Small Bites: Orange Julius, Beer, FIKA, El Mercado, and More

Orange Julius retro.
This is the Orange Julius branding I remember from years past. Photo credit: Retro News Now.

Farewell, Orange Julius. The Oregonian reported that Portland’s last remaining Orange Julius, located in the Lloyd Center, was closing (by now, it’s in the past tense). The franchise’s owner, Bob Slayton, died from cancer on May 19. This Orange Julius had been around for 42 years. I have fond memories of going to the OJ in the mall near me in SoCal during my youth, enjoying one of their drinks along with a pretzel from “Pretzels and Cheese.” Read more about Bob and his business over on The O. 2314 Lloyd Center, Portland

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ZabPinto Thai PDX Has Opened at Cascade Station in Portland

ZabPinto Thai PDX duck larb.
Larb made with duck, which is common in the Isan region.

The other day I received a press release about ZabPinto, and while reading it, a detail caught my eye: There is a new location at Cascade Station, where big box stores reign. I reached out to their PR person and arranged a time to stop by and find out more about this new ZabPinto, called ZabPinto Thai PDX. Here is what I learned.

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Mi Familia Cafe Has Opened in Portland’s Buckman Neighborhood

Tostada at Mi Familia Cafe.
Tostada. Photo credit: Mi Familia Cafe.

A while back I saw that something called “Mi Familia Cafe” was going to open in what I knew to be Que Pasa Cantina. I set it aside because it did not make sense to me at the time. Fast forward to June and I was delighted to hear from the people behind Mi Familia Cafe—who did indeed open in the Que Pasa Cantina space!

So what’s going on? Here is, as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story.”

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Small Bites: Pinolo Gelato, Nam Tao Huu, No Sabo, and More

gelato-duo-hazelnut-chocolate-pinolo-gelato-portland-oregonJPG
The superb Pinolo Gelato.

Pinolo Gelato celebrates 10 years. These guys make some of the best gelato in Portland. It was started by Sandro Paolini, who is originally from Pisa in Italy. He moved to the PNW a while back, but his path eventually led him back to Pisa to learn how to make gelato from his friends and mentors there, Ilaria and Omar of @ioegelato.

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