Portland food news and views
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.
Back in early summer I was invited by Richard Matusow, owner and co-founder of Carioca Bowls, to stop in to the restaurant to check it out and try some things. They recently celebrated 11 years in business there on NE Alberta and 9th (Alberta Market is right across the street from them). I’d heard about this place for a number of years but never made it over. That was an unforced error.
Continue reading “Carioca Bowls: Açai and More in Northeast Portland”
Rosh Hashanah 2026 kind of snuck up on us this year, seemingly kind of early, starting the evening of Friday, September 11. This also means that Rosh Hashanah falls on the sabbath/shabbos, which for some Jewish communities can mean that the shofar will not be blown on that first night, and will be delayed to the following day of Rosh Hashanah (the holiday lasts until Sunday, September 13).
It’s the Jewish New Year, which means apples and honey, honey cake, and other things to mark the wishes for a sweet year to come. Here are some ways to enjoy a delicious Rosh Hashanah. We will update this as new things come online. Big thanks to Judith for adding her holiday knowledge to this roundup.
Continue reading “Rosh Hashanah 2026—New Year 5787—in Portland”
Because I fly a lot for work, I’ve been able to see the Portland Airport (PDX) overhaul as it proceeds, and all the new and returning food and drink options that have come with it. We are blessed with one of the most attractive and hospitable airports in the U.S., and Portlanders take advantage of that. Between the selection and the guarantee of like-street prices, I have eaten many meals before a departure or after an arrival, and I have personal experience of almost all the vendors while dining at PDX.
[Many thanks to Josh Berkus for putting together this guide. -Meg]
Continue reading “A Helpful Guide to Dining at PDX (Concourses D and E)”
Taqueria Mexa is opening a second location. They’ll be taking over the Poblano Pepper space by PSU. They have a location on NE 82nd Avenue—right next to where Florence of Nana’s Exquisite Confections was (she’s got a new spot further down 82nd, opening soon)—and their food is really good. We took some home one day and absolutely loved it.
This is a great addition to Southwest Portland. They’ll be open every day starting at 10am, and closing at 8pm on Sundays, 9pm Monday through Thursday, and 10pm on Friday and Saturday. 1921 SW 6th Avenue, Portland
Continue reading “Small Bites: Taqueria Mexa, Deals, Dediko, Ice Cream, and More”
I had the pleasure of hanging out with Linh DePledge, who I first met in connection to Jawfish, a restaurant and bar that opened up in the old Shilo Inn Restaurant on the old Shilo Inn hotel property. The hotel, a Vesta Hospitality property, has been transformed into a pretty nice option for a Portland stay, and the three elements—Hyatt House (a three-star hotel), The Mindaro, and Jawfish— are being referred to as the Mindaro Campus.
I often hear my neighbors ask where their out of town guests could stay nearby, and I think in many cases this is a worthy choice, especially for the folks in Parkrose, Argay, Sumner, Madison South, and Cully. I was particularly curious about the hotel on their behalf.
Here are my impressions of my time there—and plenty of photos.
Continue reading “Touring the Mindaro Campus, Plus Jawfish Noms in Portland (Photos)”