5 Recent Bites – Avocado Toast, Pig Newton, and More

I thought it might be fun to talk about five of the most delicious things I’ve had recently here in Portland. We continue to be fortunate to have so many good things to eat in this town.

Avocado Toast: Saint Simon

Back in May, Saint Simon opened a new location on Brazee and 15th in the Irvington neighborhood, and it has been a total hit. There are often long lines of people waiting to get a cup of their excellent espresso, baked goods from Nuvrei, and a chance to hang out in a comfortable space for a little while. Their outdoor seating is really nice in the warmer months, too. But year-round they have this avocado toast that is just wonderful.

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Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, November 2022

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This time around an old post made its way into November’s top five: December 2021’s rundown of Salt & Straw ice cream flavors. Good news for those who like consistency, though: December 2022’s Holiday Series flavors are the same as last years!

As for traffic, Bridgetown Bites is growing, apparently. My web host has questions about traffic, so that’s why the site was down for a few days in November (they nuked it around Thanksgiving, nice … not). I’m currently in troubleshooting mode to fix the issues. And looking into new hosts (if you have a favorite, shoot me an email). Thanks for your patience. And thanks, as always, for reading.

5. Mattino’s Wine, From the Folks Who Brought You No Saint, Will Open in Buckman

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While perusing my sources today I saw one document that had a big ol’ “No Saint” written on it. I thought, “Huh, that’s so familiar.” I wracked my brain and then it hit me—No Saint was the pizza/Italian eats pop-up I went to with my friend Annie many months ago. Turns out they are the same folks behind Mattino’s Wine, a “natural wine bottle shop + luncheonette” that will open on Hawthorne Blvd in the Buckman neighborhood.

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Vincenzo’s Pizza Is Open

The Spicy Sicilian pizza at Vincenzo’s Pizza. Photo credit: Vincenzo’s Pizza.

After a few months of preparation, Vincenzo’s Pizza is now open in the Rose City Park neighborhood. Their opening was last week, and already they have gained plenty of fans in the area already. They have a pretty nice menu featuring both Sicilian pies and round NY-style pizza pies, appetizers, salads, and pastas.

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Red Sauce Pizza Celebrates 7 Years

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One of my favorite combinations at Red Sauce: pepperoni and ricotta (thank you Arturo’s in NYC for the inspiration)

This week, Red Sauce Pizza celebrates seven years in business. After making it through two years of heightened pandemic times, this is a real achievement. They are celebrating this week with pizza and ice cream deals, plus news on the opening of their dining room.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (September 23)

Portland Fermentation Fest will not happen in 2022. The organizers behind Portland’s own “Stinkfest” announced they are now holder the Fermentation Festival this year: “The three of us (volunteer organizers Wanpaku Natto, Liz Crain and Urban Cheesecraft Kits) will re-evaluate for 2023. Time will tell. Thank you so much for your support over the years and patience in the last couple of years. We miss our sweet stinkfest and we miss you!”

It’s a great festival (see my writeup from 2019) and I do hope they will return in 2023.

Red Sauce Pizza will open their dining room. It’s coming, and for that I’m glad: the Red Sauce dining room is opening … soon. I’ll be there. 4641 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Future Days will pop up in the old Handsome Pizza space. Kiki and Casey, former employees at Handsome Pizza/Seastar Bakery, are popping up in their old digs this weekend as Future Days. They’ll be making pizza that was a hot ticket item during their time in SLC. Head there Sunday September 25, 5-9pm. It will be nice to have that oven working again. 1603 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

Kalesa Coffee opens tomorrow morning. Head to the new brick & mortal space of former popup Kalesa Coffee tomorrow morning from 9am to 1pm for their grand opening party. There will be coffee, of course (their own roast), with Filipino flavors (ube, for one), plus breakfast sandwiches, toast, and sides from Balong. Definitely check them out! 7024 N Richards Street, Portland

Bonus: NYC’s Cevallos brothers custom made a sign for Laughing Planet in PDX. You can read about these brothers originally from Ecuador who work with many Queens businesses (in Jackson Heights, among other neighborhoods) to make hand-crafted signs as promotional tools. I have to admit I am delighted to see when Queens and Portland intersect. You can check out the sign here.