Bridgetown Bites

December 8, 2022December 8, 2022

5 Recent Bites – Avocado Toast, Pig Newton, and More

I thought it might be fun to talk about five of the most delicious things I’ve had recently here in Portland. We continue to be fortunate to have so many good things to eat in this town.

Avocado Toast: Saint Simon

Back in May, Saint Simon opened a new location on Brazee and 15th in the Irvington neighborhood, and it has been a total hit. There are often long lines of people waiting to get a cup of their excellent espresso, baked goods from Nuvrei, and a chance to hang out in a comfortable space for a little while. Their outdoor seating is really nice in the warmer months, too. But year-round they have this avocado toast that is just wonderful.

December 6, 2022December 6, 2022

Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, November 2022

This time around an old post made its way into November’s top five: December 2021’s rundown of Salt & Straw ice cream flavors. Good news for those who like consistency, though: December 2022’s Holiday Series flavors are the same as last years!

As for traffic, Bridgetown Bites is growing, apparently. My web host has questions about traffic, so that’s why the site was down for a few days in November (they nuked it around Thanksgiving, nice … not). I’m currently in troubleshooting mode to fix the issues. And looking into new hosts (if you have a favorite, shoot me an email). Thanks for your patience. And thanks, as always, for reading.

5. Mattino’s Wine, From the Folks Who Brought You No Saint, Will Open in Buckman

peach-pizza-no-saint-dame-portland-oregon

While perusing my sources today I saw one document that had a big ol’ “No Saint” written on it. I thought, “Huh, that’s so familiar.” I wracked my brain and then it hit me—No Saint was the pizza/Italian eats pop-up I went to with my friend Annie many months ago. Turns out they are the same folks behind Mattino’s Wine, a “natural wine bottle shop + luncheonette” that will open on Hawthorne Blvd in the Buckman neighborhood.

December 5, 2022December 5, 2022

Roundup: Bests and Awards of 2022

Excited for all the winners!

It’s that time of year again: the time when local media outlets (and nationwide ones, too, but that’s not the focus here) gather their bests and make lists of various things—including food. Personally, I love lists and it’s fun to see what the different food media sources deem “the best” in any given year. It’s unclear in my mind if I’m going to do that kind of roundup before the close of 2022, so I thought I’d round up what’s out there already.

November 18, 2022November 18, 2022

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!

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022

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?