Portland News to Chew

Handmade pasta at Tabla
Image: Courtesy Tabla
Northeast
Lunch at Tabla: Finally giving in to folks clamoring for lunchtime fare for years, Tabla is now open for the midday meal, seven days a week, from 11:30 am-3 pm. The menu promises to be simple and quick, without breaking the bank. Think housemade pastas (complete with gluten-free options), mozzarella and arugula salads, and housemade gelato. Lunch daily, beginning Tuesday March 18. 200 NE 28th Ave.
Southwest
Honey Pot’s New Porridge Adventure: Mary Sheridan, the skilled hands and sweet tooth behind the recently-shuttered Honey Pot Bakery, is re-opening for business after investor turbulence in an as-yet-undisclosed downtown location. The new spot, currently being crowdfunded on Indiegogo, will be dubbed Mama Mary’s Porridge Buffet.The Burbs
Introducing Storrs Smokehouse: The team behind Newberg's fine dining destination, the Painted Lady, are planning to open up a new venture in Oregon's wine country. At Storrs Smokehouse, opening on April 5, Allen Routt and Jessica Bagley will offer barbecue based on family recipes—including their sweet green tomato pickles and signature Storrs smokehouse sauce. The new smoke pit will offer an 18-hour brisket and a 12-hour pulled pork, both with sultry hints of local oak and alder wood. As a not-so-small side note, Storrs is working on the perfect maple-hot sauce chicken wing. 310 E. 1st Street Newberg, OR 97132
April Donation Tuesdays in Downtown Milwaukie: Looking to feel good about your wining and dining schedule? Check out Rowe Middle School’s program to ensure 10% of the proceeds from Tuesdays in April at participating restaurants in downtown Milwaukie, OR will go towards eliminating hunger at the school. 67% of students at Rowe receive free or reduced price lunches, a signal that they need your donations more than ever. Let your server know you want to donate! Participating restaurants, April 1-30: Pietro’s, Painted Lady Coffeehouse, Gaucho’s Argentine Cuisine, Wind Horse Coffee and Tea, Sully’s Café, Duffy’s Irish Pub, Cha Cha Cha, Wine:30, Woodpecker Pizza & Wings.
Citywide
Portland's 2014 James Beard Foundation Award Finalists: The list of nationwide nominations was unveiled at a press conference in Chicago on Tuesday morning—and Portland has some tough competition from our neighbors to the north. We've got the details.