Jose Chesa of Ataula Readies Portland’s 1st Xurreria for Opening

Jose Chesa of the excellent Spanish restaurant Ataula, is preparing to open his new restaurant, 180, which specializes in the crisp pastry called xurros, commonly known as “churros”. If you aren’t familiar with the name, they are strips of fried pastry dough, usually choux. They have a distinct star-shaped exterior from the pastry nozzle used to pipe them into the cooking oil. They will be served with housemade hot drinking chocolate, marshmallow cream, caramel/peanut butter sauce, along with coffee. According to the press release, the menu will feature chocolate coated, sugar and cinnamon sprinkled and plain xurros. Filled xurros will also be available, including traditional crema catalana, dulce de leche, and chocolate with Jacobsen’s salt.

The shop, which features large windows into the open kitchen will open at 2218 NE Broadway in mid-December. You’ll find the incredibly annoying website here.

Here is the opening menu:

Xurros

Made to order, traditional xurros are fried at about 180° celsius and come out with a scrumptious crunchy exterior and warm fluffy interior. 180’s xurros also have the unexpected benefit of being vegan friendly. Xurros are available plain or with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon.

Xurros Bañados

Xurros Bañados are traditional xurros served with a delicious coating of xocolata and finished with Jacobsen’s salt.

Housemade Dipping Sauces

Xurros are made piping hot and ready to be dipped in a housemade sauce with Cocanú chocolate, the classic dip for xurros, but also a drinking chocolate! the best part! Other sauces include caramel/peanut butter and marshmallow cream.

Fillings

Xurros will be available with a selection of different fillings including traditional crema catalana, dulce de leche, or the more Portland­ centric flavor, housemade crema de xocolata.

Xuixos

Another traditional pastry from Catalonia; xuixos are a sweet cylindrical fritter that are available daily until “we sell out”, rolled in sugar and cinnamon and filled with crema catalana.

Café

Xurros without rich drinking xocolata or dark roasted espresso is like Oreos without milk, the beverages are a necessity for the ultimate Spanish experience. The 180 team researched extensively for local purveyors that could supply the taste of Spain in Portland, Oregon. Chesa and Martin found the nostalgic taste of the flavors they had growing up in Portland with Cocanú chocolate for the essential drinking xocolata and Local Roasting Co. coffee beans for 180. Homemade almonds and hazelnut milks, such Spain’s classics as Cafe Bombón and Cortado. Coffee is also served with a variety of milk options to meet most dietary restrictions.