Four Things I Learned This Week (May 20)

Nico’s Ice Cream celebrates one year in the biz. In honor of Nico’s Ice Cream’s first anniversary, they have collaborated with the amazing Jinju Patisserie (home of one of the best croissants in town, among other delectable items) for a limited-edition (only 150 half-pints produced) flavor: The Brookie. It’s a combo of the brownies, cookies, and vanilla ice cream—and it’s only available this Saturday, May 21 at Nico’s.

Additionally, there will be a party on the 21st! Along with the special half-pint, the first 50 people get free ice cream. Tita’s Kitchen will be making enchiladas, and there will be a merch sale. Sounds like a great way to spend what will likely be a pretty bitchin’ day of sun and warmth in Portland. 5713 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Homemade Lao sausages at Mekong Bistro. Mekong Bistro, Portland’s only (to my knowledge) Cambodian restaurant, has made their famous homemade Lao sausages available for purchase. For a limited time, get packs for five links (frozen) for ten bucks. Pick up at Mekong Bistro. Pro tip: prices will increase in June (inventory cost issues) so get them sooner than later. 8200 NE Siskiyou Street, Portland

Thai Me Drunken Noodle joins Growler’s Taproom. Montavilla News reports that Thai Me Drunken Noodle cart—which has operated in that corner space/pod at NE 28th and Glisan for the past six months—will open a food cart connected to Growler’s Taproom. Erica’s Soul Food was at that location most recently. Thai Me Drunken Noodle’s specialty is “Laotian-style fried chicken served over sticky rice with a sauce made from a family recipe” and other northern Thailand and Laos cuisine. The cart will act as an extension of the taproom: β€œIt’s more of a brick and mortar kind of feel, but we are adjusting it where the kitchen is in the cart,” says Joe Rodgers, who owns Growler’s. Read the Montavilla News article for lots more info. 803 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland

Food businesses grow in East Multnomah County. Head over to the Oregonian for the news about all the new food businesses that have opened in East county. Fairview Food Plaza, Troutdale Station, Rockwood Market Hall—it’s all good news for folks out east. Plus that giant fork is still there, still rad.

Sloan’s Tavern Is Closing

The front and patio of Sloan's Tavern in Portland, Oregon.
Photo credit: Drew Groove via Facebook

Opened in 1979, Sloan’s Tavern, is set to close this year; that’s over 40 years in business. This week I’ve read a lot of tributes to the place in its owners, matriarch Shirley Sloan and her family (Bob Sloan died in 2013). So what’s going to happen to the place? Shirley sold her lots to a developer, and it sounds like retirement is in the plans. A mixed-use apartment building will be built on those properties.

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An Update on Portland’s First Five Guys

Five Guys in the Lloyd District in Portland, Oregon.
Storefront of the Lloyd Five Guys

Back in January, I wrote about the first ever Five Guys Burgers & Fries coming to Portland, setting up shop in the old Prime Rib + Chocolate Cake space in Lloyd Station on NE Broadway. Bottom line: opening of this location is slated for end of May 2022. I’ve been in touch with their community outreach coordinator, who confirms it. Update 6/13/22: I spoke to the on-site manager at the Lloyd District location over the weekend and he confirmed the updated opening date as Friday, June 17, 2022.

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Portland Salad Week: the Details

Photo credit: Unsplash

As I mentioned last week, here at Bridgetown Bites we are presenting Salad Week from June 6 to 10, 2022. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and the more I write about the salads in Portland the more interesting they become to me. Salad is something with so much variety—it’s not just a side dish of lettuce, tomato, and cucumber (though that still sounds tasty; my younger self would have enjoyed some Marie Callender’s Thousand Island dressing on it, too). It’s any mix of veg, fruit, meat, fish, dairy, nuts, grains and probably other things I’m unaware of. Seriously, the options are plenty.

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