Little Bird Offers $14 Gift Certificates

What: In lieu of a holiday card, and, arguably, better received, this downtown French bistro is saying thanks this season by offering $14 gift certificates to diners who stop by Little Bird for lunch (11:30– 3 pm). Resolve to have a tasty 2014 with a gift certificate good for January and February.
When: Dec 16th – Friday, Dec 20th, and Monday, Dec 23rd.
Where: Little Bird Bistro, 503-688-5952
How Much: Lunch menu prices vary. 

Free Chowder until Christmas

What: The weather gods might not be smiling on us as we huddle through the chilly days of winter, but Block and Tackle is paying it forward every night from 5 – 7 pm, one bowl of chowder at a time. Our ears and noses may be frozen solid but our bellied will be warm with their delicious, rib sticking soup.
When: Through December 25th
Where: 3113 SE Division St
How Much: Free!

Departure’s Peking Duck Month

What: Leave your leftover turkey in the fridge and try a more exotic bird this December. All month at Departure, Chef Gregory Gourdet will be serving up one of China’s national foods, the Peking Duck, with steaming Mandarin pancakes, candied kumquats, and traditional garnishes. Prepping this bird is no easy feat, but Gourdet has done all the leg work– it’s cured overnight in a seven spice blend, and fried up traditional style, giving it that sought after thin, crispy skin and succulent flavor.
When: The month of December.
Where: Departure Restaurant + Lounge, 525 SW Morrison St.
How Much: $75, per bird (feeds 2–4). Call Departure at 503-802-5370 to reserve your bird.

Holiday High Tea at The Tea Zone

What: The British are on to something and the TeaZone has caught on, rolling out a sumptuous, high tea menu for the month of December. Enjoy the early afternoon hours with a large pot of tea and a decadent savory and sweet snack platter. Think cranberry orange scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd, savory scallion and yam fritters, flaky mushroom and brie phyllo triangles, and chocolate coconut snowball bundt cake slices.
When: Dec 13­–30 (excluding Christmas Day) from 11:30 am – 4 pm.
Where: The TeaZone and Camellia Lounge, 510 NW 5th Ave
How Much: $23.95 per person. To reserve a table, call 503-221-2130.

Evening of Holiday Shopping and Imbibing with Local Artists

What: If you’d rather finish your holiday shopping armed with a glass of wine, or a cocktail, din din has just the thing to get you through these last few days of December. Browse hand picked gifts featuring ceramics, woven textiles and leather made by local artists and curated by Keia Booker while snacking on h’or doeuvres and sipping your favorite adult beverages.
When: December 19th from 4–8 pm
Where: din din, 920 NE Glisan St
How Much: $10 entry, includes wine and h’or doeuvres. Din din’s cocktail hour menu will be available with items for purchase. 

Winter Solstice Farmer’s Feast 

What: Celebrate the shortest day of the year with a seasonal feast by locavore chef, and blogger Kathryn LaSua Yeomans. Featuring local produce foraged and harvested from Springwater Farm, enjoy winter staples like chestnuts, mushrooms, and pork in a decadent wild mushroom lasagne, an Umbrian pork dish dubbed “The Wicked Pan”, a chestnut bisque laced with pancetta crisps, and topped off with an all out, triple chocolate Buche de Noel.
When: Sunday, December 22nd at 5:30 pm
Where: Tabor Bread, 5051 SE Hawthorne Blvd
How Much: $40 per person, excluding drinks and gratuity. Email [email protected] or call 503-734-4329 to reserve your spot. 

Winter Solstice Dinner at Songbird

What: Get the longest night of the year off to a good start at one of Mt. Tabor’s farm-to-table favorites with a three course, fixe prix dinner by Songbird’s new chef, Lisa Doshier. This wintery menu features salt cod terrine, winter salad, roast beef with creamed greens, and a mascarpone pot d’creme.
When: Saturday, December 21st
Where: 6839 SE Belmont St
How Much: $50 per person, $75, including wine pairing. Secure your spot by calling 503-477-6735 or [email protected]. 

Mushroom Extravaganza at Fireside

What: This west side eatery is celebrating one of the Northwest’s quintessential foraged food: mushrooms! Fireside is spotlighting these seasonal forest gems in an evening of mushroom loving indulging, complete with beer and wine pairing. 15% of sales for the evening will be donated to the Friends of Children Portland.
When: Sunday, January 15, 5 – 9:30 pm
Where: Fireside, 801 NW 23rd Ave
How Much: Special prices vary. Call Fireside at 503-477-9505 to reserve your spot. 

Gramercy Tavern and Le Pigeon Collaborative Dinner

What: Le Pigeon welcomes Michael Anthony, NYC’s Gramercy Tavern chef/partner, author, and James Beard award winner for a five course, collaborative dinner with the Le Pigeon team. Celebrating 20 years in NYC, this farm to table eatery has just released its first cookbook and the two restaurant are far from strangers. Andy got his start in the Gramercy kitchen, and Gabe Rucker collaborated with Gramercy on occasion. The menu is still in the works, but, with these chefs at the helm, it’s a dinner you won’t want to miss.
When: Monday, January 20th with a 5:30 and 8:15 seating.
Where: Le Pigeon, 738 East Burnside St
How Much: $125 per person (includes beverage pairings, and gratuity). Signed copies of Gramercy Tavern cookbook will be available for $50.

Know about a great event coming up that should be on our radar? Shoot me an email at [email protected]landmonthlymag.com or give me a shout over on Twitter at @allisonejones. Now get out there and start eating!