Interesting Projects From República’s Team & Associates

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.

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Rabbit Hole Market and Sweets Will Open in Montavilla

While walking from my car to Hungry Heart Bakery Saturday morning, I passed the old Hungry Heart space on SE 80th Ave that had this sign affixed to the window: “Rabbit Hole Market and Sweets.” I didn’t think much of it since it said “Est. 2010” and that was 12 years ago. but my interest had piqued anyhow. I sort of forgot about it as I entered Hungry Heart and thought about what I was going to order.

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Valentine’s Day 2022 in Portland

Love Valentine's Day Holiday Valentine Cookies

If you can believe it, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner—three weeks from today. A number of places in Portland are offering special prix fixe dinners, some are preparing to-go meal boxes, and pre-order sweets are being prepared by bakeries around town.

Unless otherwise specified, these meals are available only on February 14, and getting your reservation set sooner that later is recommended. Unfortunately, weather (see: 2021) and COVID can thwart things, so please double check the place you want to celebrate at before you head out.

Menu details are included where available. We will update this list as new information becomes available.

Restaurant Meals

Bar Casa Vale
Four-course prix-fixe menu—three courses of tapas plus dessert. $75 per person.
Reservations via OpenTable. 215 SE 9th Avenue, Ste 109, Portland

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Four Things I Learned This Week (January 14)

Madman Pop-Up is back. Last October I wrote about the Madman Pop-Up, a chance to enjoy delicious Trinidadian food inside the Little Griddle restaurant in NE Portland. Well, after a bit of a hiatus, it’s back! He’ll be making doubles (pumpkin and spinach add-ons available), bake and saltfish, and curry chicken plates complete with buss up shot (a kind of torn roti), aloo, channa, pumpkin, and spinach. They’ll also have sorrel and ponche creme (contains rum) for drinks. Monday, January 17 from 3-7pm. 3520 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Daily stroopwafels are on hiatus. Prince Coffee, known for their excellent espresso drinks and homemade stroopwafels are changing things up—daily stroopwafels are no more. They broke the news on Instagram: “With the intense labor involved and major price increase on imported ingredients (ahem, Lyles Golden Syrup from Europe that went up in cost 100%), we have decided to take a little hiatus from daily stroopwafels at the shop … While we are sad to say goodbye to daily stroopwafels, we know they aren’t gone forever. You can expect to see them pop up on a seasonal basis or for pre-order throughout the year.” 4523 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Greasers Cafe is now Rockabilly Cafe. Since I wrote about Greasers Cafe, opening up in the St. Johns neighborhood early this year, they have changed their name to Rockabilly Cafe. You can find them online at the following places: rockabillycafe.com, Instagram, and Facebook. Their menu is ready, too, and you can get a video sneak preview of it on their Facebook page. I’m particularly curious about the “Sid’s Caesar” salad—named after the owner’s dad and featuring his father’s Caesar dressing. 8537 N Lombard Street, Portland

MidCity SmashBurger anniversary. Thats right—one of the top smashburger spots (some might say the best smashburger) spots in Portland turns one year old next week on Thursday, January 20. Sounds like they are going to throw a party—think music, beer, and plenty of Smashy Bois. They were also interviewed on TV and you can watch that here. Keep an eye on their Instagram to see what kind of party they have in store for next week. 1015 SE Stark Street, Portland and 1825 N Williams Avenue, Portland