Portland food news and views
I got the news in my inbox this week that Xico, a Mexican restaurant that has served Oaxacan food in kind of “relaxed bougie” surroundings, will close. Thursday, March 23 will be their final day of service.
Continue reading “Goodbye, Xico”Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
Nico’s Cantina just keeps getting better and better. I stopped into the Cantina last night for dinner and tried two new-to-me tacos: fish and suadero. The fish was covered in a crispy breadding with a nice slaw and hot sauce on top; the suadero was extremely tasty tender beef. On our way out, the chef handed us a sample of a bean, rice, and cheese burrito with a kind of frico layer on the outside of one of the sides of the burrito. Very simple, very tasty. I hope it will make it onto the permanent menu. 4318 NE Cully Blvd, Portland
My-O-My has new hours. Now that we are in DST with more afternoon/evening light, My-O-My is open at 3pm these days. And did you know that Monster Smash makes his own pickles for the burgers? No wonder they are so good. Eater did a nice writeup this week on Sumner’s favorite bar, too. 8627 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
BuzzCutt announces their launch party date. Over on Instagram, the BuzzCutt folks let us know when the app launch party is: Saturday, June 17 here in Portland. “Mark your calendar for an evening with us, your crew, your fave N/A brands, live DJ, amazing local food, giveaways, and MORE SURPRISES to be announced soon.” Specific location TBD.
The Middle Eastern Festival, one of Portland’s best, will be back this summer. I love this festival—great food, there’s dancing and music, and despite how many people attend, there is a relaxed feel to the event. Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 27. 2101 NE 162nd Avenue, Portland
Photo credit: Ladda Thai House
Earlier this month I reported, thanks to a Bridgetown Bites tipster, that The Ranger Station had closed. I was told that in its place was planned a new Thai restaurant. Well, that detail is now a reality—Ladda Thai House is now in that location on SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Continue reading “Ladda Thai House Has Opened in the Old Ranger Station Space”Green Zebra Grocery will close at the end of March. Very sorry to hear of this news, which has been plastered all over food media this week. You can read the official press release on their website (or, via this PDF). I’ll admit: I only shopped at Green Zebra occasionally; their prices were higher than a lot of places around town. I didn’t realize they considered themselves to be a “healthy convenience store,” but in hindsight, that makes sense. The reasons for shutting down, from Lisa Sedlar, Green Zebra’s founder and CEO:
“We experienced 9 straight quarters of increases to our cost of goods, packaging, fuel, insurance, taxes, freight charges and well, pretty much everything. Combine that with supply chain and staffing shortages and razor thin grocery margins, we just couldn’t overcome all the obstacles. We definitely gave it our all and fought the good fight. We are thankful for the opportunity to have been in service to our community.”
Get moar zeppole! Last week I mentioned the availability of zeppole from Bella Italian Bakery in Lents; today I am telling you about the availability of zeppole at Sebastiano’s. They are offering these delicious St. Joseph’s Day pastries—“a pate choux pastry with pastry cream and ricotta filling”—via pre-order for pickup Wednesday, March 15 to Saturday, March 18. You can order 4-, 6-, and 12-packs of zeppole at the Sebastiano’s Tock page. Order soon; supplies are limited. 411 SE 81st Avenue, Portland
Food trucks for Argay? Project under review. Currently occupied by the Taqueriea Queretaro food truck and LadyBug Bikini Espresso Drive Thru, this lot has potential new plans in the works. Permits have been submitted to convert it into a full-blown food truck lot/pod for 10 food trucks, seating, and parking. Some of you may know this intersection from it being in your neighborhood; some may know it as just a little bit east of the turn for Costco; and for some as the location of the Sandy Hot Wings Cafe, which made into a roundup from PoMo last year of the best chicken wings in Portland. Taqueria Queretaro also gets a lot of love. NE 141st Avenue and Sandy Blvd, Portland
New salad at Fresh Love. I’m a big fan of the prepared food at Fresh Love—salads, soups, bowls, sandwiches. All have been excellent. They have a new salad on the menu that I am eager to try: “We are moving into spring with this crunchy munchy Little Gem salad with blue cheese dressing, hard boiled egg, crispy sour dough croutons, avocado and pickled mustard seeds.”
Let me tell you about pickled mustard seeds—I first tasted them on an unusual dish back in Astoria at the long-gone Queens Kickshaw. The dish was a cold poached egg with miso butter and pickled mustard seeds. I was a bit dubious at first, but these tangy seeds were a great mix of flavor and texture, and I’ve never forgotten them. Looking forward to trying the ones from Fresh Love in this salad. 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland
The Sandino Brothers Coffee cafe (RIP) on NE Sandy Blvd. I’ll miss your tasty cardamom lattes. Photo credit: Sandino Brothers Coffee
About a week ago as I was driving home from my acupuncture appointment, I noticed that the Sandino Brothers Coffee cafe on NE Sandy Blvd near 58th Avenue was all papered up, and that usually means something is up. Turns out it is—they are shutting down business at the coffee shop and continuing their coffee farming work down in Nicaragua.
Continue reading “Sandino Brothers Coffee Has Closed”