Where in the World is Food Dude?

UPDATED: You’d think it was the rainy season, it has been so wet. Everything is fancy here. I’ve never been so full! Tasty, inexpensive, real food for people on the go. It’s the return of the automat, filled with bite-sized burgers, mac & cheese, corn dogs, chicken fritters, grilled cheese and lots of other great stuff – made fresh throughout the... [Read more]

The Pulse of Summer: Blender Drinks Are Back

This is according to the dining section of this week’s New York Times. Some excerpts from the article: “You’d be hard pressed to find a barman who takes his work seriously who works in a joint with a blender,” said Duggan McDonnell, an owner of the bar Cantina in San Francisco. “I worked in one restaurant that did blender drinks and I’m telling you — the noise,... [Read more]

Chef Eric Bechard Leaving ASOBG

Eric Bechard is leaving Alberta Street Oyster Bar and Grill to take the executive chef posistion at Opal Restaurant in Seattle. Sous chef Laurel Gunderson will take over his position. I’m sad to hear this, as I always thought Eric had a ton of talent, and he was a heck of a nice guy. Unfortunately, I don’t think ASOBG had the business to keep him interested. The... [Read more]

Gold and Chocolate Hart – Alma Chocolate

Gold and Chocolate Hart, by Elizabeth Lopeman Sarah Hart makes religious icons you can sink your teeth into. Sara Hart of Alma Chocolates “My dad was a Presbyterian minister and he was a civil rights activist and really conscious of the unrest over Vietnam, so social justice was in my DNA,” explains Sarah Hart, the Alma Chocolate visionary. Even so, her religious... [Read more]

Bikini Coffee Opening Downtown? Caffe Vita Coming to Portland?

<updated: I noticed tonight that just about every news network in Portland picked this up today. It opens in about two weeks> That’s what the signs say around er… 5rd and Stark? Anyway, you might remember they caused quite a stir when they opened in Salem earlier this year, where sales immediately doubled. Coffee is served by buxom bikini-clad women. Personally... [Read more]

Manzana Closes To Be Replaced By Palomino

Manzana Rotisserie Grill at NW 12th and Glisan has closed. I’ve heard they were the lowest performing restaurant in the HUGE Pacific Coast Restaurants family (I think they own 19 chains nationwide. As we speculated quite some time ago, they will be reopening as Palomino Restaurant Rotisseria. The website describes them as “Palomino is the upbeat city restaurant... [Read more]

Toughest Year for Restaurants in Three Decades?

The Oregonian has an interesting article on the problems restaurants are having in our slower economy. Paralleling a report I heard last week on NPR’s Marketplace, the Oregonian says Losses aren’t necessarily expected across the table. Most industry experts say the hardest-hit will be restaurants where a family of four can cover dinner, drinks and a tip for between... [Read more]

Tribute to Ilias of Alexis Restaurant

By Marc Byrne: Family and Friends: A couple of years ago, Yiani (owner of Berbatis) and Ilias (owner of Alexis) asked me to go fishing. I dont fish, and told them so; I think they wanted me to come along for the camaraderie, to make me a “man,” and I am dating a Greek girl; which means “I must know/learn how to fish!” It is six in the morning when Yiani... [Read more]

Ilias Bakouros of Alexis Greek Restaurant Passes Away

Ilias Bakouros, one of the owners of Alexis Greek restaurant passed away after a fall from a cliff while fishing in Ilwaco, Washington. He seemed like a great guy, usually greeting you at the door of the restaurant with a big smile, laughing with all the regulars at the restaurant. May he rest in peace  Read More →

$15 a Cup of Coffee.. Gossip, and More

According to KGW, River Maiden Artisan Coffee in Vancouver Washington,  has premiered a $15 cup of coffee. Yes, I said $15. For drip. They justify it by saying there is only 8 cups to a 1/2 pound bag, and that it is considered to be the best coffee in the world. The Panama Esmerelda Especial Reserva coffee, a rare bean that some call the best in the world, is roasted by Stumptown,... [Read more]

Karam Lebanese

Karam Interior Lebanon is a small country on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The name is from Lubnan, the word for white, to describe the snow covered peaks of the Mount Lebanon Range. Working from Egyptian hieroglyphs, early settlers in the area made a contribution to history by developing the basis of the alphabet used today throughout the Western world. As settlers... [Read more]

Hmart Arrives in Tigard

Kimchee Selection Hmart has come to Tigard. What, never heard of it? Don’t feel bad, I hadn’t either. Hmart is a huge Asian/Korean grocery store. Think Uwajimaya on steroids. The store opened last weekend in the old Haggen location on SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard (99W). It is easy to get there by going up I-5 to exit and heading west, just over 217. From Washington... [Read more]

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