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.

Food News & Events

The Price to Taste a 60-Year-Old Japanese Whisky? $7,000.

The Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library is selling extravagantly-priced tickets to taste the House of Suntory’s Yamazaki 55 whisky—of which there are only 100 bottles in the world.

04/05/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Coffee

The Definitive Guide to Portland’s Best Indie Coffee Shops

The revolutionary roasters and old-school cafes shaping Portland’s dynamic new coffee culture.

04/05/2023 By Jordan Michelman, Matthew Trueherz, Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton, and Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Food News

Which Portlanders Were Named James Beard Award Nominees in 2023?

The competition narrows, with only a few of our local Portland and Pacific Northwest chefs left in the game. Stay tuned for the final awards in June.

03/29/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Travel

7 Last-Minute Spring Break Destinations for Sun-Deprived Portlanders

Itching to get away from the rain for spring break? Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Diego, and more await.

03/13/2023 By Dalila Brent, Shannon Daehnke, Gabriel Granillo, Katherine Chew Hamilton, Michelle Harris, and Julia Silverman

Food on TV

Cordyceps Fungus Is Lurking in Portland Food and Drink

Fans of HBO’s 'The Last of Us,' beware: the parasitic fungus is among us. But it actually tastes pretty good—and has some interesting potential health benefits.

03/10/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Review

Dawnbringer’s Pillowy English Muffins Build the Foundation for Breakfast Sandwich Greatness

This North Portland food cart stuffs sandwiches with the likes of miso–cream cheese–tinned fish, corned beef, and Korean-inspired egg patties.

03/10/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

3 New Asian Dessert Spots Arrive in Portland

Bingsoo from Snowy Village, boba from Milk + T Mini, and Taiwanese shaved ice from Meet Fresh are all on the menu.

03/08/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

Tabor Bread Has a New Owner and a New Location

Founder Tissa Stein is retiring, and baker Rebecca Tosdevin is taking the reins. We sat down for a Q&A with Tosdevin to discuss her plans for the new space.

03/02/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

Less and More Coffee Will Open a New Location This Spring

A year and a half after the downtown Portland coffee stand opened, it’s expanding into a second location, a brick-and-mortar by Pioneer Courthouse Square.

03/01/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Health & Wellness

10 Great Group Fitness Classes in Portland

We tried everything from aerial yoga to weightlifting to pole dancing.

02/24/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Dalila Brent, and Matthew Trueherz

Restaurant Opening

Toyshop Ramen Opens February 22

The new spot on Killingsworth offers six different kinds of ramen, playful snacks, cocktails, and toys galore.

02/22/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Interview

Bob Moore of Bob’s Red Mill Turns 94

At his birthday party on February 15, Portland Monthly talked with Moore about growing a business in Portland, switching to an employee-owned company model, and where to buy the best bolo ties and hats in town.

02/17/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Dining Picks

Where to Eat and Drink on Heated, Covered Patios

From restaurants to bars to food cart pods, these spots are sure to come in clutch during this pandemic winter.

02/15/2023 By Karly Quadros, Shannon Daehnke, and Katherine Chew Hamilton

Recipe

Make Café Olli’s Dungeness Crab, Green Garlic, and Meyer Lemon Pasta

The Northeast Portland bakery and pizza destination lets seasonal ingredients shine.

02/13/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton Photography by Michael Novak

Self-Care

4 Local Spa Treatments to Shake the Winter Doldrums

A Hawaiian massage in the Pearl, a float at the Float Shoppe, and two very different Portland soaks

02/08/2023 By Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton, Isabel Lemus Kristensen, and Margaret Seiler

Food News

Egg Prices Send Local Food Businesses Scrambling

Once a cheap source of protein and staple of baking and cooking, eggs are skyrocketing in cost, and business owners are making changes to accommodate.

02/06/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Dining Picks

Beaverton’s Best Restaurants

From dim sum to dosas, these are our favorite spots in Portland’s west burbs, including Tan Tan, Lima, and Nak Won.

02/01/2023 By Dalila Brent and Katherine Chew Hamilton

Dining Guide

Portland’s Most Romantic, Date-Worthy Restaurants

Planning a date with that special someone? Peep this list first.

02/01/2023 By Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton, and Matthew Trueherz

First Look

Fermenter Chef Aaron Adams Is Opening a Vegan Cuban Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

Workshop Food and Drink, Adams’s newest project, will open February 18 on Belmont Street in Southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood.

01/31/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Food News

These 10 Oregon Chefs and Restaurants Are James Beard Award Semifinalists

Kann, Okta, and beloved local chefs Peter Cho of Han Oak, Vince Nguyen of Berlu, and Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Gado Gado made the list. But who got snubbed?

01/25/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton