If you’re a serious foodie you already know that one of the best, least-expensive gastronomical stargates on the continent is Portland, Ore. Fresh farm-to-table fare became the guidepost out on the West Coast long before it illuminated much of the rest of the country.
Here, courtesy of Travel Portland, are some of the less expensive local eateries that make the city a fresh food destination of choice:
- ¿Por Qué No? specializes in great, affordable food and margaritas. The ambience is decidedly Baja, and the tacos terrific. Crispy snapper tacos are a favorite.
- Vegan and raw cuisine your dish? Blossoming Lotus is luscious. Try the lasagna with seasonal vegetables and tofu ricotta. The Jamaican jerk tempeh is triumphant.
- Crave crêpes? Come on, get Le Happy. Look for the yellow façade and string of white lights – or merely follow your nose. The kitchen is very, very small and the chef is enormously talented. Chicken, ham, cheddar cheese and bacon crêpes render this place a late-night favorite, the perfect place to congregate after a show or concert.
- You know when the kitchen’s run by a James Beard best chef nominee that there’s something special afoot. That’s the case at Nostrana, where Cathy Whims’ recipes hold sway. She loves to cook up regional Italian specialties with Oregon ingredients. The pizzas come from a wood-fired oven and the pasta is hand-cut.
- So immersed in the local food culture is Park Kitchen chef Scott Dolich that he’s on the board of the Portland Farmers Market. This guy knows his ingredients. The food is commensurately fascinating, with dishes such as pork belly with gnocchi and beet tartare with shaved apples. See what we mean by local allegiance?
Sure San Francisco is noted for its Asian flair, and Seattle for the best salmon anywhere. Nestled between the two is Portland. Ignore it at your gastronomic peril.
(Image: avlyxz)
