While Portland has no shortage of incredible salads—as we’ve showcased throughout Portland Salad Week—Meg and I were eager to explore beyond the city limits in search of more salad treasure. Our adventure took us to the heart of the Willamette Valley, where we visited five distinct food destinations that each offered a unique and delicious taste of the region’s local, seasonal bounty. Here are the Willamette Valley salads we enjoyed and the places we visited.
Shining a light on Portland’s salad scene has been a true pleasure—and at times, even a revelation. Now, we’re putting that discovery to the test by turning to some of our favorite Portland food influencers and top content creators.
We asked them to share their favorite salad spots and what makes those picks stand out. Some confirmed the classics we all know and love, while others introduced us to new and unexpected salads. Read on for all crunchy details.
Beyond spotlighting Portland’s incredible culinary talent in the world of salads, we wanted to mix things up by handing the reins over to a couple of local Portland kids for the day. We asked them to share their own playful takes on salad.
While these next two creations may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “salad,” we love how imaginative, whimsical, and fun they turned out. After all, they’re straight from the minds of a seven and nine-year-old, which makes them as authentic as they come.
Welcome again to the first day of Portland Salad Week! With summer in full swing, there’s no shortage of fresh and flavorful salads across the Portland metro area. While most restaurant menus feature classic market greens, which are lovely this time of year, this week brings something extra special: well-crafted Salad Week restaurant specials by local restaurants.
When it comes to food opinions and expertise, there’s never a shortage of either in Portland. With so many talented people sharing their thoughts and insights about food, we asked some of the top Portland food influencers about their favorite salad recommendations in honor of Portland Salad Week. Here’s what they said:
My first strong salad memory was, of course, my mom’s iceberg lettuce with her family’s mayo-and-ketchup dressing, and much later the yet-to-be matched Caesar at Zefiro (sigh). I can’t resist any salad that Sarah Minnick has on the menu at Lovely’s Fifty Fifty, especially if it’s her mixed chicory salad with the most tender, colorful mix of organic greens, yellows and pinks from local sustainable farms. Right now she has spring garden lettuces with Point Reyes Blue Cheese, beets and toasted hazelnuts. (Watch her Instagram video about making salad, where she starts by mixing the dressing *in the salad bowl first* and only then adding the salad greens and giving them a toss).
One other I have to add is Mark Doxtader’s Kale Caesar at Tastebud in Multnomah Village, which is a meal in itself with breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic and anchovy aioli, also always sourced from local farms.
