Four Things I Learned This Week (December 8)

HÂP Fresh has opened in Montavilla’s south end. Over on Montavilla News, they have published an article on HÂP Fresh, which opened in the former Thai Fresh location on SE Division. It’s considered an “Asian fusion” restaurant, with a focus on its “renowned handmade” dumplings, at least to start. Owners Nasy Chan and Thomas Trieu (who have opened four restaurants together previously) with Chef Gulian Lui have created the menu. They are offering a 20% discount during the month of December to celebrate the opening. Head over to Montavilla News to read more. 8409 SE Division Street, Portland

“Pizza School is back!” So says Shardell Dues at Red Sauce Pizza. You can learn about the practical hands-on elements of creating a pizza—how to make [their] dough, shape a dough ball, and stretch and dress a cheese pizza. Two-hour classes happen once a month on Sundays starting in January (for three months—January 14, February 18, and March 10—at this point). $100 per class, payable by Venmo. More info and register on the Red Sauce website. 4641 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Sea veggie bites! Get yer sea veggie bites! Head to Providore tomorrow, Saturday December 9 from 1 to 4pm to sample tasty sea veggie bites. Blue Evolution executive chef Maylin Chavez and Winter Waters Co-Founder Alanna Kieffer will be there, and you can “taste some simple and delicious applications of these kelps, and chat with Alanna and Maylin about all things seaweed.” Learn how to use these products at home, too. H/T to Kathleen Bauer at GoodStuffNW for promoting it on her Instagram so it could catch my eye. 2340 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Too Soon is opening … soon. A Bridgetown Bites tipster led me to the Instagram account for Too Soon, a new bar from Adam Robinson (also of Deadshot) and Nick Flower (of the Face/Off cocktail pop-up). This location has been home to a number of places over the years, including Nightingale. Google says they are opening Wednesday, December 13. 18 NE 28th Avenue, Portland

Suckerpunch Pop-Up Is Closing at the End of August

im-ok-to-go-cocktail-suckerpunch-portland-oregon

Photo credit: Suckerpunch

Mixed feelings accompany this writer on the end of the Suckerpunch pop-up in the Goat Blocks. The final day of service there will be Sunday, August 28. At first, when I got the email about their closing down, I thought, “How is it possible that they are closing?!? It seemed to be going so well.” But… SIKE! The good news: turns out they are taking a break and will be back with new pop-ups, events … and a permanent space.

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Dear Sandy Will Bring Cocktails and Coffee to NE Sandy and 28th

Photo credit: Dear Sandy

For years, now, I’ve hoped for something to open in this beautiful building on the southeast corner of NE Sandy Blvd at 28th Avenue, and now my hopes have been answered. Dear Sandy, which will offer “coffee, cocktails, and community,” will open there, hopefully before the end of 2022. (Can you believe we are almost to autumn?)

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Suckerpunch, a Zero-Proof Cocktail Bar, Opens This Weekend

Photo credit: Carly Diaz

There was a lot of media excitement about zero-proof drinks in this town for a while, but the chatter about them seems to have calmed down, likely due to pandemic woes. So when I got a press release announcing that Suckerpunch, “Portland’s first zero-proof (no alcohol) bar, is opening this weekend,” I was pretty chuffed. They open for guests on Thursday, February 24.

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