from 80 locals. Commence consuming now. 802 SW 10th Ave., craftywonderland.com/pop-up-shop.
THURSDAY NOV. 18
[MUSIC]
The Fix celebrates its fourth anniversary with the help of Pete Rock & CL Smooth, two titans of early-'90s hip-hop.
[DISH] CARTOPIA RELEASE PARTY
After absorbing every cuisine on the planet, Portland's food-cart scene now gets its very own book. The party planners promise free eats and drinks for cart owners…which pretty much covers nearly everyone in town. Art Department, 1315 SE 9th Ave., artdeptpdx.com. 6 pm. Free.
FRIDAY NOV. 19
[SCREEN]
It's a great month for terrorism movies. This week, it's Olivier Assayas' biopic of Carlos the Jackal. Bring supplies: It's 5 1/2 hours long.
SATURDAY NOV. 20
[STAGE]
A "very tasty food-themed" puppet slam, to be precise. Beady Little Eyes' second puppet-theater smorgasbord (hosted by a giant toad) has eating on the brain. It should be delicious.
[MUSIC] ROBYN
Do you think all pop stars are vapid, soulless fembots? Robyn is here to put you in your place, bitches! Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. 8 pm. $20 advance, $22 day of show. All ages.
TUESDAY NOV. 23
[MUSIC]
Do you like Vikings? And black metal? Enslaved just made your year, brah.
WWeek 2015