Category: Portland

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Portland! It’s where I live, work, and play. It’s where the food news happens (at least most of it). This category is one of the real constants on Bridgetown Bites and is probably a part of almost every post on this blog.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (November 18)

Kann is in the news again, and it’s rated the best (plus, Comedor Lilia and Okta). Esquire Magazine released their Best New Restaurants in America, 2022 list, and Kann tops the chart. Congrats to Gregory Gourdet, his staff, and all involved in making this a place where people love to eat Haitian food. Comedor Lilia, part of the República family, also made the list at number 16, which offers “Pacific Northwest cuisine through the lens of a Mexican-American chef.” Okta, in McMinville, which offers a “multi-course experience inspired by the Pacific Northwest,” made the list, too. There’s a lot of interesting sounding restaurants on the list, so be sure to check out all of the places. 548 SE Ash Street (Kann) and 3159 S Moody Avenue (Comedor Lilia), Portland; 618 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville (Okta)

Brunch at Nico’s Cantina for the World Cup. El Mañanero, a new brunch menu for the 2022 World Cup games season, was crated by Chef Fernanda, and it looks great! It will be served every morning they play the WC games over the next month starting next week. I’m particularly happy to see chilaquiles and champurrado on the menu. 4318 NE Cully Blvd, Portland

Chin’s Kitchen is back open for dine-in. I saw this morning that Chin’s Kitchen, home to great dumplings and Dongbei cuisine, has re-opened—and renovated, as well. I’ll be making a visit soon. 4126 NE Broadway, Portland

Deeply Rooted on NE Fremont will open December 10. This sports bar offering plant-based eats is opening in early December, still in time for some of the later matchups during World Cup. Along with their food and drink, you’ll also find pool tables, darts, a golf sim room and … a 200-inch theater screen for big sporting events. That’s seriously huge. NICE. 4765 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Also: Bridgetown Bites will not be publishing next week, the week of Thanksgiving—I’m giving myself some time off. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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The Ongoing Issue of Loud Restaurants

For decades now, I’ve heard one topic discussed when it comes to restaurants, bars, cafes, and other eateries, regardless of the condition of the physical space, menu quality, and cost spectrum—and that’s how loud a place is. I’ve heard older folks talk about it as well as those younger, and everyone in between. A lot of people wish restaurants were quieter (though not as quiet as a “mausoleum,” as per WaPo restaurant critic Tom Sietsema). So why does it persist?

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Vincenzo’s Pizza Is Open

The Spicy Sicilian pizza at Vincenzo’s Pizza. Photo credit: Vincenzo’s Pizza.

After a few months of preparation, Vincenzo’s Pizza is now open in the Rose City Park neighborhood. Their opening was last week, and already they have gained plenty of fans in the area already. They have a pretty nice menu featuring both Sicilian pies and round NY-style pizza pies, appetizers, salads, and pastas.

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Fresh Love on Hello, Rose City! Today

Screencap from Serina Leedy representing Fresh Love on KGW’s “Hello, Rose City!” segment today.

Back in June of this year, Fresh Love opened to the public in Roseway, in the old Red Gate space on NE Fremont. Ben Cutler and Serina Leedy, Fresh Love’s owners, have totally transformed the space, with a vegetable mural circling the insides; new bench seating; a bright, light-filled dining room; and lots of delicious things, prepared and otherwise.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (November 11)

A good Veterans Day to all, and many thanks to those who served this country. As I write this, the Veterans Day parade participants are arriving and lining up, this year on a new route on MLK Blvd.

Portland’s best Cubano sandwich? This morning I learned that the folks at PoMo have dubbed the Cuban sandwich at newcomer En Vida PDX as “Portland’s best.” They elaborate: “What makes En Vida’s sing is the roast mojo pork, shreds and chunks cooked with oranges, garlic, and cumin, then crisped and caramelized on the edges to intensify the flavor. The pickles, layered on top, are sweet, tangy, and house-made.”

They also mention the medianoche: “the medianoche roll is a little sweeter and softer than a traditional Cuban loaf—and custom-made for En Vida by Portland’s Dos Hermanos Bakery. Before it’s grill-pressed, the kitchen dips the medianoche in a little pork fat to double the pleasure. Take it from Alsberg: ‘It’s a Cubano on steroids. It’s a mouthful of love.’” 1303 NE Fremont Street, Portland

What Futura baristas drink. I enjoyed this little Instagram reel on what the baristas at Montavilla’s Futura Coffee Roasters drink. I think I’ll get a steamed cold brew (something I never considered, warm cold brew) recommended by barista Freedom, next time I’m in. 7201 NE Glisan Street, Portland

Tour the Republic of Georgia with Kachka. This tour of Georgia happening next September sounds absolutely amazing. My first exposure to Georgia was, not surprisingly, via the Georgian cuisine that I ate at the Sunday Night Dinner back in 2009, a supper club that was run by a couple of friends in Astoria, Queens. It remains one of my favorite food memories of my time in NYC, and forever changed my idea of what food was like in the former Soviet Union (it was an SSR from 1921 to 1991). I also fell in love with the look of the Georgian alphabet, and the landscapes there are absolutely gorgeous.

So, this tour should be pretty great, with excellent food, beautiful vistas, comfortable lodging and travel, and terrific guides in Bonnie and Israel of Kachka. The cost is $6,800 and includes: “seven nights at unique four- and five-star accommodations; private travel for all day trips and excursions; departure airport transfer; private tours with local guides and cultural experts; exclusive VIP access and tastings; guided activities, adventures and expeditions; entrance fees; daily breakfasts, most lunches and dinners; local beverages with meals.” To be clear: the price does not include international travel to Georgia.

Frog & Snail brings back the French Onion Meatball Sub. For a limited time, the lovely little french cafe in SE Portland is bringing back one of the tastiest sandwiches in Portland’s history, the French Onion Meatball Sub. This thing is crazy delicious, and when they say “limited time” they mean “very limited time” so I would say stop in before Thanksgiving. You won’t regret it. 3553 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland