Scoop: Deli Downsizing

1. 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.”

1. NEW PEARLS: In other drinky news, the Davis Street Tavern people 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.”

1. 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.

WWeek 2015