Note: 10/2010 – Alu has closed again.
Alu, the failed bar/restaurant on NE MLK, has reopened. From a press release:
We wish to invite you to the reincarnation of Alu Wine Bar & Lounge opening today, Monday, July 27th. Although the name remains the same, Alu’s concept has been reinvented from top to bottom. Enjoy our completely new menu of exquisite food, specialty cocktails, beers, and an exclusive wine list devoted entirely to sustainably-focused wines. We have outdoor patio seating, a luxurious upstairs and an intimate cellar downstairs. Our talented staff, lead by Executive Chef Sean Temple and Lead Bartender Lee Watson have gone to great lengths to ensure a sensory experience unlike any other here in Portland. Let us raise the bar on your dining expectations!
Jeff V. and Susan K.
Proprietors
They are trying to be all mysterious, but news about this leaked out last week. Sean Temple was sous chef at Paley’s Place for a time. Bartender Lee Watson was at the ill-fated Lucier. The owners are Susan Killoran, recent arrival from the south, and Jeff Vejr is a wine guy. Food looks to be very simple, somewhat like the old Alu.
They have a new website, which is “cutsie” to the point of being incredibly annoying. I hate to say it, but something about this one makes me nervous, however I hope they succeed, as I’ve always liked the space.
The Huffington Post ran an article yesterday called “The 10 Best US Cities for Local Food”. Under “Best Green Eats”, they list the following:
Three Square Grill meets locavore standards from the first ingredient to the final bite as it associates directly with nearby farms, ranches, breweries and wineries.
Higgins (pictured) is celebrated for its green approach and menu, which is composed of sustainable and seasonal Portland produce.
Anyway, the voting is still in progress, so I suppose we should all run over and cast our ballot. Right now Portland is ranked #3 behind #2-New Orleans and #3-San Francisco.
The Portland Tribune has further imploded. According to OregonMediaCentral (link no longer valid), The final remaining food writer has now been shown the door. Someone turn off the lights.
I have refused to eat farmed salmon for some time, but newspaper articles over the past few months have reinforced my decision even more. Take this recent NY Times headline “Chile’s Antibiotics Use on Salmon Farms Dwarfs That of a Top Rival’s.”
ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — Chile used almost 350 times more antibiotics in its farmed salmon in 2008 than Norway, its chief competitor and the largest salmon producer in the world, according to official data from both countries.
Chile’s Economy Ministry revealed this month that Chile used almost 718,000 pounds of antibiotics in 2008 and more than 850,000 pounds in 2007.
A bit more:
The industry has said it needs the antibiotics to combat other fish-borne illnesses like rickettsia, parasitic bacteria carried by sea lice, which causes infection-prone lesions.
Yeah, bring me a nice plate of that salmon, extra parasites!
Restaurants, please don’t fall for this scam:
I wish to make reservation for guests who will be coming to your country for a Business trip. I want to book dinner for the group from 27th Aug – 30th Aug 2009. They would come for dinner in your place for the four days by 6:00pm – 7:00pm each day.The guests are 10 in number, we do not know what the guests would choose for their meals so we would deposit you EUR2600 in advance as initial deposit via credit card .
I repeat. IT’S A SCAM! I say this because a local restaurant DID fall for it.
Stay Cool! I’m drinking sangria and will try to get the recipe published tonight. I’m also getting a huge spike in people looking for the cucumber-mint lemonade, posted this week back in ’05. You’ll find it here. Terribly unsophisticated, but wonderfully refreshing.
Your mention of the HuffPo piece reminded me of another contest, for favorite farmers’ markets. Portland’s isn’t even in the top 10 yet! Time to get voting: http://action.farmland.org/site/PageNavigator/Americas-Favorite-Farmers-Markets/top_farmers_markets
Alu – went last night and the back patio is nice. The interior is similar to the old Alu but spruced up a bit. I had a nice minted lobster on pita and some smoked salmon with creme fraiche. The cocktail list has a nice twist on the classic Negroni. What makes you nervous about a place you have never been to? Odd comment.
‘Alu’s concept has been reinvented from top to bottom’
why go to all of that trouble and still call the new place Alu. if it is all new, how about a new name so nobody associates it with the closed place? if the old place was so great that you are relying on their name to draw people in, then arguably it didn’t need to be reinvented. strange.
“why go to all of that trouble and still call the new place Alu”
Maybe to avoid going through all the hassle of getting permits for a new sign? ;P
good point. the city does charge that ridiculous $300-400 engineering fee for every single sign even when they’ve already evaluated the site and the bracket. not very business friendly. wazzup with that, mayor adams?
This incarnation of Alu is beautiful and worthwhile. Passion for wine was in full force when we visited. The plates complimented the ambiance and the staff was attentive and approachable.