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

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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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Get To Know Red Hen Bagelry in Portland

Salt bagels from Red Hen Bagelry.
Photo credit: Red Hen Bagelry.

Back in February, my friend Judith raved about the bagels she got from Red Hen Bagelry. She said, “Best bagels I’ve had in a looooong time.” We both lived in NYC for a number of years and ate our share of bagels during that time. So I would say we’ve had solid experiences with NYC-style bagels enough to know what is good and what is not.

I reached out to Deirdre Tipley, owner at Red Hen Bagelry, to learn more about their bagels and their business, and we had a nice chat on a rainy morning at Sebastiano’s in Sellwood.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (April 18) in Portland Food

Berlu Bakery looks to reopen in May. After closing last October with the silver lining of a future re-opening, that opening day is coming soon. The Oregonian reported on their impending reopening on SE Belmont in the Modera Belmont building, sometime in May. Some of the things you will see on their menu is bánh bò nướng, pandan waffles, salted egg coconut tart, and a BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) but a bánh cuốn version.

Also, they’ll have some great neighbors: Hat Yai, Cozy Congee (which opened recently), Hit the Spot burgers, as well as the return of Pop Pizza. There is no specific date for Berlu’s re-opening, but when they do open it will be Thursdays through Sundays, 9am to 3pm. 661 SE Belmont Street, Portland

Cookie McCakeface is moving. Today is their last day downtown. After today, they will be closed until the first of May, “so we can move and get adjusted to working out of a new space.” That space? The Heist! 770 W Burnside, Portland (now), 4727 SE Woodstock Blvd No. 1, Portland (May)

Bajala’s final day is April 27. They are serving their last Baja-style fish and seafood tacos on Sunday, April 27. After that they move to popups. Tacos will be $6.50, open noon until sold out. 1845 NW 23rd Place, Portland

Harder Day Coffee Company opens on North Williams. Jinju posted about this on their Instagram. Today is the grand opening of Harder Day’s North Williams cafe (previously Happy Cup was in there). Enjoy $2 lattes during their noon to 2pm happy hour. They will be serving Jinju’s chocolate and carrot cakes, too. 3494 N Williams Avenue, Portland


Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Flour Bloom Will Close in Portland
Souvlaki Queen Will Open in Downtown Portland
The Italian Summer Kitchen Book Release Is Today in Portland
Via Chicago Will Open in Old Cereus PDX Space in Portland
Original Dream Pizza Will Open on NE Glisan Street in Portland

Over at Lake Oswego High School they’ll be holding an Asian Cultural Fair on Saturday. Saturday also brings us the Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Festival and the Tea & Bloom Spring Tea Fair (which starts today). Filipino Food Month continues this month (here are some options), and Pizza Week goes on until Sunday, April 20. More details on these events ob our food festivals and cultural + food festivals pages.

Sunday is also Easter—hoping you’ve gotten your holiday treats! And this coming week are the openings of Matsunoki Ramen and Schilling Cider House.

Get Your St. Joseph’s Day Pastries in Portland

The zeppole (St. Joseph Day pastries).
I stopped in last week at Sebastiano’s for a zeppole during their one-year anniversary. It was delicious.

When I lived in Astoria, Queens, I always looked forward to the arrival of St. Joseph’s Day pastries in local bakeries in March. Whether it was a zeppole or a sfingi, I was ready for them. Here in Portland, there are a couple of places you can get them this time of year, and I want you to know about them.

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