By Kathleen Bauer
Ask Your Fishmonger
You just got another great option for your plate. On April 1 (no joke!) you’re going to start seeing little blue labels on packages of shrimp in your fishmonger’s case. The label indicates that Oregon pink shrimp just got the world’s first sustainable shrimp certification by the Marine Stewardship Council, an international nonprofit that promotes responsible fishing practices. So your next Shrimp Louis will not only taste good, but you’ll feel better eating it.
Marine Stewardship Council
Calling All Gardeners
You know it’s spring in Oregon when the first sunny days of March bring not just the buds of spring, but gardeners out in their shorts and clogs digging away in their muddy gardens. Spring also portends the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon Spring Plant Sale & Garden Festival, an event that brings together more than 75 nurseries and wholesale growers for a public sale of the best plants you’ve ever seen, often at less-than-nursery prices. So bring your garden wish list to the Expo Center the weekend of April 12 and 13; you won’t go home empty-handed!
Portland Expo Center | Saturday, April 12, 10 am-5 pm | Sunday, April 13, 10 am-3 pm
The HUB of Beervana
Brewer Christian Ettinger has been the subject of many a man-crush in Portland, and his Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) gives local beer nuts the chance to sip their favorite suds and swoon. Located in the former Sunset Fuel building on Powell, this 16,000-plus square-foot space resembles an overturned wooden ship. Ettinger has painstakingly stripped the interior and created an eco-friendly and sustainable home for his outstanding beers. Stop in and grab a pint under the recycled bike frames over the bar, or sit on the deck and watch the sun set over the West Hills.
2944 SE Powell, Portland | 503-201-8957
Sicily in Sellwood
Food carts are all the rage in Portland dining circles and the subjects of conspiratorial whispers and furtive blog postings. One new cart that’s garnering a lot of attention is Kevin Sandri’s aluminum-quilted Sellwood start-up called Garden State (“Italian street food from the Willamette Valley”). Kevin is in love with the food of Sicily and equally committed to local ingredients from vendors such as Gaining Ground Farm in Yamhill. Entrees include arancini and his Meatball Hero made from Oregon Country Beef, a rich, savory homemade marinara and melted mozzarella. This cart is on a roll!
SE 13th & Lexington, Portland | 503-705-5273
Second Thursdays
Chef Jonathan Grumbles at Opposable Thumb Café has the prix fixe dinner Portlanders have been waiting for. On the second Thursday of the month, for around $25, you’ll get three courses plus hors d’oeuvres and a glass of wine, with vegan and vegetarian options available. Emerging from a winter of root vegetables, Jonathan’s as jazzed about spring greens as you, so plan to head over, take a seat, and have a great time.
3312 SE Belmont, Portland
