Tag: ice cream

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Four Things I Learned This Week (February 16)

ICYMI: Toyshop Ramen closed. I missed this for whatever reason, but in mid-January Toyshop Ramen closed its doors. On their Instagram they posted: “We started Toyshop in a snowstorm, and we’re ending in one as well, EPIC!! What a helluva a ride it’s been, we did the damn thing and we gotta wrap it all up. Thanks to our awesome crew for making it happen day in and day out, and to everyone who came thru and made this past year possible!!” However … this week the fan account of the Alberta Arts District posted a photo of a sign on the property’s window that says, “Take Two … Coming Soon.” An electrical permit for “tenant improvements” was updated last month, but that’s all I know. I’ll see what I can find out. 3000 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

The OLCC predicts alcohol revenue will slip by $132 million. TL;DR is that less people are buying top-shelf liquor products, according to OLCC spokesperson Mark Pettinger: “… The demand for top-shelf liquor increased during the pandemic, and if this trend had continued along with moderate inflation, sales could still be on the rise. However, he said Oregonians have returned to mid-tier products.” And some Oregonians are simply electing not to drink booze at all.

Futura Coffee Roasters has a new location in SE PDX. Earlier this week, the folks at Futura Coffee Roasters posted that they’ve opened their third location, “bringing regenerative coffee to Portland’s Division St neighborhood.”They’ll be open daily from 7am to 4pm. 4330 SE Division Street, Portland

Nico’s heads to Troutdale. Nico Vergara and crew are opening their third Nico’s Ice Cream location in east county—downtown Troutdale at The Highlands. You can read more about The Highlands on their website. It is a pod but will have a “2000 sq ft indoor, all-ages, dining room that will be shared by all the carts with a full bar.” Joining Nico’s will be Wayfinder Beer (who will focus on making beer, no food) and Checkerboard Pizza, among others. As Nico says, “Pizza, beer, and ice cream. What more could you need?” Projected opening is late May 2024. 102 SW 2nd Street, Troutdale

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Four Things I Learned This Week (February 9)

New mural at Denizens Cafe. Artist Alex Chiu painted a mural on the eastern wall at Denizens Cafe and it looks great! You may remember him from our article on Mill Park Stories, the Instagram he started to highlight community in that little corner of SE PDX. He has moved on to another Instagram account, Art by Alex Chiu, where he featured his work at Denizens.

His concept here, “was to highlight some landmarks of the neighborhood’s past and also create a warm and welcoming atmosphere inside of the space,” He continues, “I’ve included some photo reference that I used to create some of the images in the mural including old pictures from George’s Grocery Store and the Roseway Theater. I painted a house inspired by the cute homes in the neighborhood. I painted food from Denizens Cafe’s menu and a mug of coffee from Rocky Butte Roasters, run by the same owners. Mt. Hood is in there as well!” Check it out, for sure, and pick up something tasty while you’re at it. 6912 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Chocotaco returns today. Head to Salt & Straw today, Friday 2/9 at 1pm, for the return of the chocotaco. And if you miss that, don’t miss this month’s special flavors, five of them in “The Chocolatiers Series.” I stopped by earlier this week and had a chance to try three of them: Fran’s Chocolate Almond Gold Bar, Cloudforest’s Cocoa Hazelnut Magic Sauce, and Compartés Cake Batter Chocolate Fudge. They were all very good, but I think the Almond Gold Bar was my favorite, thanks to the caramely bits. But I’d eat them all again. Various locations

Don’t miss Citrus Fest this weekend. Rubinette Produce and the rest of the folks at Providore are celebrating 8 years together in a market-wide party and citrus festival. The centerpiece of the event will be the Celebration Trifle: Panettone and layers of whipped cream and Seville + blood orange, served at noon. You’ll also be able to sample specialty citrus varieties, fresh squeezed juice, a lemon and olive oil tart from Pastaworks, kumquat tea cake from Little T Bakery, and other citrus-centric items throughout the market. 2340 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Lan Su Chinese Garden’s tea house has reopened. They reopened the teahouse on February 7—this is good news, as the teahouse at Lan Su is one of the highlights of spending time there (access comes with garden admission). Lunar New Year starts tomorrow, and the Chinese Garden is the place to be. At the teahouse you can choose from over 20 Chinese and Taiwanese-style teas; along with that, they are offering a tea service (three kinds); traditional dishes, snacks, and pastries; and beer and wine. Note that during Dragon + Lantern Viewing evenings, they “will offer an abbreviated menu of teas and tea service to accommodate as many visitors as possible during this busy time.” Also, they are going to give the teahouse a new name—stay tuned for that. 239 NW Everett Street, Portland

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Favorites of 2023: Bakeries, Food Trucks, Restaurants, Bars, Cafes

Truly, one of the most beautiful salads I ate this year. It was a seasonal special of sharp greens, strawberries, daikons, onions, radishes, causa, and a chicha morada lavender vinagreta from Reeva.

Welcome back to another end of year list. Instead of publishing our Four Things column today, I’m giving you a list of my favorite spots of 2023, where I enjoyed happy times eating and drinking. There’s a whole variety of places, some established, some new. This list is in no particular order, aside from alphabetically; in other words, no top pick. Please enjoy!

Cheese and Crack

For my birthday this year we had lunch at Paadee and then headed a couple doors down to Cheese & Crack for their titular sundae. I maintain that they make the best soft serve ice cream in Portland. It is smooth, creamy, and luscious. The toppings on this sundae are classic: chocolate ganache, cinnamon butter cracker crumble, and torched housemade marshmallow fluff. The sundaes really are enough for two, and their seasonal sundaes never cease to impress with their magical toppings combinations. 22 SE 28th Avenue, Portland. cheeseandcrack.com

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Ice Cream Is Coming to Foster-Powell

Photo credit: Borrowed Times

I’ve done a little more research on the ice cream shop that a Bridgetown Bites reader brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago. Turns out that yes indeed, there is going to be ice cream coming to Foster-Powell. And according to a permit from early August, it looks like it’s going to be part of an enlarged commercial space.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (April 21)

The Choco Taco is back at Kate’s. Starting yesterday (4/20 ha ha ha ha ha), Kate’s Ice Cream is making Choco Tacos for sale. It’s made with “gluten-free waffle cones shaped into a taco stuffed with our vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate shell and rolled in roasted peanuts.” Vegan all the way. They even have some peanut-free tacos for those who are allergic. They’ll be for sale until Sunday, April 30. 3713 NE Mississippi Avenue, Portland

There’s still a few more days for Pizza Week. Pizza Week returned this year and you can still enjoy the specials in the form of $3 slices and $20 pies through Sunday, April 23. Your options are here. One of my favorite aspects of pizza week are the puns the pizzerias come up with: “Reservoir Hogs,” “I Love You Elote,” “Mushroom: Impossible — Ricotta Protocol,” and “Is it Shawarma in here? (or is it just me?)” are a handful of great names. Various locations in Portland

Flour Market is now open 7 days a week. Flying a little under the radar, Concordia’s Flour Market is a bakery you should check out. I have had some spectacular baked goods there—the kladdkaka made with nuts was seriously addictive in taste and texture; the challah is excellent and is one of my favorite version of this bread in Portland; the dark Rugbrod offers rich flavor, serious heft, and delightful toast. I have plans to stop in for lunch for a sandwich and salad one of these days. So stop by from 8am to 2pm. Read more about Flour Market on the excellent Good Stuff NW blog. 5507 NE 30th Avenue, Portland

Lucky Horseshoe Lounge will reopen. Purchased in spring 2023 by Portland restaurant industry veterans Shan Wickham and Alan Maniscalco (owners of Rally Pizza, and founding team members of Ken’s Artisan Pizza), Lucky Horseshoe Lounge (next to the Clinton Street Theater) reopens as “an approachable Italian-inspired cocktail bar” on Friday, April 28. They will be open Thursday 3pm to 11pm, Friday & Saturday 3pm to 12pm, Sunday & Monday 3pm to 10pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). The food menu is available to-go, and diners are welcome to bring food to the Clinton Street Theater next door, which allows for outside food. There are seven picnic tables outside, four of which are under cover. Minors are allowed until 9pm. Hat tip to Frances Dyer for the information. 2524 SE Clinton Street, Portland