Portland food news and views
The other day—actually, it was on my birthday—I stopped in at Northport in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. I was eager to check it out, as I’d been following the progress of the restaurant for many months. An early July media tasting had to be postponed, so I caught up with them a couple weeks later, for a nice solo lunch.
Note: This meal was comped but opinions are my own.
Continue reading “First Tastes: Northport (Review)”
Google’s “helpful” content update continued to wreck havoc on the blog, but the good news is that it put a fire under me to implement an alternative strategy. Good news: things are better in June. The numbers for May? 8,800 unique visitors and a little over 11,000 page views.
As for the top five posts May, it was a fascinating mixed bag: the real estate angle on food cart pods, some openings, closings … and Salad Week post from 2022 about where to get a big salad in Portland!
Thanks, as always, for reading and sharing stories from the blog.
5. Where to Get a Big Salad in Portland
Over the years, I’ve heard people ask, “So where can I get a big salad in Portland?” If they are a New York transplant, they are probably thinking of those chopped salad and panini spots that were (are?) ubiquitous in Midtown Manhattan. Or the kind of “Big Salad” referred to in Seinfeld. But really—sometimes you just want a big salad, no matter where you come from.
Continue reading “Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, May 2024”Don’t forget—Strawberry Shortcake Week continues to the end of the weekend!
Cicoria is closing. The final day of service will be Saturday, June 29. From their Instagram: “This decision has been monumentally difficult, but given the rough and unforgiving market conditions Portland is currently experiencing, we feel there’s no other choice.” (This is reminiscent of what JaCiva’s recently said.) And there’s this, a tiny bit of hope of their return: “Please stay tuned for updates on what may lie ahead in the near future, as we hope to welcome you back, but don’t forget to mark your calendar for Summertime Scoops on Thursday of next week, June 20th.” 3377 SE Division Street, Portland
Hungry Dumpling House will open on SE Hawthorne. This location was home to Hawthorne Hophouse (closed in 2020) and Poke Qube (closed in 2023), and now will be a dumpling (and more, likely) spot. The folks behind Hungry Dumpling House (also known as Happy Dumpling Inc) appear to the be the same ones behind Sichuan City in Happy Valley, much lauded by Katherine Chew Hamilton in Portland Magazine. I’m excited about this and seeing what they bring to the neighborhood. 4111 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Bill Oakley on snacks. This week Bill Oakley, local food enthusiast and former showrunner (among other roles) for The Simpsons, appeared on KATU to show off some international snacks. Love seeing the reactions from the TV host on the segment. Watch here.
New salad at Fresh Love. I think these guys make some of the best salads in Portland, so I’m always happy to tell you about their newest one. It’s called “Taco ‘Bout a Summer Salad,” (thanks for the clarification, Fresh Love!) made with Urban Acre Homestead salad greens, Hot Mama tortilla chips, pineapple, cucumber, sugar snap peas, sharp cheddar, pickled red onions, avocado, and housemade vegan cilantro jalapeño dressing. Many of the ingredients are certified organic. 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Screaming Sammies Ice Cream Sandwiches Pops Up in Sellwood
A Trung Nguyên Legend Cafe Looks To Open in Portland
Janken: Everything Is Better Together (Review)
Updated June 15, 2024.
There are a whole bunch of salads recommended by Portlanders online—thanks especially to those who submitted their pics through the online form and for those who answered via Facebook. Here are some of their recommendations for salads + a mention of salads we haven’t tried, but want to.
Another great salad from New Seasons: Lemongrass Chicken
Continue reading “Reader/Online Salad Picks + Salads We Want to Try”You’ve seen Part One of Salads We Like during Portland Salad Week—here’s Part Two!
Photo credit: Yelp
What’s in it: Green papayas, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, chili cooked in lime sauce.
We love a good ol’ papaya salad and this one definitely delivers. It’s high in flavor and texture and a little goes a long way. Sensitive palates may want to start slow, as the heat can quickly creep up on you. Those with more tolerance will find themselves reaching for seconds and thirds. –JR
4806 SE Stark Street, Portland. https://www.facebook.com/SivalaiThaiRestaurant/
Continue reading “Portland Salad Week – Salads We Like, Part Two”