Four Things I Learned This Week (January 27)

Ki’ikibáa Mexican Restaurant makes delicious food. I met up with my friend Keri last night for dinner at Ki’ikibáa and boy was it good. We had the panuchos—best I’ve had in Portland so far—and the Poc Chuc, a platter of pork, cabbage, tomatoes, and pickled onions. It was a satisfying and flavorful meal. I loved how crisp the panuchos were (not greasy, as can be the case sometimes) and how tender the pork was along with fresh vegetables on the plate of Poc Chuc. Really nice staff, too, and great to see so many people enjoying their food. I look forward to my next meal there. 3244 NE 82nd Avenue, Portland

Get yer $150 cup of coffee next month. The Oregonian reports, “Starting Monday, Feb. 6, the menu at [Proud Mary] will feature a $150 cup of coffee.” It’s award-winning coffee—Black Jaguar Geisha coffee from Hartmann Estate in Panama. Apparently only 22 cups of this coffee will be available at each U.S. location of Proud Mary: 11 cups in Portland and 11 cups in Austin, TX. But, there will be a twelfth cup for whoever wins a “Golden Ticket” (here’s how to vye for one). 2012 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Cafe Zamora re-opens tomorrow. On their Instagram, the folks behind Cafe Zamora announced their much anticipated re-opening. They will be open from 7am to 3pm this Saturday and Sunday, but “will start with adjustable schedules for the next two weeks while we get our rhythm back.” Find them by The Original pod off SE Powell. 3602 SE Powell Blvd, Portland

Kitchen Culture had their grand opening this past week. A new kitchen store has opened on the edge of FoPo, offering kitchenware, cooking classes, and food preservation instruction. Traci Hildner is behind it, an educator who has also run the company Lucky Larder, which aligns closely with Kitchen Culture in at least one way: it teaches people about food preservation. You can get a better idea of who she is and her work on the What the Foster podcast from last April. 6300A SE Foster Road, Portland

Late afternoon addition: Junior’s is having their soft opening tomorrow. Earlier this afternoon Junior’s Roasted Coffee (sometimes known as Guilder) announced on Instagram that they are doing their soft opening tomorrow, Saturday January 28 from 7am to 3pm at the location on NE Prescott and 72nd Avenue. On the blog I’ve mostly talked about this location as home to the Upright Brewing space, but Junior’s—and Chaat Wallah plus another food cart TBD—is there, too. Look for coffee, pastries (Jen’s Pastries PDX and Shoofly Vegan Pastries) and Guilder packaged goods.

Upright and the food carts will be joining the opening fun very soon. Best wishes to Junior’s on their soft opening day tomorrow!