Four Things I Learned This Week (March 4)

What a week—I almost had Grand Jury Duty, but wasn’t randomly picked, so Bridgetown Bites will continue to publish this month, when it was at risk of taking a month-long hiatus (Grand Jury Duty is a month-long commitment). Have a good weekend!

A reminder about Ukranian perogies. Every Saturday at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Sellwood sells Ukrainian-style perogies, cabbage rolls, and garlic sausages. This is just one way to support the Ukrainian community in Portland. 8014 SE 16th Avenue, Portland

Kachka is raising funds to help Ukraine. 100% of proceeds of their Chervona Wine cocktail will be donated to Red Cross Ukraine to support the people experiencing the war in Ukraine. 960 SE 11th Avenue, Portland

Pho Kim reopens. They’ve been in the midst of a soft opening this past week, and this 82nd Avenue Vietnamese restaurant will have their grand opening on Sunday, March 6. Back in 2020 a fire shut them down and they’ve been working on repairs since then. Along with enjoying delicious food there will be a White Lotus Lion Dance performance around noon to celebrated the re-opening. Check out the Montavilla News article for more info. 2204 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland

Vtopia Restaurant & Cheese Shop is now Fru Fru Terra. This vegan cheese shop in SW Portland has changed their name and currently operates as a vegan cheese and wine bar. They have set their sights on moving to SE Portland from their current Goose Hollow location, likely in fall 2022. Now, why did they change their name to Fru Fru Terra? Here’s their explanation:

“It is in abbreviation of the Latin words, Frui Fruges Terrae, which means to ‘enjoy fruits of the earth,’ which is precisely the experience we want you to have when entering our new space and elevated concept.” 1628 SW Jefferson Street, Portland

Four Things I Learned This Week (February 4)

Today is World Cancer Day. If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I want to emphasize that early detection really does save lives (as a cancer survivor, I can personally attest to that). Please take care of yourselves! Thanks for allowing me this PSA; now, on to the news.

Beaverton Farmers Market returns tomorrow. The Beaverton Farmers Market Winter Market begins on Saturday, February 5 from 10am to 1:30pm. One important thing they want you to remember is that because they don’t close off the streets, the layout is different and that means your favorite vendors may be in a different place compared to the summer market. There’s an Info booth with folks that can help you find the vendors you seek. Read more in the market’s newsletter. 12375 SW 5th Street, Beaverton

Sundaes at Red Sauce. Shar posted about the upcoming caramel cake sundaes they are putting together at the pizzeria and the whole thing looks pretty delicious. Check it out on their Facebook page. 4641 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Next Level expansion. The news came out this week that plant-based burger spot Next Level is preparing for a major expansion: “Next Level Burger, a plant-based burger joint from Bend that serves up vegan burgers, fries, shakes and other offerings, just announced plans to open 18 new storefronts by the end of 2025 — including one on West Burnside this year.” This is a nationwide plan, with new restaurants planned for the west coast, in the southwest and northeast, plus more menu options at all locations. Currently, you can find Next Level in Portland on SE Hawthorne and in Lake Oswego. Portland Business Journal has more.

Russian food in Portland featured on PBS. The Migrant Kitchen, the Emmy-winning documentary series produced by KCET in association with with life&thyme (a storytelling content space), featured Bonnie Morales and Kachka on February 1. You can view it on YouTube, life&thyme’s website, or below.

New Life for Homegrown Smoker

Photo credit: Homegrown Smoker

Homegrown Smoker, the beloved and trailblazing vegan barbecue spot in St. Johns, may have new life after all. It closed back in December; it was for sale; hopes were high for its return. Now, according to publicly-accessible city documents, it looks like a new person is involved, and is getting ready to re-open the restaurant at its most recent location in St. Johns.

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Fermenter Workshop – Exciting Times for Fermentation in Portland

Beautiful vinegars at Fermenter Workshop: Strawberry-Rhubarb Elderflower, Celeriac Leaf Kombucha Vinegar, and Backyard Perry Cider Vinegar.

For a while I’ve been aware of Fermenter, a place devoted to making vegan “craft ferments” (love this phrase) from local, organic ingredients. Fermenter is run in part by Aaron Adams of Farm Spirit fame; Maya Carlile and August Winningham also lead the efforts at Fermenter. And according to Fermenter staff, their Fermenter Workshop is now open to the public!

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First Tastes: Tea and Dumplings at Cloud Pine Tea + Culture

Cloud Pine Tea + Culture in Milwaukie, Ore.

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to see an old friend when he traveled to Oregon to visit his daughter, and we had lunch together at Cloud Pine Tea + Culture, a newish (est. 2021) teahouse-restaurant located in downtown Milwaukie. A mix of seriously good tea, delicious dumplings, and great conversation was a nice break from everything. I’m already looking forward to returning.

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