Favorites of 2023: Bakeries, Food Trucks, Restaurants, Bars, Cafes

Truly, one of the most beautiful salads I ate this year. It was a seasonal special of sharp greens, strawberries, daikons, onions, radishes, causa, and a chicha morada lavender vinagreta from Reeva.

Welcome back to another end of year list. Instead of publishing our Four Things column today, I’m giving you a list of my favorite spots of 2023, where I enjoyed happy times eating and drinking. There’s a whole variety of places, some established, some new. This list is in no particular order, aside from alphabetically; in other words, no top pick. Please enjoy!

Cheese and Crack

For my birthday this year we had lunch at Paadee and then headed a couple doors down to Cheese & Crack for their titular sundae. I maintain that they make the best soft serve ice cream in Portland. It is smooth, creamy, and luscious. The toppings on this sundae are classic: chocolate ganache, cinnamon butter cracker crumble, and torched housemade marshmallow fluff. The sundaes really are enough for two, and their seasonal sundaes never cease to impress with their magical toppings combinations. 22 SE 28th Avenue, Portland. cheeseandcrack.com

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Four Things I Learned This Week (December 8)

HÂP Fresh has opened in Montavilla’s south end. Over on Montavilla News, they have published an article on HÂP Fresh, which opened in the former Thai Fresh location on SE Division. It’s considered an “Asian fusion” restaurant, with a focus on its “renowned handmade” dumplings, at least to start. Owners Nasy Chan and Thomas Trieu (who have opened four restaurants together previously) with Chef Gulian Lui have created the menu. They are offering a 20% discount during the month of December to celebrate the opening. Head over to Montavilla News to read more. 8409 SE Division Street, Portland

“Pizza School is back!” So says Shardell Dues at Red Sauce Pizza. You can learn about the practical hands-on elements of creating a pizza—how to make [their] dough, shape a dough ball, and stretch and dress a cheese pizza. Two-hour classes happen once a month on Sundays starting in January (for three months—January 14, February 18, and March 10—at this point). $100 per class, payable by Venmo. More info and register on the Red Sauce website. 4641 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Sea veggie bites! Get yer sea veggie bites! Head to Providore tomorrow, Saturday December 9 from 1 to 4pm to sample tasty sea veggie bites. Blue Evolution executive chef Maylin Chavez and Winter Waters Co-Founder Alanna Kieffer will be there, and you can “taste some simple and delicious applications of these kelps, and chat with Alanna and Maylin about all things seaweed.” Learn how to use these products at home, too. H/T to Kathleen Bauer at GoodStuffNW for promoting it on her Instagram so it could catch my eye. 2340 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Too Soon is opening … soon. A Bridgetown Bites tipster led me to the Instagram account for Too Soon, a new bar from Adam Robinson (also of Deadshot) and Nick Flower (of the Face/Off cocktail pop-up). This location has been home to a number of places over the years, including Nightingale. Google says they are opening Wednesday, December 13. 18 NE 28th Avenue, Portland

Lombardo’s Pizzeria Will Open in North Portland’s University Park Neighborhood

Tomato pie. Photo credit: Il Rosso

Not to be confused with “Lombardi’s” (trademarked as America’s First Pizzeria®) from NYC, Lombardo’s Pizzeria will be opening in the University Park neighborhood, offering up New Jersey-style pizzas and other Italian-American cuisine.

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