We have lots of exciting food happenings this week, from the debut of a new cookbook with PoMo Burger Cabal member and Mayo Council inductee Bill Oakley to a dinner pop-up from Portland Preservation Society at zero-proof cocktail bar Suckerpunch. In other news, Mexican-Cajun fusion restaurant Nacheaux will soon revamp its menu with burgers and milkshakes, and it’s finally time to sip coffee and wine aboard a double-decker bus at the newly opened Rachel and Rose. Also, Portlanders will have a chance to flex their salad-making skills at a papaya salad contest. 

Nacheaux Willl Rebrand with Burgers, Fries, and Milkshakes on May 6 

Mexican-Cajun fusion restaurant Nacheaux (4765 NE Fremont St) will relaunch as Nacheaux Burger beginning May 6,  serving a burger-focused menu with fries, tots, and milkshakes, along with beignets and homemade ice cream. After opening two years ago and serving up fusion dishes like churro beignets and crawfish tacos, Anthony Brown will soon switch gears to burgers with a Nacheaux flair. “As much as it makes me sad to say goodbye to the way that we started I think it's for the better. Overall I don't think that Nacheaux was meant to last forever. It was my baby, it was my test kitchen. It gave people the opportunity to try multiple different varieties of cuisines under one roof. But people have known that we put out amazing food so from here we're going to put out Nacheaux burgers,” he writes in an email to Portland Monthly. Nacheaux’s last day with the current menu is May 5. 

Rachel and Rose Will Begin Serving Coffee from a Double Decker Bus April 5 

 

 

 

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Ever wanted to sip coffee aboard a London double decker bus? Here’s your chance. Beginning April 5, Ray and Allie Maestas are launching coffee service at the new double decker bus cafe Rachel and Rose, located downtown at The Cart Blocks (770 W Burnside St) after launching a soft opening with wine service on April 1. Coffee is served from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, along with espresso from Happyrock Coffee Roasting Co from Gladstone. For now, Rachel and Rose is serving muffins but allows food from other carts on the bus, which has been converted into a cozy dining post with tables and benches. Wine service will also be available. 

Take Two Is Giving Away Free Barleymilk Lattes

To celebrate Earth Day, Portland-based company Take Two is giving away free barleymilk and barleymilk lattes throughout Portland. One of the latest angles on plant-based milk, Take Two is doing something a little different—making milk from upcycled barley left over from the beer-brewing process. (Such barley usually gets composted or is used for livestock feed.) The company is giving away free barleymilk and barleymilk lattes on select dates at the following locations: 

April 8: Cooperativa (1250 NW Ninth Ave)  

April 10: Bridge to Brews 8 & 10K walk/run (starting and ending at Waterfront Park)  

April 15: Wild Rose Coffee (1876 SW Fifth Ave)  

April 22: Celebrating Earth Day at Happy Cup (3494 N Williams Ave) 

Meet The Wok Author J. Kenji López-Alt in Conversation with Bill Oakley at Everett West April 8 

Come see J. Kenji López-Alt, author of the New York Times best seller The Food Lab, for the release of his new cookbook, The Wok, at Everett West (914 NW Everett St) from 6 to 8 p.m. Presented by Powell’s Books, López-Alt will join forces with Bill Oakley, PoMo Burger Cabal member and former showrunner and head writer of The Simpsons—Oakley is also known as “The Gordon Ramsay of Fast Food” after gaining a following with his humorous fast food video bits on Instagram. In his latest book, López-Alt covers how to master stir-fry cooking with wok-friendly ingredients, featuring Asian favorites like pad Thai and bibimbap. The cookbook features over 200 recipes. Tickets are $50 and can be reserved through Eventbrite. 

Papaya Salad Contest and Party at Mekong Bistro April 9 

Show off your culinary talents at the second annual papaya salad contest and party at Mekong Bistro (8200 NE Siskiyou St) from 6 p.m. to midnight. While shredded papaya will be provided, contestants must bring their own other ingredients, and a mortar and pestle. For added entertainment, there will be live music from Souk Sabai & Friends and the Mekong Balladeers. Deadline to sign up for the contest is April 8, and admission costs $10, whether you’d like to enter the contest or simply judge the salads. Call or text 503-475-8250 to reserve your spot. 

Preservation Society Pops Up with a 6-Course Dinner at Suckerpunch April 12 

Next Tuesday, chefs James Workman and Katie Roe are celebrating Northwest cuisine with a pop-up at zero-proof cocktail pop-up Suckerpunch (1030 SE Belmont St) at 5 p.m. The dinner features six courses prepared through various preservation methods, including smoked pork bone, local vegetable pickles, and beetroot with fermented carrot, along with nonalcoholic pairings from beverage connoisseur Nora Furst. Part of the proceeds for the event will be donated to Feed the Mass, a nonprofit that utilizes the zero-waste method through cooking and serving healthy meals to those in need. Tickets are $85, and you can make reservations by visiting the event page.