They are keeping these ceiling screens from the previous restaurant. Photo credit: Yelp.
I recently learned Madrina Cocina Mexicana, brought to us by Lucy de Leon of La Patroncita and Salsa Locas. It will be part sit-down Mexican restaurant (43 seats), part lunchtime mercadito. The aim is to open in late August 2025.
A little while back I was in downtown Gresham and saw a sign displayed for a new cafe opening up on Main Street: Stomping Grounds. They currently have a cafe in Fairview and a drive thru stand by Gresham High School, so this will be their third location. I reached out to one of the owners, Chris Cutshall, to talk about the new location and here is what I learned.
Pastrami sandwich at Mother’s Bistro. Photo credit: Mother’s Bistro.
In honor of their 25th anniversary, Mother’s Bistro has put together a New York deli menu, called Bubbie’s Deli Board, as well as a catering division. As a former New Yorker, when I saw Mother’s chef and owner Lisa Schroeder talking about this new menu, I had to know more. So I reached out and she shared some details with me.
The pastry that started it all: bánh bò nướng. Photo credit: Carter Hiyama.
That’s right—Berlu Bakery reopens this weekend! As I mentioned in yesterday’s Small Bites, Berlu Bakery is back after a months-long hiatus since last October. Their soft opening is Sunday, June 29. I reached out to Vince Nguyen, the man and James Beard Award-winning chef behind this treasured Vietnamese bakery, and here is what I learned from him via an email exchange.
This is the Orange Julius branding I remember from years past. Photo credit: Retro News Now.
Farewell, Orange Julius. The Oregonian reported that Portland’s last remaining Orange Julius, located in the Lloyd Center, was closing (by now, it’s in the past tense). The franchise’s owner, Bob Slayton, died from cancer on May 19. This Orange Julius had been around for 42 years. I have fond memories of going to the OJ in the mall near me in SoCal during my youth, enjoying one of their drinks along with a pretzel from “Pretzels and Cheese.” Read more about Bob and his business over on The O. 2314 Lloyd Center, Portland