Tag: baked goods

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Small Bites: Cocina de Mary, Tariffs, Shorebird Bakery, and More

Chiles at Cocina de Mary.
Photo credit: Cocina de Mary.

Welcome, Cocina de Mary. This is another case of two restaurants operating in one space at different times. RJ Skillets is there from 8am to 3pm (starting 10am on Mondays) and Cocina de Mary operates 5pm to 9pm (closed Mondays). They offer Guatemalan food: cuchitos, a type of tamal; churrasco; hilachas, similar to ropa vieja; pepián; and tayuyos, similar to pupusas. They also offer familiar dishes like quesadillas, fried plantains, empanadas, burritos, and more. They officially opened on Friday, February 6. 2529-B NE Alberta Street, Portland

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Nana’s Exquisite Confections Opens Today in Portland

A pound cake with fruit from Nana's Exquisite Confections.
Photo credit: Nana’s Exquisite Confections.

I recently learned from a Bridgetown Bites tipster that Nana’s Exquisite Confections opens today on NE 82nd Avenue in the Roseway neighborhood. Operated by local baker Florence Jenkins, she has operated Nana’s at markets and through mail-order for a number of years. Now, she starts this part of her journey in a brick and mortar space.

I spoke with Florence earlier this week about this next step in her business, and here is what I learned.

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Favorite Bites of 2025 in Portland

Welcome to our list of favorite bites of 2025 in Portland! While Bridgetown Bites is not primarily a restaurant review site, we do comment here on things we like. And, like most humans, we are happy to tell you what we think tastes good in Portland.

So here’s a list (and a map) of our favorites for the year—plus, some things we’d consider as superlatives in 2025. Enjoy!

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Berlu Bakery Reopens in Portland

Berlu Bakery reopens and will offer their signature bánh bò nướng.
The pastry that started it all: bánh bò nướng. Photo credit: Carter Hiyama.

That’s right—Berlu Bakery reopens this weekend! As I mentioned in yesterday’s Small Bites, Berlu Bakery is back after a months-long hiatus since last October. Their soft opening is Sunday, June 29. I reached out to Vince Nguyen, the man and James Beard Award-winning chef behind this treasured Vietnamese bakery, and here is what I learned from him via an email exchange.

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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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