Tag: bakery

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Four Things I Learned This Week (April 12)

Pho Gabo’s owner will sue the city of Portland. Back in February, Eddie Dong was forced to close Pho Gabo because of complaints that his restaurant violated city code related to odors. Now he’s planning on suing the city. His claim is that he suffered “reputational harm, fear, humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, and loss of his community that he built as a Vietnamese restaurant in the Portland community.” His claim also alleges he suffered “economic and noneconomic damages related to the City’s subjective, selective and disproportionate enforcement of city codes.” 7330 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Helen Bernhard Bakery is 100 years old this year. Big congrats to this bakery staple in Irvington, offering cakes, pastries, breads, donuts, and more for a century. It was started by someone actually named Helen Bernhard, a woman of German descent and a minister’s wife. I first had their peanut butter banana cake for a birthday party year ago, and loved it! You can also get King Cakes there during Mardi Gras season. I especially like their almond rings. 1717 NE Broadway #1775, Portland

The Montavilla Food Co-op can now legally package their own food. The Co-op sent out news this week: “We completed our inspection and got fully licensed to repackage shelf stable foods under the Montavilla Food Co-op label!” They will be renting space at Quiche Me If You for their repackaging work. Their long-term goal is to open a grocery store but have been acting like a buying club in the meantime. Read about them, here, and join if you like. 411 SE 81st Avenue Portland

Pronto Gelato is coming to Cully. Brought to you by Andrea Spella (Spella Coffee) and George Kaden (Campana), they joined together in 2023 and started production in early 2024, after buying a gelato business in Eugene from its owner, who was retiring. They are still working things out at the Cully location but you can try their gelato now at Campana and Spella Cafe. Other locations are in the plans, too. According to Gary the Foodie, “The Alberta location will be both a gelateria and caffe.” That means affogati, too. 4205 NE Alberta Street, Portland

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Galette des Rois in Portland

Photo credit: La Provence/Petite Provence

It’s almost Epiphany (January 6 on the Gregorian calendar), and that means king cake time … but more specifically for the purposes of this post, Galette des Rois time. Yes, “galette des rois” means “king cake” too, but this is different from the yeasted, multicolored cake made popular in New Orleans, as well as the Rosca de Reyes cake popular in Mexican culture—this cake is far simpler, and delicious in its own way. And La Provence/Petite Provence is where you can find it in Portland this year.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (November 19)

Grandpa’s Cafe is open this weekend. Stop by Grandpa’s Cafe (located inside the Polish Hall building) on Saturday, November 20, 9am to noon for Polish food and grocery items, including sausages, pierogi, and lots of Christmas themed Polish treats. 3832 N Interstate (entry from Failing Street)

And on the topic of pierogis… Head to St. John the Baptist Ukranian Orthodox Church in Sellwood for pierogis, this time from our Ukranian friends. They also have cabbage rolls and Ukranian garlic smoked sausages, every Saturday from 11am to 2pm. Takeout and take home (frozen) are both options. 8014 SE 16th Avenue, Portland

And again, about dumplings… Seattle biz Dough Zone Dumpling House is opening a location in downtown/south Portland, reports both The Oregonian and Eater. The space was originally home to Lucier, Quartet, and River Space restaurants.  Look for dumplings—bao, XLB, buns, and more—there in Spring 2022. 1910 S River Drive, Portland

Reshuffling programs at Fressen Artisan Bakery, but it’s all delicious. Look like they will close the Biergarten dinner service for winter. As a result they will have additional staff to help with their cafe and pastry program, expanding it a bit more. Also: looks like a Christmas market is in the works, as well as wine tasting nights. 7075 NE Glisan Street, Portland

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Small Bites: Pumpkin Edition

jack-o-lantern-scoop-salt-and-straw-portland-oregon

A scoop of Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread ice cream from Salt & Straw. Photo credit: Salt & Straw.

The fall weather has arrived and that means it’s time for fall flavors—including pumpkin. Savory or sweet, it tastes like autumn, and for me the season is incomplete without it. Here are some pumpkin (and more) foods you can get in Portland that I think sound particularly good.

Bakeshop. Their Caramelized Apple and Pumpkin Hand Pie is superb (I had one a couple of weeks ago) and can be ordered on the website for the weekend (when Bakeshop is open these days). Warning: this pastry is very flaky, so you might find yourself covered in delicious, delicious pastry shards while eating it. 5351 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland 

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Four Things I Learned This Week (September 17)

Dolce de Leite now available. Favela, a Brazilian cafe in SE Portland, is producing jars of dolce de leite, AKA dolce de leche in Spanish. “It goes perfect with coffee, toast, apples and simply on your spoon!” You can buy it at the Brazilian market at the cafe. 5300 SE Foster Road, Portland

Limited time for Piggins. Piggins, the outdoor dining spot from Higgins on the terrace by the Oregon Historical Society, will be around for only a few weeks more. “Piggins will remain open until early October, weather permitting. We invite you to experience the changing seasons and revel in the Oregon light and air while enjoying succulent seasonal fresh produce, such as heirloom tomatoes paired with decadent burrata cheese, fragrant roasted chilies and fresh eggplant.” 1239 SW Broadway, Portland

Biergarten menu starts this weekend at Fressen. Fressen Artisan Bakery, a great German bakery in Montavilla has a new Biergarten menu for the Oktoberfest season. On their Instagram they’ve been giving details of what to expect, including sandwiches and spaetzles:  Kaesespaetzle (housemade noodles with smoked Gouda, bacon and pretzel crumbs), Bavarian cheese dip, curry ketchup with fries (very good with their sausage board), Obatzda cheese spread with house pretzel, and Bratwurst sandwich (recommended with a side of fries and curry ketchup). They’ll be updating their offerings on Instagram today. The Biergarten is open Friday to Sunday 5-9pm. 7075 NE Glisan Street, Portland

Palomar says farewell to rooftop service. The good folks at Palomar are moving their operation back to their original space downstairs after many months of rooftop outdoor eating. “We are excited to return to our original space downstairs with new hours, table setup, drinks, and food items. Stay tuned for all that info coming soon.” They look forward to welcoming you back. 959 SE Division Street, Portland 

And on that topic of changes… I will be posting intermittently to the blog for a couple of weeks—I’m undergoing major surgery on Monday. Recovery should go fine but these things are unpredictable. I look forward to getting back to it as soon as is reasonably possible. Thank you for reading!