Portland food news and views
Photo credit: Petit Provence
Last year around this time I wrote about the Galette des Rois, the traditional French king cake to honor Epiphany aka Three Kings Day (January 6), and where it was available in Portland. In 2022, accessing this delicious cake—sweetened almond cream surrounded by buttery puff pastry—was limited. Happily, there are addition options this year, which I want to highlight.
Continue reading “Get Your Galette des Rois in Portland in 2023”
Who here wants to ride in a watermelon vehicle driven by a pumpkin?
Halloween is almost upon us! And while October 31 is the apex of “spooky season,” it pretty much starts the “sweet season,” with candy for trick-or-treaters, themed baked goods, and pumpkin everywhere. Check out some of the local treats you can claim to make your holiday delicious.
Bee’s Cakes. Bee’s is offering a Halloween pastry box, with items like eyeball cupcakes, “cookies and scream” cake slices, and a vampire-killer brioche buns. Pre-order until Tuesday October 25 at the link on the website. “We will have some of these items in store, but to make sure you get what you want please pre order!“ beescustomcakes.com, 7137 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Continue reading “Treats for Halloween 2022 in Portland”
Inside Handsome/Seastar in those heady pre-pandemic days.
I saw the news that Handsome Pizza and Seastar Bakery are closing and my first reaction was, “no way, this can’t be true.” But it is, and now it’s time to accept it. I enjoyed my times there, eating their pizza, and attending a very interesting and memorable tomato tasting event back in 2018. They will be missed, and the comments on their Instagram post are proof as to how beloved they are in this city for their outstanding pizza and pastry work.
Continue reading “Handsome Pizza and Seastar Bakery Are Closing”
Cupcakes from Cake’N it Better.
Back in May, I was walking toward the Roseway Safeway entrance when I encountered a table outside filled with boxes containing what I suspected were baked goods. I could not resist my curiosity and when I saw the cupcakes I then could not resist getting a sampler box of four. They sure looked good but honestly, I did not know what to expect. Turns out they were delicious! And made by a small cadre of bakers under the name Cake’N it Better.
Continue reading “Cake’N it Better Makes Cupcakes You Want to Eat”
Tacotes, topped with mushrooms braised in adobo, topped with salsa macha, guacachile, rábanos, and onion and cilantro. Photo credit: República
República, a restaurant that offers enjoyment and world-expanding flavors in delicious regional Mexican cooking, has garnered high praise from both food media (PoMo’s Restaurant of the Year 2021, PDX Eater’s Best New Restaurant 2021, 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist as Best New Restaurant) and eaters in Portland. They show us that there is much to experience from a country that is often thought of in the U.S. as simply the home of margaritas, burritos, tacos—and, if you’re getting fancy, tres leches cake (these are all delicious, but are a fraction of what Mexico has to offer as far as food goes). I personally think it’s very important and meaningful to highlight the regional tastes of our neighbor to the south, and I’m glad República is doing just that.
Continue reading “Interesting Projects From República’s Team & Associates”