I’ve been going through every post ever written on this site over the past week, and a name has kept popping up: Scott Shampine. I wondered what had happened to the chef, who has worked for Branch in NE, Bluehour, a Cena in Sellwood, Olea in the Pearl District and Gracie’s in the Mallory Hotel. I – Read more…
Scott Shampine
Openings and Chef Shuffles: Meat Cheese Bread, Viola and More
Los Baez, the “Mexican” restaurant on Burnside has closed. For a huge space like that, they needed huge crowds. Unfortunately, the food was so bad, people didn’t tend to go twice.
The rumor mill is full of rumblings about a giant Wongs King Seafood coming to downtown’s China Town area as part of the Uwajimaya plan. I liked WKS when they opened out in SE, but think they have been coasting ever so slowly downhill ever since. Still, it is leagues above any restaurant I have been to in that part of downtown.
New Seasons is planing to build a new store on Fremont and Williams. Still nothing near the downtown core, damn it!
A commenter in our forums says that Five Guys Burger and Fries is coming to the Cedar Hills area. I’ve never been, but a buzz sure is building about it. Now if we could just get an In-n’ Out
Pet Peeves in Dining Service and Catching Up on News
Portland Food & Drink is the best source for online menus, news on restaurant openings, and snarky, user-penned feedback.” In October, New York Magazine ran an article called Play in Portland’s Shadows. I have no idea why this just popped up in my linkback list, but the Related Links section made me laugh. Portland Food – Read more…
Chef Changes – Olea and a Cena Restaurants, Blackbird Wine Opens
For those of you who haven’t heard, the two Sungari Restaurants downtown are owned by different people. Sungari Pearl is opening a branch next to Roots in East Vancouver. Then there is Fatburger, also opening next to Roots. Ah, Fatburger; this reminds me of a story… Many years ago, they were pretty darn good; at one – Read more…
Review: Olea in the Pearl
Note. This restaurant closed in 2009 There has been a lot of buzz around town about Olea, which opened last June in the old Bima space in the Pearl District. The space: think Bima gone blond – bright walls, bright lights, huge bar area up front. Very open/airy, a welcoming space. Nice glass-enclosed room in – Read more…