Posted on by Judith Rich

Portland Food Influencers Who Love Salad

When it comes to food opinions and expertise, there’s never a shortage of either in Portland. With so many talented people sharing their thoughts and insights about food, we asked some of the top Portland food influencers about their favorite salad recommendations in honor of Portland Salad Week. Here’s what they said:

Kathleen Bauer

Photo credit: Good Stuff NW

Blogger at GoodStuffNW | Instagram: @goodstuffnw

My first strong salad memory was, of course, my mom’s iceberg lettuce with her family’s mayo-and-ketchup dressing, and much later the yet-to-be matched Caesar at Zefiro (sigh). I can’t resist any salad that Sarah Minnick has on the menu at Lovely’s Fifty Fifty, especially if it’s her mixed chicory salad with the most tender, colorful mix of organic greens, yellows and pinks from local sustainable farms. Right now she has spring garden lettuces with Point Reyes Blue Cheese, beets and toasted hazelnuts. (Watch her Instagram video about making salad, where she starts by mixing the dressing *in the salad bowl first* and only then adding the salad greens and giving them a toss).

One other I have to add is Mark Doxtader’s Kale Caesar at Tastebud in Multnomah Village, which is a meal in itself with breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic and anchovy aioli, also always sourced from local farms.

Denise Castanon

Photo credit: PDX Parent

Editor of PDX Parent | Instagram: @pdx_parent

One of my favorite food carts is Garden Monsters in the pod at 50th and Division! It’s where I go when I want a “Big Salad” like Elaine from Seinfeld. Also, Ate-oh-Ate has a really satisfying Big Salad, I love it topped with katsu chicken. Their dressing is addictive.

Jennifer Joffe

Photo credit: Project Healthy Body

Founder of Project Healthy Body | Instagram: @projecthealthybody_ 

I recommend the Wild Alaskan Salmon Salad at Bastion PDX.

Neva LaRue

Photo credit: Neva Finds Food

Food Influencer and founder at Neva Finds Food (Instagram)

My favorite salads are the ones I make at home! I love being able to customize each individual salad with whatever you want. Usually in our house, the salads always have a few basic ingredients and we switch up the protein. I prefer romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, or spinach for my salad base. Then I top it with chopped hard boiled eggs, diced tomatoes, crumbled crispy bacon, and shredded cheese. I love salmon on my salad while my hubby prefers grilled chicken. Don’t be fooled, the real star of any salad however are the croutons. These should always be homemade.

Lauren

Photo credit: Eating in PDX

Food blogger and founder of Eating in PDX Blog. | Instagram: @eatinginpdx

I’d have to say the Caesar Salad from Ken’s Artisan Pizza is my favorite salad in Portland. Crunchy, house made croutons are the star here, but the crispy romaine hearts, grana padano and fresh Caesar dressing tie it all together.

My most frequented salad spot is Elephants. I love running to Elephants to grab a smoked salmon or kale Caesar salad and pairing it with a cup of soup for a quick, light lunch on a busy workday.

Jen Lewis

Photo credit: Jen Lewis

Chef, recipe developer, and food stylist at Cooking Fresh  

My Favorite salad I love to make with local Portland ingredients is this Golden Beet & Cherry Kale Salad. It’s made with herbs de provence roasted beets, fresh cherries, local goat cheese, kale, arugula, carrots, red cabbage, cardamom granola & pecans. It’s topped with a lemon vinaigrette. I like shopping at New Seasons and Zupan’s.

I love the Butter Lettuce Salad at St. Jack, the Arugula salad at Oven & Shaker, and the Salmon Nicoise Salad at Papa Haydn NW.

Bill Oakley

Photo credit: Bill Oakley

Founder of the Steamed Hams Society | Instagram: @thatbilloakley

Crisp’s Detox Salad is the only salad I ever get. I also get it as a wrap, which is superior to the salad.

Michael Russell

Restaurant reporter and critic at The Oregonian

Photo credit: The Oregonian

Farmer & The Beast makes some of my favorite salads in town, and they are opening a second location in Beaverton.

Marlynn Jayme Schotland

Food, wine, travel blogger at Urban Bliss Life

Cookbook author, The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook and The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Meal Prep Cookbook.

Quaintrelle: I recommend whatever seasonal salad is available at Quaintrelle. It doesn’t matter what season or what the ingredients are, the salads at Quaintrelle never disappoint! They do a beautiful job of creating salads with the freshest, in-season ingredients and creating beautiful, artistic plates that look as delicious as they are to eat!

Ahi Tuna Salad: If there is an ahi tuna salad on a menu, I almost always order it. It’s something I don’t make at home, so it’s a treat to enjoy it when we dine out or order in. Of the dozens of ahi tuna salads I’ve tried, my fave is at Thirsty Lion. The ahi is well seasoned, and served with a bed of greens, with crunchy cabbage, cucumbers, red peppers, and carrots, and wonton strips. It’s a textural, visual beauty on the plate and on the palate.

Salad du Chef:  I love this salad at St. Honore Boulangerie because it’s a classic and it’s satisfying. With roasted tarragon chicken and smoked ham, greens, hard boiled egg, and tomatoes, it is protein-packed and tasty. Perfect for lunch during a busy day.

Where you get the salad –

1. Quaintrelle, SE Portland

2. Thirsty Lion Gastropub in Tigard

3. St. Honore Boulangerie, PDX & Lake O

(NB: Portland, Vancouver, Gresham, Beaverton, and Hillsboro are all areas worth considering.)

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Judith Rich

Judith Rich is a writer and co-contributor to Bridgetown Bites. She’s been a proud Portlander since 2014 and is now raising two Portland natives who are budding foodies. Judith loves cooking at home and experimenting with new recipes, as well as checking out new and tried and true Portland restaurants. She loves a good food adventure (together with Meg Cotner!)

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