Additional Food Stuffs

This post was originally going to be titled “Notable Openings,” and the first thing on the list was going to be “your mom,” but I decided against that and instead wrote it in the first graph here, as if that might absolve me for saying mean things about your mom—it totally does not.

Anyway. Here are a few things that I’ve recently neglected to post anything about.

Olympic Provisions [107 SE Washington] is open:

We reported on the charcuterie retail joint, snack shop, and wine bar awhile back. It’s up and running with USDA certification and everything. Will it be our answer to Seattle’s Salumi? Let’s watch and find out…

Pok Pok [3226 SE Division] Expands the Whiskey Soda Lounge:

To a spot right across the street. To update Courtney’s previous post: The spot is indeed open. Last few times I’ve driven by, it’s looked packed. The good thing here is that there will be less waiting around in the cold for a table at Pok Pok. Also, you’ll be able to munch on some lovely nibbles while you wait, and drink, and wait.

The New Genoa [2832 SE Belmont]:

It’s also just opened. It’s expensive, to be sure. There are some initial positive reviews about the spot. I’ll get there eventually.

Not able to get in to Genoa? Try the accompanying venture, Accanto, which is attached. Probably a bit less pricey, a bit more down to earth. Check it out. Tell me what you think.

Garden State On the Move

The popular Sellwood cart has decided to move to another, supposedly more friendly, spot in a parking lot up the street after the landlord allegedly turned off their power on suspicion they might be harboring space heaters. According to cart owner Kevin Sandri, they were harboring a space heater in the storage shed to keep their goods from freezing in 17 degree weather. However, turning off the power to the cart and changing the lock on the breaker box (which Sandri alleges) seemed a bit extreme to the cart owner. “Thank god these things have wheels,” he told us.

Sandri will be closing the cart for the month of January to focus on opening a second location at the Mississippi Marketplace cart pod.

[UPDATE! Mark Ross Gearhart of Sellwood Corner LLC has written to say that this story is factually incorrect. We’re waiting to hear more of his side of the story, and will update you when we do.]

Wine Down Moving On As Well:

When Wine Down opened seven years ago, 28th Ave was far from the culinary destination it has become today, and Stuart Herold was cooking his menu with camping stoves. Still, it didn’t matter, the dream he had while serving on the USS Portland was finally a reality.

Today, the dream is to keep his business alive. After putting years of work into the venture, building a kitchen, a loyal clientele, and an impressive collection of wines, Herold claims he is being evicted by his landlord, who hopes to open a restaurant of some sort in the space. Herold will be out by the end of the year.

The eviction comes after years of alleged lease problems and a turnover in building ownership. It’s enough to make someone give up. But Herold has a fighting spirit. He’s found a new space and an interesting concept, now all he needs is a bit more cash. That’s why he’s planning on selling shares in the new venture via paypal:

Once you purchase a Gift Certificate you will then become a “shareholder” and you will be presented with a Gift Certificate for our next place. For every GC you purchase you will receive 20% more. For example, if you buy a $50 GC you’ll get $60 worth, buy $100 GC and get a certificate worth $120. Think about it, if we can get a 200 to 300 customers to buy a one hundred dollar Gift Certificate we can keep Wine Down alive and you can be a part of it.

It’s an interesting idea. Keep track of details at the Wine Down website. In the meantime, go have a glass of wine and wish them well.