Meg Cotner

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

New Zealand-Style Ice Cream Is Coming To Sauvie Island This Summer

New Zealand-style ice cream in a waffle cone. — New Zealand-style ice cream, soon to be available at Columbia Farms on Sauvie Island. Photo credit: Columbia Farms U-Pick.

Last month I heard about some plans to bring New Zealand-style ice cream to Columbia Farms U-Pick on Sauvie Island starting this summer. We’ve known there’s an interest in this style of ice cream in Portland through Nico’s and Beaux Berry, and it’s great to see it poised to arrive on Sauvie Island. I spoke to Steven Hallstone—his wife’s family runs the farm where the berries are sourced and the ice cream will be sold—to learn more about this delicious project.

April 20, 2026April 19, 2026

Say When Opens Today in Northwest Portland

The front of Say When. — Exterior of Say When. Photo credit: Say When.

A new restaurant and bar called Say When opens today, offering “blue collar French food and drink.” It’s from the same folks who brought you Sit Tite in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood, which offers “blue-collar East Coast Italian fare.” I had a chance to chat with co-owner BJ Smith over the weekend to hear more about Say When, and here is what I learned.

April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Small Bites: Burger Syndicate, Eclairs, Bar Casa Vale, and More

The Bandit from Burger Syndicate: Double Cajun-seared patties, bacon, cheese, fried onions, slaw, pickles, BBQ and garlic sauce. Photo credit: Burger Syndicate.

Burger Syndicate has opened. This is a new spot downtown from the Nacheaux folks. They opened on Thursday, April 9. They wrote on social media, “Burger Syndicate is everything we’ve learned, every sacrifice, every lesson poured into one space. Creative smashburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, weekly specials, house-made lemonades, merch, and the same fun and flavor Nacheaux is known for.”

They have some late night hours: midnight on Sunday (after opening at 6pm that day); 1am Thursday to Saturday; and 1:30am on Monday nights. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. 221 SW Ankeny Street, Portland

April 16, 2026April 12, 2026

Tiny Love Bakery Will Celebrate One Year in Cully

Exterior of the Tiny Love Bakery. — Approaching Tiny Love Bakery from the south—on my way there I had a convo with the British Motor Car guy about the MG Midget I helped restore part of the way, years ago.

The other day I had a chance to speak to the folks behind Tiny Love Bakery, a little walk-up bakery on NE 42nd Avenue near Alberta Street in Cully. Julie and Dillon are getting close to their one-year anniversary of the bakery, and since I didn’t have a chance to chat with them when they opened last year, this was a great opportunity to connect. I really enjoyed learning about them and their work and how it’s been going over the past year.

Plus, their baked goods are excellent. If you haven’t had a chance to stop by, I encourage you to head there and give their delicious products a try. Here’s part of our conversation from the other day.

April 15, 2026April 14, 2026

Churchill Nines: Watch the Kentucky Derby at The Nines Hotel in Portland

Mint Julep, Straightaway Cocktails, flowers, and a horse for Churchill Nines.

Earlier this week I had a chance to stop in on the 8th Floor of The Nines Hotel to get a sneak peek at the plans for the inaugural Churchill Nines party in May. This is a chance to watch the Kentucky Derby, AKA “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” with a festive crowd under the light-filled atrium alongside the hotel’s onsite restaurant, Urban Farmer.

We tried a few of the scheduled eats, mint juleps were passed around (more on the NA option later), and I had a number of interesting conversations with folks there—on both the upcoming Derby event and some thoughts and feelings about the efforts in service of a vibrant downtown Portland.