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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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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Small Bites: Rose City Coffee Co, Bluto’s, Woodblock Bakery, and More

A Rose City Coffee Co latte.
A latte in open hands. Photo credit: Rose City Coffee Co.

Brooklyn neighborhood’s Rose City Coffee Co will be open 24-hours a day. This seems big for Portland: a 24-hour coffee shop. Starting Tuesday, November 11, you can head there really any time of the day and they’ll be open. There will be perpetual coffee, of course, but also their breakfast and lunch sandwiches; pastries and bagels will be served 24/7; their full menu, including flatbread items and mocktails, will be served 3pm to 5am. 3370 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland

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Give!Guide 2025: Food Edition in the Portland Metro Area

It’s almost Give!Guide time! This annual fundraiser, produced by the Willamette Week and takes place between November 1 and December 31, helps raise funds for nonprofits in the Portland metro area. It’s a significant presence at Bridgetown Bites HQ each year, but we haven’t talked about it much here.

This year, we want to highlight the food aspects of the Big Give Days—there are three days devoted specifically to food, and six days that incorporate food elements into the prizes.

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World Vegan Month 2025 Starts Saturday in Portland

Birria Ramen made with locally foraged chantrelle mushrooms, from Mis Tacones for World Vegan Month 2025.
Birria Ramen made with locally foraged chantrelle mushrooms, from Mis Tacones. Photo credit: Mis Tacones.

It’s back! World Vegan Month 2025 is happening in Portland throughout the month of November. Now in its third year, this is a great opportunity to try and experience the variety of vegan and plant-based offerings in Portland, through dishes made especially for this occasion.

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