Four Things I Learned This Week (September 23)

Portland Fermentation Fest will not happen in 2022. The organizers behind Portland’s own “Stinkfest” announced they are now holder the Fermentation Festival this year: “The three of us (volunteer organizers Wanpaku Natto, Liz Crain and Urban Cheesecraft Kits) will re-evaluate for 2023. Time will tell. Thank you so much for your support over the years and patience in the last couple of years. We miss our sweet stinkfest and we miss you!”

It’s a great festival (see my writeup from 2019) and I do hope they will return in 2023.

Red Sauce Pizza will open their dining room. It’s coming, and for that I’m glad: the Red Sauce dining room is opening … soon. I’ll be there. 4641 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Future Days will pop up in the old Handsome Pizza space. Kiki and Casey, former employees at Handsome Pizza/Seastar Bakery, are popping up in their old digs this weekend as Future Days. They’ll be making pizza that was a hot ticket item during their time in SLC. Head there Sunday September 25, 5-9pm. It will be nice to have that oven working again. 1603 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

Kalesa Coffee opens tomorrow morning. Head to the new brick & mortal space of former popup Kalesa Coffee tomorrow morning from 9am to 1pm for their grand opening party. There will be coffee, of course (their own roast), with Filipino flavors (ube, for one), plus breakfast sandwiches, toast, and sides from Balong. Definitely check them out! 7024 N Richards Street, Portland

Bonus: NYC’s Cevallos brothers custom made a sign for Laughing Planet in PDX. You can read about these brothers originally from Ecuador who work with many Queens businesses (in Jackson Heights, among other neighborhoods) to make hand-crafted signs as promotional tools. I have to admit I am delighted to see when Queens and Portland intersect. You can check out the sign here.

Nico’s Cantina Opens September 24

Photo credit: Nico’s Cantina

Although I’ve been under a pile of editing work these past couple of weeks (I love my job as an editor) that has kept much of my attention from the blog, it hasn’t squelched my anticipation and excitement about the opening of Nico’s Cantina. I’ve been eager to know of their opening day and Nico finally released that detail: Saturday, September 24 at 3pm.

Continue reading “Nico’s Cantina Opens September 24”

Four Things I Learned This Week (September 9)

Bastion turns 1. Mark your calendars for a Bastion birthday bash on Saturday, September 17 in the form of their final Summer Maker’s Market for the year. There will be crafts, live music, “Brunchington” (likely with some delicious brunch specials), and good vibes for all. From the Bastion folks: “It’s been a year full to the brim with excitement, overwhelm, learning, growing & enjoying nourishing all of you.”

Bastion subscribes to the “food as medicine” philosophy and is particularly sensitive to their guests who abstain from gluten, refined-sugars, soy, and dairy; they value organic, local, sustainably-grown food. As a happy omnivore, I’ve had some delicious things there, and love their grain-free bread; plus their cookies (yes, made without refined sugars) are really excellent. Their Wild Alaskan Salmon Salad was recommended by Jennifer Joffe of Project Healthy Body during this year’s inaugural Salad Week. 6116 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland

And Wedgehead turns 4. This Sunday, September 11, Wedgehead is throwing a “super soft birthday party” from 3pm to 11pm (kids can participate until 6pm). Look for a cupcake decorating station, as well as party punch by Little Hands/Stiff Drinks; feather boas, tiaras, face painting, and pinball wristbands. Are you a princess? A prince? Something else? Regardless of your sex (or gender), experience the joy of wearing frilly things—Wedgehead is here for you. 3728 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Cheese plates available at Fresh Love. Stop by this gem on NE Fremont in the Roseway neighborhood for their latest offering: a beautiful cheese plate. Lately they’ve been on a goat cheese kick and the cheese plate includes Humboldt Fog and Midnight Moon from Cypress Grove , Sleeping Beauty from Cascadia Creamery, and a special flower petal crusted soft goat cheese (while supplies last). You can also pick up cheeses in their retail cold case. Yum. 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Rey Taco opens in Montavilla. Montavilla News reports that the Rey Taco cart opened on 82nd Avenue near SE Ash, replacing Su Casa Taqueria. Along with improving the kitchen inside, they built a new covered deck with tables. Rey Taco offers “LA Street Food,” including “an assortment of tacos, birria quesa tacos, machetes, tortas, mulitas, burritos, enchiladas, and chilaquiles.” They are open for lunch and dinner. Read more at Montavilla News. 145 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland