Portland food news and views
Portland runs on coffee. ☕️
There are over 200 roasters in the Portland area, including Extracto, Heart, Coava, Stumptown, Oblique, Rocky Butte, Futura, Water Avenue, and more.
Last month I wrote about a commercial conversion going on at a house on NE Glisan Street in the Kerns neighborhood. Through my research I had learned that the business intended for that space is called Massalia Books & Coffee. Shortly after publishing the piece, I was contacted by the person behind the project. I meet up with him and his daughter at Domingo’s to chat about it, and here is what I’ve learned.
Continue reading “Massalia Books & Coffee Will Open on NE Glisan in Portland”
The other day Instagram’s algorithm served me this video from Simply Coffee, a relatively new cafe in Gresham. I was really charmed by the narrator, who I learned later is owner Andra Stanescu (her husband Jonathan, is the other owner). Plus she uttered the magic word, “cornetti.” I wanted to learn more.
So, we chatted on the phone, talked about Simply Coffee and her work in the coffee/cafe sphere, and I’m happy to pass on some of what we talked about.
Continue reading “Simply Coffee: An Italian Cafe Has Opened in Gresham”
Looks like renovations may come to Thien Hong. Currently under review, the relevant permit with the city includes tenant improvements, “to remodel existing restaurant dining area with new layout, partitions, conveyor belt system, food prep counter, and reception desk; no changes to building envelope or glazing.” 6749 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Continue reading “Small Bites: Thien Hong, Phin Ca Phe, Coffee, and More”
While driving home from the laundromat recently, I saw a sign by the Dawnbringer Breakfast cart on N Fremont and Vancouver for something called “Fwi.” A couple days later, a reader messaged me about them. I checked their Instagram: Coffee with molasses? Banana breads of varying kinds? I was intrigued. So, I called up Div Walker, the owner of Fwi—sometimes referred to as the Fwi Bus or Fwi Cafe—to learn more.
Continue reading “Fwi Makes Coffee and Banana Bread in North Portland”
República returns. It’s true! They’ve decided to open back up for daytime service, Thursday through Sunday, 11am to 2:30pm. Founder Angel Medina posted the news on his Substack:
“Quesadillas. Tacotes. Guisados. Pozole. Maybe a surprise or two along the way.
No timeline. No promises. As long as you keep showing up, we’ll keep doing it right.
Continue reading “Small Bites: República Returns, Dat Banh Mi, Better Half, and More”