Portland food news and views
Pho DaLat turns ten. If you drive east on Sandy past 205 into Parkrose, no doubt you’ve seen this Vietnamese restaurant on the south side of NE Sandy Blvd and NE 103rd. They’ve been around for ten years, though I always had the impression it was longer than that. They are celebrating their 10th anniversary all throughout December by giving you 10% off your bill. 10232 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Continue reading “Small Bites: Pho DaLat, Speedboat Coffee, Tamales and Other Portland Food News”
Cooking Beyond Borders is putting together one of their quarterly events for Sunday, November 24. There, in a casual setting, you’ll be able to learn how to cook Burmese cuisine from a Rohingya refugee, in a hands-on atmosphere. My interest is definitely piqued.
Continue reading “Learn To Cook Burmese Cuisine This Weekend in Portland”
A new dumping shop is coming to Northwest Portland: Dodo Dumpling. Looks like it’s opening in the former Black Star Grill location, which has relocated to the Pearl District. This dumpling shop seems to focus on the health and nutrition that the dumplings offer, due to the quality of their ingredients, natural flavors, and balanced nutrition. Their Instagram bio states they are “too good to be true.”
Continue reading “Dodo Dumpling Is Coming to NW Portland”Don’t forget—Strawberry Shortcake Week continues to the end of the weekend!
Cicoria is closing. The final day of service will be Saturday, June 29. From their Instagram: “This decision has been monumentally difficult, but given the rough and unforgiving market conditions Portland is currently experiencing, we feel there’s no other choice.” (This is reminiscent of what JaCiva’s recently said.) And there’s this, a tiny bit of hope of their return: “Please stay tuned for updates on what may lie ahead in the near future, as we hope to welcome you back, but don’t forget to mark your calendar for Summertime Scoops on Thursday of next week, June 20th.” 3377 SE Division Street, Portland
Hungry Dumpling House will open on SE Hawthorne. This location was home to Hawthorne Hophouse (closed in 2020) and Poke Qube (closed in 2023), and now will be a dumpling (and more, likely) spot. The folks behind Hungry Dumpling House (also known as Happy Dumpling Inc) appear to the be the same ones behind Sichuan City in Happy Valley, much lauded by Katherine Chew Hamilton in Portland Magazine. I’m excited about this and seeing what they bring to the neighborhood. 4111 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Bill Oakley on snacks. This week Bill Oakley, local food enthusiast and former showrunner (among other roles) for The Simpsons, appeared on KATU to show off some international snacks. Love seeing the reactions from the TV host on the segment. Watch here.
New salad at Fresh Love. I think these guys make some of the best salads in Portland, so I’m always happy to tell you about their newest one. It’s called “Taco ‘Bout a Summer Salad,” (thanks for the clarification, Fresh Love!) made with Urban Acre Homestead salad greens, Hot Mama tortilla chips, pineapple, cucumber, sugar snap peas, sharp cheddar, pickled red onions, avocado, and housemade vegan cilantro jalapeño dressing. Many of the ingredients are certified organic. 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Screaming Sammies Ice Cream Sandwiches Pops Up in Sellwood
A Trung Nguyên Legend Cafe Looks To Open in Portland
Janken: Everything Is Better Together (Review)
Updated June 15, 2024.
Happy Groundhog Day! Good news: Stumptown Fil predicts an early spring. And have you had your pancakes and/or sausages yet? (I had both this morning at Cameo Cafe.)
The 10th Annual Dumpling Week starts Sunday. From Sunday, February 4 to Saturday, February 10, Portland celebrates dumplings. I’ve written about this yearly food event since the start of this blog, and it remains one of my favorites in any given year. There’s a nice variety this year, too: from the classic wontons in chili oil from Bamboo House (4005 SE Hawthorne Blvd), to the Buffalo chicken pelmeni with blue cheese smetana and celery at Kachka (960 SE 11th Avenue), to Gruyere and potato perogi with caraway kraut, chive crème fraiche, and beet horseradish at Mayrose Restaurant (545 SW Taylor Avenue). There’s even a dumpling for dogs at Bring! Treats for Dogs: “For participating canines, our signature treat dough folded into a purse shape and filled with apple and carrot puree.” Various locations.
You know what to eat on Fat Tuesday. Here’s what to eat on Fat Thursday. King Cakes are a well known Mardi Gras season delight, but in Poland they celebrate “Fat Thursday” (Tłusty Czwartek aka Greasy Thursday), the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, which is when Lent begins. You can partake by eating Pączki (a kind of filled donut) and Faworki (Angel wings), and one place to get them is at Grandpa’s Cafe in North Portland. They will be baking them there. Pickup is Saturday, February 3 from 1pm to 4pm and Sunday, February 4 from 10am to 2pm; they do not deliver. 3832 N Intersate Avenue, Portland
Sumner’s Namaste Indian Buffet gets some love. Portland’s own Korean Mama recently visited the Namaste Indian food buffet and it was fun to see this spot get some attention. I love stopping in from time to time for an AYCE kind of affair and the clientele is very diverse, though its the love of Indian food brings us all together. Regarding her appreciation for the mango soft serve, I am a kheer kinda gal, though now I’m wondering … what would it be like to put a little mango soft serve in my kheer! Bonus: Korean Mama also had a meal at nearby Gebeta. When asked by her son how she liked Ethiopian food, she said, “it’s fun!” 7620 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland
The Cha Sui Croissant returns. This special item for the Lunar New Year has arrived at Twisted Croissant and it sounds super tasty: “3 day marinated Cantonese style BBQ pork is filled in our traditional croissant dough, topped with sesame seeds and oil fried scallions.” And while Lunar New Year is on February 10 (later than last year, which was on January 22), you can get it at all their locations and markets throughout the month of February. Various locations
