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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Small Bites: Tamalada, Crispy Cones, ZabPinto Thai, and More

Making tamales during a tamalada in 2019 in Portland, Oregon.
The tamalada from 2019.

Tamalada in Portland is back! I attended a tamalada—a group tamale-making party around the holidays—organized by Hot Mama Salsa and Three Sisters Nixtamal pre-pandemic (2019) and loved it. We learned how to prepare the masa, fill the corn husks, and steam the tamales—and we got to take some tamales home. It was fantastic!

So you can imagine how happy I was to see that these same two women-owned and led businesses have brought it back this year. This time it will take place at Hot Mama Salsa’s headquarters in Southeast Portland. There are two sessions on Sunday, December 14: 2pm to 3:30pm and 4pm to 5:30pm. It’s $65; you can reserve your spot and pay them on Venmo. DM them with questions. 333 SE 2nd Avenue, Portland

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Mayger Coffee Will Open in the Madison South Neighborhood in Portland

The front of Mayger Coffee as they get it ready to open.

Last month I meet up with Arlen Kallunki, who is opening Mayger Coffee in the southwestern corner of the Madison South neighborhood. He’s taking over the space that used to be home to a Vientamese bakery and deli called TM Banh Mi. We met up at Futura Coffee on NE Glisan and had a very nice chat about the new cafe. Here’s what I learned.

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Mako Matcha Mill Will Indeed Mill Matcha in Portland

Mako Matcha Mill cafe space, rendering.
Rendering of the cafe space. Photo credit: Mako Matcha Mill.

Mako Matcha Mill is a new matcha cafe and mill coming to Southwest Portland’s West End section—and true to their name, they will be milling matcha there on site. I stopped by the cafe the other day (under construction at the time) and spoke with the two owners, Edison Zeng and Emily Dewey, to hear about their work with matcha and their plans for the cafe. Here is what I learned.

(Bonus: I had my first taste ever of Nong’s Khao Man Gai’s chicken and rice, located right across the street).

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Gingerbread Masterpiece 2025: Coming Soon To The Benson Hotel in Portland

Gingerbread Masterpiece 2025 will follow this one from 2024.
Last year’s Gingerbread Masterpiece.

The Gingerbread Masterpiece 2025 reveal is just a few weeks away! This fun and creative event, focused on a giant gingerbread structure, is an annual holiday season highlight in Portland. Now in its 54th year, it will continue the tradition of being displayed in the lobby of the The Benson Hotel for all to see during the holidays. Head there in December to see what they’ve come up with this year!

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