It’s been a rough week for bars, restaurants, and local food carts, as well as a lot of other local businesses. It’s time to show our love for them:
🧊 January Is Rough
January is already a slow month for food trucks and restaurants, but this week of winter weather is really not helping. "We in the small business community call this week a catastrophic disaster," wrote Han Ly Hwang of Korean barbecue food cart Kim Jong Grillin, on Instagram. For the last couple of years, Portland weather has been more extreme, and that’s possibly the worst for food carts that rely on mild weather. [Portland Mercury]
- 😍 Related: How can you help small businesses? Here’s three suggestions from @kimjonggrillin to show your love for your favorite food carts and other spots. [Instagram]
- 🎤 Related: Portland Mercury culture editor Suzette Smith discusses the story with the City Cast Portland podcast.
🍜 New Restaurants This Month
Some notable new spots around town serve hand-pulled Chinese noodles, ramen, and South Asian snacks, including wings. It can’t have been easy to open a new restaurant this month either. [Eater Portland]
🍏 Cider Is Booming
Craft brewing, wine, and hard seltzer have all seen a dip in sales. But craft cider is still booming. Local successes include Bauman’s Cider, which has opened its first taproom, in Portland, after also buying a facility here to produce cider. Also, Portland Cider Co. now has three taprooms. [Oregonian]
- Related: Catch the end of Oregon Cider Week this weekend 🍎
