Karen Brooks eats, drinks and thinks about food for Portland Monthly, as the magazine's trend-spotting food critic. Karen's reviews and think pieces ferret out the restaurants, food carts, and maverick thinkers defining Portland's food voice. In 2017, Karen won one of the food world's most prestigious titles: the James Beard Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Reviewer Award. She's penned nine books on food and drink, and in 2020 guest-starred on Hulu's food series, Eater's Guide to the World.

Breaking News

Country Cat’s Famed Meat Lovers Buy Plant-Based Icons Harlow and Prasad

Adam and Jackie Sappington, known for their butcher art and nostalgic cooking, jump into the meat-free world and expand their Portland restaurant portfolio.

08/14/2018 By Karen Brooks

Word of Mouth

'Wine Dive Bar' Sardine Head Is Changing the Way Portland Drinks

With natural wine, tinned fish, and zero pretension, there's no place quite like this.

08/14/2018 By Karen Brooks

Review

Duane Sorenson's Holiday Is the Portland Restaurant Surprise of 2018

The Stumptown founder overhauls Roman Candle and reinvents himself in the process—vegan, juiced up, and high on life.

08/14/2018 By Karen Brooks

Streets & Hoods

6 Essential Portland Neighborhoods for Newcomers to Explore

Shop, eat, and play your way across the metro area.

08/03/2018 Edited by Kelly Clarke and Margaret Seiler

Breaking News

NE Broadway Xurro Shop 180 to Relocate

The popular Spanish doughnut and drinking chocolate spot has closed, with plans to reopen in a new neighborhood.

08/01/2018 By Karen Brooks

Chef Diaries

Introducing 'Postcards from the Food Edge,' a New Series from Globe-Trotting PDX Chefs

In our inaugural post, Ataula’s Jose and Cristina Chesa explore churros, lap up coffee-ant mayo, and cook up a storm in Mexico City.

07/25/2018 By Cristina Baez Edited by Karen Brooks

Review

Gabriel Rucker's Canard Is 2018’s Best Restaurant (So Far)

From funfetti pancakes to rare Burgundy wines, Le Pigeon's sister spot is a gloriously odd duck.

07/17/2018 By Karen Brooks

Cowabunga

Country Brunch Brings Bucolic Farm Views, Amped Bloody Marys, and Ice Cream for Breakfast

Portland Monthly's annual celebration of seriously good morning eats, lawn games, and live tunes rolls out July 15.

07/06/2018 By Karen Brooks

Summer Eats: Fun in the Sun

11 Amazing Ways to Savor Summer in Portland

Garden bowers. Yacht-side patios. Slurping banana pudding milkshakes and swilling beers with llamas. We’ve got ideas.

06/19/2018 By Karen Brooks, Kelly Clarke, Rebecca Jacobson, Sam Pape, Benjamin Tepler, and Sarah Williams

Word of Mouth

Portland's Real-Deal Farm-to-Table Cooking Isn't Where You'd Expect

Namely in a downtown wine shop.

06/19/2018 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

First Look: Castagna Café Reboot OK Omens Is Ready for Prime Time

The casual modern wine bar from Michelin-caliber chef Justin Woodward and rising somm star Brent Braun is now open, and we’ve got the details.

06/07/2018 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

Feast Portland’s Hottest Ticket Boasts 3 Power Lady Chefs, 4 Michelin Stars, and 1 Night of Serious Eating

SF's Dominique Crenn, NYC's Emma Bengtsson, and Portland’s Kristen Murray collaborate at September’s food fest. We got details.

06/05/2018 By Karen Brooks

Breaking News

Woodblock Chocolate Readies a Giant 'Manufactory' and Café Off NE Broadway

Portland’s cacao fanatics promise 1,500 square feet of chocolate bon-bons, drinks, and cookies, plus an up-close look at their bean-to-bar process.

05/30/2018 By Karen Brooks

First Look

Either/Or Is Officially Open on North Williams

Coffee and mocktail whiz Ro Tam is joined in the kitchen by the Fenrir crew, with Tanglewood Chai slushies coming down the pike.

05/29/2018 By Karen Brooks

Word of Mouth

Notes from a 24-Hour Seattle Food Bender

Rollicking Southern food to $225 negronis, here's what to devour on a trip up north. Plus: tips from an Emerald City culinary insider.

05/22/2018 By Karen Brooks and Allecia Vermillion

Review

At Bistro Agnes, the Wild Duo behind Ox Plays French Food Straight

The downtown spot is good. But where's the spark?

05/22/2018 By Karen Brooks

First Look

With Holiday, Stumptown Founder Duane Sorenson Goes Sober, Vegan, and Gluten-Free

The face of third-wave coffee has quietly transformed his Roman Candle Bakery into a cool, plant-based breakfast and coffee shop on SE Division, blocks from his soon-to-open roasting company, Puff Coffee.

05/02/2018 By Karen Brooks