Grand Central Bakery Archives

October 24, 2025October 23, 2025

Small Bites: Next Level Veggie Grill, Soulful Sips, Cliff’s, and More

The spread at Next Level Veggie Grill. Photo credit: Next Level Veggie Grill.

Next Level Burger relaunches as Next Level Veggie Grill. I saw this pass through an influencer email list I’m on, but saw that Rachel Saslow at Willamette Week covered the change. Basically, last year Next Level Burger acquired Veggie Grill, a fast-casual vegan competitor of theirs, and had a business baby. Now there’s burgers and bowls, and much, more. It kind of reminds me of Laughing Planet.

The first location to transform will be on SE Hawthorne and 42nd Avenue, with a grand opening party this Saturday, October 25 from 11am to 1pm. Read more on WW. 4121 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

September 15, 2025September 19, 2025

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!

May 19, 2025May 19, 2025

Hi-Top Adds Coffee and Lunch Service in Portland

Coffee and a croissant in a Hi-Top mug. — Photo credit: Justin Kent.

I’ve learned that Hi-Top on NE Fremont Street has added morning coffee service and lunch to their menu. When I read about it, I wanted to learn more so I reached out to them. I ended up having a great conversation with Ezra Caraeff, one of the owners of the bar. Here’s what I learned.

May 4, 2025May 4, 2025

Mother’s Day 2025 in Portland

Mother’s Day 2025 is almost upon us! From brunch to take-home meal kits to locally-made syrups, here are a variety of food-focused activities for the day this year. And a great way to celebrate mom this year.

Amaterra

This year is their second annual Mother’s Day Brunch. It’s a buffet and costs $76 for adults and $39 for children 12 and under. Look for classic breakfast items, savory treats, desserts, coffee, and assorted teas. They will also be a custom Bloody-Mary bar, Mimosas, and Amaterra’s wines, available for additional purchase. Reserve here.

8150 SW Swede Hl Drive, Portland. Amaterra website

March 27, 2025April 16, 2025

Easter 2025 in Portland

A vintage Easter scene with a rabbit and what looks like a gnome with the words, Sincere Easter Wishes for Easter 2025.

This year, both Easter and Orthodox Easter fall on Sunday, April 20, with Holy Week starting Sunday, April 13. It is very uncommon for the two to land on the same day. But regardless of your level of religiosity, Easter can be a sweet time: Brunch, holiday candy, wine, and feeling grateful for spring are All Good Things. After all, Easter’s spring placement has origins in Oestre/Eostre, who is goddess of spring and fertility.

Here is where you can enjoy Easter’s tasty charms in Portland