Nuestra Cocina

(Emily Joan Greene)

Despite the steady flow of high-end Mexican food pushing into other 'hoods, perfectly acidic margaritas and some of the most consistently excellent corn tortillas in town help Southeast Division's Nuestra Cocina maintain its all-star status. Eat elevated interpretations of taquitos ($9), gorditas ($12) and sopes ($8), or simply settle in for one of the best chicken and mole plates ($20) in town.

GO: 2135 SE Division St., 503-232-2135, nuestracocina.com, 5-10 pm Tuesday-Saturday

Parker Hall

Parker Hall is a writer, musician, and home brewer from Portland. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, where he studied jazz percussion with drum legend Billy Hart (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock). Now a freelance writer and professional member of the city's jazz and indie rock scenes, he spends most of his days writing, playing music or drinking brews in his spacious North Portland basement.

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