Food Reviews & Stories “It tastes like Christmas.” That’s how a Vintage Cocktail bartender describes the Czech Becherovka herbal liqueur as he pours a taster ($2.75). The Montavilla bar owned by Justin Akins and his wife, Jaeymee, which opened last July, is packed with these kinds of boozy presents. The    More

Food Reviews & Stories [VEGGIES FOR VEGANS] Proper Eats feels like a henna- and hemp-built food cooperative: There’s a kitchen and cafe attached, and regular events include saved-seed swaps and open-mic nights. The small market up front carries a good amount of bulk foods—spices, flours, grains, cereals and li   More

Food Reviews & Stories [VEGAN SCONES] Located in Portland’s only vegan mini-mall, Sweetpea has a fully vegan sweet-and-savory bakery case, as well as a sit-down-and-stay-awhile cafe serving breakfast, lunch and then some. It’s a low-key neighborhood hangout with folks eating toasted bagels and vegan spread, an   More

Food Reviews & Stories [CARIBBEAN, AFRICAN] If you want to discover a new food or seasoning, head to the bright red, yellow and green Caribbean Spice and give yourself some time. Although the shop isn’t too large, you’ll find everything from unusual flours (plaintain, fufu, farina) and spices (jerk and adobo b   More

Food Reviews & Stories [FRESHEST FISH] Newman’s wholesales to the likes of Andina, Toro Bravo, Castagna, Bluehour and Paley’s Place, and you can get the same sweet and briny goods—often air cargoed in (in 100-pound boxes with gel ice and liners)—at the company’s fish counter and live tanks in   More

Food Reviews & Stories [VIETNAMESE] This market across the street from Northeast Sandy Boulevard’s Safeway sells cock for 98 cents a can. That’s right—the shelf label for the canned young green jackfruit reads “cock.” Seems pretty dang cheap to me. In Nam Phuong’s small produce section    More

Food Reviews & Stories Although Soluna Grill’s space on Northeast Fremont Street, which used to house Marco Shaw’s dearly departed restaurant Fife, was redesigned for its September launch, the layout of the larg ...   More

Food Reviews & Stories Old eyeglasses adorn the walls and fake flowers crowd a collage above the bar at this small Northwest beacon of crêpe and drink. Le Happy is as sweet as its pommes chantilly crêpe ($7) with baked apples, roasted hazelnuts and whipped cream. The low-lit date-night spot also does savory: T   More

Food Reviews & Stories The Press Club does it all in a small Southeast Clinton Street space: three meals a day, coffee and boozy drinks, magazines, music and events. The cocktails are stiff and cheap ($6-$7 regular, $5 happy hour), there are 20-plus whites and reds by the glass ($5-$13), and lots of snacks, sandwiches, an   More

Food Reviews & Stories There’s good Korean in Portland proper but a lot more options in Beaverton, including Country Korean, a strip-mall spot serving beer, wine and some hard-to-find eats. Ever tried steamed pig feet ($19.95, $24.95) or pan-broiled blood sausage ($11.95)? CK’s pre-meal banchan (small plates o   More