Author: Meg Cotner

Bridgetown Bites is edited and published by Meg Cotner in Portland, Oregon. She loves avocados, fresh produce, NA drinks, and cats.
Posted on

Coffee Ice Cubes at Zell’s Cafe

I stopped in at Zell’s Cafe this week and to my surprise and delight, the cold brew coffee was chilled with coffee ice cubes!

The only other place I ever encountered that used coffee ice cubes in their iced coffee was at the long-gone Wholesome Blends on NE Sandy near 46th Ave.  To me, it makes a lot of sense to use coffee ice cubes in iced coffee, in order to avoid the dilution that inevitably happens. At the same time I realize it probably adds to the bottom line. But it’s super cool when it happens.

This glass of cold brew was very tasty and refreshing. It goes for $4 and you get free refills. Plus Zell’s delicious breakfast and lunch food—those little scones they give you when you sit down are also a treat.

Thanks for doing something special, Zell’s!

Zell’s Cafe
1300 SE Morrison Street, Portland
zellscafe.com | Facebook

Posted on

Head to the Bee’s Cakes Cafe Pop-Up in September

lemon-loaves-bees-cakes-portland-oregon

Beautiful lemon loaves. Photo credit: Bee’s Cakes

As you may know, Bee’s Cakes is now occupying the space at the northwest corner of NE Fremont and 72nd Avenue. It’s currently operating as a wholesale bakery but there are cafe/retail plans in the works (interior renovations continue). However, Rebecca Powazek  (the upbeat force behind Bee’s Cakes) announced that she’s doing a retail bakery pop-up event on Saturday, September 4! So exciting!

Continue reading “Head to the Bee’s Cakes Cafe Pop-Up in September”
Posted on

Grand Central’s BLT Is Seasonal Deliciousness

inside-angle-grand-central-baking-blt-portland-oregon

When I was at the Fremont Fest this past weekend, I saw a sign out in front of Grand Central Baking Company about a BLT. I love BLTs.

tomato-time-grand-central-bakery-fremont-fest-2021-portland-oregon

At first I thought it might have been a Fremont Fest special, but upon closer look on their ordering website, I learned it was a regular seasonal thing—meaning available for a limited time but not just for the one day of the Fest.

Continue reading “Grand Central’s BLT Is Seasonal Deliciousness”
Posted on

Four Things I Learned This Week (August 20)

Need a custom vegan cake? Ben & Esther’s, Portland’s own vegetarian (soon to be vegan, I believe) bagel shop, can make your vegan cake dreams come true. In their own words: “Need a custom vegan cake for your next event? We got you! Shoot us an email at info@benandesthers.com and let us know what you’re thinkin’!”

Blind Ox Fremont is closing. According to their Facebook page, they are closing their Fremont location due to “failed lease negotiations.” People are super bummed. Join them for a last hurrah at this location (their N Interstate location remains open) on Saturday 8/29 and Sunday 8/29 for $2 pints, $8 growler fills, 50% off packaged beer.

Delta dashes indoor dining hopes for Pip’s. The folks at Pip’s posted on their Instagram, “Our dining room is closed and we are offering to-go only. This will be our business model for the foreseeable future. It is frustrating, it’s not how we hoped things would go, but it is the reality.” We respect their decision and are grateful that they have made it through the COVID-19 pandemic so far! Their donuts and chai remain excellent, so go get some to-go.

Bee’s is still wholesale but you can find her stuff all over the place. Rebecca of Bee’s Cakes reminds us that they are still a wholesale bakery, but with definite plans to open as a cafe in the future (interior renovations continue). Meanwhile you can find her pastries at a lot of spots around town, including Sullivan Gulch’s Steeplejack,  Roseway’s Rosebridge Coffee, and Parkrose Heights vegan coffee house Jet Black Coffee Company.