Caffe Umbria

Caffé Umbria appeared on the scene a few months ago, with all the flash and glamour you’d expect for a major restaurant opening. Getting through the door and fighting my way through the mob, it was hard to believe all of this fuss was for yet another coffeehouse. This new cafe is in the Casey Building, at the corner of NW 12th and Everett St (Across from Everett St.... [Read more]

Dove Vivi

Dove Vivi I recently had the opportunity to eat at one of the more interesting pizza places in town. Dove Vivi opened last summer close to the corner of NE 28th and Glisan in that odd little mini-mall pocket opposite Plaid Pantry and kitty corner to Pambiche, the Cuban restaurant. It’s a nice addition to the tip of the NE 28th “restaurant row” scene. Eschewing... [Read more]

Shenanigans in Seattle

Seattle Weekly has pointed out some strange things going on over at The Stranger. A whiny review of Thomas Street Bistro, a new, pint-sized Capitol Hill eatery, disappeared from The Stranger’s Web site shortly after it was published in the Jan. 3 print edition. …Even more mysteriously, the restaurant—which writer Chris McCann dubbed “sad,” calling the food... [Read more]

Stu Stein Gossip Spreads (and more!)

Updated: Statement from Terroir’s ex-PR firm: The Willamette Week is reporting that Terroir Restaurant and Wine Bar has closed. Much like Cole, we were not aware of the status of Terroir’s operations as we had ceased representation of Terroir in late ‘07. As an added note, we did not work on the publicity of his 2004 book The Sustainable Kitchen (that was... [Read more]

It’s All About Keeping You Entertained

You are at the office, and it’s a Monday holiday. Do you really want to work while the rest of us are frolicking in the balmy breeze? Of course not! Here’s lots of good stuff to keep you occupied for a while: Bon Appetit ran another roundup of Portland restaurants for their February issue. Listed in this article: The Country Cat, Ace Hotel, Clyde Common, Lovely... [Read more]

Food News January 18th, 2008

More sweet treats coming to the Pearl. Pop Culture Frozen Yogurt indicates they are opening mid-January at NW 10th and Lovejoy. Bluefin Sushi has an ‘opening soon’ sign up on the corner of NE Broadway and 42nd Ave. Bluefin sushi? Either they don’t care, it was named in irony, or someone forgot to tell them bluefin tuna is on the endangered fish watch list… Long... [Read more]

Miss Delta

I’ve talked before about the time I spent in Maypearl, Texas growing up, but I never mentioned the boiled chicken death march, and my plot to get even. In the 50’s, dinner in the south was a family, sit-down supper. Grace was said, and whatever was fresh on old Mr. Jackson’s farm next door was usually added to our table. We didn’t know about the organic... [Read more]

Chef Stu Stein – Is Terroir Circling the Drain?

UPDATED BELOW! We haven’t heard much lately about the follies of accused plagiarist Chef Stu Stein, and his restaurant Terroir, although we’ve heard plenty of rumors that the restaurant is struggling. Regardless, recent posts on Stein’s blog Earth to Table, sponsored by Restaurant & Institutions Magazine, are pretty damming evidence from Stein himself... [Read more]

Hiroshi Sushi

Updated 1/05/08 – based on reader comments, it has been pointed out that toro tuna (as mentioned in the below review) is considered to be highly at risk for becoming endangered due to over fishing. While I believe that food decisions are a personal choice, I do think it is fair to point out this information. If diners are concerned about fish choices, I would highly... [Read more]

The News Returns

Anyone notice the restaurant at the Standard Dairy, which has gone through quite a few iterations in the past two years, is now Cuban? First it was Billy Reeds, then an awful place named Spice, something else, and now Cuban (the exact name escapes me at the moment). Anyone been? I can loan you a grenade. Rumor on the street: The Ace Hotel Folks are opening a branch in New York... [Read more]