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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A Robot Arm Offers Colorful Macarons at Shifting Realities in Portland

The Flavor Bar zone at Shifting Realities.

When a colleague and friend asked if I wanted to check out the preview for Shifting Realities, “a 100-minute immersive art experience … where a robotic arm serves racetrack-inspired art macarons” opening at Porsche Studio Portland in the Pearl, I was intrigued. I love the intersection of art and food, and I love macarons, so I was all “heck yeah!” Here are some of my observations, plus info on how you can experience it yourself.

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Small Bites: Thien Hong, Phin Ca Phe, Coffee, and More

Not Thien Hong, but gelato from Pinolo.
Cantucci e Vinsanto gelato (top) + Fioritura sorbetto (bottom) from Pinolo Gelato.

Looks like renovations may come to Thien Hong. Currently under review, the relevant permit with the city includes tenant improvements, “to remodel existing restaurant dining area with new layout, partitions, conveyor belt system, food prep counter, and reception desk; no changes to building envelope or glazing.” 6749 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

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Tonga Room and The Heights in Portland: Some Background

Future home of Tonga Room.
Photo credit: Google.

A liquor license application for something called Tonga Room appeared online in early May, and with a name like that I could not resist looking into it. I’ve reached out to Mike Collman, the person behind Tonga Room, but am still waiting to hear back. But there is a lot going on as far as “the rest of the story” and background that’s worth writing about. Think of this as Part 1 of the story.

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Strawberry Shortcake Week 2026 Is Almost Here in Portland

Strawberry Shortcake from Screen Door for Strawberry Shortcake Week 2026.
Strawberry Shortcake from Screen Door. Photo credit: Screen Door.

Strawberry Shortcake Week 2026—coming soon! It’s a little bit earlier this year, but that just means the strawberries will be on your plate before you know it. Here are all the details about the week, which is one of my top three favorite food weeks in Portland (Dumpling Week and Salad Week being the others).

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Second Annual Veganizer Asian Market Returns This Year in Portland

Last year's Veganizer Asian Market at the Redd on Salmon.
Photo credit: Veganizer / Josh Chang.

Over the years, I’ve been really impressed by the various Veganizer events produced by Waz Wu and her team here in Portland. Whether it’s Circle V, World Vegan Month, or one of their dinners, you can be sure it will be a solid and enjoyable event. So I am happy to tell you about the Second Annual Veganizer Asian Market, happening Sunday, June 7 at the Redd on Salmon. It looks like a fantastic occasion filled with delicious plant-based food and drink (and you can go straight to the ticketing info, here, if you like).

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