Desperate to get the lousiness of Holman's CFS out of my memory I ventured out the following day to Gresham and found Sweet Betty's Bistro.
This is about a good mid-level CFS as you can find. It's really quite good but due to limitations it doesn't move to the "great" category fully.
Near-perfect Texas-style breading here - that's by far its greatest asset. Clinging just perfectly to the steak w/o being wet or gummy; it doesn't dry out, either. Lightly-seasoned but firm this is more like a stereotypical definition of CFS breading.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work in tandem w/ anything else here. It's so good on its own it misses the mark since there's no blending of flavors: The three elements - steak, breading, gravy - are almost totally separate. You can, quite literally, taste each one on their own. Which is too bad because all the elements are here for a truly great CFS...
Lack of continuity or unity aside its a fair entry, especially good if you're not picky about your CFS. Best I've had in Gresham, too, by far.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
CFS at Holman's
Well, I suppose I was due for a dud. I was surprised, tho', to find it at the usually-reliable Holman's in PDX.
As you can tell from the picture this is one big ol' portion of CFS. Strict German-style breading is a well-proportioned, too. But neither it, nor the meat, nor the gravy even(!) had any trace of flavor. I mean, like, this had anti-flavor, it was so lacking. Bland, flavorless, just defying expectations on any level. There was obviously no rub or spices added to the meat prior to frying; it was then coated in a totally-lacking coating and covered with a gravy that somehow, magically, was devoid of flavor. Again, it was almost as if they intentionally stripped this dish of its flavor, so extensive the intent expressed here. It's like a hate-filled CFS, full of nothing but contempt for those that order it.
And, again, that's very strange since the burgers at Holman's are pretty darned spectacular.
Weird - but, by far, the absolute worst CFS I've had in Portland and, really, anywhere.
As you can tell from the picture this is one big ol' portion of CFS. Strict German-style breading is a well-proportioned, too. But neither it, nor the meat, nor the gravy even(!) had any trace of flavor. I mean, like, this had anti-flavor, it was so lacking. Bland, flavorless, just defying expectations on any level. There was obviously no rub or spices added to the meat prior to frying; it was then coated in a totally-lacking coating and covered with a gravy that somehow, magically, was devoid of flavor. Again, it was almost as if they intentionally stripped this dish of its flavor, so extensive the intent expressed here. It's like a hate-filled CFS, full of nothing but contempt for those that order it.
And, again, that's very strange since the burgers at Holman's are pretty darned spectacular.
Weird - but, by far, the absolute worst CFS I've had in Portland and, really, anywhere.
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