Tag: Ben & Esther’s

Posted on

SNAP Meals: Where To Eat, No Questions Asked, During the Suspension of SNAP

SNAP Meals: A cornucopia of food
Food is a human right.

A number of restaurants, cafes, and food carts in the Portland area are providing what we are calling “SNAP Meals”: They’re stepping up and helping feed folks who will lose their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, AKA food stamps) benefits starting in November. It is heartening to see this community effort and the generosity in our local food scene. We’ve put together a list of places—50 businesses making up 84 locations, at the writing of this roundup—where people can access food to eat while SNAP benefits are unfunded starting next month.

Continue reading “SNAP Meals: Where To Eat, No Questions Asked, During the Suspension of SNAP”
Posted on

Rosh Hashanah 2025—New Year 5786—in Portland

Honey Bee Bundt cake from Baker and Spice, for Rosh Hashanah 2025.

Rosh Hashanah is almost upon us! As I write this, we only recently hit Enkutatash—Ethiopian New Year—-and now we are on to the Jewish New Year. It is also the start of a cascade of Jewish holidays: Yom Kippur ten days later, then Sukkot a few days after that. Next comes Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. All in less than a month!

Continue reading “Rosh Hashanah 2025—New Year 5786—in Portland”
Posted on

Navigator Coffee Co. Will Open on Hayden Island in Portland

The logo for Navigator Coffee Co. that will open in Portland, Oregon.

I recently became aware of Navigator Coffee Co., a new business project from Justin King (it was on his Instagram where I learned about it). You may know him from, among other things, Ben & Esther’s Vegan Delicatessen. Navigator will be situated right on the southeastern edge of Hayden Island adjacent to the Jantzen Bay Marina, where Menjiro is currently operating.

I reached out to Justin with a few questions and here is what he told me.

Continue reading “Navigator Coffee Co. Will Open on Hayden Island in Portland”
Posted on

Rosh Hashanah 2024—New Year 5785—in Portland

Honey cake from Bakery & Spice for Rosh Hashanah 2024 (Year 5785).
Honey cake. Photo credit: Baker & Spice

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is almost upon us! It’s the start of the High Holy Days, and a joyful time punctuated with delicious food and drink, celebrated by Jews around the world, from the US, to Argentina, to Ethiopia. And while in Portland we’ve lost a number of Jewish food outlets over the past few years—e.g., Kenny & Zuke’s, Kornblatt’s, Sweet Lorraine’s, and the one that still crushes me, the modern Jewish deli and market Beetroot—there are still some great options. Here are places that both Jews and gentiles can go to enjoy the foods of the holiday.

Rosh Hashanah starts after sundown on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 and lasts until nightfall on October 4, 2024.

Continue reading “Rosh Hashanah 2024—New Year 5785—in Portland”