Four Things I Learned This Week (September 20)

DB Dessert Company’s grand re-opening is coming. Cupcake and cake wonderland DB Dessert Company is re-opening their cafe on NE Alberta Street on Saturday, September 28. “We’ll have a brand new menu featuring not just our famous desserts, but also savory bites, a few surprises, classic favorites, and yes, our wine bar is OPEN! That means mimosas!” Noon to 5pm on the 28th. Here’s the Facebook event page. 2624 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Burned up Pacific Market deconstruction and removal has started. Last spring Pacific Market burned down due to an electrical fire. Over on Nextdoor a neighbor remarked, “Right after the fire the family was finding salvage and loading it into trucks. I asked them then and they said they owned the whole block and would rebuild. They had no intention of selling to developers. I haven’t seen any for sale signs since it burned.” A disturbing detail is that the fire and burnout generated an increase in bugs and flying creatures. Very happy they are cleaning things up. 6750 NE Broadway, Portland

NFL Sunday breakfast is back at Peter’s. Head to Peter’s Bar & Grill on Sunday mornings to enjoy their football season breakfast. It’s a very tasty small but well-curated menu: biscuits & gravy, a fried egg sandwich, pancakes, and a two-egg breakfast with meat & toast. Plus specials! 5701 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Hello Pho, Banh Mi & Boba is open in The Zipper. Andrew Jankowski at Willamette Week wrote about Hello Pho, Banh Mi & Boba, a new Vietnamese place that has opened up in the space that used to be home to Sari Ramyun. Here are some details:

“Hello Pho, Banh Mi & Boba opened in July, serving what its sign says and more. The expansive menu includes Vietnamese standards like vermicelli noodle bowls, rice plates, milkshakes and an array of appetizers like calamari ($10), salad rolls ($8) and crab puffs ($6). Hello currently comps your drink if you spend $25 or more, which can be done if you’re strategic or ravenously hungry—it’s possible to slurp down eye of round steak and brisket pho ($16.50) after chomping on a bulgogi bánh mì ($9) if your first meal is coming way too late in the day. A more responsible combo for bargain hunters might be pho with calamari, or a bánh mì with a couple of appetizers.” 2713 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland


Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

1927 S’mores Company Abruptly Closes
PDX Food Pod To Open in Outer Northeast Portland
Mermosa PDX’s Location in NW Portland Has Closed

Events this weekend include Oktoberfests and a celebration of Turkish culture:

Portland Oktoberfest, Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, 2024, Saturday 5:30pm to 9pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm, Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Avenue, Portland. Portland Oktoberfest website.

Oaks Park Oktoberfest, Friday to Sunday, September 20 to 22, 2024, Friday 4pm to 10pm, Saturday 11am to 10pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm, Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland. Oaks Park Octoberfest website.

Oktoberfest, Sunday, September 22, 2024, 11am to 5pm, McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey Street, Troutdale. McMenamins Oktoberfest website.

Türkiye Day, Sunday, September 22, 1pm to 5pm, PBOT, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland. Türkiye Day website.

PDX Food Pod To Open in Outer Northeast Portland

PDX Food Pod logo. It's a minimalist globe with an airplane circling it, with a chef hat on top. Words on the bottom are: "Taste The World, Right Here At Home."

I recently learned of a new food cart pod called PDX Food Pod that will open up on NE Halsey right on the Portland/Gresham Border. It’s basically just down the road from the St George Antiochian Orthodox Church (home to the annual and excellent Middle Eastern Festival), and about a half mile east of the NE corner of the Glendoveer Golf Course.

Continue reading “PDX Food Pod To Open in Outer Northeast Portland”

Four Things I Learned This Week (August 30)

Nathan Hart delivers melons (and more). Each summer Nathan Hart, the Watermelon Man, sets up shop along NE Prescott on the Cully/Roseway border. He’s sold melons out of his truck for years, but this is the first year I know he’s able to deliver. Along with watermelons, he is selling berries, corn, onions, cantaloupe, and honey. Call 503-756-1257 for delivery or more information. NE Prescott Street and 68th Avenue, Portland

Takibi will return. After a fire in January, Takibi, and izakaya, had to close for repairs. Fast forward seven-and-a-half months, and they are returning. “We are excited to announce that Takibi will return in September with a new team and a new menu.” Excellent. 2275 NW Flanders Street, Portland

New Thai cart at Upright Beer Station. I noticed a new cart as I was driving by NE Prescott and 72nd: R-HAAN Thai Kitchen. Google confirms they are there as does their website. No idea the quality of the food, just that it’s there. 7131 NE Prescott Street, Portland

Great steak reported at Covert Café. Over on Reddit they were talking about where to get a tasty steak in town and someone recommended Covert Café in Montavilla: “The owner hand picks the steaks from a local farm and grills them to perfection $20 (ish)/ plate.” You can see it on their menu as Steak Dinner: “Top sirloin cooked to your desire, garlic herb butter, potato salad, spring mix salad with croutons.” 803 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland


Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

What’s Going In the Old Papa G’s Space? Il Fantino.
A Visit To All Your Heart Coffee in South Waterfront
P.S. Light posting this week because I got to spend time with one of my favorite persons. We ate at some great places, including Steam Rice Roll King (photos on Instagram), The Paper Bridge (photos on Instagram), and had tea at the Umami Café at the Japanese Garden (a couple photos on Instagram plus shots of the amazing Garden).

Also, don’t forget: the Reeva block party is this weekend! The Romanian Festival and Arab Rajan Festival are also this weekend.