5 Recent Bites - Avocado Toast, Pig Newton, and More

I thought it might be fun to talk about five of the most delicious things I’ve had recently here in Portland. We continue to be fortunate to have so many good things to eat in this town.

Avocado Toast: Saint Simon

Back in May, Saint Simon opened a new location on Brazee and 15th in the Irvington neighborhood, and it has been a total hit. There are often long lines of people waiting to get a cup of their excellent espresso, baked goods from Nuvrei, and a chance to hang out in a comfortable space for a little while. Their outdoor seating is really nice in the warmer months, too. But year-round they have this avocado toast that is just wonderful.

I’m sure I’ve shared this before—those that know me from my NYC days know that I found avocado toast to be a bit too twee for my tastes. I’m a total convert now and love eating it. The avocado toast at Saint Simon comes on a thick-but-not-too-thick piece of bread with plenty of smashed avocado on it; there’s a drizzle of olive oil on there, too. It is accompanied by a juicy lemon wedge and a little container of spices—red pepper flakes and flaky salt at the very least. You squeeze the lemon on the toast then sprinkle on the spices and it’s just a delight.

On Thursdays through Sundays, 4pm-10pm, they run Drifter, a European Café/Bar, in this space. saintsimoncoffee.com, 2526 NE 15th Avenue, Portland

Huevos Divorciados: Nico’s Cantina

It’s World Cup season right now, and a number of spots in town are showing the matches at all hours of the day and night. I’m fond of watching it at Nico’s Cantina, as are a lot of people—the energy there is great, the staff is friendly, the space is comfortable, and the food is really good. I posted about the Huevos Divorciados over on Instagram, but they deserve a spot here.

Similar to Huevos Rancheros, the Divorciados version of this popular breakfast dish is two eggs sitting on two different sauces, as opposed to just one kind of sauce like you’ll find in the Rancheros version. The tortillas are fried and your early bites into them reveal that they are wonderfully crispy. I just loved that part! The sauces—red and green—are super flavorful. The eggs are cooked well. The whole thing is just yum.

I tried the chilaquiles with carnitas, too, and I was impressed with the carnitas. Porky, with bits of crispy and strings of delicious meat. To be honest, the first time I tried the carnitas I wasn’t so into them (the steak has been my favorite of the meats), but now I’m loving them. nicoscantinapdx.com, 4318 NE Cully Blvd, Portland

Soups and Salads: Fresh Love

I’ve been enjoying pretty much everything I’ve purchased at Fresh Love—cheeses, produce, chocolates, baked goods (try the babka)—but the soups and salads stand out in my mind. I recently had their smooth as silk carrot soup with some kraut on top; their current salad featuring chicories in a Caesar dressing is also excellent.

Tuesday night I stopped in for a little local makers market and picked up a gorgeous garlic cellar made by Shane Reany Studios that I’m proud to put on my kitchen counter. freshlovepdx.com, 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Pig Newton: Jim & Patty’s Coffee

Along with the great name for this breakfast treat is how freaking good it is: two sausage links wrapped in a cheddar chive biscuit. Deceptively simple and masterfully delicious. I personally like the Super Jack version, which adds melted pepper-jack cheese and includes a pickled jalapeno slice on top. It’s warm, savory, and filling and I like to get it with a Vanilla Borgia coffee.

Be sure to check out all their baked goods, too. My last Mommy Dearest cookie (a soft sugar cookie topped with frosting and sprinkles) was high quality, and the coffee cakes always look good. jimandpattys.com, 4951 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Spicy Sicilian: Vincenzo’s Pizza

On a very cold day I made my way over to Vincenzo’s to give their Sicilian pie a try and bottom line: I loved it. To be honest, Sicilian pizza with its thick crust isn’t always my first choice. But at Vincenzo’s it’s like I could not get enough of that crust! It’s soft but sturdy and is very easy to eat. The spicy version is not super spicy but it’s noticeable. Fantastic!

Try their tiramisu, too.. It’s not overly sweet, which I like. vincenzospizzapdx.com, 5222 NE Sacramento Street, Portland