• Home
    • About
      • Home
      • About the Site
      • The Authors
      • Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
      • Email me
    • Reviews
      • List of All Reviews
      • Best of Portland by year
        • Reader Survey: Best of Portland Food 2017
        • Best of Portland 2015
      • Steakhouse Roundup
        • Steakhouse Reviews Introduction
        • El Gaucho Steakhouse
        • Morton’s Steakhouse
        • Ringside Steakhouse
        • Ruth’s Chris
        • Steakhouse – Results
      • Product/Business Reviews
        • Retailer Reviews
        • Product Reviews
    • Topics
      • Food Writing
        • Alcohol Related
          • Beer
          • Wine
          • Spirits
        • April Fools Stories For Portland
        • Contests and Competition
        • Food Memories
        • Travel Writing
      • Authors / Book Reviews
      • Cheese information
      • Interviews: Honest dialog with people in the Portland food industry
      • Portland Food and Restaurant News and Discussion
      • Recipes
    • Guides
      • Guide to Portland coffee
        • Portland Coffee Guide
        • A Map of our favorite Portland coffeehouses
        • Reader Survey: Best Coffeehouses in Portland 2017
      • Guide to Local Wine Shops
      • Guide to Portland Bakeries
      • Guide to Portland Distilleries
      • Guide to Portland’s Beer Shops
    Portland Food and Drink

    Portland Food and Drink

    Restaurant News and Information For Portland Oregon Area Restaurants and Bars

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Send me email!

    Stern’s on Voodoo Donut, Toro Bravo & Trebol to Open

    By CuisineBonneFemme Last Update May 11, 2017 26 Comments

    From the Desk of Cuisine Bonne Femme:

    The Stern’s Indulge in Voodoo Donut

    Two weeks ago everyone’s favorite road food trippers Jane and Michael Stern wrote a story on Portland donut darlings Voodoo Donut. As everyone else does when they report on this unique Portland donutateur (or shall we call them a donutery?), the Sterns freaked out over Voodoo’s signature Bacon Maple Bars and vast vegan donut selection. I just don’t get it.


    Zilla Sake is now open for business

    It’s located at NE 18th and Alberta St. We took a peek inside and it looks kind of cute and kind of funky, and very much fits in on NE Alberta Street. Promising a full bar, a decent variety sakes of course, and Japanese inspired tapas, we’ll stop by in a few days and keep you posted.


    More Mexican in North Portland – Trebol to Open

    This as taken from a recent press release put out by the fine folks at Por Que No on N. Mississippi:
    “There is a new restaurant joining our community, and it is Mexican! Can’t wait for it to open. I have not met the owners/chef yet, but the name of the restaurant is “Trebol” and I believe that the chef is the former sous chef at Higgins. It looks like they are close to being open, and will definitely be worth checking out. 4835 N. Albina Ave.” Sounds good to us. We love Por Que No, but their closet size space and long lines, we do not. It will be nice to have another option in the neighborhood if Por Que is too busy.


    Toro Bravo under construction – News from Food Dude 

    One of my regular walks takes me across the Broadway Bridge, down Interstate, and up Russell St. I’ve was watching the renovation of the building next door to Wonder Ballroom wondering if a restaurant was going to be moving in, but hadn’t made it by for a while. Now the liquor license is up, and most of the construction seems finished. The restaurant will be called Toro Bravo. A construction worker told me it would be Spanish. Seems like a strange location, but I wish them the best.


    Cheap chocolate companies are trying to change the “definition of chocolate”

    According to the Salt Lake City Tribune, a group of companies is trying to get our government to change the ‘definition’ of chocolate.

    Would chocolate containing trans fats and sugar substitutes taste as sweet as the real thing? Hershey Co. and other candy makers say yes.
    The Chocolate Manufacturers Association, whose members include Hershey, Nestle SA and Archer Daniels Midland Co., has a petition before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to redefine what constitutes chocolate. They want to make it without the required ingredients of cocoa butter and cocoa solids, using instead artificial sweeteners, milk substitutes and vegetable fats such as hydrogenated and trans fats.

    ”They are trying to pull one over on us,” said Cybele May, 40, publisher of CandyBlog, on which she has encouraged more than 200 people to write the FDA to protest what she calls ”mockolate.” ”What they are asking for is permission to confuse the consumer for what we readily accept as chocolate.”

    I guess I’m just an old fashioned kinda guy, but I hope they don’t get away with this. You can read the whole article here.

    Related

    Category: Portland Food and Restaurant News and Discussion. Related posts about Por Qué No? Restaurant, Zilla Sake Restaurant.

    About CuisineBonneFemme

    Lizzy writes about the types of food she likes to cook the most; simple dishes based on the freshest ingredients and gently coaxed to bring out their best qualities. Things like roast chicken with crackling skin, meat stews, all kinds of soups, and anything on toast. You know, peasant food like your French/Southern/Thai/Lebanese Mother might make.

    In her past she held many a food service job, from a high-end traditional Japanese restaurant to a grease-pit diner off of Interstate 5. And she claims to still have nasty case of espresso wrist from the 10 billion lattes she made during her barista years.

    Lizzy has an educational background that includes food sciences and politics, and has been a past writer for both cultural and academic publications. She takes a big picture view of the role that all things gastronomic are having in shaping the economy, culture, identity, and ever changing food scene both here and elsewhere. She believes Portland is at a pivotal and creative time food wise, and is constantly amazed and surprised at the bounty our city has to offer.

    Previous Post: « Shedding a Little Light on Dark Restaurants
    Next Post: Review: Life is Meals: A Food Lover’s Book of Days by James and Kay Salter »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nikos says

      May 5, 2007 at 8:38 am

      As a transplant to Portland I am embarrassed every time Voodoo donuts is highlighted as one of THE things to see and eat in Portland!! If you want your (our) city to be portrayed as a freak show keep celebrating Voodoo donuts. Besides the doNUTS themselves are not that good and the toppings are most of the times disgusting and visually unappealing (garish colors, the bacon doesn’t even fit on the donuts. Argh!

      Reply
    2. Vespabelle says

      May 5, 2007 at 10:27 am

      If the bacon fits, you must aquit!

      Reply
    3. Betsy says

      May 5, 2007 at 7:54 pm

      That chocolate news is totally sacriligious!

      (I have to confess that I’m commenting mostly ’cause I want to see which icon I get..!)

      Reply
    4. Food Dude says

      May 6, 2007 at 2:50 am

      To prevent riot, the icons will only be on during weekends

      Reply
    5. suds sister says

      May 6, 2007 at 8:17 am

      RE: Toro Bravo

      Dude, it is indeed Spanish. It’s the venture of John Gorham, formerly of Simpatica and Viande.

      Reply
    6. Ellie says

      May 6, 2007 at 10:49 am

      Hooray for the Toro Bravo news! In my hood, nonetheless. Could it be Portland’s first decent Spanish place? (sorry, folks – I do not love those currently existing.) I was in Barcelona in January – anyone been to Cal Pep? Man oh man, would it be cool to have a place like that in PDX. Just dreaming, of course.

      Reply
    7. suds sister says

      May 6, 2007 at 2:02 pm

      RE: Toro Bravo

      Open House
      Friday May 11th
      7 pm to midnight

      Come celebrate with us the opening of our new Spanish inspired tapas restaurant. We will also celebrate the 100 years anniversary of our building and the opening of its ballroom and recording studio.

      Thereafter: “Soft Opening” on May 15th and Grand Opening on June 1st.

      John, Courtney, Ron, and the rest of the Toro Bravo crew

      120 NE Russell Street
      Portland, OR 97212
      503.281.4464
      http://www.torobravopdx.com
      eat@torobravopdx.com

      Reply
    8. Food Dude says

      May 6, 2007 at 10:29 pm

      Thanks for all the information!

      Reply
    9. JDG says

      May 6, 2007 at 10:40 pm

      So, speaking of Pinocchio and construction delays, what’s the word on the Brasserie Montmartre?

      It used to be our go-to place for some decent late-night food and drinks after a show, and I think it was spring of 2006 that we stopped by one night and saw they were closed for renovations — due to reopen in the fall, I believe.

      Well, not only have they not reopened yet, but now there is a sign in the window with the name of the same contractor that was involved in the Pinocchio construction, which is how overdue now? And a peek inside the Bra would seem to indicate a complete lack of progress there.

      Fortunately the Gilt Club is serving far better food than the Bra ever did, but if it is gone for good I will miss the vibe there…

      Reply
    10. extramsg says

      May 6, 2007 at 11:36 pm

      Hey, Suds Sister, where’d you get that little bit of info, anyway?

      Reply
    11. katie says

      May 7, 2007 at 8:26 am

      Not to be a dope, but where is Rocket located? Can’t seem to find an address for it.

      Reply
    12. suds sister says

      May 7, 2007 at 8:45 am

      RE: The Brasserie

      It’s definitely closed.

      http://portland.metblogs.com/archives/2007/05/shut.phtml

      Reply
    13. suds sister says

      May 7, 2007 at 8:48 am

      RE: Rocket

      Here’s their website, such as it is. I heard that opening weekend went well.

      http://www.rocketpdx.com/

      From the O:

      http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1177376115205850.xml&coll=7

      Reply
    14. truth says

      May 7, 2007 at 10:06 am

      1111 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR
      http://www.rocketpdx.com/

      Reply
    15. Food Dude says

      May 7, 2007 at 10:44 am

      Yup, went to rocket this weekend. Will try to get a quick hit up as soon as I’ve been one more time. also will have a Country Cat quick hit later today – already been three times.

      Reply
    16. suds sister says

      May 7, 2007 at 11:26 am

      Hey, Suds Sister, where’d you get that little bit of info, anyway?

      Why, from you, my dear!

      http://www.extramsg.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2257

      Reply
    17. Food Dude says

      May 7, 2007 at 1:59 pm

      For those that are frustrated by the useless rocket website, here are the days/hours/phone:

      1111 E. Burnside St.
      503-236-1110
      Open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday

      I dunno… Rocket is so… last weekend. What’s opening this week! ;>)

      Reply
    18. sidemeat says

      May 7, 2007 at 2:16 pm

      In some way I like that Rocket doesn’t have a $10,000 web site, or it’s own brand of olive oil (olive foam?) Perhaps the money and energy are going towards food, chairs, lighting, staff training and maybe enough cash to see themselves through the first six months in case this doesn’t take off.

      Reply
    19. Food Dude says

      May 7, 2007 at 2:27 pm

      For some reason it is taking forever for the mail server to notify me when a message is being moderated. Sorry if it takes a while for yours to get your’s posted!

      Reply
    20. Jeff says

      May 7, 2007 at 4:21 pm

      Michael Bazzani’s Pinocchio Bar and Restaurant in downtown Portland’s cultural district won’t open as planned tonight, May 3. Michael and Chef Nelia are looking forward to an opening date of March 10th, for dinner.

      Um, a 10 month delay in opening? That’s pretty significant…

      Reply
    21. JDG says

      May 7, 2007 at 6:54 pm

      Or a one week delay, if you assume they meant May 10th and not March 10th.

      I happened by there last Friday on my way to the Schnitz, they looked pretty close to opening to me (chairs upside down on tables).

      Reply
    22. Food Dude says

      May 7, 2007 at 8:03 pm

      Oops. I think I copied that directly from the PR person, but one of us obviously made a mistake (probably me). I’ll correct it.

      Reply
    23. Hunter says

      May 8, 2007 at 6:40 am

      Actually Pinocchio had their soft opening on Saturday.

      Reply
    24. vanessa bazzani Pinocchio Bar & Restaurant says

      May 8, 2007 at 6:02 pm

      yes, it has been an incredibly long road and boy do we wish we could have opened ten months ago…..sometimes you do not get what you want. we had a “friends and family” party on saturday and it was a great success. thank you for all who came and made it so wonderful. we will be opening in the next week or so. there have some final construction issues with the hood system but we are so close. otherwise the restaurant is ready so if you’re in the neighborhood stop by and see it. thank you for all your patience these past long months.

      Reply
    25. Bird says

      May 10, 2007 at 11:01 am

      Brassarie Montmarte will re-open this fall,in the same location. Hayden Enterprises is the new owner/operator.

      Reply
    26. Reverend Tex B. Acon says

      March 30, 2009 at 8:50 pm

      I really liked your blog! Praise Bacon and Hallelujah :)

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    © 2023 · PortlandFoodandDrink.com • See Terms of Service and Privacy Policy