Once again I asked the question, “what is the best coffeehouse in Portland?” As always, the results proved  interesting. In 2012, the ranking was: 1) Ristretto Roasters, 2) Barista Coffee, 3) Stumptown Coffee, 4) Heart, 5) Coava, 6) Coffeehouse NW, and 7) Extracto. For 2013, everything has changed. Out of 17

Portland Dining Month is returning for the month of June. This year more than 80 restaurants are offering a special three-course dinner for $29.00. The promotion includes big name restaurants like Aviary, Biwa, Bluehour, Genoa, Lincoln and Paley’s Place as well as new businesses like Imperial, Oven & Shaker, Ra

When readers voted a year ago for the Best Coffee Roaster in Portland, there was a bit of an upset, with Ristretto Roasters barely edging out Stumptown coffee. This year things have flipped a bit. Let’s review the top three 2012 results first: Ristretto Coffee Roasters – 27.9% Stumptown Coffee Roasters –

There are quite a few heavy hitters among the chef lineup for the 2013 Feast Portland. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 20th.  Visiting chefs include: Hugh Acheson – Top Chef, Five & Ten, The National, Empire State South – Atlanta, GA Danny Bowien – San Francisco Mission Chinese Floyd Cardoz –

There are quite a few heavy hitters among the chef lineup for the 2013 Feast Portland. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 20th.  Visiting chefs include: Hugh Acheson – Top Chef, Five & Ten, The National, Empire State South – Atlanta, GA Danny Bowien – San Francisco Mission Chinese Floyd Cardoz –

It’s that time of year again: our annual Reader Survey. This year I am breaking out several sections, beginning with the best coffee and coffee roaster in Portland. It has been a hassle awarding the survey prizes over the past few years – people don’t return emails or they don’t like the prize a

It’s that time of year again: our annual Reader Survey. This year I am breaking out several sections, beginning with the best coffee and coffee roaster in Portland. It has been a hassle awarding the survey prizes over the past few years – people don’t return emails or they don’t like the prize a

The World Food Travel Association has kicked off a “Cascadian Cuisine” initiative. From the press release, …a new initiative focused on the development of a regional food and drink brand as a tool for economic development. The goal is that the new regional food brand will drive consumer awareness, creat

The World Food Travel Association has kicked off a “Cascadian Cuisine” initiative. From the press release, …a new initiative focused on the development of a regional food and drink brand as a tool for economic development. The goal is that the new regional food brand will drive consumer awareness, creat

Portland chef Gabriel Rucker won the James Beard Foundation award Monday night for “Best Chef Northwest”. Rucker beat fellow nominees Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton of Ox, John Gorham - Toro Bravo, Naomi Pomeroy - Beast, Gabriel Rucker - Le Pigeon, Adam Sappington - The Country Cat, Cat

Portland chef Gabriel Rucker won the James Beard Foundation award Monday night for “Best Chef Northwest”. Rucker beat fellow nominees Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton of Ox, John Gorham - Toro Bravo, Naomi Pomeroy - Beast, Gabriel Rucker - Le Pigeon, Adam Sappington - The Country Cat, Cat

With 73 entries in just five days, the response to our last minute food haiku was great! There were so many good ones to choose from it took quite a while to narrow down the top choices. Unfortunately only one prize is available, but first I want to give honorable mentions to the runners-up: By [...]This original

With 73 entries in just five days, the response to our last minute food haiku was great! There were so many good ones to choose from it took quite a while to narrow down the top choices. Unfortunately only one prize is available, but first I want to give honorable mentions to the runners-up: By [...]This original

Two Portland authors are among the winners of the 2013 James Beard Awards. The restaurant and chef awards will be announced on Monday, May 6th. Diane Morgan’s Roots: The Definitive Compendium with More than 225 Recipes won for “Vegetable Focused and Vegetarian books”. In the “Cookbook AwardsR

Two Portland authors are among the winners of the 2013 James Beard Awards. The restaurant and chef awards will be announced on Monday, May 6th. Diane Morgan’s Roots: The Definitive Compendium with More than 225 Recipes won for “Vegetable Focused and Vegetarian books”. In the “Cookbook AwardsR

We’ve had some terrific entries in the food haiku contest, but there is plenty of room for more. The winner will receive two general admission tickets to Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation at McMenamin’s Crystal Hotel & Ballroom - a $170 value! Entries will close in 48 hours –  Sunday May 5t

We’ve had some terrific entries in the food haiku contest, but there is plenty of room for more. The winner will receive two general admission tickets to Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation at McMenamin’s Crystal Hotel & Ballroom - a $170 value! Entries will close in 48 hours –  Sunday May 5t

I’ve been traveling the past few weeks and almost missed running the 2013 “fooku”, Portland Food and Drink’s annual food haiku contest. Once again I have partnered with Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation at McMenamin’s Crystal Hotel & Ballroom. The winner will receive two general-admission t

I’ve been traveling the past few weeks and almost missed running the 2013 “fooku”, Portland Food and Drink’s annual food haiku contest. Once again I have partnered with Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation at McMenamin’s Crystal Hotel & Ballroom. The winner will receive two general-admission t

U.S. Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Services announced Friday that the USDA ban on the importation of Italian cured pork will be lifted effective May 28th 2013. Many Italian cured meats have never been available in the U.S., and this change will allow small, artisanal producers to export their products, though at th

U.S. Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Services announced Friday that the USDA ban on the importation of Italian cured pork will be lifted effective May 28th 2013. Many Italian cured meats have never been available in the U.S., and this change will allow small, artisanal producers to export their products, though at th

I do my best to keep the outdoor dining guide updated, and as it looks like warmer weather is headed towards Portland, I wanted to remind everyone that the list is here! As always, corrections/deletions are welcome. If you have a patio that you’d like listed, fill out the simple form here.This original post

I do my best to keep the outdoor dining guide updated, and as it looks like warmer weather is headed towards Portland, I wanted to remind everyone that the list is here! As always, corrections/deletions are welcome. If you have a patio that you’d like listed, fill out the simple form here.This original post

By Ken Collura As a professional wine buyer and an active consumer, I’m inundated with ratings. Each major wine publication has seemingly hundreds of them each month. If that wasn’t enough, they’re encountered in big, bold numerals everywhere wines are sold. You’ll see them in newspaper ads, on sh

By Ken Collura As a professional wine buyer and an active consumer, I’m inundated with ratings. Each major wine publication has seemingly hundreds of them each month. If that wasn’t enough, they’re encountered in big, bold numerals everywhere wines are sold. You’ll see them in newspaper ads, on sh

My flashback started with a little piece about homemade butter on The Splendid Table. mentioned how important the quality of the cream was, and I was reminded of my childhood - stepping out onto the front porch every morning to find the latest delivery from the milkman sitting in a little wire basket. If I got up really

My flashback started with a little piece about homemade butter on The Splendid Table. mentioned how important the quality of the cream was, and I was reminded of my childhood - stepping out onto the front porch every morning to find the latest delivery from the milkman sitting in a little wire basket. If I got up really

Reposted from 2006, an interview with Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen and the Bent Brick, by Nancy Rommelmann. Scott Dolich, owner/chef of Park Kitchen, sits in his private office, i.e., a park bench across from the restaurant, within feet of two middle-aged dudes playing a loose game of pick-up basketball. It’s warm an

Reposted from 2006, an interview with Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen and the Bent Brick, by Nancy Rommelmann. Scott Dolich, owner/chef of Park Kitchen, sits in his private office, i.e., a park bench across from the restaurant, within feet of two middle-aged dudes playing a loose game of pick-up basketball. It’s warm an

Another to keep you entertained during my vacation, this great wine piece by Darryl Joannides from Cork Wineshop. It was late January 1997 and a particularly dark, wet and dreary winter’s day. We were on the back end of a 3 week trip driving all over the Italian peninsula, and beginning to get that type [...]Thi