Screen Door Will Open For Brunch and Lunch Seven Days a Week

The Screen Door has been added to my itinerary for next visit to PDX land.

Image: Allison Jones

A massive bombshell from weekend brunchmaster Screen Door. Starting June 11, the Southern fried East Burnside restaurant will  open for brunch and lunch seven days a week.That's right: chicken and waffles on a Monday, all the grits and Spicy Creole Bloody Marys you can handle Tuesday, Friday, Sunday, whatever—just throw your calendar away entirely. Also, the restaurant will debut a huge new lunch menu, built around a line-up of 13 Southern sandwiches (muffaletta and brisket to po’boys served on custom Alessio French bread). “It is kinda nuts,” says co-owner David Mouton with a laugh. “But we are so excited.

”

Along with that big sandwich roster, expect a half-dozen appetizers and a heavy emphasis on salads and veggie specials at lunch to balance out the restaurant’s meaty eats; a nod to the fact that every Screen Door meal need not be a gut-busting challenge.

Screen Door has had the market cornered on weekend brunch for nearly a decade now, with parody-worthy weekend wait lines creeping around the block and a crack team of 50+ staffers, including a handful kitchen pros whose sole job is to handle the 2,200 pounds of chicken the restaurant fries up each week.

The expanded hours and ambitious new menus have brought their own challenges—first and foremost, a lack of space. In addition to the restaurant’s own kitchen, Mouton and wife/co-owner Nicole now rent a commissary kitchen where the crew does all its batch cooking--like stewing collard greens and gumbo and butchering chickens. They also renovated the Screen Door’s garage to make space for a second “micro-kitchen,” where their baker can churn out fresh biscuits and daily shortcakes and its chefs can whip up dinner specials. 

With August marking the restaurant’s 10 year anniversary, Mouton says it was the right time to make some big changes. “Over the last couple of years we’ve been tempted to open another Screen Door over the river or open different concepts. But instead of taking our eye off the ball, we’d rather expand our hours here and maintain our institutional status,” he says, crediting the restaurant’s staff for giving him and Nicole confidence to undertake the expansion. “The sentimental reason is that I really want to respond to the neighbors. They’ve been asking us to open for brunch on weekdays for years. You know, we didn’t open the restaurant with fried chicken and waffles [on the menu], that was a customer request. In fact, all of our main menu items were customer requests. We just respond to what people ask for.”

“Screen Door is its own beast,” Mouton laughs. “It’s taken on its own life—we’re just here to steer it."

Screen Door's new hours:

• Weekday brunch 8 am-2 p.m; lunch served 10:30 am-2 pm (Mon-Fri)

• Dinner 5:30 pm-10 pm Tues-Sat; 5:30 pm-9 pm Sun-Mon

• Saturday & Sunday brunch 9 am-2:30 pm

Screen Door

2337 E Burnside St

503-542-0880

TRAVEL + LEISURE

America's Best Sandwiches includes:

Bunk Sandwiches, Portland, OR: Pork Belly Cubano

 

 Jannie Huang

Co-chefs Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood change their blackboard menu daily, but know to keep favorites like this pork belly cubano in regular rotation. Their version of the Cuban workman’s lunch is improved by swapping out roast pork for house-cured, molasses-rubbed pork belly, slow roasted until fork tender. Ham, Tillamook Swiss, and pickles round out this pressed sandwich on a mustard, mayo, and hot sauce–doused French roll. Customers can add bacon, anchovies, and/or hot peppers to any sandwich, and every order comes with kettle chips.

Best Chicken Dishes in The US Includes

Pok Pok; Portland, OR

 

America's Best Bakeries includes

Pearl Bakery, Portland, OR

 

Pati G.

This Pearl District institution (est. 1997) has been a training ground for many of Portland’s new artisan bakers and remains on top of its game thanks to family involvement, ingredients sourced weekly from a farmers’ market, and commitment to quality control. The smell of fresh-baked baguettes wafts through the light-filled bakery, and the pastry case teems with chocolate chunk cookies, Danishes, and gibassier, a treat from Provence made with fruited olive oil, anise, and orange flower water.
Must-Try Item: A seasonal fruit tart like fresh rhubarb or summer berries in a buttery pie crust. pearlbakery.com

AND

Pacific Way Bakery, Gearhart, OR

 

 Paula K. Niziolek

Baker and co-owner Lisa Allen works through the night to bring this Oregon beach town pastries on par with those found in France. The results are displayed in a case of rustic fruit tarts and croissants as well as American-inspired goodies like sticky buns. The self-taught baker makes everything you see—as well as desserts in the adjoining restaurant. Black-and-white-tiled floors and gilded mirrors lend a fitting French country look.
Must-Try Item: The not-too-sweet scone loaded with fresh Oregon marionberries.

Top 10 Trending Smart Gadgets

Digital Cutting Board

 Yanko Design

The Almighty Board is the ultimate kitchen assistant. This smart-board will simultaneously serve as your cutting board, display your recipes, provide step-by-step directions and weigh your ingredients out for you. After you wash it, it will even tell you if it has been cleaned enough to avoid cross-contamination or food poisoning. If only it could do the dishes too!
Designer: Jaewan Jeong

FOOD & WINE

Best Sandwiches in the U.S. includes

Portland, OR: Bunk Sandwiches 

 

Photo © David Reamer.

Sandwich: Oregon Albacore Tuna Melt
At Bunk, co-chefs Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood reinvent iconic American foods. That means transforming biscuits and gravy into a sandwich filled with braised rabbit leg, or preparing luscious melts, like this version packed with locally canned albacore and finished with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Tillamook cheddar. bunksandwiches.com

 

TRAVEL + LEISURE

Best French Restaurants in the U.S. includes

David Reamer

 

Le Pigeon, Portland, OR

Carnivores and adventurous eaters will appreciate chef Gabriel Rucker’s creations, which add whimsy and decadence to traditional French recipes. Beef-cheek bourguignonne, rabbit-in-a-pig-blanket, and foie gras profiteroles are among the quirky edibles. The chef’s counter puts diners ringside in the busy kitchen, and the brick-wall dining room’s three communal tables are often filled with both locals and international clientele. Le Pigeon’s first cookbook comes out in September 2013—for you try-it-at-home types.

FOOD & WINE

Best Taco Spots includes

Portland, OR: ¿Por Que No? 

 

 

One bite into a taco in the Mexican town of Morelia and Bryan Steelman had an epiphany: Why not open a taqueria of his own? The resulting ¿Por Qué No? (“Why not?” in Spanish) now pulls out-the-door lines with stellar tacos that emphasize local ingredients: house-made chorizo made from pork from nearby Carlton Farms, chipotle-rubbed chicken from Draper Farms in Washington. porquenotacos.com

Photo © Bryan Steelman.

Go To Portland, OR: ¿Por Que No?

21 years!

Thursday, Bev and I celebrated 21 years of marriage by dining out; just the two of us. Yes, after that many years we still enjoy being a couple with many things to talk about. We chose Nuestra Cocina at 2135 SE Division St, Portland, OR for dinner where we exchanged two anniversary cards each.

We had an very nice and knowledgeable wait person. Instead of ordering a main entree, we went the tapa way by ordering Albondigas de Coedero or lamb meatballs and tender cactus strips in a spicy chipotle sauce; Camarones con tamarind or shrimp with a tamarind dip; Pollo enchiladas in a tasty, smokey mole; and pork tacos.

Everything was delicious and people were waiting in line to get in when we finished. I probably would not order the lamb meatballs again, but more tacos and enchiladas. For me, the meatball sauce was just too spicy. The tapas average about $9.00 and the four we ordered were filling.Our whole meal with drinks cost us $59.25 plus tip.

We both decided during dinner that we would re-up for another 21 years!

Opening A New Restaurant?

 OX – Clams.
Photo ©Dina Vaila Photography

We love to dine out and my wife, Beverly, is usually up on the latest restaurants.  I don’t know how she finds them. It could be by word of mouth, from the newspaper or on the web, but she learns about them.  In fact, she recently told me that residents of Portland have more restaurants to choose from than residents of New York.  I find that hard to believe.

I Googled “New Restaurants Portland, Oregon” and I’m amazed how many open each year. I often think that owning a restaurant must be a good business, if you can turn the tables several times a night. My wife thinks owning a restaurant would be grueling; long hours, late nights, all the prep, and then cleanup after the customers are gone.

I discovered one company, PeachSuite Hotel Supply, which offers a comprehensive array of hotel supplies and restaurant supplies. This hotel amenities supplier offers all you need for dining room supplies; china, flatware, and glassware for example. It has a catalog for the bar, kitchen, janitorial supplies, and furniture that you would need if you were to join the movement and open your dream restaurant.

If you do open that restaurant make sure the staff know what to do and make sure the food is excellent. Then call Beverly.

We Love Al Fresco Dining.

We were invited to a good friend’s 70^th Birthday party.  You know when you give a garden party in Oregon before mid-July or after mid-September, you need outdoor patio heaters to guard against icicles hanging off your guests noses. You may need more than two in our state.

We will be celebrating our 20^th wedding anniversary on July 25^th.  We were married in an orchard on a 90-degree day.  I still can remember the beautiful sight of Bev walking out of the trees on her father’s arm. A year after we were wed, one of Bev’s best friends married on the same date at Black Butte by the lake and it was unseasonably cold for that time of the year.  A wedding can be spoiled if your guests are uncomfortably cold.

We love al fresco dining.  It’s a causal way of dining in a garden atmosphere where we can hear the birds, feel the breeze and the sun and smell the fresh air as we savor the delightful flavors.  In Mexico, when we dine outside, we get the added bonus of the stars and the sounds of the surf.  Very few times has it been cold enough for heaters, but the waiters assured us one cold evening that this was unusual for March. They are trained to say that.

Speaking of casual dining, I love buffets.  I love to go down the event server line before the tops are lifted imagining what’s been cooked inside.  Then, I grab my plate as I balance my drink while holding my napkin and silver ware.  Next I put down my drink to dish some of the many salads on to my plate. I grab a roll and butter.  Then pick up my drink and move on, all the time chatting with those I’m with about how great everything looks.  There are usually rice or potatoes fixed one of many ways, so I put down my drink and dish up the carbs, pick up my drink and move on.  I’m running out of room before I get to the prime rib. 

I remember being in Dallas at a buffet hosted by my friend John May of May Petroleum.  He was ahead of me in line and when we came to the Baron of Beef.  The chef was slicing off thin pieces to make it last, I suspect.  John said he would like a piece this thick, holding he thumb and forefinger about a half inch apart. When it was my turn, I said to the chef, “I’ll have what he had!” 

When I sat down at the table I realized I forgot to pick up my drink again. Buffets are great.  The best part is going back for dessert.  There are usually more than a dozen offerings and the trick is to eat as many as possible without people getting wise.

On January 15^th of 2014, I will be 70.  I’m going to have a party outside…in Mexico.

Have You Tried Salt & Straw?

Here's an ice cream store you MUST visit! It's named Salt & Straw, and the flavors may blow your mind.

Kim Malek is the owner and the shoppe has been open since August and here on a windy, cold day, the visitors through the front door didn't end.

I tried several kinds and settled on something conservative: one scoop of Banana with spicy monkey caramel and walnuts in a cup. It had a great taste of bananas and caramel with walnut chunks. The ice cream had a perfect melt. Then I went back for a taste of Pear and Bleu Cheese. It tasted just like pear ice cream with a slight bleu cheese aftertaste. Next I tried Sea Salt ice cream with caramel ribbon.  The sea salt enhanced the caramel and satisfied both yearnings for salt and sweet. Next time I will try Arbequina olive oil.




Bev tried Almond brittle with salted grenache ice cream.  She's hooked! As I said they've been open since August, but already it's Oprah's favorite ice cream and it's been featured in "The Wall Street Journal" and "The Washington Post" and featured on "Sunday Morning."

Duncan Phyfe Still Lives

We are always interested in the history of furniture.

In our dining room is a Duncan Phyfe dining table. Actually according to Duncan Phyfe - The Man, The Style on the English classics blog, Duncan Phyfe never labeled his furniture, so we probably have a copy of a Duncan Phyfe or a dining table made in the style of the man's designs.

It's an interesting read. At just 26 years old—Duncan Phyfe started his furniture making business in New York City and quickly became one of the most renowned American cabinetmakers of all time.

Christopher Guy Furniture

This dining table from Christopher Guy is described on his website thusly:

"Sheer elegance and luxury define this magnificent looking mahogany and veneer dining table, complete with delicate marquetry work, a fine example of a contemporary piece with classic appeal."

Ava Living has this video of a furniture fashion show in Paris this year:



Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Kimberlee Jaynes And Calligaris

Here's the fun part of owning Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery: seeing how designers worked with furniture that was purchased in our store to meet their clients needs.


This photo is from interior designer Kimberlee Jaynes' website, Timeless Design For Inspired Living


Kimberlee writes

I started with the Italian white lacquered dining table and used a Danish modern 1960's buffet topped with a gorgeous piece of white Carrara marble. The host and hostess regency chairs are Italian black lacquer with black and ecru colored demi-slipcovers. The side chairs are brown leather. To keep it all from floating away, my client and I designed the multi colored striped rug.

The table is from Calligaris as are the regency chairs. We are so happy to see the completed design.

Bev & Mike
Follow us @furnitureitu

Facundo Poj Design

facundo: adj.

eloquent, articulate, having a fluent manner of speaking; expressive!

That certainly describes this find!

ofidio dining table
materials: 44 layers of engineered bamboo ply
oak dowels
dimensions: 73”l X 33”w X 29”h (sits 6) 94”l X 33”w X 29”h (sits 8)

aztec stool & wine rack
materials: 23 layers of engineered bamboo ply
oak dowels
dimensions: 17”l X 36”w X 26”h

ofidio bar chair
materials: 23 layers of engineered bamboo ply
oak dowels
dimensions: 17”l X 20”w X 59”h

I love the flowing lines which feels like each piece is alive and the pieces are made from bamboo. The artist writes:

I choose Plyboo as my medium because it is manufactured in large enough sheets, it is strong, durable, sexy looking and non toxic. Bamboo is also a fast growing grass and this helps prevent forest depletion. I do not use nails or screws. All layers are glued with a non-toxic glue, threaded together with oak dowels and clamp pressed. The result is structurally solid and soft at the same time.

His pieces are all limited editions or unique. He mostly exhibits them exclusively at Avant Gallery in Miami's Design District.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Lorts Added

The move of Goldsmiths from a To the Trade establishment to just Contract has allowed Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery to add Lorts to our list of case goods manufacturers. Lorts was founded in 1966 by Andrew Lorts and is a family owned and operated furniture manufacturing company.

Lorts in 1990 began producing a stylized collection of furniture distributed through the finest higher-end furniture stores and designers across the country. Beginning with rustic, country styles, Lorts soon experimented with different finishes. Several other manufacturers answered to an increased demand for finish options, but their prices were astronomical.

Lorts responded to customers wishing for designer style and flexibility at reasonable prices. Soon word spread about the company producing hardwood furniture in several premium finishes at prices far below similarly styled product. Gradually, the product line developed and now includes dining furniture, stools and game sets, occasional pieces, bedroom furniture, armoires, and home office and wall units.

Lorts makes customization a reality...

Lorts prides itself on finding a niche in the market. Homeowners desire the ability to create furniture themselves by customizing finishes and sizes, and Lorts strives to make this a reality. From size changes on items currently in the Lorts line to new ideas sketched out on a napkin, Lorts allows customers to make each piece unique.

In a world where each furniture piece tends to look like every other, Lorts' customers can create furniture personalized to each individual need and style at a value unsurpassed within the industry.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Teamwork Is Wonderful

It's Bridget A Otto Thursday and she has outdone herself with the story today about the teamwork that has developed between Brent and Jorja Hicks, condo owners, and Interior designer Carole Jackson of Carole Jackson Design.

Every room in the house -- even the small bath that Jorja had called "her pet peeve" -- celebrates not only the collaboration between Jorja and Jackson, but also what can happen when talented craftspeople get to show off their skill.

Carole Jackson can be reached at (503) 291-9290

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

Indoor/outdoor Furniture In New Material

In February of 200, when we were preparing our new location in the Pearl in Portland, I wrote

There can be disagreement about global warming and its causes, but there is no denying the Green Movement. Our bookkeeper, Helen Pilgrim, sends us a note about Slatescape, EcoCem and Paper Stone (for) Counter tops. She says she first heard about it in the Oregonian Home & Gardens section. "I don't know how this compares to granite, but it looks great."

We fell in love with PaperStone and used the chocolate color as the reception and work counter top in the showroom front area. It's warm and satiny smooth to the touch. When we first saw the material, it was only available in slabs of several thicknesses.

Now, thanks to Material Process Systems, there is indoor/outdoor furniture available in material similar to paperstone with the same outstanding features. Take a look:



The company writes

The material is waterproof so it does very well outside. Over time, it acquires a natural patina, but the integrity of the material is never compromised. Variations of this material have actually been used for decades in the marine industry and in the manufacturing of skate ramps -- that's how durable it is.

If you have questions write:

Niina Pollari
Material Process Systems, Inc.
niina@materialprocess.com

Bev & Mike
Landfair Futniture + Design Gallery

Genoa: Say it's Not So

Genoa is closing after 38 years. Billed as the premier restaurant in Portland, known widely for its regional Italian cooking and meticulous service, it just became available on Passport, but now is closing on November 22nd.

(Owner Kerry) DeBuse says he spent tens of thousands of dollars upgrading the old-fashioned dining room in June. Business had been slow since early summer, he says, "but it all changed 180 degrees within a week of the recent (Wall Street) crash."When the problems went global, the bottom fell out.

I've dined there possibly twice or more and have never been disappointed. Due to the upper end pricing, you didn't go all the time, but it was the place for a special occasion.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery