Food News

This Week In Portland Food News: Caspian Kabob Returns, Hair of the Dog Says Goodbye, and Esquire Names Takibi One of America's Best Bars

June 17, 2022 Edition
June 17, 2022
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Esquire declared Takibi one of the best bars in the country this week. (Takibi)
This week, Caspian Kabob debuts its new brick-and-mortar in Beaverton, Esquire proclaims Takibi one of the best bars in the country, and the pioneering Hair of the Dog Brewing Company sets a date for its upcoming closure. Read on for all of that and more tasty tidbits, plus events happening this weekend, like Champagne and Oyster Social. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.

NEW OPENINGS AND RETURNS

Caspian Kabob Add to a List
This popular Mediterranean food business, which closed its cart at the Prost Marketplace pod in North Portland three years ago, hosted the grand opening of its new Beaverton brick-and-mortar restaurant on Thursday. The menu features mezze platters, kabobs (with options for chicken, veggies, and beef/lamb), falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, and more.
Beaverton
Pickup, delivery, dine-in

Gilded Raccoon Wine Lounge Add to a List
In late May, Backyard Social Add to a List co-owners Dani Healey and Emory Brun launched this lounge offering "sass, class, and trash" in equal measure, complete with taxidermied raccoon decor, bites like beet pickled eggs and smoked duck rillettes, and a variety of wine and cocktails.
Overlook
Dine-in

Taqueria Los Ponchos Add to a List
Also in late May, the team behind RepĂșblica Add to a List , La Fondita Add to a List , and La Perlita Add to a List opened this taqueria spinoff. The menu features tacos, quesadillas, sides like duck fat papas fritas and refried beans, cocktails, beer, and mezcal.
Pearl District
Dine-in

FUTURE OPENINGS

Doc Marie's Add to a List
We've got an update on this upcoming "lesbian bar for everyone": According to a press release, the spot named for early medical doctor, activist, and lesbian Marie Equi plans to open in the former Elvis Room Add to a List space on 203 SE Grand Avenue on July 1. The opening weekend festivities will include a DJ and dance party, karaoke, and a debut Queens, Queers and Quiche Add to a List drag brunch, which will feature a mimosa special created in collaboration with Chambord and will raise funds for the Black Resilience Fund. It will be Portland's only dedicated lesbian bar once it opens.
Buckman

Holler Treats Add to a List
In response to the popularity of its ice cream, this nostalgic dessert bar in Sellwood-Moreland plans to reopen as a scoop shop on June 21, with ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes, and other creamy treats. Holler pastry chef Danielle Bailey will serve up flavors like banana caramel streusel and strawberry rhubarb sorbet.
Sellwood-Moreland

CLOSURES

Hair of the Dog Brewing Company Add to a List
Owner and founder Alan Sprints first announced on Valentine's Day Add to a List that Hair of the Dog, his trailblazing craft brewery known for its unique barrel-aged beers, was closing this summer after nearly 30 years of business due to his upcoming retirement. Now, the brewery has an official closing date: Sprints recently revealed that the spot will close its doors permanently on June 26.
Buckman

Ocean City Seafood Add to a List
Oregon Live reports that this beloved dim sum destination appears to have closed and is not responding to phone calls or emails.
Powellhurst-Gilbert

OTHER FOOD NEWS

James Beard Foundation hosts 2022 awards ceremony
Although a few local chefs and restaurateurs (including Carlo Lamagna of Magna Kusina Add to a List , Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Gado Gado Add to a List and Oma’s Hideaway Add to a List , and Akkapong Earl Ninsom of Eem Add to a List , Langbaan, and Hat Yai) were finalists at this year's James Beard Award ceremony Add to a List on Monday, Portland was ultimately snubbed, with no locals receiving medals. However, at least a couple culinary luminaries were honored outside of the restaurant categories: Top Chef star Gregory Gourdet, who plans to open his debut restaurant Kann Add to a List soon, took home a media award earlier this week for his cookbook Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health, co-authored by J.J. Goode, and Kann chef de cuisine Varanya Geyoonsawat has been selected as one of the foundation's TasteTwenty chefs, who will participate in chef dinners and tastings in the James Beard Taste America event series this year.

Takibi named one of the best bars in America by Esquire
Esquire magazine named Takibi Add to a List , the izakaya-inspired Japanese bar located inside the outdoor lifestyle retailer Snow Peak's North American flagship store, one of the best bars in the US on Wednesday. Style director Jonathan Evans praised the bar's drinks program developed by legendary bartender Jim Meehan, writing, "Be certain not to miss the Tanigawa, Takibi’s signature riff on the julep. Blending single-malt whisky and umeshu (a liqueur made from ume plums) and piled high with shaved ice from a traditional kakigori maker, it’s the ethos of the whole place distilled into a single drink."

Buoy Beer Company and Wedgehead suffer damage
In two unrelated events, a pair of Oregon businesses were the unfortunate victims of damage this week: Astoria-based Buoy Beer Company's 90-year-old building partially collapsed into the river on Tuesday evening, while a car drove through the window of the pinball bar Wedgehead Add to a List at 12:40 am on Thursday. Luckily, no one was hurt in either instance. Wedgehead boarded up its windows and is back open for business, while Buoy is temporarily closed until further notice.

POP-UPS AND EVENTS

FRIDAY

Masters of Lager Add to a List
Eight Oregon breweries, including Von Ebert Brewing, pFriem Family Brewers, Wayfinder Beer, Zoiglhaus Brewing, Occidental Brewing, Heater Allen Brewing, Rosenstadt Brewery, and Foreland Beer, will vie for the honor of being proclaimed the champion Master of Lager. Try a blind tasting of all 16 lagers and cast your vote for your favorite. Each entry will also be available by the pint.
Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom, 3-11 pm

Big Yard Studio Add to a List
This annual art fundraiser celebrates Juneteenth with a spotlight on locally and nationally renowned Black artists. It's the perfect night out, with curated art and performance by buzzy names like MOsley WOtta, Derrick Adams, and Isaka Shamsud-Din, plus yummy cocktails and appetizers. It all benefits Big Yard, a local foundation empowering disadvantaged communities through access to literature, recreation, and the arts.
The Leftbank Annex, 7-10 pm

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Vegan Crawl: 28th Avenue Restaurant Row Add to a List
Taste vegan dishes and summery drinks at Boxcar Pizza, Canteen, Epif, and The Sudra on this plant-based food crawl. Get stamps on your passport from each location for a chance to win gift cards to all four.
28th Avenue Restaurant Row

SATURDAY

Champagne and Oyster Social Add to a List
Indulge in the winning combination of slippery, briny bivalves from Hama Hama Oysters and fizzy wine. Beer, cider, and wine are also available.
The Civic Taproom & Bottleshop, 5-8 pm

Drag Brunch at Shine Add to a List
Take in a fabulous performance by "colorful, kooky, and highly caffeinated" queen Nicole Onoscopi and guests over brunch fare like eggs Benedict and mimosas.
Shine Distillery & Grill, 12:30-3 pm

SUNDAY

Daddy Brunch Add to a List
You're formally invited to bring your daddy, zaddy, or "whoever the heck you want" to the Side Yard Farm's sumptuous Southern-inspired Sunday brunch buffet, which will feature sticky buns, buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches, an "urban farmer" salad, smashed and fried potatoes, and beverages such as mimosas, bloody Marys, and coffee from Extracto Coffee. A limited number of kits will also be available for takeout.
The Side Yard Farm & Kitchen

The Sports Bra 1st Annual Pride Block Party Add to a List
This recently opened bar dedicated to women's sports will sling drinks from Freeland Spirits, Away Days Brewing, Landmass Wines, and Tito's Vodka and food specials from SalviPDX and Sammich at its inaugural pride bash. DJs Naomi Sioux, Claudia Martine, and Bad Wizard will add to the ambience.
The Sports Bra, 11 am-11 pm

JUNE 17-26

Portland Beer Week Add to a List
The annual celebration of all things beery and beautiful in the Pacific Northwest returns in grand style, stretching the definition of "week" to encompass 10 whole days, and sprawling all over the city like a freshly shaken can of lager popped with no regard, featuring a wide range of events at notable breweries and venues.
Various locations

JUNE 20-26

Portland Mercury's Sandwich Week 2022 Add to a List
IT'S A FACT: The pinnacle of human ingenuity is undoubtedly THE SANDWICH. And at long last, it's time to celebrate humankind's greatest feat with DC Structures presents the Portland Mercury's Sandwich Week! And if you love sandwiches, you are gonna lose your damn mind, because from Monday, June 20 to Sunday, June 26, Portlanders will be feasting on delectable, original sandwiches built by 30 of the city's most creative sandwich makers... and if that's not enough, each of those sammies can be had for a mere $8! Are you dreaming? NO, YOU ARE NOT! The Mercury's Sandwich Week is not only a perfect excuse to shove a delicious sandy (or 10... or 20) into your mouth, but it's also a great way to support and introduce yourselves to local restaurants who might not be on your radar. (Check out our Sandwich Week map to plot your sandwich-eating path!)
Various locations

SPECIALS

Lauretta Jean's Add to a List
Summer weather may not be here yet, but the bakeshop Lauretta Jean's is bringing seasonal cheer nonetheless with its "strawberry short pie," made with layers of fresh strawberries, sponge cake, lemon curd and vanilla pastry cream and topped with fresh whipped cream.
Richmond
Pickup

Mama ĐĂșt Add to a List
Thuy Pham's vegan Vietnamese spot is currently serving Peking "duck" bao buns, which feature marinated plant-based duck tucked into bao buns and topped with house-fermented carrots, green onion oil, and a drizzle of hoisin sauce.
Buckman
Pickup, dine-in

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