Four Things I Learned This Week (January 7)

Merry Christmas to my Orthodox friends today! Here are some things I ran across this week in Portland food.

Futura Coffee Roasters coming to Montavilla. The folks over at Montavilla News reported that Futura Coffee Roasters are opening in the old Fillmore Coffee space. Fillmore Coffee closed last fall to become an online merchant only. Sustainability is the name of the game at Futura, and regenerative agriculture is very important to them.

You might ask, “aren’t regenerative agriculture and biodynamic agriculture the same?” They are close but not identical. Read more about regenerative vs. biodynamic, here. Futura’s cafe space has also been created with sustainable materials in mind. Check them out later this month; they’ll be open daily from 7am to 5pm. 7201 NE Glisan Street, Portland.

Vegan all the way at Salt & Straw this month. Check out the five new flavors at Salt & Straw this month—all vegan, presumably for Veganuary. There’s Petunia’s Rainbow Sprinkled Babycakes (coconut, oat); Carrot Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting (coconut, oat); Coconut Cream Pie Cupcake w/ Lemon Curd (coconut); Renewal Mill’s Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcake (oat, soy pulp); Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcake (coconut); Interesting factoid: Oregon produces 99% of the nation’s hazelnuts. Various locations, Portland

Foie gras on next week’s City Council agenda. The agenda for the Wednesday, January 12 Portland City Council meeting (9:30am) has been published online and thus the topic of foie gras has popped up again. Three people will address the Council that morning: Alex Cerussi (Mercy For Animals), Rosalind McCallard (Snackrilege), and Belinda Davis (Animal Outlook). Regardless of your stance on this issue, you are free to view the Council meeting on their Youtube channel (eGov PDX), among other access points. If you want to submit written testimony on this or any other agenda topic, send an email to cctestimony@portlandoregon.gov.

Ken Forkish is leaving Portland. Ken Forkish, the owner of Ken’s Artisan Bakery and Ken’s Artisan Pizza, is retiring. His aforementioned two businesses have been sold to long-time employees. In an interview with Portland Food & Drink he said, “I’m just getting tired. I’m in my 60’s and it is time for me to retire. This change has been three years in the making and I feel really good about the future of the restaurant and bakery. They are both in very good hands.” You can read more of this interview on the Portland Food & Drink website. 338 NW 21st Avenue (Bakery) and 304 SE 28th Avenue (Pizza), Portland

Salt & Straw Ice Cream Updates + Lovely’s Fifty Fifty and Kate’s

Photo credit: Salt & Straw

This month (October) Salt & Straw offered a number of seasonal flavors that would likely appeal to particular sensibilities—black licorice, bubble gum, and bugs—as well as a couple that had broad appeal—candy and pumpkin. November’s flavors should be more accessible—not without a twist, though.

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Small Bites: Pumpkin Edition

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A scoop of Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread ice cream from Salt & Straw. Photo credit: Salt & Straw.

The fall weather has arrived and that means it’s time for fall flavors—including pumpkin. Savory or sweet, it tastes like autumn, and for me the season is incomplete without it. Here are some pumpkin (and more) foods you can get in Portland that I think sound particularly good.

Bakeshop. Their Caramelized Apple and Pumpkin Hand Pie is superb (I had one a couple of weeks ago) and can be ordered on the website for the weekend (when Bakeshop is open these days). Warning: this pastry is very flaky, so you might find yourself covered in delicious, delicious pastry shards while eating it. 5351 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland 

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Two Future Openings: Ben & Esther’s and Nico’s Ice Cream

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Photo credits: Ben & Esther’s and Nico’s Ice Cream

Two businesses beloved to many Portlanders are opening new locations: Ben & Esther’s, which opened their first bagel shop in Roseway; and Nico’s Ice Cream, a cart offering New Zealand style ice cream, along with a packaged half-pint program as well. Ben & Esther’s will open in the Alberta Arts District and Nico’s in Cully.

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Small Bites – Cowbell’s Washed-Rind Cheeses, Second Foxy Coffee Location, Banh Mi Boys Arrival, and More

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Lisa with wild ramps, an excellent cheese. Photo credit: Cowbell Cheese Shop

Washed-rind cheeses at Cowbell. This fantastic little cheese shop in the Central Eastside has professed their love of washed-rind cheeses, described as having, “unctuous, pudgy textures, big aromas, and assertive-yet-nuanced flavors that dance on the line between sweet and savory, nutty and brothy.” Le Niremont (Switzerland), Bethmale Montagne Mixte (France/Pyrenees), and Lisa with wild ramps (Germany/Bavaria) are the highlights. Buy online or in person. 231 SE Alder Street, Portland

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