May 13, 2024

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70º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:41 a.m. | Sunset 8:33 p.m.
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Hometown foodie heroes

This over-the-shoulder view shows a brown wooden table set with multiple dishes of varying sizes. Some plates bear colorful leafy greens while others contain burgundy-colored rice and curry.

Langbaan offers just two seating times each day it’s open (Thursday-Sunday) inside Phuket Cafe. | Photo by @christinedong

We have less than a month before the winners of the 2024 James Beard Awards are revealed, which means it’s a perfect time to get to know our local finalists — and experience their incredible cuisine.

This year, Portland has four nominees divided evenly between chefs and eateries. Read on to learn about them and get inspired for your next meal out.

🧑‍🍳 Beard’s culinary contributions

The “Oscars of the culinary world” are presented by the James Beard Foundation nonprofit whose namesake was born here in Portland. After spending his early adulthood trying to break into the theater and film industry, Beard found his place in the culinary world. He wrote the first of 20+ cookbooks in 1940 and carved a name for himself at the top of the game. The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990, some 15 years after Beard’s death; the first awards were handed out the following year.

🏆 2024 finalists

A woman in a white chef's apron and gray t-shirt stands with arms crossed in front of a brick building and a sign that reads "Lovely's Fifty Fifty." — Netflix was way ahead of the James Beard Foundation when it came to spotlighting Sarah Minnick.
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Photo by @modcuisine

Sarah Minnick, Lovely’s Fifty Fifty | Nominated for Outstanding Chef
You may recognize the lone Portland chef nominated for national recognition — she appeared in Netflix’s “Chef’s Table: Pizza” series. Minnick is known for topping sourdough crusts with unexpected ingredients (think: flowers and eggs) and produce sourced directly from local farms.

Langbaan | Nominated for Outstanding Restaurant
This tiny Thai restaurant (it has just 24 seats and operates out of Phuket Cafe) serves five-course tasting menus “inspired by the warm and convivial atmosphere of Thai kitchens.”

Freshly-baked croissants with stripey lamination spread out on a baking sheet. — JinJu Patisserie’s buttery, flaky, and oh-so-crackly croissants are @thekoreanmama approved.
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Photo by @jinjupatisserie

JinJu Patisserie | Nominated for Outstanding Bakery
Brave the potential line outside when this bakery opens to have first pick from a slew of perfectly executed French desserts. Follow along on Instagram for special releases.

Gregory Gourdet, kann | Nominated for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
Gourdet is no stranger to this spotlight: his Haitian eatery claimed the James Beard Award for “Best New Restaurant” last year. Snag a reservation when the clock strikes noon on the first of each month — or try Appointment Trader.

The winners will be announced on Monday, June 10.

Asked

What 2024 James Beard Award-recognized eatery do you want to dine at most?

A. Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
B. Langbaan
C. JinJu Patisserie
D. kann

Dish it out

Events

Monday, May 13

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini | Monday, May 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $25-$128 | Delyana Lazarova conducts this “rollercoaster of pianistic flourishes” featuring soloist Simon Trpčeski.
Lizzy McAlpine: The Older Tour | Monday, May 13 | 8 p.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $25-$56 | The singer whose star started rising in 2020 when she released her first album, “Give Me A Minute,” is in town to showcase her maturing lyricism.

Tuesday, May 14

Celtic Woman 20th Anniversary Tour | Tuesday, May 14 | 7 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $20.75-$164 | Four Irish women meld their otherworldly vocals and instrumentals, forming this internationally-renowned group that’s achieved multi-platinum success.

Wednesday, May 15

Botany for Birders: Rose City Flowers with Ryan Gilpin | Wednesday, May 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Online | $20-$30 | Spread your wings and take your birding hobby to new heights by learning about local trees and plants local avian species flock to.
Shemanski Park Farmers Market | Monday, May 13-Wednesday, Oct. 30 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Southwest Park Avenue + Main Street, Portland | Free | Pick up farm-fresh produce and locally made food during your lunch break in the heart of downtown Portland.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Trending

So… did you see the show? The nocturnal display of green, pink, and purple light that dazzled people in the Portland area (and around the world) may surpass the largest solar storm in recorded history, The Carrington Event of 1859, according to OMSI’s Director of Space Science Education Jim Todd. (KOIN)

Sports

The odds did not favor the Portland Trail Blazers at the NBA Draft Lottery. The Blazers, which tied for the third-worst season in NBA history this year, got the seventh overall pick. They also have the 14th overall pick thanks to a trade made during the last offseason. (KGW)

Biz

Portland-based vacation rental management company Vacasa is making more deep cuts as it pursues its restructuring efforts. On the heels of laying off 320 employees in February, Vacasa announced 800 more layoffs (13% of its workforce), saying it’s prioritizing local market teams in the field. (KGW)

Edu

The Urban Wings and Aerospace Leadership Club gives youths, “particularly Black and brown young people,” the building blocks and hands-on learning they need to pursue STEM and aviation careers — and become upstanding citizens. All students are welcome to join; meetings are held at North Portland’s Vanport International Flight Stimulator Lab. (KGW)

Feel Good

Two golfers are riding birdie today as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham. Starting at 7 a.m., Tasha and Chad will take a swing at besting the current record of 93 birdies in 12 hours, while raising funds fore OGA Junior Golf. (KOIN)

Closing

Ingrid’s Scandinavian Food is bidding Oregon City “farvel” — that’s Danish for “farewell.” The restaurant located a stone’s throw from the Oregon City Municipal Elevator will put a cap on a decade of business with a farewell brunch on Saturday, June 8, followed by a drag bingo brunch the next day.

Travel

Oregon’s wine country, beaches, and orchards make for great road trips, or you could put a little oddity into your summer itinerary by visiting the state’s most unique attractions. Boggle your brain at the Oregon Vortex, rent a DVD at the world’s last Blockbuster, see a mile-wide crater, and more. (Portland Monthly)

Sports

Locked On Blazers host Mike Richman shoots down rumors of Chauncey Billups going to the Phoenix Suns and teaches a history lesson on the Trail Blazers’ past NBA Draft Lottery experiences in this episode of the daily podcast.

Biz

Your ambition is infinite, but your time is not. Athena can help you scale yourself + your company by pairing you with an elite assistant and world-class delegation coaching. Bonus: PDXtoday readers can score a $1,500 credit — see how.*

Community

🌸 Flower power

Red, yellow, green, and pink florals cover the bottom 8 ft or so of a light pole on a sidewalk outside of Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Take a flower if you visit one of Tulip Cowboy’s displays — they’re meant to be shared. | Photo by @nicholaspeterwilson

Move your feet for floral treats, Portlanders. Two aromatic initiatives are bestowing blooms upon the Rose City’s public walking spaces for all to enjoy throughout the coming weeks.

Bloom Tour

The second annual Bloom Tour showcases one-of-a-kind, large-scale, flower-themed art displays created by some of Portland’s top florists and artists. Now through Tuesday, June 11, you’ll find be-petaled productions installed at 29 participating businesses across downtown, Old Town, and, for the first time, the Central Eastside. Participating shops, restaurants, and hotels are running Bloom Tour specials and deals — use the online map to chart a course.

Pop-ups

Local florist Tulip Cowboy teamed up with the Portland Rose Festival to scatter sprays of flowers in public spaces in the lead-up to CityFair. So far, we’ve spotted Tulip Cowboy’s handiwork outside Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery, the Portland Art Museum, and Lan Su Chinese Garden. Keep an eye on Instagram for the next pop-up locations.

The Buy

Apple pie made easy. We’re celebrating National Apple Pie Day by warming up some of this Apple Pie Jam from Adams Apple Co. with a little bit of ice cream.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

If I could rewind the clock to a random day during high school, there’s a good chance “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie or “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service would greet my ears. Both bands will perform at the Moda Center this Wednesday, May 15 — and some tickets are still up for grabs.

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