Tag: L’Echelle

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Four Things I Learned This Week (May 30) in Portland Food

Oregon’s first Jollibee opens today. The Oregonian has reported on this story over the past few years, and the arrival of this popular Filipino fast food chain is finally here. They open today in a former Chevy’s in Hillsboro. Popular dishes include the spaghetti with hot dogs, fried chicken, and peach mango pie.

They’ll be open daily from 9am to 11pm. I hope they’ll have one of those big smiling bee-man mascots stationed outside the entrance, too. When I lived in Queens, the kids loved posing by the one in Woodside. 1951 NW 185th Avenue, Hillsboro

L’Echelle is open. They opened their doors in the former Woodsman Tavern space this past Wednesday, with a menu of French bistro fare using “the bounty Pacific Northwest’s best ingredients.” Head there Wednesdays through Sundays, 5pm to 10pm. No reservations for now, just stop on by. 4537 SE Division Street, Portland

Rad Magic Subs celebrates one year on Gladstone Street. This very popular vegan sandwich shop is having a party on Saturday, May 31 from 9:30am to 6pm. They’ll have sandwiches and salads, vegan cupcakes from 222 Pastry, plus a prize wheel. It’s year one on Gladstone, and four years total in the business. 2824 SE Gladstone Street, Portland

Strawberry Fest at Parkrose Coffee Shop. This weekend, Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, the good people over at Parkrose Coffee Shop are celebrating the strawberry. They’ll have pints of strawberries grown at the Spada U-Pick Farms (they are located at NE 158th and Sandy Blvd), strawberry drink, strawberry pastry specials, and strawberry activities for the kids. 4826 NE 105th Avenue, Portland

Bonus: Nico’s Ice Cream will open at the Flock Food Hall. Great news for Portland’s ice cream lovers—Nico’s Ice Cream will have a summer residency at the Flock Food Hall until the end of August. The grand opening is today from noon to 10pm. After that you can see them Friday and Saturday, noon to 10pm; and Sunday, noon to 9pm. 917 SW Alder Street, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

No Sabo Will Take Over the Lilia Comedor Space in South Waterfront [with an update on the fate of Lilia Comedor]
Oui Presse Will Close in Portland
Slow Haste Coffee Joins Collector Bar Daily in NE Portland

This weekend a few place we’ve covered are opening: Sticky Wicket today, Slow Haste Saturday, and Eli Jo Coffee Stop & Shop on Sunday. The Veganizer Asian Market is also Sunday, and Oui Presse closes at the end of service Saturday.

CityFair continues and the Holi Spring Harvest Fest is Saturday. More events can be found on our Portland Food and Drink Festivals and Portland Area Cultural + Food Festivals lists.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (February 21) in Portland Food

Mika Paredes will be L’Echelle’s Executive Chef. It seems very apt for Mika Paredes (Cornet Custard) to take the helm of L’Echelle, what with her close connection to the late Naomi Pomeroy, who founded the restaurant. More on Instagram. 4537 SE Division Street, Portland

Lansdowne Social opens next week. I was randomly fed by Instagram’s algorithm the page for Lansdowne Social, and was definitely intrigued by it. First, it looks like events—dinner and afternoon tea—will take place in what was the ÄNIKS space. Martin Pfeifer was Chef de Cuisine there and is now Executive Chef at Lansdowne.

They describe themselves as “a NE Portland neighborhood restaurant with a communal dining concept, all about good food and great company. Twice a night we serve up a rotating, five-course, prix fixe menu of the best seasonal ingredients from the Pacific Northwest.” You can reserve your seat on their Tock page. They look to launch February 28, 2025. 518 NE 28th Avenue, Portland

The McMenamins Ram’s Head will close. It’s uncommon for a McMenamins property to close, so this was a surprise. But they do not own the property, and they chose after 35 years, to not renew the lease. They will close in June, with a big farewell party as a sendoff. 2282 NW Hoyt Street, Portland

Portland has a food cart dedicated to loukoumades. Yanni’s Greek Donuts opened in January but I only became aware of them recently. It’s run by brothers Theo and Luke, who grew up here in Portland’s Greek community. Their cart is decked out with the look of the Greek flag.

They offer three flavors of loukoumades: a classic Honey and Cinnamon, Chocolate Pistachio, and Caramel Coconut. Plus you can get a Greek frappé with it! I love frappés! (And yes, they use Necafé.) These loukomades are the ball-shaped version, not the ring shape (personally that’s my preference, but they are harder to find). 1400 SE 9th Avenue, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Listen to Meg Cotner on Portland’s Right at the Fork Podcast
New Food Cart at Portland’s My-O-My: Kona Kitchen
CSA Share Fairs Will Take Place in Hillsboro and Portland in 2025
Blasphemy BBQ To Open at the Flying Tortoise Pod in Portland

Zwickelmania is this weekend, too! As is the west side CSA Share Fair. And 82 Acres has opened their doors for diners. I went to a media preview, and took a few photos.