Rain clouds in mid-september? Fuggedaboudit! The Portland Yelp Elite braved some of the more miserable weather of our glorious non-summer to come out and heat it up at A Cena in Sellwood for a night filled with incredible Italian comfort food, amazing drinks, and good times with good friends. We got oobatz, what can we say?
On a monsoon-like Saturday, September 18th, at around 3pm (that's happy hour in Italy), the doors to Sellwood's favorite neighborhood Italian joint, A Cena, swung wide open and welcomed the Yelp Elite in like made men and women. All dressed-to-impress in their "family" (Godfather? Sopranos? Jersey Shore? Whateva!) gear, P-town's finest were ready to party. With New Deal No. 3 Gin negronis and martinis flowing like water, it didn't take long for Stanley T to crack that familiar fedora-bedecked smile. Add in a frosty Ninkasi Total Domination IPA and a glass of Firesteed wine, and let's just say that Kristina K and Ron T were quite ready to party. And of course, nobody went even the slightest bit thirsty.
Not to be outdone by our friends in the beverage business, A Cena took this unique opportunity to bring their A+ game and blow Suzanne F and Connie C away with gourmet bites such as arancini, fresh, still-hot, just-made mozzarella, boar meatballs in ragout, fried artichokes, pizza margherita with cherry tomatoes, individual chocolate mousse dolci and foie gras crostini topped with a dark cherry. Add in some amazing house-made focaccia dipped in gourmet olive oil, aged Balsamic vinegar, and truffle and flower sea salts provided by Ritrovo Foods, and, well, let's just say that the food bar at Portland Elite Events has been raised yet again.
Of course, it wouldn't be an Elite Event if yelpers didn't walk away with some great prizes. Beyond the bags of hand-made pasta that A Cena passed out to a lucky set of Elites, prize winners left with amazing steals such as the art piece titled: "Yelp, Made With Bits Of Real Panther," an authentic Shake Weight, a pair of Booty Pop, and the fancy "Dogs and Windmills" tote bag. Oh, and of course, Jenny C snuck off with the grand prize, a $50 gift certificate to A Cena!
With quenched thirst and sated hunger, the Portland Yelp Elite merrily made their way back out into the rainy Saturday, owing a 5-star bit of thanks to: Chris, Gabriel, Shannon, Mel, Michael K and all of the great folks at A Cena; Morgan and Marty from Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene; Tom and Sarah from New Deal Distillery in Portland; the fine folks from Firesteed wines; Catie from Retrovo Italian Regional Foods; Tiffany C (the best door-person a guy could ask for) and Hilary B (photographer extraordinaire); and of course, my true famiglia, the Portland Yelp Elite Squad. Grazie mille!
If you don't believe me, check the reviews and photos!
Until next time, SYOY!
–Don "The Donfather" B.
