Katherine Chew Hamilton came to Portland Monthly in the summer of 2020; previously, she was the restaurant critic at the East Bay Express, an alt-weekly newspaper in Oakland. Find her at a taco cart, ice cream shop, or eclectic pop-up researching stories about Portland’s food scene, with particular emphasis on BIPOC makers.

Oregon Fires

Smoky Skies Halt Outdoor Dining In Portland—But For How Long?

Restaurants and food carts are facing tough calls about whether to remain open, temporarily close, or move things indoors.

09/17/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton and Ainslee Dicken

Sip This

Celebrating Hispanic Roots Highlights Willamette Valley Winemakers

Stay tuned for the panel on October 1, when six Latinx winemakers in the Willamette Valley will discuss their experiences in English and Spanish.

09/16/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Wildfire Aid

Some of the Portland Restaurants, Pop-Ups, and Food Carts Helping Those Affected by Wildfires

Even while the foodservice industry faces a crisis of its own, many businesses are stepping up to help.

09/16/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Eat This Now

Mirisata, Portland’s Only Sri Lankan Pop-Up, Is Looking for a New Home

Get your rice and curry plates and street food lunches this weekend before the BIPOC worker-owned vegan pop-up leaves its Northeast Portland location.

09/10/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Drag in the Pandemic Era

A New Drag Brunch Is Coming to the Historic Darcelle XV

The nightlife hub, home to the West Coast’s longest-running drag show, launches its first-ever drag brunch.

09/03/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Ciao, Portland

Cooperativa, a New Italian Food Hall, Is Now Softly Open in the Pearl

Travel to a Florentine market without leaving town.

09/02/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Baking News

Pix Pâtisserie Chef Releases New Cookbook

Cheryl Wakerhauser is celebrating the launch of her new cookbook, Petite Pâtisserie: Bon Bons, Petits Fours, Macarons and Other Bite-Size Treats, with a Pix-O-Matic release party. Try making the 7-Layer “Cake” for yourself.

08/28/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Support Black-Owned

Five Days Remain in Portland’s Support Black-Owned Restaurants Week

If you haven’t already been supporting your local Black-owned food businesses, this week is a great time to start.

08/26/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

Bar King Reopens for Dinner Tomorrow

After opening and then abruptly closing in March, chef Shaun King plans to reopen the restaurant August 27.

08/26/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Snack Time

Meet Portland’s Gluten-Free Cracker King

“I already knew I had the best gluten-free crackers in the world, but people would walk by a Black product and they wouldn’t try it because a Black family was on the front.”

08/20/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Ice Cream

Salt & Straw’s New Camping-Inspired Flavors Drop Today

From salted hazelnut s’mores to cast-iron corn bread with huckleberry jam, this isn’t your average freeze-dried camping food.

08/14/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Pizza Party

At Paladin Pie, Pizza Fuels Social Change

The weekly pizza pop-up has donated to racial justice nonprofits and mutual aid funds including Don’t Shoot PDX, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the Okra Project.

08/13/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Tea Time

Mamancy Tea Brings a Taste of Kenya’s Tea Culture to Beaverton

For Anne Johnson, friendships are built on drinking tea.

08/09/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Stay Fresh

Meet Portland’s New Black-Owned Juice Brand, Drink Mamey

Founder Cydnie Smith-McCartney wants to spread her love for juice and wellness.

08/05/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Breaking News

A New Rooftop Bar, Lady of the Mountain, Arrives at Kex Hotel

Plus, Dóttir reopens for indoor and outdoor dining at the Icelandic hotel.

08/04/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Coffee Camaraderie

Two Years in, La Perlita Celebrates Its Status as a BIPOC Hub

The coffee shop is now home to a new roasting company, Reforma Roasters, and is hosting women and BIPOC-helmed food pop-ups on a near-daily basis.

07/30/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Breaking News

Oma’s Takeaway by Gado Gado Opens in August

The to-go and patio dining spot will specialize in Indonesian-Malaysian-Chinese barbecue platters.

07/28/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food on Film

Higgins to Open Piggins—And Star in a Pandemic-Era Documentary

Greg Higgins, Portland farm-to-table pioneer and owner of Higgins Restaurant, goes mobile with an outdoor bistro that’s the subject of an upcoming documentary.

07/24/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

Make Mine a Muffuletta

Sebastiano’s, a new Sicilian-inspired deli in Montavilla, focuses on muffulettas and cannoli.

07/23/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

Restaurants Report Third-Party Delivery Apps Violating Portland’s Cap On Fees

Grubhub and Postmates have been accused of charging restaurants more than the 10 percent commission fee allowed by the new city ordinance.

07/21/2020 By Katherine Chew Hamilton