Sneak Peek: Inside Gumba’s New Space

Gumba's new space: a sneak peek.
Inside Gumba’s new space—dining room in-progress.

About a month after temporarily closing for its highly anticipated move, Gumba Pasta Parlor is gearing up for its next chapter. While fans and locals await their reopening, the Bridgetown Bites team got a sneak peek of Gumba’s new space and wanted to share a preview. It’s still under construction, but here’s a glimpse at what’s taking shape ahead of Gumba’s exciting reopening later this month.

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First Look: Honorable Mention Lounge Opens at The Benson Hotel in Portland

Espresso Martini at Honorable Mention.
Honorable Mention’s Sucker Punch Cocktail

It’s official! Portland has its own version of the 40/40 Club with the newly opened Honorable Mention—at least according to this New York expat. Honorable Mention, Portland’s new sports lounge, which is co-owned by Portland Trail Blazers’ point guard Damian Lillard, opened earlier this month inside The Benson Hotel. The space blends a sultry, luxe vibe with a cozy, welcoming feel that’s perfect for gathering with your crew of friends and sports lovers. The Bridgetown Bites team stopped by its media night this week and came away impressed.

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Purim 2026: Tasty Treats and Celebrations in Portland

Edie and a plate of hamentaschen for Purim 2026.
My then 7-year-old Edie who is now a pre-teen but still loves their hamantaschen.

The holiday of Purim is almost here—a joyous holiday filled with tasty treats and celebrations, observed by Jews around the world. Purim begins on the evening of Monday, March 2, and continues through March 3 (and through March 4 in Jerusalem). The holiday commemorates the story of Queen Esther, whose courage helped save the Jewish people from Haman’s evil plot to kill the Jews of ancient Persia.

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Carina’s Bakery Brings Standout Flavor to Beaverton’s Vegan Scene

Kneeling by the counter at Carina's Bakery.

As January comes to a close, there’s still opportunity to try Portland’s vibrant vegan food scene in celebration of Veganuary. If you’re new to the concept, Veganuary is a global movement inviting people to explore vegan food—and a plant-forward lifestyle—throughout January and beyond. Think of it as a delicious, clean way to start the year, and an ideal place to begin is with Carina’s Bakery in Beaverton, featuring delightful vegan treats.

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Bridgetown Bites Roadtrip: Tasting Willamette Valley Salads

Meg in front of Red Hills Market.

While Portland has no shortage of incredible salads—as we’ve showcased throughout Portland Salad Week—Meg and I were eager to explore beyond the city limits in search of more salad treasure. Our adventure took us to the heart of the Willamette Valley, where we visited five distinct food destinations that each offered a unique and delicious taste of the region’s local, seasonal bounty. Here are the Willamette Valley salads we enjoyed and the places we visited.

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