New Year, New List: Zusman's Best Restaurants in Portland - and the Overrated Ones As Jerome J. Garcia and Robert C. Hunter once wrote, “The winter was so hard and cold, froze ten feet ‘neath the ground.” Portland’s darkest season made me want to flee or sleep, in turns. But at last Springy things are sprung in … [Read more...] about Top Ten Portland Restaurants – and Overrated – May 2017
Ben Bettinger
Reader Survey 2015: Best Steakhouse in Portland
The Best Steakhouse in Portland 2015 has had the same restaurants in the top two every year since 2011. With the changes both are making, I wouldn't be surprised to see the trend to continue. When restaurants remove prices from their websites, it pisses me off. Three of the winning restaurants do not post prices on … [Read more...] about Reader Survey 2015: Best Steakhouse in Portland
Musical Chefs: Mondok, Bettinger, Adams, Giambalvo
Daniel Mondok, most recently of Genoa (closed), Paulee (closed), Sel Gris (closed), June (closed), Olea (closed), and Carlyle (closed), has taken a job at Swank & Swine. (Note that I may have missed some restaurants on that list, but does anyone notice anything in common?) Portland Monthly has sort of a … [Read more...] about Musical Chefs: Mondok, Bettinger, Adams, Giambalvo
More Portland Chefs Featured on Esquire Network’s Knife Fight
Esquire Network's Knife Fight is making sure that Portland is well represented. On the August 5th episode, Greg Denton of Portland's OX Restaurant will be going up against Jason Wilson of Seattle's Crush. They will have to create at least two dishes in one hour that incorporate chicken gizzards, juniper berries, and … [Read more...] about More Portland Chefs Featured on Esquire Network’s Knife Fight
Bettinger Skips from Imperial to Laurelhurst Market
In a press release today, Ben Dyer of the ever popular Laurelhurst Market and Butcher Shop, announced that Ben Bettinger will be taking over as executive chef, replacing Shannon Preble, who is stepping down to pursue "other passions". As I reported earlier this week, Bettinger is leaving his current position as … [Read more...] about Bettinger Skips from Imperial to Laurelhurst Market
Chef Ben Bettinger Moving on from Imperial
Odd that we get this news so far in advance - Imperial Chef Ben Bettinger is leaving the restaurants Imperial and Portland Penny Diner this August. According to Eat Beat, Vitaly Paley will be taking over the restaurant until a replacement is found. No word on where Bettinger is headed. Bettinger is an alumni of … [Read more...] about Chef Ben Bettinger Moving on from Imperial
New News! Paley’s Adding Two More Restaurants, Pink Slime Deathwatch!
The Oregonian got the scoop on two new restaurants that Vitaly and Kimberly Paley are planning for downtown Portland. The "Imperial" will go into the space at the Hotel Lucia recently vacated by Typhoon. The second will be called "Portland Penny Diner", which will be located across the hall. As I've reported before, … [Read more...] about New News! Paley’s Adding Two More Restaurants, Pink Slime Deathwatch!
Chef Ben Bettinger Leaving Beaker & Flask
Ben Bettinger, chef at the popular SE restaurant Beaker & Flask, is leaving to join his old mentor Vitaly Paley at his new Downtown restaurant. From Oregon Live, "Coming to Beaker and Flask was a huge stepping stone, my first opportunity to find and develop my own style," he says. "Now I have the opportunity to … [Read more...] about Chef Ben Bettinger Leaving Beaker & Flask