Four Things I Learned This Week (November 5)

Free coffee with beans at Jim & Patty’s. One of my favorite spots in NE Portland, Jim & Patty’s, has a holiday special through December. If you buy a 12oz bag of coffee beans you get a free 16oz house coffee. And if you buy two 12oz bags of beans you get a free 16oz latte or mocha. Sound good to me. Get yourself a Pig Newton (I like the SuperJack version) while you’re at it. 4951 NE Fremont Street, Portland

100 Days of Babkas. Carly Tonini at Queen Croissants launched a project earlier this year called “100 Days of Babkas.” Yes, she’s making different kinds of Babkas for 100 days total. Here’s what she said at the start: “I knew I wanted to make something decadent for Day 1 of 100 Days of Babkas. What could be more fitting than an Oreo Cheesecake Babka! Babka is layered with Oreo cookie crumbs and Oreo cheesecake batter. It’s decadent. It’s a classic. Oreos just make me feel like a kid again.” She’s almost done (at Day 84 as of this writing, the Lasagna Bolognese Babka) but you can see her trail of creative babkas at the hashtag #100daysofbabkas on Instagram.

Moon Room opens to the public. Ecliptic Brewing is opening their second location to the public tomorrow, Saturday, November 6, in SE Portland (today is the media/industry event). They will have an “extensive tap list” eventually (up to 30 handles), a gin-focused cocktail program, and sandwich options via the Moon Room food trailer just outside the building, featuring fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. The Moon Room opens at noon tomorrow. 930 SE Oak Street, Portland

Ben & Esther’s Vegan Jewish Deli opening date. Announced on social media, Ben & Esther’s will open at their new location on Alberta Street on Saturday, November 20, 7am. It will be totally vegan in there, plus some GF options. Look for kosher-certification (both location) soon, too. 1800 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Bonus: Mystery Restaurant coming to Roseway? While reviewing city documents I came across this tidbit: a restaurant to open at 6520 NE Sandy Blvd, which right now looks like a house hidden by trees. Their paperwork is recent (set up 10/29/21; under review 11/01/21) and includes a Change of Occupancy request (from residential to business), plenty of reconfiguring of the interior (e.g., dining, lounge, game room), and structural work. My first wave of research didn’t pull up much more than that. If you know anything, please shoot me an email.

El Palenque Mexican Restaurant and Cantina Opening on 82nd Ave

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Tasty food and drink. Photo credit: El Palenque Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

Corvallis-based El Palenque Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is opening in the location of the shuttered The Original Taco House on 82nd Avenue. A liquor license application was the first clue (thanks to a tip on Facebook) of their impending arrival, and a little research confirmed the relationship of this El Palenque with the Corvallis location. Continue reading “El Palenque Mexican Restaurant and Cantina Opening on 82nd Ave”

Good Times at SheBrew 2018 in Portland

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Love this poster for the SheBrew Brew Festival.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the fourth annual SheBrew, a beer, cider, and mead festival that features female-identifying brewers. One aspect of the event was to support the work of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) through the $20 admission cost. Full disclosure: I attended as media, so my access to the event was comped; however, I admire the work of the Human Rights Campaign, and after seeing them at the event I decided to set up a recurring monthly donation to them. 

Continue reading “Good Times at SheBrew 2018 in Portland”

Portland Area Food Events, February 8-15

Love Valentine's Day Holiday Valentine Cookies

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us! We’ve got a bunch of places for you to look into for your special day.

Each week we will bring you a roundup of public food events in the Portland metro area. It’s not every single event that’s going on, but the ones in particular that catch our eye. Be sure to confirm the availability of the event before you head out to attend, due to last minute changes that sometimes happen. Want to submit an event? Fill out this form. Listings curated by Meg Cotner.

5th Annual Chocolate for Congo Benefit
Until Wednesday, February 28, 2018; various times
Various locations

“All month long, thirteen Portland restaurants and bakeries will be serving up chocolate desserts made with Theo Chocolate. One dollar from the sale of each dessert will go to Eastern Congo Initiative, a non-profit working on grant-making and advocacy with and for the people of eastern Congo. Theo Chocolate, which now sources more than 70% of its chocolate from the Congo, has generously donated the chocolate for the benefit.”

Participating restaurants and bakeries include: Baker & Spice, Bar Avignon, Bistro Agnes, Coquine, Le Pigeon, Little Bird Bistro, Måurice, Oui! Wine Bar + Restaurant, Ox, Pacific Pie, Pie Spot, Tusk, and Quaintrelle. More information.

Continue reading “Portland Area Food Events, February 8-15”

Portland Area Food Events, November 9-16

A selection of Russian foods
‘Tis the season for hearty Russian food this week.

Each week we will bring you a roundup of public food events in the Portland metro area. It’s not every single event that’s going on, but the ones in particular that catch our eye. Want to submit an event? Fill out this form. Listings curated by Meg Cotner.

Nine Days of Pie
Until Thursday, November 9, 2017
Various locations

Celebrate the magic of pie all over Portland! And, “There will be pie fights. There will be movies about pie. There will be songs sung in the honor of pie, and there will be demonstrations by event creators Shane and Amy Bugbee as to how pies are made, and how they can bring communities together.” More information.

Continue reading “Portland Area Food Events, November 9-16”