SKINNY KENNY: Because Chef Ken Gordon of Kenny & Zuke’s is now writing a column for The Oregonian
about his life as a chef with diabetes, the downtown deli—known for its
gut-busting double-decker sandwiches, pastrami fries and heavily
schmeared bagels—is adding a healthy menu. You can now get smaller,
leaner sandwiches, a “lean” burger (it’s still 765 calories, so we
shudder to think what’s in the normal burger), chopped salad, a
Mediterranean mezza plate, and a few other “lighter” dishes. In less
healthy K&Z news, the deli has finally acquired a full liquor license—that
means you can now add vodka to any of its sodas, or have a boozy brunch
with a small cocktail menu that includes a “Jerky Mary” and an “X-Rated
Egg Cream.”
NEW PEARLS: In other drinky news, the Davis Street Tavernpeople are taking over the currently empty former Fenouil space for a new place called Jamison. It’s the fourth highish-profile planned opening in and around the Pearl District for this year—the area is also expecting Christopher Israel’s Corazon at Southwest 12th Avenue and Washington Street; New York transplant Ken Norris’ long promised fish house, Riffle NW,
in the old 50 Plates space at Northwest 13th Avenue and Flanders
Street; and the Parish, the EaT: An Oyster Bar’s owners’ second New
Orleans-inspired restaurant, at 231 NW 11th Ave.
PLAYHOUSE SAVED: The Portland City Council voted unanimously Feb. 29 to overturn the Bureau of Development Services ruling that Portland Playhouse
must cease producing theater at its home of three years, a former
church in the King neighborhood. The company’s next show, Tarell Alvin
McCraney’s In the Red and Brown Water, will open as planned March 31 at the church.
LOMPOCALYPSE NOW: WW
is counting down the precious few days until the New Old Lompoc on
Northwest 23rd Avenue becomes the ground floor of some shitty new
yuppieplex. We’ve heard a rumor the last batch of beer, to be called Lompocolypse,
will be brewed this week by alum that’ve since scattered. We couldn’t
confirm the recipe, and do not wish to start crazy rumors, but what
we’ve heard sounds ridiculous and awesome.
CONGRATS, ASHLEY: Saturday, March 3, saw 72 teams of food-cart enthusiasts hit the streets of Portland for WW’s second annual Cartathlon.
The food-cart-focused scavenger hunt gave the teams four hours to
travel around the city’s best street vendors, completing challenges and
taking photos, in a race to win free cart food for a year.
Congratulations to winning team “Dirty Ashley.”
GENERATION SELL: Want
to live the Portland dream and open a failing restaurant? We’ve made
the process even easier with our patent-pending Portland restaurant
concept generator. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to open our new
macrobiotic izakaya, Skull & Pickle Pâtisserie.
NOT DIABETIC FRIENDLY - IMAGE: Star5112
