Coming soon...

Saraveza is starting to pull together. With walls up and painted, paneling adhered, coolers being refurbished and bottle caps glued down, the shop is starting to take form. There's at least a month of work left. I'll be posting some pictures soon!

Thanks to all my family and friends that have been so helpful ~ I would not have been able to get this far without you! - Sarah

CHEF WANTED!!!

I am looking for a chef that can produce yummy traditional Cornish pasties as well as other savory pasties in a variety of flavors. The focus of the food is fresh and big with an emphasis and on seasonal availability.

I am looking for someone with culinary experience. I need someone that can work 40 hrs a week, aid in creating the menu, develop recipes, manage the kitchen and commit to min. one year of employment. I am NOT looking for someone to make bar food, rather I want pasties that are memorable and meet Portland's standards for a delicious, cheap and unique food experience.

Lastly, this person has to have an interest in beer.

I would like start meeting with interested parties ASAP and hope to have a chef hired and ready to start by early Sept.

If you know anyone (or know anyone who might know anyone) please pass this along.

I am happy to give more detail about Saraveza, myself and the position. So interested inquiries, please email sarah@saraveza.com.

Thank you!!!!!

- Sarah Pederson
www.saraveza.com

FAQs

I'm starting to get inquiries about Saraveza. I thought I'd take a moment to answer some questions I've been getting. I'm happy to add it to it, keep the questions coming..... -sarita

- WHERE'S THE LOVE FOR OREGON BEER? I love Oregon beer - A LOT. Oregon beer gets all the credit for turning my tastebuds on to malt and hops. I am so happy to be living in Beervania where we are spoiled with so much fresh, versatile and tasty beers on any given neighborhood corner. I just talk about Wisconsin beer on this blog a lot because I started this for all my friends and family back home. Actually - I love AMERICAN beer. Anywhere I visit, the local beer is the beer I want to try.

- WHAT'S YOUR BEER CREDENTIALS?: I'm not a beer expert. Just an enthusiast that likes to sit down and catch one with friends and strangers alike. I've done my share of reading on beer and have taken the American Brewers Certification Class. I've done a short internship at Hair of Dog, worked in the cellar at the New Old Lompoc and dabbled in homebrewing. I've done a lot of beer pairing, purchasing and employee instruction when I worked at Pix Patisserie. Even with all that experience, I know that this town is full of beer heads that know SO much more about beer than I could pretend to. I hope to meet all those people, learn from them and give them an excuse to leave the house.

- HOW COME YOU DON'T REVIEW BEER IN YOUR BLOG?: I'm not planning on posting a lot of descriptions of beer tastings. At least not on my website. So many people do this and do it much better than me. BUT, I am happy to crack one open and talk shop - I'd much rather spend my time evaluating beer with you in person than alone with my laptop.

- HOW MANY TYPES OF BEER WILL YOU HAVE AT SARAVEZA?: Details continue to work themselves out. I hope to open with a selection big enough to fill the two coolers I recently bought. I figure that will bring me up to about 150 types of beer. There will also be a decent tap selection at the bar. Eventually, I hope to have additional cooling; my dream is to have 500 types of beer.

- DON'T YOU THINK THAT PORTLAND HAS ENOUGH BEER BARS?: Ummm, aparently I do not. That would be a pretty stupid business move for me if I did believe that. I lived in Humboldt since '02 and know that there's a need for a friendly, neighborhood hangout.

Potosi shines, Baumgartners rules! Will Brett Favre stay or go?? A very excellent trip to Wisconsin...

Just off the plane from Wisc. and back to business right away. Saraveza is starting to look real with actual walls up. This next week is full of inspections, getting ready to do the floors and digging a hole in the basement floor for the walk-in. I've started to drop hours at Cava (the awesome gastro-pub on Foster I serve at) as my early/mid October target date nears. I'm starting to feel the heat.

My short week at home really got me ready for the month ahead. We ate Cornish pasties in Madison and Mineral Point. The Red Rooster Cafe in Mineral Point really emulates what I want Saraveza's pasties to be. I think the miners of the past would have been proud! I'm really ready to start exploring the menu side of the business with someone who loves to cook, eat and drink beer. (If you know anyone, shoot me an email!)


Potosi, popultion 711, the ultimate destination of my trip, was such an unsuspected gem. Six Wisconsinites accompanied me and no one had heard of the Potosi's National Breweriana Museum. You don't have to be a breweriana junkie to fall in love with this museum - the often colorful and humorous artifacts on display are true pieces of Americana. It's also important to note that Potosi's Brewery and a beautiful dining area are attached to the museum, I recommend all beer enthusiasts venture to Potosi!

My father and Uncle Jim insisted that I visit Baumgartner's in Monroe. Here, I felt at home. With a cheese shop in front and a tavern in back, this place spoke to me like no other. Apparently, Baumgartner's is Wisconsin's first cheese shop. You can order a Limburger cheese and red onion sandwich for $2.95. What a deal! Especially since it stays with you all day! (For real, it stinks up your mouth, your hands, your face, your car.....) The staff is kooky and delightful. The food is simple and oh-so Wisconsin. The customers and laughing and drinking. I miss this place......

The remaining part of the trip was spent picking up bottle caps, going to the flea market, checking out taverns, talking about what was going to happen with Brett Favre and spending time with family. I've posted pictures of it all on Saraveza's MySpace (www.myspace.com/schlitzburger) All in all, this worthwhile visit really helped me pull together some final ideas for the shop. Speaking of Saraveza, I need to get back to work!

Prost!
- sarita

July is Oregon Craft Beer Month

Hey all beer loving non-Oregonians! While I focus on all the obstacles my new business venture poses, I am continually motivated by all the excitement generated by the local beer scene. July is officially Portland's month to show its dedication to all our hometown malted bubbly. It's a pretty fantastic time and place to be if you are a beer lover.

All month long new unique beers are being released, vintage beers are uncorked and festival after festival this city draws a crowd from around the world to come and drink some beer. Makes me want to reach for a cold one just thinking about it. Anyone visiting should definitely check out some of the 120+ beer events.

In addition to all the festivals and activities, last week, S.N.O.B (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer) celebrated its 2,000th member at local iconic pub, The Horse Brass. It was a higlighted event complete with a volunteer acappella quartet singing about the impossible feat of drinking Portland dry, members got to talk shop and renew memberships.

Not sure if the secret is completely out, but my life doesn't center around beer. Yes, its true, I enjoy a glass (or 9) of wine every once in awhile (or about every 5 blocks). On Saturday, I ran the Mini Medoc Fun Run which was part of Pix Patisserie's all day Bastille Day block party. Mirrored after an annual marathon in the famous wine region of Medoc in Bordeaux, France, this 5k consisted of costumed runners (I was a cowgirl) and 9 wine tasting pit stops. It was 90 degrees outside. Intense. Need I say more?

Lots of beer and some very nice wine on the side. Portland's too much fun for just one girl. Man, wish all you out-of-towners could come visit Portland July!

Best, Sarita

We're rolling!

I won a poly resin deer head and a vintage leather dice shaker on Ebay last night. I'm looking for some nice freshwater fiberglass fish as well; not sure if Portland could handle the real thing. I've chosen my paneling and am designing my back bar.

I've got a framer, plumber, masonry, concrete guy and electrician all starting on the spot over the next week. Things are rolling for Saraveza; as for me, this means I need to get shopping!

I'll start posting pictures on my myspace (http://www.myspace.com/schlitzburger) page of the build out for those interested. Thanks for all your support!

-Sarah

6101 Bottle Caps = Aug 1, 2008

I really thought I wasn't going to like it, but I SO underestimated Bridgetown's Belgian coffee-Marion berry ale - the Stumptown Tart. If you ever feel like drinking dessert - she's delicious!

Pulling a permit is like pulling teeth. Saraveza is officially starting to roll. Hope to start building in a week+. Like molasses. In the mean time, I've started the table/bar design. We'll have to work quickly to get them completed before the finish work starts cuz that'll keep me real busy. So far I've received aproximately 3212 bottle caps! I'm estimating that I'll need 9313 usable caps. THAT MEANS I'm hoping I'll collect 6101 more caps by August 1st (address below / I'll reimburse shipping). If you're collecting from Wisconsin, there's a chance that I can grab them in person while I'm visiting in late July. Thanks to everyone helpful in this bottle cap search!!! And remember..EVERY CAP COUNTS!!

I'm also starting a mailing list; hope its okay that you're on it!

Oh, has anyone been to The Four Firkins in Minneapolis? Looks rad!

Prost, Sarita