Small Bites: Last Raclette, Sicilian Nachos, FIKA, DST, and More

Last raclette of the season is next week. Head to Mayfly on Friday, March 13 to “celebrate the end of winter with one last, gloriously, deliciously, cheesy gathering!” Tickets are $35 (adults) and $8 (kids over 3-years old). The dinner will take place in a long communal table in a heated tent.

Here’s what you get:

“Your ticket includes a generous raclette spread featuring cheese from local cheese company Cowbell, melted over tender potatoes and served with regional charcuterie and bright, tangy pickles. We’ll end the meal with a special Alpine and digestive dessert, because why not?” They encourage you wear ski-inspired outfits. Buy your tickets here (food only, drinks are separate). 8350 N Fenwick Avenue, Portland

Dine Out for WSW starts Sunday. Now in its second year, Dine Out for WSW (women supporting women) starts Sunday, March 8 on International Women’s Day, and goes through Saturday, March 14. There are featured specials at 15 restaurants; a portion of the proceeds go to the WSW Community Fund, “which funds seed money and in kind services from women freelancers to bring women entrepreneurs’ ideas to life.”

Participating restaurants include Blends Juice Bar, Boba Gems, Fork And Spoon Food House, La Akateka Maya Food, La Floridita PDX, Likely Ivy, Memento Mori Cafe, Mestizo, Pamana, Pasar, Red Sauce Pizza, Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine, Tipsy Scoop Portland, Wajan, and YUI. Read more about it all here. Multiple locations

The Village Pickle will open in Multnomah Village. This summer a new pickleball, food, and community space intends to open in the old mid-century post office on the edge of downtown Multnomah Village. There will be, of course, pickleball courts, as well as indoor and outdoor seating, live music, food carts, and more. NB: This property was featured in Willamette Week’s “Chasing Ghosts” series in 2023. 3675 SW Troy Street, Portland

Chisme persists. They announced they are continuing their delicious residency at Duality Brewing. “We have lots of fun stuff planned for the future, stay tuned homies.” Great news! 715 NE Lawrence Avenue, Portland

Ames Meat Research location update. They hauled the trailer from the old spot to the general vicinity of the new spot, and have temporarily set up their operation along the sidewalk behind the Little Blue Store. Look for them to be open in the next couple of weeks. 2936 SE Washington Street, Milwaukie

Les Caves has the ‘za. Well, they will on Wednesday, March 11. Les Caves is bringing Mike Neely from Break Crust Daily for a pizza and wine night. “Baller Italian wines (and some French cab franc, pour toi Pierre) will be flowing by the glass all night to pair with Mike’s divine pies. Skip confession and seek communion 5-9.” Menu TK. 1719 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Buvons is coming. This is a new project from the L’Orange folks (including owner Jeff Vejr, previously of Les Caves), located just up the street. They intended to open in late February, but all signs indicate they are still getting ready for that. Their physical sign is up, though. There’s a Portland Monthly article about them. Their website has a lot of good info, too, including a menu with a few melty cheese sandwiches and lot of bubbly. 1120 SE Belmont Street, Portland

Sicilian nachos and a podcast. I just learned this week that Hot Mama Salsa has a Youtube channel and a podcast called Nacho Talk. The most recent episode features Lane Selman of Culinary Breeding Network for an episode where they make Sicilian Nachos. These nachos involve things like eggplant, anchovies, chickpeas, sun dried tomatoes, and Caciocavallo cheese, among other things. And of course, the nacho base is Hot Mama Salsa’s crazy good tortilla chips (which recently garnered accolades from the folks at Stumptown Savings). Online

Yum’s of PDX has black and white cookies. I could find these cakey-cookies easily when I lived back east but it’s been harder to find them here in Portland. But that’s over—now you and I can get them at Yum’s of PDX. They bake them in-house, which is sweet (literally). As they say, “It doesn’t matter if you take that first bite down the middle or go vanilla, then chocolate,” and I have to admit—I’ve done it each way but I think I like biting down the middle best.

They’re on the menu for $12 for two, plus this important detail: only 6 sets served daily. 830 SE 8th Avenue, Portland

Speakeasy Saloon opens tonight. Tonight they’re doing a Neighbors Night to usher in new life at this space that was the Parkside Bar & Bistro for a number of years. It goes from 5pm to late. They’ve got a full food menu ready for you but are essentially still in soft opening mode. 2135 N Willis Blvd, Portland

Astral x Stone Soup. On Saturday, March 14 you’ll find Astral popping up at Stone Soup cafe in Montavilla. They’ll be there from 10am to 2pm (or until sold out) that day and you’ll find their concha breakfast sandwiches and coffee drinks available. 20% of all food sales will support Stone Soup’s culinary training program, which you can read more about on Montavilla News. 7400 NE Glisan Street, Portland

Monday is for Cơm Tấm. On Monday, March 9 from 5pm to 9pm, head to Annam VL for a night of broken rice plates:

“Broken rice, lemon grass smoked + grilled pork chops, green herb scallion oil, tàu hủ ky [fried tofu skin stuffed with honey walnut shrimp, salted egg yolk glaze], bì [shredded pork skin + toasted rice powder + spices], fresh veg & pickled veg. Lil’ súp on the side. Nước mắm.” There will be cocktails and NA options. Sold until sold out, no substitutions, no RSVP. 3336 SE Belmont Street, Portland

Bun Bandits is here. This dynamic duo of Mackenzie Pentico and Sarah Lyman are putting out kolaches (thanks to Sarah’s time in Texas) and malasadas (both Mackenzie and Sarah both have roots on O‘ahu, according to their website) in Multnomah Village. They sell them out of a food cart by the El Forastero cart, which is situated on the gas station property there at SW 45th Avenue and SW Multnomah Blvd.

Their grand opening was on Wednesday, March 4. We’ve already sampled some of their goodies (pictured above) and must say that they’re quite tasty. Stay tuned for a closer look at Bun Bandits soon!

Hit them up Wednesdays through Saturdays, 7am until sold out. Note: malasadas are available Friday and Saturday only. Plus their branding is the cutest. 4419 SW Multnomah Blvd, Portland

Koki Koki Bakehouse will open in the old Jinju space. I first encountered their cookies at Score: A Baker Fair last summer. The bakery was co-founded by Arissara “Bow” Prapakiet. It seems like they are taking their time to open, not rushing things: “We take our time slowly.” Their cookies have interesting and delicious flavor profiles: miso black sesame, hojicha, roasted corn flakes, matcha strawberry, and more. At the cafe they’ll offer coffee, matcha, and soft serve ice cream, too.

They are looking to open mid-March but there are some variables they have no control over, so an exact date is hard to determine at this point in time. 4063 N Williams Avenue, Portland

It’s Restaurant Month in Forest Grove and Cornelius, too. There’s a variety of restaurants offering deals and seasonal promotions for the month of March in the Forest Grove/Cornelius area. Organized by the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce, the event encourages people to dine out in these communities during a time of the year that is a little more challenging than in, say, summertime. This restaurant month celebrates, “the hardworking chefs, family-owned eateries, and passionate teams that make Forest Grove & Cornelius a true culinary destination.” You can find more information on the FGCCC website. Multiple locations

Do u like baked potatoes? Spud Lyfe is Gresham’s first baked potato food trailer and it opened yesterday. They are at the Powell Square Food Pavilion in downtown Gresham. All their potatoes are gluten-free, but avoid the bread and crispy onion if you are going GF. You can also swap a sweet potato for a regular potato, if you like. Read more here about the GF and vegetarian aspects of Spud Lyfe. 393 W Powell Blvd, Gresham

New restaurant going into the old West Coast Drinkery & Pizzeria. This is located in the Scholls Crossing Center in the Raleigh Hills/West Slope section of Portland. Looks like the pizzeria closed last summer or fall and my sources indicate a Mediterranean restaurant will be opening in its place. 4704 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Portland

And Kitanda is opening in Vancouver. This Seattle-based Brazilian cafe will open in what was a Starbucks across the street from the north edge of Esther Short Park. The Columbian reports, “The Seattle-area brand Kitanda opened its first Brazilian corner store in Seattle in 1998 before moving to Kirkland in 2002 and adding a coffee shop to its model.”

Along with coffee, you can get açai bowls, smoothies, and their Kitanda Bread, which has a dedicated tab on their website. To me, it looks like pão de queijo, a popular cheese bread with origins in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is delicious! 304 W 8th Street, Vancouver

Benji’s Deli will also open in Vancouver. They boast that they offer “a wide variety of sandwiches, soups/salads and soft serve and cold treats!” 1503 NE 78th Street, Suite 15, Vancouver

New life for the Caffe Mingo space? A Bridgetown Bites tipster sent over this Portland Maps permit for a new coffee shop opening up there. The permit is currently under review so it’s early in the process. I’d love to see something great move in there. 807 NW 21st Avenue, Portland

Ajisai Sushi & Steak grand opens Monday. We’ve mentioned them a few times here, and their soft opening seems to have been going well. They are approaching their grand opening date, which is Monday, March 9, with a ribbon cutting at 11:30am. They’ve also got a promotional deal that day for the occasion: 50% off your bill (walk-ins only), excluding Wagyu and alcohol. Still, pretty good! 4050 SW 114th Avenue, Beaverton

FIKA has Easter truffles. And this may be the last time you can get his delicious truffles until December. (Why? Weather woes.) Each box holds 12 truffles filled with flavors that include bourbon salted caramel, guava, gianduia, cardamom, Earl Grey, and aged balsamic. $35 for the box, $45 if you need it shipped. He’ll be taking orders until Friday, March 20 or until sold out. Contact him via DM on Instagram to order. Online

Pronto Gelato reopens March 20. Great news! Pronto Gelato will open its window on Friday, March 20—earlier than I expected. Head over there between 3pm and 8pm that day for their delicious gelato. 4205 NE Alberta Street, Portland

La Provence celebrates 30 years. They are happy to have spent the past three decades here in the PNW—first in Lake Oswego, and then expanding throughout the metro area. “Thank you for 30 years of love, support, and unforgettable moments. Locally owned. Deeply grateful. Always baking with heart. Merci, les amis.” Multiple locations

Machetes is open in Hey Love. Local food writer Ron Scott wrote about Machetes, which “has settled into a yearlong residency that could extend indefinitely if the arrangement proves strong.” They briefly popped-up at Gigantic Brewing’s taproom on SE Hawthorne, but since changes are afoot there, they needed to find another spot. Machetes is a “Mexico City-inspired pop-up, known for its oversized machete quesadillas and rotating guisados.” Read more at Willamette Week. 920 E Burnside Street, Portland

Another late-night option. Mi Cava Y Cocina, located in the Mall 205 shopping center, is a very well-regarded sit-down Mexican restaurant in Portland. And they are open until 2am on weekends. I hear regularly that folks are looking for late night spots (open after midnight), and here’s hoping this info is helpful. 9722 SE Washington Street, Portland

Creekside Coffee with Coava. This is a program on weekends in March at the Leach Botanical Garden. It’s from 10am to 1pm Saturdays and Sundays, and is free with admission. As you may know, Leach Botanical is dealing with funding challenges—there’s hope, but your support continues to mean a lot.

So head to their historic Manor House and East Terrace to enjoy complimentary coffee from Coava. Bring your questions about the garden and staff will be happy to answer them. No RSVP needed. 6704 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland

BOGO Burritos on Sunday. Burrito Azteca is celebrating 17 years at their shop on N Rosa Parks Way. Burritos are limited to Azteca chicken, carnitas, and veggie. Additionally there will be a tequila and mezcal tasting, additional drinks specials, and more. 1942 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland

And it’s Viking Pancake Breakfast Sunday! At the Grieg Lodge: “Enjoy our delicious all-you-can-eat Viking pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage links, fresh fruit, strawberry compote, lingonberries, orange juice and coffee or tea—served in our charming Bergen Dining Room. Adults $12, children ages 3-10 $6, children under age 3 are free. Parking is free.” 111 NE 11th Avenue, Portland

Bergerac’s six-course microgreens dinner is coming up. This is happening on Wednesday, March 11. It’s $95 per guest, with a $45 option wine pairing. “Microgreens are one of the most underused flavor boosters in the kitchen—and we’re giving them the spotlight they deserve.” Zigzag Microgreens will be there to tell you how they grow a variety of microgreens. And I have to admit, these honeydew microgreens intrigue me—apparently they really do taste like melon (and remember, honeydew is the money melon). Here’s the menu:

• Garlic herb salted butter, toast & radish microgreens. V
• Kohlrabi salad, lemon, sour cream, green pea microgreens. V GF
• Cured salmon, crispy rice cracker, wasabi microgreens. F
• Shrimp, Caesar dressing, romaine, cilantro microgreens. F
• Beef filet, Yorkshire pudding, horseradish, nasturtium microgreens.
• Seasonal fruit salad in spiced syrup, honeydew microgreens. GF

5520 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland

Activity at the Food Front building. A reader brought this property to my attention, and a bit of research yielded this from late last year:

“The Food Front building is now owned by Mark New of Development Company of the West. It is so refreshing to see the hive of activity in the parking lot as Mark and Rachel’s team is bringing the building back to life and ready to let. They are looking for either one main tenant, or two with a smaller store or restaurant space where the deli and meat counters used to be. This is a unique opportunity to join a thriving hub of restaurants, independent stores, and coffee shops in one of Portland’s most walkable communities. And a bus stop is virtually outside the store!”

---

Remember! The time change is this Sunday. Love it or hate it, it’s happening. Welcome back, DST. I welcome your comments—loves, laughs, derision, and beyond.

---

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, February 2026
Flour Market Cafe Reopens on NE 30th and Alberta in Portland
Oregon City Market Opens Its Doors This Week
Forage Grove Opens in Downtown Forest Grove