Author: Meg Cotner

Bridgetown Bites is edited and published by Meg Cotner in Portland, Oregon. She loves avocados, fresh produce, NA drinks, and cats.
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Top 5 Posts On Bridgetown Bites, January 2018

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Well, it’s that time again—time to look at the posts that readers were particularly interested in. In January it was primarily restaurant news and our roundup of fave 2017 foods; we appreciate all the sites that have linked to us and send traffic our way, too. As always, thanks for reading!

5. Chin’s Kitchen Temporarily Closed, Changes Coming

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On my way to the gym today, I passed by Chin’s Kitchen, like I often do, and found this sign up on the window: Continue reading “Top 5 Posts On Bridgetown Bites, January 2018”

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Shuck Portland Panel: What the Shell Happened to the Oysters?

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Love you, Kushi oyster.

Coming up in February is the Shuck Portland festival, a “culinary event during oyster season.” It’s a celebration of these bivalve mollusks and there are a whole bunch of dinners, a couple of classes, and one panel happening—it’s the panel, called “What the Shell Happened to the Oysters?” that I want to highlight. It’s scheduled for Tuesday, February 6 from 6-9pm at Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Avenue in Portland. Originally it was a purely ticketed event, but ticket sales were not terribly robust so they’ve turned the admission price into something donation-based. Continue reading “Shuck Portland Panel: What the Shell Happened to the Oysters?”

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Saima Thai & Sushi Portland Opening Update

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As I walk to and from the gym, or Trader Joes, or the Hollywood Theatre, I always check out the progress at Saima Thai & Sushi, opening up at 4118 NE Sandy Blvd. All papers are down from the windows, hours are posted, menus are up and the interior—which looks quite a bit like the old Pono Soul Farm Kitchen’s decor—is looking RTG (ready to go). If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say they are ready to open this coming week.

Continue reading “Saima Thai & Sushi Portland Opening Update”
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Blackwell’s in Portland Has Closed

Well, that’s the end of an era—Blackwell’s Grub Steak Grill is closed here in the Hollywood District. First, the owner Jan dies (RIP), and that led the family to decide to close Blackwell’s this past Sunday.

According to the Willamette Week, Charlie De Lorme, Jan’s son, says “The family had considered selling the place before now, and had heard rumors that others were interested. ‘Now that we’re actually closing,’ he says, ‘they’re coming out of the woodwork.'”

I was unaware it was a Chinese restaurant way back when, too. That means the Mandarin and nearby Chin’s Kitchen were operating at the same time 35 years ago. And not far away was the Chinese Pagoda restaurant. So much Chinese-American food in a small area.

I’m also curious to know who is interested in the space now—it’s a good location and no doubt will fetch a pretty penny.

I’ll miss hearing the live blues music there on Wednesday nights. Thanks for the memories, Blackwell’s.

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Departure’s New Dry Cocktail Menu in Portland

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Photo credit: Departure Restaurant + Lounge

Earlier this month I learned about Departure Restaurant + Lounge’s new dry menu—AKA nonalcoholic cocktails. It’s a common thing these days for some people to cut out alcohol during the first month of the year, but there are also some of us that simply have a low tolerance for alcohol—being a “lightweight,” to use a term in common parlance. Personally, I love to try drinks made with interesting fruits, juices, essences, and other ingredients untouched by alcohol—it’s an interesting flavor world and you can drink it without having to worry about your blood alcohol level as you head home from the bar. Continue reading “Departure’s New Dry Cocktail Menu in Portland”