Portland food news and views
News, analysis, and current topics in the world of food.
Photo credit: Yucatan Times
I’ve recently become aware of a new Mexican cafe and cantina that is opening on NE Sandy Blvd in the old Gravy space. Named Alux Mexican Cafe & Cantina, it will offer Mexican food, drink, and enjoyment in the Bindery Building on the edge of the Kerns neighborhood.
Continue reading “Alux Mexican Cafe & Cantina Opening on NE Sandy Blvd”New menu at Cloud Pine Tea + Culture. This lovely little tea house in Milwaukie put out a new menu last week and it looks delicious. Particularly appealing are the Giant Chicken, Orange Peel, and Shiitake Mushroom Meatballs; Flatbread with Curried Beef; and Steamed BBQ Pork Buns. They also have a seasonal drink menu (I’ll take the Treasure Tea) and some snacks. The full menu is on their website, but you can also find it on Facebook and Instagram. 10835 SE Main Street, Milwaukie
Handmade noodle alert. The Hazelwood Neighborhood Association tells us that an “amazing” new Chinese restaurant has opened up in the neighborhood called Remember Spirits & Restaurant. It occupies the former Cleary’s Sports Bar space. And apparently they serve handmade noodles, and dishes are made from scratch. Certainly intriguing. 12429 NE Glisan Street, Portland
Pho Le Nguyen is opening in Parkrose. A new Vietnamese restaurant is going to open in the old Catalina’s Mexican restaurant space on NE Sandy Blvd (not too far from O’Dear and the Parkrose Marketplace). They’ve been working in there, signage is up, and we eagerly wait to see what they offer (besides the obvious pho). It makes me happy to see that space occupied. 10902 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Altropino? State records indicates something called Altropino is connected to the Grand Stark Hotel and Olympia Provisions (they are considered the “licensee” for Altropino). While doing a little research on this, I learned that the Grand Stark Deli has closed (old news, yes; I loved their space and avocado toast) and when it comes to looking up dining options at the hotel, you get this message: “Stay tuned for more information on a new dining concept at Hotel Grand Stark.”
Could that be a new eatery from the masters of sustainably-sourced cured meats and sausages? Does “altropino” mean “the other pine” or “to the Tropino”? Time has been my nemesis this week, but I’ll look into it some more. Of course, shoot me an email if you know any details. 509 SE Grand Avenue, Portland
The current parking lot adjacent to the shuttered Meriwether’s Restaurant in NW Portland. Photo credit: Google
Looks like someone wants to see if a property in NW Portland can transition to a food cart pod. The location includes a parking lot and a bar/restaurant—that used to house the popular Meriwether’s Restaurant & Skyline Farm, which has been closed for several years.
Continue reading “Early Assistance Phase: NW Portland Food Cart Pod”
I saw the news this week about vendor applications for the Rocky Butte Farmers Market and it warmed my heart. I’m so glad they’ll be back again for another season of weekly markets. I really enjoyed shopping there last year.
Continue reading “It’s Vendor Application Season for the Rocky Butte Farmers Market”Panucho party report. Michael Russel at the Oregonian went in search of panuchos in Portland recently (accompanied by Gary Okazaki aka Gary the Foodie during some of it). Panuchos are tasty—they are essentially “hand-pressed tortillas puffed up on a comal, carefully opened, stuffed with a black bean puree then gently fried.” I’d call them cousins to tlacoyos, which I also enjoy. Anyway, this article is a great rundown of the panuchos in Portland. My current favorite is at Ki’ikibáa, deemed “best modern panucho.”
Arden turns 5. Happy birthday to Arden! This “seasonal, wine-driven restaurant located in Portland’s Pearl District” turns 5 years old in February. Hats off to them for making it through the pandemic. On their menu throughout February, they will be “featuring some of the greatest hit dishes from over the past 5 years” of course, with wine picked by the owner, Kelsey Glasser. Think black truffle pierogis, butter poached Mary’s Chicken for two, and housemade chorizo sausage. Or, there’s a prix fixe menu, too ($70/per person), where the chef picks the items.
Fun fact, and one I did not know: Arden is named after Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” The “forest of Arden was a female-led, idyllic place, for those who escaped to live off the land and to live a simpler life.” Arden is also participating in Chocolate for Congo this year. 417 NW 10th Avenue, Portland
Maple Leaf Restaurant is doing repairs and a remodel. I noticed in city documents that the Maple Leaf Restaurant, a Chinese and American diner in FoPo, is doing some repairs. Apparently there was a fire; last time I was in the area, I noticed it was closed. The work includes: repairing fire damaged walls and replacing insulation + drywall; roof modification and a new wall support; new kitchen hoods and vents, exhaust fans; roof repairs, including fire protection. Personally, I’ve never been there, but it’s beloved by many Portlanders. Best of luck to them as they do this work. 7129 SE Foster Road, Portland
Groundhog Day aka Candlemas aka La Chandeleur aka Día de la Candelaria. February 2 (yesterday) is a significant date for a number of cultures. In the U.S., it’s Groundhog Day (or, Ground Hog Day as one of my favorite plays on words) and our own Stumptown Phil tells us we will have six more weeks of winter. But it’s also Candlemas, significant to Christians and as you can imagine, candles are a big part of it. It’s also a cross-quarter holiday, Imbolc, important to pagans.
For the purposes of this blog, what I learned this week about this day is that in France it’s called La Chandeleur. One of the things they do on that day is eat crepes, as the round golden crepe resembles the look of the sun and the anticipation of more light as we head toward the Spring Equinox. In Portland, I like to eat crepes at Frog & Snail (3553 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland); RIP Suzette. And for something completely different from the French approach to crepes, head to the Bing Mi cart (1845 NW 23rd Place, Portland) for a delicious jianbing treat.
I also learned that in Mexico there is a tradition that also connects itself to Three Kings Day. The folks at Masienda posted this: “On Candlemas in Mexico, tradition dictates that whoever cuts through the rosca de Reyes cake on Día de los Reyes (Three King’s Day) and finds the baby Jesus figurine must host a party on February 2 and bring tamales for everyone.” You can find Masienda’s excellent masa harina at Providore (2340 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland).
Here’s to the increasing light each day!
