Portland food news and views
The other day I received a press release about ZabPinto, and while reading it, a detail caught my eye: There is a new location at Cascade Station, where big box stores reign. I reached out to their PR person and arranged a time to stop by and find out more about this new ZabPinto, called ZabPinto Thai PDX. Here is what I learned.
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This year I ate at a variety of places—some fancy, some more modest. But they all served me excellent, tasty, wonderful food. Here are my favorite bites in Portland in 2024.
Located in Cully on Cully Blvd, this is one of two Native-owned cafes in Portland (the other being All Your Heart Coffee in South Portland). I was there for a meeting with a neighbor and ordered a latte. One of the things I was offered by the barista was a choice of espresso roasts, and I chose a medium roast—this meant the Shoshone Blend, a coffee bean from Honduras medium-roasted by Native Coffee Traders. It was lovely, with notes of chocolate and nuts; plus expertly streamed milk. This is one of the best lattes I’ve had all year. 3941 NE Cully Blvd, Portland. Bison Coffeehouse website
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While I was out of the office yesterday (a cancer survivor’s work is never done), the news dropped that Bang Bang, a sweet little spot that serves “Thai-inspired” food on NE Fremont—in what is technically Cully but feels more like Beaumont-Wilshire—is closing this month. The food and drink there, in my experience, is quite tasty, and I’m sorry to see them go.
Continue reading “Another Restaurant Closure in Portland: Bang Bang”
The address 330 NW 10th Avenue for a number of years was known as the location of Isabel, a popular Latin-Asian fusion restaurant. But, according to ORSOS records, it will be the future home to a new restaurant from Chookiat Saenguraiporn, the Thai restauranteur who is behind a handful of popular eateries in Portland. Update 7/28/25: The restaurant’s name is Guay Tiew (registered under KUAY TIEW, LLC; the first word is often spelled in English as “guay.”)
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Pan de muertos sources in the Portland metro area. Today and tomorrow is Día de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, an important holiday in Mexican culture. This is when it is believed that spirits of the dead come to visit, as the veil between the dead and the living has thinned. The sweet pan de muerto is a traditional food for this holiday, and The Oregonian put together a great list of where to find them in our metro area. Check it out. Various locations.
Continue reading “Small Bites: Día de los Muertos and Diwali, Openings, Closings, Food Carts, and More”