Kann you believe it? Gregory Gourdet’s Haitian restaurant wins big at 2023 James Beard Awards
An unforgettable dining experience awaits. | Photo by Steve Freihon
For the first time ever, a Portland restaurant took home the title of Best New Restaurant — that’s in the entire country — at the 2023 James Beard Awards. Celebrity chef Gregory Gourdet and his Haitian restaurant Kann basked in the glory at the Chicago ceremony, bringing the bright and rosy spotlight to our city’s dining scene as it continues to make strides up and out of the pandemic.
What better way to commemorate this achievement than with a celebratory meal at the most-coveted table in town? Here’s what we’d order.
Starters
Akra | These crispy taro root fritters come with a remoulade that will make your mouth water. We’re double dipping and we’re not sorry about it.
Kale & Sweet Plantain Salad | Delicious greens tossed in a roasted grape, cashew-coconut dressing — it’s incredible how something so pretty can also be good for you.
Full proof
Choukoun | Raise a toast to tropical tastiness with this drink, made with a white rum blend, vanilla-anise liqueur, americano aperitivo, pineapple, and lime.
King Salmon | The fusion of Caribbean cuisine with Pacific Northwest bounty comes to perfectly charred fruition in this dish of herb-marinated fish on top of stewed peppers.
Sides
Legim | This stew of eggplant, carrots, spinach, and epis is a perfect introduction to traditional Haitian flavors.
Pikliz | Pickled vegetable relish is delicious by itself or mixed with other plates.
Dessert
Mango Mozayik | Thin wafers are filled with chili mango curd and served alongside a decadent yet airy coconut-lime sherbet.
Wellness Wednesdays with Pause Meditation | Wednesday, Jun. 7 | 12:30-1 p.m. | Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Ave., Portland | Free | Find inner peace in the city center with this guided meditation session.
Bayonne | Wednesday, Jun. 7 | 8 p.m. | Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St., Portland | $15 | Imagine a night vibrating with the sound of elegant yet wildly experimental electronic pop music.
Thursday, June 8
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” | Thursday, June 8-Sunday, July 23 | Times vary | Deb Fennell Auditorium, 9000 SW Durham Rd., Tigard | $30-$60 | This blockbuster of biblical proportions retells the story of Joseph, his coat of many colors, and his amazing ability to interpret dreams.
Friday, June 9
Portland IPA Fest | Friday, Jun. 9-Sunday, Jun. 11 | 12-8 p.m. | Pine Street Market, 126 SW Second Ave., Portland | $25 | Hop to this tasting featuring 30 different brews, from citrusy West Coast to hazy New England.
Saturday, June 10
The Bloody Mary Festival | Saturday, Jun. 10 | 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | The Redd on Salmon, 831 SE Salmon St., Portland | $54.50-$69.95 | Unlimited tomato-based cocktails are on tap from local bars and restaurants.
Sunday, June 11
Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas | Sunday, Jun. 11 | 7 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $30+ | Can Giovanni Savarese’s team grab the bull by the horns and hold on for three points?
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“Hold my beer.” - Portland Beer Week (probably). The festival that celebrates “craft beer culture and all of its tangents” is back, Friday, June 16-Sunday, June 25, with events across the city. Live music, food and beer tastings, local team-ups, and opportunities to up your brew knowledge are all on tap.
Eat
Magna Kubo, the new Filipino lechonería specializing in rotisserie-style meats, is now open in downtown Beaverton. And Pip’s Original has announced it will open next door on Saturday, July 1, bringing its doughnuts and chai to Southwest Broadway Street. These are tasty times in the west-side suburb.
Edu
Cue “Pomp and Circumstance.” After a three-year hiatus, Portland Community College will hold an in-person graduation ceremony on Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m. More than 1,000 students are expected to walk across the Veterans Memorial Coliseum stage. Free parking and a shuttle will be available at PCC’s Cascade Campus. (KOIN)
History
Never-before-seen historic photos from 1898 were recently donated to the Multnomah County Archives. The images depict Hillside Poor Farm and Hospital, the county’s first public relief institution, which operated in Washington Park for 40+ years. Accompanying materials help fill a hole in what was previously known about residents’ daily lives. (OPB)
Travel
A new intercity route between Portland and Boise is now available via FlixBus. Two trips will be offered daily (once in either direction). Eastbound stops include Hood River, The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, Ontario, and Nampa. Tickets start at $61.99.
Tech
Coffee and shoes — two things Portland does well. Dahsheng Chemical (DSC), a company whose research and development division is based in the Rose City, has developed the Dreamcell Xpresso — a foam insole made with 20% used coffee grounds. Leadership says it will boost sustainability at DSC’s Vietnam-based manufacturing facility. (Portland Inno)
Open
Burgers stacked with fresh ingredients and a side of nostalgia — that’s what you’ll find at Mike’s Drive-In, which recently opened a fourth location in St. Johns. The move is hot on the heels of last year’s expansion into Tigard. You can also grab a bite at the East Burnside or Sellwood locations. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Number
650. That’s how many trash cans the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has installed over the last three years, bringing the total number citywide to 1,400. The Public Trash Cans program is a concentrated effort to reduce trash and beautify communities. Expansion to Northwest and South Portland is expected by 2025.
For Family
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The Buy
Turn misplaced keys into a thing of the past with the Apple AirTag. The button-sized tracking device can give you step-by-step directions to your lost keys (or phone… or wallet…) and has a battery life of one year. Pro tip: Put one in your checked luggage and never worry about lost baggage again.*
Shop
Need to find your dad the perfect Father’s Day gift? You’re in luck. Check out gifts from our online store (Six & Main) that will make for a great surprise. From the outdoor explorer to the foodie dad, there’s a present for every type of father. Shop now.
Try This
♻️ Be the very best
How to become a master recycler
A love of repurposing and learning led residential contractor Lauren Manlove to the program. | Photo by @msfixit_or
Among us walk people of exalted eco-mindedness. These senseis of sorting, nay, these master recyclers, have undergone extensive training to attain such a title — and we could all learn a thing or two from them.
Across three counties, Metro offers the Master Recycler Program, which empowers people to inspire change and make a difference in their communities.
Over the course of eight weeks, participants tour local recycling centers, compost facilities, and hazardous and municipal waste sites to see firsthand how these systems work. They also learn about topics ranging from food waste prevention to equity in the environment, gaining invaluable skills from the experts.
Once certified, master recyclers join a team of 2,000+ volunteers who are equipped to oversee recycling for events, host fix-it fairs, give presentations, and carry out additional types of outreach.
Applications are now open for the fall course in Washington County. The deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 16.
In a fortuitous coincidence, I actually get to try Kann tomorrow night — and it’s all thanks to my wife’s perseverance. For several months, she tried to get reservations whenever they were released, and finally managed to snag a table. Something tells me those openings are going to be even harder to come by.
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