Category: Four Things

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Four Things I Learned This Week is a regular column published on Fridays, featuring four short entries of brief tidbits on Portland‘s food scene.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (August 16)

How Convenient is coming to North Tabor. As we wait for Tréla to open there on the southeast corner of NE Glisan and 60th Avenue, we also prepare for the opening of How Convenient, an aptly-named convenience store opening in the building to the east. They are calling themselves a “bodega-style,” as in a, “soon-to-be bodega-style convenience store where you will find treats & treasures to make your day better & easier.” I send good wishes to Nathan and his mascot cat Riley all the best as they prepare the space to open. 6016 NE Glisan Street, Portland

National Knife Day is August 24. Thanks to a post by Travel Oregon, I learned that there exists a National Knife Day in amongst the other “national days” floating around out there. And you can celebrate (or at least recognize) this day at an event on August 24 at Steelport Knife Co’s factory here in Portland. Also, did you know that “five of the world’s leading knife brands make their home here”? This includes including Benchmade Knife Company, C.R.K.T., Gerber Gear, Leatherman, and, of course Steelport Knife Co.

At the event at Steelport, there will be knife forging demonstrations, and local food and drink available. You’ll also can enter the ultimate Portland Knifemaker Giveaway, where you have a chance to win over $5,000 worth of knives from the above-mentioned knife-makers. It runs through 11:59pm on August 24. 3602 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Prince Coffee is selling its stroopwafel sign. Since they retired their fresh stroopwafels a while back, they are feeling like they don’t need that neon sign. Katie, owner of Prince Coffee, explains why they don’t make them anymore at the cafes—it’s a mix of health issues and price of ingredients. If you want it, send them a DM or email katie@princecoffeepdx.com. 4523 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Shorba Arabic Food has set up in Montavilla. Thanks to a Montavilla resident who reported this: “New middle eastern cart opened up the weekend of the Montavilla street fair.” It’s called Shorba Arabic Food, run by a man named Omer. Their Google listing says “We provide verify of arabic home foods, such as plates, saj, gyro. We have a selections of foods that fit different diets.” They serve halal food. There are lots of positive reviews in various places online. 307 SE 80th Avenue, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Steam Rice Roll King Is Open in the Hazelwood Neighborhood
Coq Au Vin Is Moving to North Portland
Heretic Coffee Co., SE Portland’s Nonprofit Cafe
The Paladins League Will Open on NE Fremont
Look at This Awesome Portland Trailblazers Schedule Release Video

Also, the Beaverton Night Market is happening tomorrow, Saturday, August 17, 5pm to 10pm, at The Round, 12600 SW Crescent Street
https://www.beavertonoregon.gov/390/Beaverton-Night-Market
More on August festivals in the area.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (August 2)

Good chance: New food cart coming to My-O-My. I was by earlier this week and the bartender told me that they do have a new cart in mind, but could not reveal its name. Apparently the contract hadn’t been signed at that point. I’ve been keeping an eye on things on their Instagram to see if they have a name they can share. I’ll keep you updated. 8627 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Fremont Fest Marketplace is tomorrow. I usually just call it the Fremont Fest, but yeah—it’s happening tomorrow, Saturday, August 3 from 10am to 4pm. This year they have an 80s theme going on to celebrate the founding year of the Beaumont Business Association in 1984 (BBA produces the festival). “Wear those neon colors, get your shoulder pads out, and break out those leg warmers…” I’ll pass on the leg warmers in the middle of summer, but YMMV. Check out the vendors and more on the BBA website. NE Fremont Street from NE 42nd to NE 51st Avenues

Xin Ding Dumpling House on WW. Aaron Mesh at the Willamette Week wrote about Xin Ding Dumping House in downtown Portland. I loved reading about this place on the corner of SW Ash and 2nd with its Sichuan menu featuring dishes like XLB, fish in hot gravy, and dan dan noodles. Also enticing: “On Fridays and Saturdays, Xin Ding serves bao and bowls until 2am.” Love hearing about popular tasty late night spots in Portland. Definitely check out the article. 71 SW 2nd Avenue, Portland

Xiao Ye launches Summer Friday lunch service today. Today is the first day of “Summer Fridays” lunch service at Xiao Ye. They’ll offer their amazing eats from noon to 2:30pm for the last months of summer. “What to expect: a condensed menu with some of our dinner favorites AND a few special, lunch-only menu items & carafes of wine.” No reservations, walk-ins only and you put in your order at the counter. Xiao Ye made one of my favorite meals last year—highly recommended! 3832 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Capitol Is Closed + Historic Buildings on Broadway
The Wooden Chicken Pub Returns
Flour Bloom Has Closed, but Just for a Month
Lei Brilla Will Open in NW Portland

Also, the Chinese Festival is at Pioneer Courthouse Square is this weekend!

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Four Things I Learned This Week (July 26)

Teote Tavern has closed. A Bridgetown Bites tipster emailed me with the message, “Looks like teote closed again.” Google confirms it; the website for Teote Tavern also says “Closed.” Disappointing news, for real. 5513 NE 30th Avenue, Portland

All hail the return of Nathan the Watermelon Man! I heard the good news from friends in Roseway about Nathan‘s return. While I was driving along NE Prescott yesterday, I saw his signs out. Looks like he’s set up on NE Prescott and 68th Ave.

Hummus Vitality has closed. Hummus Vitality has left the building. Well, they left Argay. A sign on the door says, “We’ve moved to 3223 NE Broadway St. as Nicholas Restaurant. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.” I was just over there recently and had some really good tzatziki (the hummus was less interesting). Sorry to see them leave. Thanks to my honorary Montavillans for sharing this update. 13816 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Get your ful at Yigebe Coffee. This little Ethiopian cafe on NE Sandy in the Rose City Park neighborhood is now serving Ful for breakfast. Ful, or Ful Medames, is a traditional Ethiopian breakfast dish with a base of spiced beans, often favas (I’ve seen it made with black beans). It’s topped with a white cheese, tomato, onions, jalapeño, and avocado. 5730 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

DesiPDX Will Open in the Upright Beer Station Poda
First Tastes: Northport (Review)
Supermarket Alternatives in Portland
weet & Salty PDX Opening in SE Portland

Also, hit up the Peruvian Cultural Festival this weekend!

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Four Things I Learned This Week (July 19)

Apologies for the lack of posting this week—I had emergency eye stuff to attend to and it really threw me for a loop. Take care of your eyes, friends; your vision health is not something to neglect.

Chef Naomi Pomeroy has died. On this past Monday I was scrolling Instagram and saw this post from Portland Monthly. I was stunned—surely it was not true. But it was, it is, and it is a huge loss for her friends and family, loved ones, fans, and Portland’s restaurant and food world. Countless tributes have been posted, and much sadness and shock has been expressed.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office reports that she “drowned shortly before 8:30pm on July 13 near river mile 132 in Corvallis about 100 yards upstream from the Mary’s River.” KATU reports that she was “pulled under the water and held by the paddle board leash. She was not wearing a life jacket and, unable to resurface, drowned.” Her body has been recovered.

I hope anyone who is reading this takes this awful tragedy to heart and chooses to wear a life jacket next time they’re floating on the river.

Read more about Naomi Pomeroy’s remarkable work, career, and influence in the world of food in this NY Times article (unlocked). I never met her, so I can’t speak personally about her, but I know she essentially changed the world—and many lives—with her work.

Indian food is coming to Argay. A Bridgetown Bites tipster alerted me to a new Indian restaurant opening up in that shopping center on NE Sandy Blvd and 139th Avenue (same center where the P-Town Pizza is opening). It’s called Best of India, and from what I can tell from when I peeked in the other day (I did not ask questions, as they were moving heavy things around), they are currently revamping the interior. Research as of today has not yielded much; I’ll look into it more next week. 13882 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Look at this cool map of Roseway. Illustrator Sunny Eckerle put together this sweet map of the Roseway neighborhood (she lives nearby), featuring some of the great eats you can find along NE Sandy Blvd and 82nd Ave, including Junior’s Roasted Coffee/Upright Beer Station, Denizens Cafe, the Sandy Jug, Fresh Love (who has a new vegetarian Muffuletta sandwich on the menu), Reeva and Pizzeria Otto, and the Mom & Pop Wine Shop. She also included Madison South’s The People’s Courts and Sumner’s My-O-My (she and I have a lighthearted agreement for joint custody of My-O-My and Roseway’s Cameo Cafe). Various

Belle Époque Pies opens in August. Pizza pop-up Belle Époque Pies will open their doors on Saturday, August 3 at 5pm at the 23rd and Alberta Food Cart Pod. “Join us for an afternoon of pizza and music with a wonderful acoustic performance by @caicedo_decia and a DJ set by mi hermano @_muertitos_.” They offer Sicilian/Detroit-style pies. 2231 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

A Few Updates: Bobacat Teahouse, Pizza, and Greek Food

I thought I’d also tell you what festivals are coming up soon, listed on our Portland Area Cultural + Food Festivals page:

Fuji to Hood, Saturday, July 20, 2024 (Portland)
Portland Highland Games, Saturday, July 20, 2024 (Portland)
Four Days of Aloha Hawaiian Festival: Welcome Pāʻina, Thursday July 25, 2024 (Vancouver)

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Four Things I Learned This Week (July 5)

I hope you had a nice Independence Day holiday yesterday! It was lazing around, a LOST marathon (“Don’t tell me what I can’t do!”), and eating hot dogs at Bridgetown Bites headquarters. 🌭 By the way, have you tried that Heinz pickle ketchup?

The Lents Hong Phat getting closer to opening. This new Hong Phat location there in Lents in the old Walmart space recently returned to my radar because their liquor license application popped-up. I’ve reached out to them to get a better idea of an opening date, and will share that will you when/if I ever get it. 4200 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland

Carnelian Coffee moved up the street. Looks like they moved Saturday, June 15, “just up the road 9 blocks at 79th & Foster.” I hear the space is lovely and look forward to more interesting things happening there aside from coffee (more on that next week). I hear the rocks displayed at the old spot are on display at the new space. 7950 SE Foster Road, Portland

APEX Bar lost their lease, is closing. Over on Brewpublic they wrote about 14-year-old craft beer bar APEX is closing at the end of August after losing their lease. “The end of August will be the end of our service at SE 12th & Division. We’re looking forward to seeing you over the next 2 months and hopefully beyond. It’s been an honor over 14+ years pouring 3,319 unique beers on tap and counting.” They are looking for some place new, preferably in their neighborhood (SE 12th and Division). Do you know something for them? I bet east Portland would welcome them. 216 SE Division Street, Portland

Portland Nacho Week starts Monday. From July 8 to 14, enjoy plates of nachos around town for $8. I saw that Steeplejack (NE Broadway) is participating, and last time I had them, I quite liked their nachos. More about the event plus a map, is here. Various

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Thang Long Cuisine: Comforting, Tasty Vietnamese Food in Montavilla (Review)
Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, June 2024
Happy Birthday, Bridgetown Bites! You’re 7 Years Old!
Come To Summer Nights 2024 in Parkrose