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They go by many names: pancakes, hotcakes, griddlecakes and flapjacks. They are at the center of American breakfast cuisine, right up there with eggs, bacon, and the unfortunately named French toast. They are fantastically easy to mess up, but when it’s cooked right, there is no beating a fluffy buttermilk pancake topped with butter and maple syrup.

As a lover of all things pancake, I decided to make it my mission to find the best pancakes that Portland has to offer. I spent a few weeks traveling to various breakfast joints and ordering up full stack after full stack of buttermilk pancakes. All of my judgements were made based on the quality of the pancakes themselves, and not on any other ingredients placed on or within the flapjacks.

Slappy Cakes

4246 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR 97215

4 Sticks of butter

There is a joy involved in cooking pancakes that restaurants just cannot provide. Want your flapjacks to be burned to a crisp? Want your chocolate chips arranged to form your initials? At most pancake houses, you can make such requests when you order, but you will probably get some hesitation from your waiter. At Slappy Cakes though, you get total control.

(Photo: Tucker Gordon)

The system works like this: you order a particular type of batter (buttermilk for me, of course), toppings, and syrup, and they are all delivered to your table in containers. Next, you pour batter into the shape of a pancake, as large or small as you wish, onto the large griddle that is situated at the center of the table. Throw in all the toppings that you wish, flip the pancake, remove it, douse it in butter and syrup, and enjoy.

With the freedom of cooking however, comes simple pancake batter. The cakes taste like ones straight out of Joy of Cooking, with a good flavor overall, but a lack of fluffiness or any sort of pop. Most pancakes are a bit salty or a sweet, which adds good flavor to them, but these just split the difference.

But, it seems to me that Slappy Cakes keeps their pancake batter basic in order to add a plethora of flavors. You wouldn’t want to add bacon to a sweet pancake, would you? That’s why Slappy Cakes works. They do not have the best pancakes in Portland, but that’s not what you are paying for. When you go to Slappy Cakes, you are paying for creative, fun and exciting pancakes and flavors.

Original Hotcake House

1002 SE Powell Blvd., Portland OR, 97202

2 sticks of butter

The Original Hotcake House is one of the most popular locations for a late-night meal, being featured on the Food Network for “the best of After Hours Dining.” The appeal is obvious: open 24 hours, pretty cheap, and generous portions. However, that’s about all that the Hotcake House has going for it.

The pancakes themselves leave much to be desired. When I visited in the midst of the breakfast rush (11:00 AM on a Sunday), I received a couple cakes whose consistency resembled Gushers fruit snacks. Once I found bites that did not pour uncooked batter in my mouth, I found nothing redeeming in taste. Bland and starchy are not qualities I seek out in my flapjacks, but ones that I was unfortunately faced with in the Original Hotcake House.

If it were late at night, and I was starving and within walking distance of the Original Hotcake House, then I would go. Otherwise, I would go to one of the many other pancake destinations in East Portland in a heartbeat.

Stepping Stone Café

2390 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210

3 sticks of butter

Stepping Stone Café is undoubtedly the most famous restaurant on this list. Their fame can be attributed primarily to the beasts forged in their kitchen: mancakes. These colossal titans of pancakes measure about a foot in diameter, while still maintaining a good fluffiness. They were even featured on Travel Channel’s “Man Vs. Food”. With these mancakes at their disposal, Stepping Stone exists not to simply fill you up, but push you beyond the point of feeling full. These pancakes will break you.

However, it is clear that the size of these mancakes masks their taste. Powering your way through an entire mancake proves a much more difficult task when you are confronted with their bland and starchy taste. They’re fluffy, sure, but in the same way that a packing peanut is fluffier, but much less desirable than a normal peanut. The only hope for completing “the mancake challenge” is to soak your cakes with butter and syrup until you cannot taste them anymore.

If you’re feeling hungry, I would still recommend Stepping Stone’s mancakes, for no other reason other than the challenge itself. But if you’re looking to eat a delicious pancake, keep walking and don’t look back.

Fat City Café

7820 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland, OR 97219

2.5 sticks of butter

The pancakes at Fat City. (Photo: Tucker Gordon)

Fat City Café is an East Coast diner in Portland. There are license plates and posters covering every inch of wall, a constant noise level, and just an overall sense of chaos. But it’s not deterring at all. In fact, it’s the kind of atmosphere that just makes you want to sit down and eat as many pancakes as possible.

And that brings me to the cakes themselves. I think they could best be described with the sound “eh.” To quote my dining partner, Tyler Quatraro ’13, “they’re just eh.” That is all to say, there is just nothing special about them. They are not bad, but they are nothing to write home about either. The pancakes taste very similar to their brethren at Stepping Stone, but without the colossal size. In this instance, bigger is better.

It essentially comes down to this: if you want a great pancake in Portland, there are better places to go. If you want to go to Fat City, I would suggest ordering something else if you want any sort of memory of your meal.

Bread and Ink Café

3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214

4 sticks of butter

Bread and Ink is well known among residents of Southeast Portland as a breakfast spot where people primarily go for their delicious waffles topped with fried chicken. However, their pancakes may rank even higher.

The plate of pancakes that you receive comes topped with powdered sugar, butter, and house syrup on the side (unfortunately you have to pay extra for the maple). Each cake is fluffy, buttery, and hits a balance between sweet and savory. In all of my trips to Bread and Ink, which definitely number in double digits, I have never encountered a pancake that was not cooked to perfection: not gooey and not burnt, but perfectly in between. The chefs here have mastered the art of adding an extra crispy layer to the outside, while still preserving the standard pancake consistency inside.

So, if you are out and about in Portland looking for the best pancake money can buy, head over to Bread and Ink on Hawthorne. You will not be disappointed.

Now, after reading this, you may be thinking a very logical question: if Bread and Ink was the best, why did it not get five sticks of butter? The answer is very simple: after all of my travels, I still believe that there is a better pancake out there. There were flaws—fixable flaws—with every single pancake that went into my mouth. Maybe that perfect pancake is at some other restaurant, waiting for me. Maybe it’s on a griddle at someone’s home (the pancakes of Hotlips Pizza owner David Yudkin are still my reigning favorites). The bottom line is this: the perfect pancake is out there still, and I am making it my mission to find it. Until then however, I will be making Bread and Ink Café my restaurant of choice for pancakes.

New York City may be the hotbed of US fashion, but Portlanders are influencing that fashion scene, one designer at a time.

Michelle Lesniak Franklin is the seventh Portlander to appear on the fashion design reality show “Project Runway,” which is filmed in New York City. Currently, Lesniak Franklin is one of four remaining designers from a starting pool of sixteen. At this point in the season, she has made it past the preliminary design challenges, and is working on a collection to potentially show at New York Fashion Week. From the three finalists who are chosen to show at Fashion Week, one will be selected the winner of “Project Runway,” which serves as an introduction to the fashion industry and opens doors for sponsorship.

Lesniak Franklin with Hudson and their designs for the Guggenheim Museum challenge. (Photo: Fashionado)

“Project Runway” is known for the grueling environment it puts designers through—over thirteen weeks of long hours, little sleep (try four hours a night), and kooky challenges that tend to tax designers’ sanity and sap creativity. Lesniak Franklin is striking in that throughout, she has retained her sense of self, both in her designs and her outlook. During the unconventional challenge—Lesniak Franklin’s favorite—when designers created garments from materials found at a hardware store and a flower shop, Lesniak Franklin noted that, “It looks like every single garment was made by a crazy person, and none of these people are staying in the same mental hospital.” This mix of honesty and quirkiness has characterized Lesniak Franklin and informed her designs throughout the season.

(Photo: au-clothing.com)

Lesniak Franklin describes her design aesthetic as “geek chic,” which is unsurprising given her Portland roots. She began “shortening bridesmaids dresses from the [’60s], cutting open [necklines] and shifting seams” in high school, and went on to study printmaking in college. While in school, she “would design a print, put it on fabric and then create a garment,” and she thus began to cull her interests in printmaking and apparel.

Her early affinity for vintage and printmaking continues to influence her work and make it distinctive from that of her fellow contestants. While working with designer Amanda Valentine on episode seven’s Duck Tape prom dress challenge, Lesniak Franklin created her own houndstooth-inspired textile out of three colors of duct tape. Her punk-rock dress incidentally got her the win that week.

Four weeks later, she collaborated with contestant Stanley Hudson to create an avant-garde look inspired by the Guggenheim Museum, as well as a companion ready-to-wear look. For their avant-garde look, Lesniak Franklin created an olive-green overcoat with a long train onto which she hand-painted a whimsical, nearly-floral pattern. She additionally created the print they used in their wearable look, which featured a rotated sketch of the face of a woman on the brink of insanity.

The winning prom dress Lesniak Franklin and Valentine designed for the duct tape challenge. (Photo: Threads Magazine)

Despite her success and creativity, even Lesniak Franklin at one point doubted her presence on the show. Her moment of tear-shedding, one nearly every designer on the show experiences, came at the end of episode ten, in which the designers had to create an editorial look for the May issue of Marie Claire magazine. In spite of being the bottom designer, Lesniak Franklin was given a second chance and allowed to remain on the show.

In her backstage interview after learning she had been granted a “do or die moment,” as show host Heidi Klum dubbed it, she succumbed to tears and stated that in that instant, she did not want to continue on the show. She explained that she was confused as to how to please the judges with her designs, and disappointed with herself for feeling so unmotivated.

However, the next episode saw Lesniak Franklin back to her chipper self and kick-ass attitude, and she is now primed to create a collection that may show at Fashion Week.

Despite being “the hardest experience [she has] ever had to go through,” Lesniak Franklin asserts that “I would do it all over again!”

With an attitude like that, it’s no surprise that she’s made it this far.

(Photo: Mary Whitsell)

During this year’s Black History Month, the Portland Art Museum opened a photography exhibition featuring the Portland-based photographer Carrie Mae Weems. Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Videois a compilation of over 200 installations from Weems’s 30-year career. The exhibit uses photography and videography to tell a story of race and gender inequality in American society.

(Photo: Mary Whitsell)

In the exhibit, Weems examines the common stereotypes of African American culture, and especially focuses on the history of the African American working class. She uses different artistic techniques in her photos, such as blurring and coloring, but they all tell a similar and relatable story. At the beginning of each installation, a plaque explains some of the background information, which is extremely helpful in understanding her work. The social norms regarding blacks throughout history are brought to light and subverted, bringing the viewer to a new understanding of racism in American culture.

(Photo: Mary Whitsell)

(Photo: Mary Whitsell)

Last month, high school students put their twist on Broadway musicals in Grant High School’s Grease and Catlin Gabel’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Grant students sing in their production of Grease. (Photo: Amelia Wimmer)

Poodle skirts and leather jackets were flying as Grant High School students danced and sang their way across the stage in their winter musical, Grease. The detailed costumes and props made the audience feel like they were living in the ’50s, yet the performers brought their own attitude and humor to the widely known script.

Nik Wagner, who played the part of Kenickie, speaks to the pressure of performing in a well-known play: “[I had] to sing a solo in [the] musical called ‘Greased Lightning’ which is one of the play’s most popular songs and is a performance that the audience is expecting to be incredible. At first I was a bit nervous but after a few simple steps of guidance from Chris Lane, director, and John Eiseman, vocal instructor, I was able to … sell the performance with the right attitude and level of confidence.”

Chris Lane, director, says they decided to base their show more on the original play than on the film: “We pretty much adhered to the original script with a few minor adjustments … We were going for a slightly grittier look and feel that was closer to the original production.”

Grease proved to be the lively and gritty show that was expected as the teens on stage worked through the prominent issues in the play like peer pressure, fitting in, and teen pregnancy. Grease ran two weekends in early February.

Audiences can catch Grant’s spring musical production of The Wiz later this year.

The graphic from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee play program. (Graphic: Elyssa Kiva)

Catlin Gabel’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a sensation managed under a mere eleven-person cast. The story of adolescents maturing and learning lessons through the course of a spelling bee was depicted in a touching and hilarious light, with original spins on costumes and jokes.

Director Elizabeth Gibbs explains, “Spelling Bee is an interesting musical, because the characters are mostly middle school-aged, but they are traditionally played by adults … I think that in giving these roles to high schoolers, the very real challenges tackled by these young characters resonate even more strongly.”

Ian Fyfield, who played Vice Principal Panch, speaks to the message that he interpreted from the play: “the message of the show to me is that your upbringing is not what defines you. The people you meet and the actions you take are what define you.”

Impromptu additional spelling bee contestants selected from the audience gave the play a different feel every night. It ran the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March. Audiences who missed the production can attend Catlin’s one-acts and the senior play production of The Museum this spring.

The Portland Art Museum is a great place to visit, as it contains a wide collection of interesting and inspiring galleries. Over the next few months, it will showcase several new exhibitions including Reflections on Artistic Life, Three Decades of Photography and Video, and A Century of Iconic Bicycle Design.

In the Studio
Reflections on Artistic Life
February 2 – May 19, 2013

In the Studio revisits more than one hundred years of printmaking. The show will include work by Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, Philip Pearlstein, Honoré Daumier, John Sloan, Warrington Colescott, and Red Grooms. This exhibition traces a century of art history and showcases diverse techniques in printmaking, as well as painting and sculpture.

The Portland Art Museum. (Photo: Kate Ellis)

Carrie Mae Weems
Three Decades of Photography and Video
February 2 – May 19, 2013

Photographer Carrie Mae Weems is internationally recognized for her art, which investigates many issues of race, gender, and social class. Three Decades of Photography and Video presents more than two hundred photographs, videos, and installations tracing the evolution of Weems’ career.

Weems speaks to her message and style in her biography, saying, “despite the variety of my explorations, throughout it all it has been my contention that my responsibility as an artist is to work, to make art, beautiful and powerful; to shout bravely from the roof-tops and storm barricaded doors and voice the specifics of our historic moment.”

Cyclepedia
A Century of Iconic Bicycle Design
June 8 – September 8, 2013

Gathered from the collection of designer Michael Embacher, A Century of Iconic Bicycle Design features more than thirty bicycles, each representing important moments in the evolution of bicycle design. This show includes many different types of bikes, such as racing, mountain, single speed, touring, tandem, and more. Although it does not open until June, this exhibition should be well worth the wait.

Portland Art Museum: 1219 SW Park Ave, 97205
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Eating out gluten- or wheat-free can be a difficult task. With a few years of experience, I’ve discovered some hidden gems in the gluten-free culinary world, and will share everything from bakeries to pizza shops in this series of articles.

Pizza A Go Go

A delicious pizza from Pizza a Go Go. (Source: pizza-agogo.com <http://pizza-agogo.com> )

Pizza A Go Go is on the corner of N. Williams Ave. and NE Cook St., and is an amazing pizza shop. Though it only served regular pizzas when it first opened, when gluten-free dining became more common in Portland, Pizza A Go Go decided to join in. If you have a serious gluten allergy I warn you that although they are careful, wheat products are cooked and prepared in the same kitchen area, so cross-contamination is a possibility.

The gluten-free pizza dough is thin and perfectly browned, and you can choose from an assortment of available toppings to place on the bubbly melted cheese. If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, they also have crunchy and flavorful salads.

Where: 3240 N. Williams Ave. Portland, OR 97227
Phone: (503) 335-0300
Hours: 11am-10pm, 7 days a week

The Berlin Inn
If you’ve ever want to try traditional German food, check out the the Berlin Inn. This cozy bar, restaurant, and bakery has the best German food in Portland; it is known as “Portland’s Freshest Taste of Germany since 1992.” The menu features symbols next to the foods that can be prepared gluten-free, and if something on the menu without a symbol catches your eye, the friendly and welcoming staff members are happy to try to create gluten-free versions of most anything on the menu. From schnitzels, to bratwurst, to creamy fondue, this restaurant will give you a scrumptious meal. One of my favorites at the restaurant is the pork schnitzel with Dijon cream sauce. The crunchy crust on the schnitzel with the smooth sauce creates the perfect bite.

If the divine appetizers and delectable entrees aren’t enough to fill your stomach, then make sure to look at the dessert menu. The fluffy and dainty sponge cake recipe that they have altered to be gluten-free is a treat that everyone should try.

Where: 3131 SE 12th Ave. Portland, OR 97202
Phone: (503) 236-6761
Hours: 5pm -9pm, Wednesday – Sunday

View CatlinSpeak Lunch Spots in a larger map

Little Big Burger
Address: 930 Northwest 23rd Avenue, Portland
Type of Food: Burgers and fries
Commute Time: 10 minutes
Price Range: $
Best Deal: $4.25 for a bacon cheeseburger
Vegetarian Options: $3.50 for a veggie burger

Photo: Simon McMurchie

Cheap, simple and tasty, Little Big Burger is the perfect place to have a quick and easy lunch. The name may have you expecting sliders, but the smaller patties pack quite a punch, and a single burger and fries is usually enough for a full meal. All the burgers come with lettuce, onions, and pickles, with a choice of cheese and bacon for an extra 50 cents each. Though they are not known for their vegetarian selections, they do offer a solid veggie burger for just $3.50. They use sea salt and truffle oil in what amounts to some of the best fries you can find in Portland. Little Big Burger is located just a few blocks down from Burnside on 23rd, and has seating inside and outside. Its feel inside is perhaps best described as minimalistic, with a large menu on the wall and an open grill in the back right corner of the restaurant. It works well, and it’s nice to see your food made in front of you. Ultimately, their menu is that of a classic burger joint, with fries, a coke, and a cheeseburger being the optimal meal. –Simon McMurchie

Pizza Schmizza

Address: 7535 SW Barnes Rd., Portland

Photo: Emi Foster

Type of Food: Pizza, salads, and pasta

Commute Time: 1.2 minutes

Price Range: $-$$

Best Deal: One slice of cheese or pepperoni with a bottomless coupon is $1.

Vegetarian Options: Yes

Only a one-minute drive from campus, Pizza Schmizza fulfills the three C’s necessary for an accessible student lunch spot: cheap, convenient, and consistent. While their slices may be too oily for some tastes, if you’re into cheesy and greasy, definitely check out Pizza Schmizza. A variety of pizza flavors from Spicy Thai to “No Kiss Tonight” (which includes garlic chicken, red onions, feta cheese, and alfredo sauce as a substitute for marinara) are available to order by the slice if you are running short on time. At a maximum of $3.50 for a generously sized slice of pizza, Pizza Schmizza is also affordable for students––especially if you were able to snag one of those bottomless coupons from Glenn a few weeks ago, which knock two bucks off of any slice of pizza. The laid-back atmosphere of the restaurant is open to yappy high school students, so it’s a good spot for students traveling in groups as well. –Emi Foster

Daily Cafe
Address: 902 NW 13th Ave, Portland
Type of Food: Sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries
Commute Time: 12 minutes
Price Range: $$

Photo: Kate Ellis

Best Deal: Soup and salad
Vegetarian Options: Yes

With the cold autumn weather settling in, the Daily Cafe is a great place to get warm, affordable, and delicious food! In the Pearl District among small boutiques and coffee shops, it is only a short drive from Catlin Gabel. Walk in and order your choice from the register. Take a seat at one of the small wooden tables and wait for your food to come to you. The service is fast and friendly, and the restaurant space is open and bright, perfect for meeting with some friends or working on that homework you really need to finish. Meals are affordable, and the menu consists of a variety of simple options such as sandwiches, soups, and salads. One of my favorite dishes there is the falafel, made with crispy, hot chickpea fritters and fresh couscous, and complete with homemade flatbread. You can add a side of soup, fries, or cornbread with every meal for just a little extra. I recommend the Daily Cafe as a great place to get wonderful food for under $10. –Kate Ellis

New Seasons Market
Address: 3495 Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton
Type of Food: Lots of make-your-own, as well as prepared foods
Commute Time: 10 minutes
Price Range: $$
Vegetarian Options: Plenty!
Best Deal: Everything is fairly priced

In close-by Cedar Hills, New Seasons offers many choices for lunch. Although it is possible to eat at New Seasons during just a lunch period if you get your food to go, I recommend going when you have a flex or co-curricular free, because it can get busy during the lunch hour. You can make your own sandwich, wok, or salad, or you can order pre-made pizza or deli goods. They also have a case of cold drinks, a coffee bar, and a bakery. My favorite is the wok, because you have the choice of what vegetables, noodles, stir-fry sauce, and protein you want. The light atmosphere inspires socializing, but it’s not a great place to work. Another bonus is that they always have a great selection of samples to nibble on when you walk through the door. Since it is also a grocery store you can pick up anything you need on your way out. –Mary Whitsell

Twist Frozen Yogurt Lounge
Address: 7535 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 112, Portland
Type of Food: Frozen Yogurt
Commute Time: 2 Minutes
Price Range: $
Best Deal: Create Your Own Frozen Yogurt
Vegetarian Options: Everything

Photo Credit: Cody Hoyt

For those looking for a lighter and sweeter place to grab a bite, Twist Frozen Yogurt Lounge off Barnes Road offers a low-cost product fit for any sweet tooth. Located just up the road from campus, the friendly froyo spot is a popular destination for students looking to relax after (or during) a long day of classes. Two elements make Twist distinctive: variety and atmosphere. The yogurt options are constantly changing. Recent flavors have included the likes of cake batter, cable car chocolate, and dulce de leche. The selection of toppings is even greater, with everything from pineapple, to hot fudge, to gummy bears. Once patrons have made their self-serve selections, they can enjoy their food in a comfortable and relaxed setting complete with lounge chairs, a flat screen television, and even a working fireplace. Short on cash? No problem, a cup of froyo is just $0.48 an ounce. It may not be the best place to grab lunch, but for an afternoon snack Twist offers a wonderfully warm atmosphere and deliciously cool treats. – Cody Hoyt

Skyline Restaurant
Address: 1313 NW Skyline Boulevard, Portland
Type of Food: Classic American––burgers, fries, and shakes
Commute: 8 minutes
Price Range: $$
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Best Deal: Skyline Burger and Milkshake

Photo Credit: Fiona Noonan

Skyline Restaurant is a time warp in the northwest hills of Portland. The Skyline experience starts when you pull into one of its funky undercover parking spots, right in front of a mural that looks like it was last retouched 30 years ago. The old school diner feel continues as you enter the restaurant and slide into a vinyl-covered booth seat while faint jukebox music plays around you. There’s really only one reason to come to Skyline: burgers and milkshakes. The expansive menu may seem daunting at first, but there’s no way to choose wrong. Their 25 kinds of burgers and 31 shake flavors offer something for everyone. Order your favorite burger (fries come separately), pick an intriguing milkshake (which you should request extra thick for just a few cents more), and you’ll be full for the rest of the day. Service is quick and friendly, but don’t expect anything fancy. The restaurant accepts cash only, so be prepared to drop a Hamilton or a couple of Lincolns instead of using your debit card. Otherwise you can use the ATM to get money and take the extra charge that incurs. –Fiona Noonan

 

Cold Stone Creamery
Address: 3205 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton
Type of Food: Ice cream
Commute Time: 8 minutes
Price Range: $
Best Deal: “Like It” for $2.99
Vegetarian Options: Yes

(Photo: Simon McMurchie)

Cold Stone provides a unique take on ice cream. Instead of simply adding toppings to, well, the top of your chosen flavor, the server mashes the ice cream and additions together. This creates a creamier and thicker serving than a normal scoop of ice cream. While any combination of ice cream and toppings is possible, there is also a list on the wall of popular mixes, with names like Birthday Cake Remix (Cake Batter, rainbow sprinkles, brownies, and fudge), Oreo Overload (Sweet Cream, chocolate chips, Oreo cookies, and fudge) and Berry Berry Good (Sweet Cream, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries). The sizes, from smallest to largest, are Like It, Love It and Gotta Have It. Be warned–the ice cream is typically very filling, so only go for the big sizes if you’re up to the task. It is located near the movie theater in the Cedar Hills Mall, just inside the food court entrance. There is minimal seating, but it’s perfect for a quick dessert after a lunch in the mall. –Simon McMurchie

Jamba Juice
Address: 2919 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton
Type of Food: Smoothies
Commute Time: 8 minutes
Price Range: $-$$
Best Deal: 16 oz. Classic Smoothie
Vegetarian Options: Yes

For those looking for a lighter and more refreshing snack than you would find at most CG lunch spots, Jamba Juice at Cedar Hills Crossing offers a variety of fruit smoothies to help you cool down and enjoy something sweet.

(Photo: Cody Hoyt)

With the convenient Beaverton location in addition to several others across Portland, the snazzy smoothie store is a popular destination for students looking to get a cheap and quick quasi-meal. Open the door to the stand-alone store next to Baskin & Robbins, and the fluorescent-colored walls and wafting smell of fresh fruit welcome you inside. As a healthy alternative to the aforementioned ice-cream chain, Jamba’s main staple is its fruit smoothies in three sizes with prices ranging from $3.99 to $5.59. Popular concoctions include “Razzmatazz,” which features berry, banana, strawberry, and orange, and “Mango-a-Go-Go,” which contains mango, pineapple, and passion fruit. The smoothies are made as ordered, and the staff gets high marks for friendliness. Other options include parfaits, fruit and veggie smoothies, and breakfast wraps. For those willing to undergo the occasional brain freeze, Jamba Juice is a great place to grab a snack with your friends and refresh in the middle of the day. –Cody Hoyt

Best Baguette
Address: 3635 SW Hall Blvd., Beaverton
Type of food: Sandwiches
Commute time: 10 minutes
Price: $
Best deal: Bahn Mi sandwiches starting at $2.95
Vegetarian Options: Yes

You will never leave hungry after eating at Best Baguette. With a variety of sandwich options from barbeque pork bahn mi to tuna croissants, Best Baguette is not your average sandwich shop. The spicy jalapeño-filled sandwiches are unusual yet reliably delicious, and you can opt out of the spicy fillings if you prefer a more mild flavor. To soothe your burning tongue, Best Baguette also serves a variety of bubble teas. Right off of Cedar Hills Crossing, Best Baguette is perfectly hidden yet accessible, and there is rarely a long line at this deli-style restaurant, making it the perfect option for a quick lunch. Its laid-back atmosphere and friendly service are welcoming to customers of all ages. –Emi Foster

Vivace Coffee House and Crêperie
Address: 1400 NW 23rd Ave., Portland
Type of Food: Sweet and savory crêpes, coffee and other drinks.

A fresh banana nutella crêpe. (Photo: Maggie Boyd)

Commute: 10 minutes
Price Range: $$
Best Deal: Sweet crêpe
Vegetarian Options: Yes

Vivace Coffee House and Crêperie on NW 23rd Avenue offers savory and sweet crêpes in a homey atmosphere. It specializes in sweet crêpes, which can come with lemon, jam, fruit, nutella, and whipped cream. If you are looking for a rich dessert, try the banana nutella crêpe with almonds and whipped cream; for something lighter the lemon and powdered sugar crêpe is an excellent choice. The crêpes are made fresh and served quickly. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available with views of the street. A fireplace adjacent to the register heats the room in the winter. Vivace has a large selection of drinks such as coffee, tea, hot apple cider, and my favorite, sweet chai. Vivace is a great place to come to unwind during a stressful day at school. –Mary Whitsell

Hands On Café at OCAC
Address: 8245 SW Barnes Rd., Portland
Type of Food: Hearty lunch fare; mostly soups and salads
Commute Time: 1 minute
Price Range: $$
Best Deal: N/A, menu changes daily
Vegetarian Options: Yes

Short on time and cash? Take the one-minute drive or seven-minute walk to the Hands On Café at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. This restaurant in the art school has a cozy, homey feel, although sometimes too cozy, as the limited seating can become a problem during the lunch hour. If you can snag a table, order from the constantly rotating selection of three entrees, two soups, and various salads. There’s also a good selection of desserts that changes daily. Service is friendly, and the restaurant’s proximity to campus means you can enjoy your stew, lentil soup, or Greek salad without any rush. A complete meal is usually in the ten-dollar range, which may be more expensive than some lunch options, but will leave you feeling full and satisfied. As an added bonus, the fact that the café is right next to a gallery means that when you finish your meal you can take a stroll through the latest installation and get back to Catlin all without using a flex or co-curricular period to do it. –Fiona Noonan

Pearl Bakery
Address: 102 NW 9th Ave., Portland
Type of Food: Bakery and sandwich shop
Commute Time: 12 minutes
Price Range: $$
Best Deal: Sandwiches

(Photo: Kate Ellis)

Vegetarian Options: Yes

Pearl Bakery is a great place to get a tasty sandwich or warm pastry hand-crafted from local and organic ingredients. This restaurant is committed to environmentally friendly business practices, and prides itself on sustainability. As you walk in, you’ll be greeted with an open and bright space, but seating is limited to a couple of tables and a coffee bar. Customer service is friendly, fast, and efficient. Order your meal at the cash register and then wait while it is prepared. The smoked turkey sandwich––made with turkey and smooth mascarpone on a chewy poppy seed roll––is delicious, and each bite will leave you wanting more. Since Pearl Bakery is only a few blocks away from Powell’s bookstore, this lunch spot is only a short drive down Burnside. Parking at lunchtime can be a problem, so make sure you have plenty of time if you want to give this bakery a try. –Kate Ellis

A Basan

A Big Box With Orignal And Yaki Wings, Rice, Mac Salad

A Piece Of The Modernist Ambiance

Basa Basa's Menu

Ramen Fries And Secret Sauce

The Result Of A Tasty Meal

Wordpress Slideshow

Photos by Kenneth Woods ’13

The latest food culture phenomenon in Portland is the micro-restaurant, which features specialized kitchens.

The micro-restaurant is similar to a food cart, but serves alcohol and can offer a formal indoor eating environment. Several micro-restaurants are housed on NE 24th and Glisan. As of today, there are four restaurants, all next to each other: 24th and Meatballs, Uno Más, Slow Burger and Basa Basa. Each restaurant is small, but offers seating and protection from the rain and cold weather. While the style of the food differs greatly from one restaurant to another, each features fast and friendly service of unique food styles.

Basa Basa features Korean-style fried chicken wings in three flavors: original (which is spicy), Thai (which has a zesty lemon flavor), and yaki (which is teriyaki sauce). Customers can order meals in boxes with any combination of wings, mac salad, and rice. CatlinSpeak had a chance to interview Chef Caprial Pence of Basa Basa and take some pictures of the area.

CatlinSpeak: What is the story behind the name “Basa Basa”?
Chef Pence: We decided to look up Japanese monsters. A Basan is a fire-breathing chicken monster, and Basa Basa is the sound the wings make.

CS: Your menu is specialized: what are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
CP: The advantage is that we can work to make this one dish (the wings) perfect! There really isn’t a disadvantage.

CS: What attracted you to Korean-style chicken wings? How are they different from the popular ones at Pok Pok?
CP: We made the wings for dinner and loved them […] we felt like we could teach people how to make them the same way every time. Pok Pok’s wings are from Thailand and good but different from [ours], [ours] are very crispy. It is all about the crunch!

CS: How does your experience with micro-restaurant differ from your work with “normal” restaurants?
CP: Creating this concept was fun but still serious […] our other restaurant was much more complex and a bigger endeavor.

CS: What is your biggest influence as a chef and entrepreneur?
CP: My biggest influence is John[,] [my] husband and partner […] he and I are such a good team and I would never had made the leap of faith without him.

CS: What advice would you give to people who want to go into the restaurant business?
CP: I would tell someone who was thinking of opening a restaurant to do their homework. So many people go into this business without really understanding what it takes to make it a success. But even if you do your homework it doesn’t assure that you will succeed. It is a brutal business.

CS: What has your experience working with the fellow micro restaurants been like?
CP: We have a very good relationship with the other restaurants […] it has been a great experience working with all of them.

CS: A traditional Catlin question for adventurous people—what’s the weirdest thing you have eaten?
CP: Organs […] and sea urchin roe.

Whether you’re having a date night, a family dinner, or just a night out with friends, Bollywood Theater on NE Alberta and 21st is the place to go.

From the moment you walk in past walls shelved with Indian kitsch, tables set with silver cups and plates, and a wall projected with a Bollywood movie, you’ll feel the fun vibe that makes Bollywood Theater so enjoyable. This is an order-at-the-counter-and-take-a-number type place, and the atmosphere is definitely casual, but the food is so good and reasonably priced that it fits any occasion.

The outside of Bollywood Theater restaurant. (Photo: Ella Bohn)

The menu features a mix of Indian street foods, and you’re not likely to find many of the typical Indian restaurant staples like chicken tikka masala or biryani. The menu changes seasonally, although some items are always available. You’ll definitely want to eat family style and get several plates to share. The kati roll ($7), basically an Indian-style burrito with tender and comforting paneer, chicken, or beef complemented by the crunch of pickled onions and the sweet tang of chutney all wrapped in paratha (flatbread), is a must have and it’s always on the menu. The egg masala ($7), hard boiled eggs in a delicious curry sauce, is a great vegetarian option and if you come hungry, make it into a thali meal ($11), which comes with saffron rice, dal (stewed lentils), and other delicious sides.

The vegetable dishes change depending on what’s in season, but they are almost all good. If you go anytime soon, make sure to try the green tomato pakoras ($6), which are deeply pleasing deep-fried green tomatoes with a sweet chutney. The winter squash ($6) with red chili and yogurt is also delightful.

You really can’t go wrong at Bollywood Theater and the food comes faster than you can believe, so come hungry and ready to try everything.

If you have a sweet tooth, get the homemade chai. It’s creamy, spicy and slightly caramel-y in all the best ways. Better yet, walk next door to Salt & Straw for a scoop of ice cream afterwards—if you have any room left.

You can check out the full menu here: http://www.bollywoodtheaterpdx.com/menu-2/

Die Hard

There are no real words to describe how much I enjoy the original Die Hard. The action, hilarious one-liners, dastardly villains, home-grown heroes, (somewhat) realistic hero relationship, and some dramatic irony all come together to propel this movie to classic status. Surprisingly, it doesn’t hurt to watch when getting into the Christmas spirit either. Stellar performances by Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman are the icing on this already delicious cake. (Who will ever forget yippee kai yay (Insert profanity here) and Alan Rickman’s scared American impression?) Don’t forget that incredible ending. Without spoiling it, let’s just say not many movies have endings that are both badass and heartwarming.

(Source: Wikipedia.org)

Home Alone

Home Alone is a rather odd movie. It’s a childlike fantasy of what could happen while you’re by yourself, but also a creepy look at the dangers of maturity/adulthood. That’s not to say it is humorless, but putting a young kid in a house by himself (after his parents forget about him) against two dangerous burglars makes for a movie that is pure fun and also a bit scary. The child’s fantasy is what is really important here. I mean, who didn’t want to be a hero and stop/beat up two adults with a bunch of improvised booby traps that are both hilarious and comically dangerous? That balance between the fun and the dark is one of the coolest things to come out of the Christmas movie tradition.

(Source: Wikipedia.org)

It’s a Wonderful Life

What is there to say about this heartwarming classic that hasn’t already been said? The movie is worthy of its status with its clear-cut morals concerning the themes of life, death, and love. George Bailey, played with precision by James Stewart in arguably his most famous role, tries to commit suicide and is contacted by an angel who shows him a world where he never lived.  Although the plot sounds dark, it actually makes you think about the value of loved ones. If you accept the cheesiness, it can be the perfect holiday movie to watch with your family.

(Source: Wikipedia.org)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The animation of one of Dr. Suess’ most famous books, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” is known and loved by many. What makes this short film so wonderful? Two things. First, the animation. It’s smooth throughout and leads to fantastic close-up shots. Who can forget that devilish Grinch grin? Second, the narration from Boris Karloff, more commonly remembered as Frankenstein’s Monster from the original Frankenstein movie. Karloff’s narration is a great mix of evil and mischievous at the beginning and turns nicely light and sweet at the end. The change is subtle enough to take lessons from. The Grinch’s turn from evil to good and the final scene of the Whos and the Grinch singing together will warm anyone’s heart during the holidays.

(Source: Wikipedia.org)