Karen Brooks eats, drinks and thinks about food for Portland Monthly, as the magazine's trend-spotting food critic at large. 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 FOOD NEWS

Spicy Details on Kyle Linden Webster and Naomi Pomeroy’s Expatriate

A new kind of meeting place will soon rise on NE Killingsworth. We snagged an early look at the cocktails, music, and menu set to debut in early July.

06/05/2013 By Karen Brooks

RESTAURANT REVIEW

There Will Be Blood

Eric Bechard's new restaurant, the Kingdom of Roosevelt, is unapologetically wild.

06/03/2013 By Karen Brooks

EAT THIS NOW

The Best PB&J, Ever. Really.

SE Hawthorne coffee shop Oui Presse spreads obsession and flavor intensity over an American sandwich icon. Behold the PB&J Royale.

05/22/2013 By Karen Brooks

BEAN SCENE

Introducing Ole Latte Coffee Cart

A regular Joe brings single origin coffee, local pride, and a creative “pay it forward” plan to Portland’s downtown food carts

05/08/2013 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

Le Pigeon’s Gabriel Rucker Wins Best Chef Northwest

An exclusive interview with Portland’s flavor genius and two-time James Beard Foundation Award winner

05/07/2013 By Karen Brooks

REVIEW

The People's Pig Wild Boar Sandwich

Cliff Allen's tiny, streetside meat cave fires up the art of eating between slices of homemade bread.

05/01/2013 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING NEWS

Coming Soon: Andy Ricker's Asian Food Marathon

With next week’s Pok Pok menu changes and Sen Yai noodle house near completion on SE Division, one man’s Southeast Asian food vision will rise breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

04/29/2013 By Karen Brooks

BREAKING FOOD NEWS

The Sugar Cube to go Brick-and-Mortar

SE Hawthorne’s iconic bakery-on-wheels sells to Hungry Heart Desserts, as baker talent Kir Jensen hones a Sugar Cube concept to open later this year.

04/24/2013 By Karen Brooks

SNEAK PEEK

Burning Details on Duane Sorenson's Roman Candle Bakery

As Stumptown Coffee’s food-loving founder continues to devour SE Division Street, we got an early look at the baking vision and menu set to debut in early May.

04/03/2013 By Karen Brooks

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Alma Chocolate's Daring Dinner Series

What happens when chocolate inspires monthly menus? A “grilled cheese and chocolate” collaboration between an artisan chocolatier and a cheese-loving Portland food cart provides some answers.

03/26/2013 By Karen Brooks