Four Things I Learned This Week (January 21)

Four Portland spots make it on the list. Yelp’s top 100 US restaurants 2022 list is out and four PDX restaurants are on the list: Miyamoto Sushi in Montavilla; Yama Sushi & Izakaya in Hosford-Abernathy; Thai Sky Kitchen in South Tabor; and Departure downtown. Personally, I’ve been to Thai Sky Kitchen and loved it, as well as Departure during the Gregory Gourdet days. I hear excellent things from Montavillans on Miyamoto. Chime in if you are a fan of Yama Sushi & Izakaya, or any of the winners! Multiple locations in Portland

One day only: Nico’s Ice Cream and Pip’s Original collab. Pip’s is known for it’s “community not competition” mantra and this upcoming collaboration with Nico’s is no doubt part of that. On Saturday, 1/22/22 ONLY, head to Nico’s for the Tropical Reggie Lee: that’s the Nico’s vanilla base with Pip’s donuts blended in, topped with Nutella, honey, and coconut flakes.

Reggie Lee is, of course, the actor that played Sgt. Drew Wu in one of my favorite TV shows ever, Grimm. And not just because it’s set in Portland! It’s just plain awesome. Anyway, see you on Saturday! 5713 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Ice cream is cold but soup is hot. Head to the Portland Mercado today through Sunday, January 23 for their Winter Soup Festival. Soups offered include:

  • POZOLE OAXAQUEÑO from Tierra Del Sol (Oaxaca)
  • OLLA DE CARNE from La Carreta Pura Vida (Costa Rica)
  • BIRRIA BOWL and POZOLE ROJO DE PUERCO from Principe Maya (Yucatan)
  • CALDOSA DE LA ABUELA from Havana Station (Cuba)
  • CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP from Fernando’s Alegría (Mexico)
  • SOPA DE LENTEJAS CON VEGETALES and SOPA DE MANÍ (PEANUTS) from AleCocina (Argentina)
  • AJIACO BOGOTANO from Qué Bacano (Colombia)
  • SOPA DE HONGOS from Xŏcotl (fresh juice and smoothie bar)
  • PIPIAN DE POLLO from Kaah Market (Oaxaca)

Head to the Mercado website for more info on ordering, etc.  7238 SE Foster Road, Portland

RIP Reo Varnado of Reo’s Ribs. Frankly I was shocked to hear of his passing. Very sorry to hear it and our condolences go out to the family. Cause of death? Unknown at the writing of this post.

Four Things I Learned This Week (December 24)

It’s Christmas Eve Day and I’m making tartiflette this evening. Merry Christmas tomorrow and Happy Kwanzaa an Boxing Day on the 26th! It’s a celebration weekend. I hope you and yours will have much to celebrate this year, despite COVID.

Nico’s trailer was stolen and Portland came to the rescue. Earlier this week I learned that somebody stole the trailer that belongs to Nico Vergara of Nico’s Ice Cream. Nico started a GoFundMe fundraiser and Portland really came through—as of this writing $5,620 has been raised out of a $4,750 goal. That’s right, he surpassed his goal in four days. Congrats to Nico and thanks, Portland, for the heartwarming story. 5713 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Did you know…? That DarSalam’s food is halal? It’s true! I’m glad to know it, and now you know it, too. 2921 NE Alberta Street, Portland; 320 SW Alder Street, Portland; 9585 SW Washington Square Road, Portland

Street Disco is operating inside Cup and Saucer. You can find them operating there from 6pm to midnight. Street Disco’s cave à manger is “a natural wine bar of sorts” and “serves ‘inauthentically’ French-American food with a focus on the best in season products of the Pacific Northwest.” They’ll be open 3 days a week to start, and the next time they’ll be open is New Year’s Eve. Check out their Instagram to get familiar with their practice and vibe. 3566 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

That Burger Island sign. I often pass by the Burger Island sign located where the NE Killingsworth turns off from the Portland Highway. You can’t miss it—it has a very distinctive look. I hope it remains there as the Las Adelitas development rises from the Sugar Shack demolition behind it. This week I happened to come across details as to what happened to Burger Island, which I am sharing with you.

The Burger Island building was a tiny drive-in located under the sign, that offered burgers, fries, and shakes since at least the early 1960s. In the early 2000s a car crashed into the building and that set it on fire. The husband and wife who owned Burger Island didn’t re-open at that site (even though they wanted to rebuild), and eventually divorced. The wife opened a food truck, offering similar food from the restaurant; it eventually closed. And that, as they say… is the rest of the story. 6921 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

Top 5 Posts On Bridgetown Bites, September 2021

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Slightly tardy this month, but surgery takes time to recover from and to get one’s focus back. Feeling good in recovery, and happy to see what was particularly interesting to visitors in September—restaurants and figs is what it looks like. As always, thanks for reading!

5. My New Fruit Love is the Adriatic Fig

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This past weekend I made it over to Fig Fest at One Green World Nursery. One of the things that was on my docket was to try the different figs they had to offer; there were seven varieties to sample.

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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

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