Acclaimed Spanish Chef Josep Vidal Brings Catalonian Cuisine to the United States
From the press release. A menu doesn’t seem to be available yet.
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 2, 2017) — The Portland extension of Catalonian restaurant Can Font opens this week, June 3, in the Pearl District’s Cosmopolitan Building. “Three years ago I was visiting Portland and I saw a city growing quickly and I fell deeply in love,” says Chef Josep Vidal, who partnered with Portland-based real estate broker Vladimir Zaharchook to open the restaurant. Fresh seafood, locally-sourced produce, and a rotating selection of rice and pasta paella dishes bring the heart of modern Spanish cuisine to a city that echoes Chef Josep’s own philosophy of food.
Josep’s kitchen is a place where the flavor of each ingredient is highlighted, elevated, and treated with respect. The menu relies on local, high-quality ingredients, specifically seafood. “I have met with several suppliers,” says Josep, “and I have been surprised by their kindness, their way of dealing with future clients.” Can Font’s menu requires a handful of ingredients that are typically hard to find in the Pacific Northwest, but hand-selected vendors have risen to the challenge. Josep says he is grateful for the help and guidance these local suppliers have extended. Can Font’s existing partnerships include: Conserva, SP Provisions, Sheldon Farms, Smith Teamaker, Corkscru, Nikis, Newman’s, Alexis, Ocean Beauty, and Park Avenue Fine Wines.
Chef Josep describes his approach to cooking as “traditional cuisine elaborated with an avant-garde Mediterranean flair.” When Josep met Vladimir, he quickly recognized a shared passion for innovation and rich culinary experiences. Vladimir’s familiarity with Barcelona, Spain impressed Josep. After a visit to restaurant’s original location in Barcelona, Vladimir and Josep established a business partnership and began concepting the restaurant that would become Portland’s take on Can Font.
Located on the main floor of the Pearl District’s Cosmopolitan Building, Can Font’s urban setting creates an ambiance all its own. The restaurant’s interior mirrors the urban aesthetic outside its floor-to-ceiling windows. An elegant dining room, conceptualized by Jenny Baines of Baines Design, comfortably seats 60 guests among intentional touches of walnut and shades of deep turquoise. As the restaurant grows, six-to-seven bar seats will be added to a chef’s counter in the center of the dining room, where patrons can observe Chef Josep and his team prepare modern Spanish dishes.
The open kitchen concept, created by Ida York Designs, was built for the chef to enjoy and patrons to observe. Multiple work stations, specialty equipment, and beautiful tile walls mix the beauty of the kitchen with the dining experience. Compared to the idyllic countryside setting of Can Font’s original location near Barcelona, Can Font meets Portland with modern design flourished with unexpected touches of vibrant simplicity.
“Over the last three years we have become more than just business partners, we’ve become a family,” says Vladimir. “After many years of planning, I am excited to bring my cuisine to Portland, a city where people wholeheartedly respect the food they eat,” says Chef Josep. “I can’t wait to be part of this community.”
# # #About Can Font Portland
Can Font, along with its sister restaurant in Barcelona, offers traditional cuisine with a flair for modernity and avant-garde specialties that are a proven success in the Catalonia region of Spain.Can Font showcases the beneficial properties of the Catalan/Mediterranean cuisine and emphasizes the importance of sourcing high quality local products when possible to minimize the overall impact on the environment.
Can Font is located at 1015 Northrup Street in Portland’s Pearl District.Phone: (503) 224-3909
Website: canfontportland.com
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 5-10 PM, Sunday, 10 AM-8 PM (Brunch available until 4 PM)
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