It’s spring, and your belly is empty. Never fear: The Mercury’s spring Eat & Drink guide is here to alleviate that horribly unnecessary situation! It’s our goal to not only inform you of what you should be eating, but also to encourage you to swerve off your well-trodden path to explore all sorts of new, interesting restaurants, dishes, and libations.

For example, in this issue we dig deep into the menus of your fave restaurants to find those “deep cuts”—the dishes that may not have made the joint famous but are nonetheless delicious. Love Asian soups? We’ve got a round-up of the best soups in town, as well as a report on where to slurp Portland’s greatest vegan ramen. Feeling fancy? Check out our reviews of the recently opened Bullard and Pink Rabbit. Feeling cheap? We’ve got you covered with Little Conejo and the ultimate guide to Portland’s best Jell-O shots! And as always, we have lots of info for the discriminating drunkard, including reviews of the newest, hottest bars, brewery tours, and all the wines you really should be sipping.

Plus, we’ve got a full calendar of upcoming food events that’ll keep your stomach busy all the way through summer! So why are you still hungry? Dig into the spring Eat & Drink guide, and walk away satisfied.—WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY