I collect all the interesting links I find around the web and Google news, with the best intentions. They get dragged to my desktop, but I get busy, or am not feeling well enough to deal, and it seems like they collect, until a day like this comes along and I run out of space. Fasten your seat-belts and click away. News complete with snarky commentary!
From OregonLive – After 30 years of business, Foti’s Greek Deli has closed. ”
Foti Kosmas turned 65 this year, and after years operating at the same location, he and wife Jill decided it was time to retire. The allure of finally visiting Greece, fixing up the house and learning to relax make up for saying goodbye to customers who have sat at their tables since the doors opened.
They are handing over the reins to their nephew Pantelis Kosmas to open a second location of his Mad Greek Deli — the original is at 18450 Northwest West Union Road.”
From the Huff Post, “Charlie Trotter’s Closing: Renowned Restaurant to Shutter“
Charlie Trotters is considered to be a Chicago institution. If you talk about Chicago restaurants with anyone over 40, they always seem to ask, “Have you been to Charlie Trotter’s?” I haven’t. Lower your opinion of me by one point.
In an interview, the 52-year-old Trotter told the paper that he will travel around the world and that he will return to college to study philosophy and political theory.
Trotter says he’s not closing the 120-seat restaurant for financial reasons, and says that once he completes his master’s degree he will open another restaurant.
On a side-note, has anyone else noticed that ever since AOL took over Huffington Post that they crank out stories like so much pabulum. I miss the good writing.
Aviary has opened a bar, behind the dining room, separated from the restaurant. This is going to piss people off, but I don’t like it. When I’m in a bar, I want warmth. I want to be able to hear my companions. I don’t want it so bright I feel like I am in a bar at an airport. Finally, I want good drinks. I know they have just opened, but I didn’t experience any of these things; it all felt rushed together. Don’t get me wrong – I love Aviary, and if it weren’t for the fire, they would have been high in the running for my restaurant of the year. I just don’t like the bar.
From NPR – “The Average American Ate (Literally) A Ton This Year”
…what are most Americans really eating? A lot of cheese, sweets, and dense potatoes and grains.
So how does it break out? The figure is a little hard to swallow: 1,996 pounds, or nearly one ton. This is an estimate of how much — by weight — the average American eats over the course of one year.
Think about it. One TON. I will admit to being responsible for most of the cheese consumption in the US (an average of 31 pounds per person), but some of the other numbers are pretty interesting:
630 pounds of milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream. 185 pounds of meat and poultry. Wheat and other grains 197 pounds. Fruit 273 pounds. 415 pounds of vegetables (Yay! In my opinion that balances out the cheese), 141 pounds of sweetners(!) and finally, 85 pounds of fats such as butter and olive oil. I’d like to see these piled up in Pioneer Square so that we’d get the visual impact of our gluttony. I’d also be interested in seeing the numbers on salt and chemicals.
The Portland Farmers Market opens its first winter market as of tomorrow, January 7th. It will be at Shemanski Park in the South park blocks. This is going to be an interesting experiment, and I’m all for it. Will people show up in the snow/rain/ice/wind/gloom? Let’s hope so. If those damn people from Rogue River are there, I will catapult out of bed tomorrow. Seriously, have you tried their latest Rogue River Blue Cheese? The one that is wrapped in wrapped in leaves which have been macerated in Clear Creek’s Pear brandy? Nearer My God to Thee!
Here’s the blurb:
Portland Farmers Market is opening its new Winter Market at Shemanski Park. More than 35 market vendors will offer shoppers meats, fish, eggs, artisan breads, cheeses, wine, hot foods, sweets, and winter produce. As the demand for locally-grown produce continues to rise, the region’s innovative farmers are meeting that need with a variety of season-extending techniques such as planting winter-hardy varietals and using row covers, cold frames, hoop houses and greenhouses to protect crops from the elements. Local farmers will offer leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, radishes and leeks, along with storage crops such as apples, pears, potatoes and onions. Portland Farmers Market staff will provide a few large tents to protect shoppers from inclement weather. There will also be a covered seating area and pellet stoves to keep shoppers warm. With the addition of Portland Farmers Market’s new Winter Market, Portlanders now have access to locally grown farm-fresh food all year long.
WHO
Trudy Toliver, executive director of Portland Farmers Market
35 market vendors
WHEN
10 am to 2 pm, January 7
WHERE
Downtown at Shemanski Park in the South Park Blocks between SW Salmon and SW Main Streets
[before I get emails, “macerated” is not a dirty word, nor is “exacerbated”, which is coming up. Look them up. Yes, I really do get those letters.]
Meriwether’s Restaurant has announced they will –
…temporarily close from January 1st through February 11th to completely re-design and build a brand new kitchen. We will adding a 2nd kitchen line to better accommodate the restaurant & private events, installing a new larger wood-fired pizza oven and investing in all new kitchen equipment that will double the output capacity that we currently have . We are slated to re-open on Sunday, February 12th ~ just in time for the ever-busy Valentine’s Day.
That they are doubling the output capacity scares the hell outta me, as, through no fault of my own, I ended up there for Thanksgiving dinner 2011. I’ve had that meal in a lot of restaurants around town, but can I say that theirs was – by far – the worst I have had – in my life. They should be ashamed of themselves for serving that cafeteria quality crap.
Were was the best, you ask? The Country Cat. A bit of a salt issue here and there, but I liked it better than Heathman, Paley’s, Wildwood, Andina….
Jo says
Glad you are planning at least another 6 months. I look forward to checking this site. Happy New Year, may this one be an improvement on last year.
nancy says
we really wanted to like this bar. most of the drinks either had too much sugar or too much soda water. we sat on the upskirt low ‘bench’ and coffee table. it might do better with some tall tables and stools instead.
nancy says
i forgot to say which bar because i’m drunk. AVIARY
TJ says
I’ve had that Rogue River Blue Cheese in the grape leaves and brandy and it’s a beautiful thing :)
Katie says
Thanks for all your hard work, Food Dude. This was the first Portland food website I ever visited years ago when I was first trying to figure out our food scene!
bette says
Keep on Keeping on, as long as you can and want to Food Dude.
Sean says
Dude, very sorry to hear about the new health issue. I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated the site over the years. Always good content, and even the occasional fluff is entertaining. I hope you feel better.
SE Carolyn says
You have the best and most reliable and honest foodie website. Keep on as long as you can. Let us know how we can help out!
portlandoregonwine.com says
FD, we love your site and second the remarks of SE Carolyn of you having total integrity and quality!
Food Dude says
Thank you!