Portland

Mostlandian Panwiches

Entering into the domain of Junior Ambassadors actually takes you over the border into the nation of Mostlandia, a place best described by its ambassadors: "It is nowhere, and now here." Mostlandian propaganda is your first inkling that things are a little different here and your next clue is the ice cream menu which includes flavors like Smoked Salmon (my personal favorite, don't knock it til you tried it), Asparagus and Maple Strip Tease, a tried and true maple-bacon combo. Most people come for the ice cream, but don't forget the panwiches, sandwiches with yummy fillings between two pancakes.

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Restaurants • All Neighborhoods

Breakfast of Champions

Some might say opening a breakfast/brunch restaurant is the mark of a lazy chef. The hours are less brutal, the basic ingredients are cheap, and the menu stays pretty much constant throughout the year. But chef John Gorham, founder of the fantastically popular Toro Bravo, is anything but lazy. Borrowing liberally from the spice palate that makes Toro Bravo's tapas menu so delectable, Gorham's new Tasty n Sons re-sets the standard for breakfast in a town that overflows with breakfast options. Who cares about bacon-eggs-hashbrowns when you can tuck into a frittata with nettles, asparagus, olives, caramelized onions and fromage blanc (a soft white cheese) served in a sizzling cast iron skillet? Or roasted harissa chicken hash, which gets its smoky magic from Gorham's version of harissa, a traditional North African condiment made with piri piri chile peppers, red peppers, coriander, and other spices. I may skip the chocolate potato doughnut on my next visit (even with crème anglaise it was underwhelming) but I'll be trying the Burmese red pork stew, or maybe the glazed yams with cumin-maple. And, what the heck, I'll start with a "Tasty Mary" with house pickles and a celery salt rim. Can't wait.

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Sweet, Purple Thing

Do you like luscious pastries? Fair-trade coffee? Peace and quiet? The color purple? Then wander into Sweet Thing, a spacious new bakery at the somewhat blighted intersection of Northeast Alberta and MLK. Co-owners are Shawna Marshall, a longtime baker, and former Starbucks barista Kindra Davison, who memorably refers to her old employer as "Charbucks." The two have created a comfortable lavender haven, the better to set off their riotous muffins, coffeecakes, and cupcakes--including the retro revival du jour, the Red Velvet cupcake. Those with sensitive stomachs will appreciate Sweet Thing's gluten-fee chocolate cake made with coconut flour from Bob's Red Mill. A number of items are vegan, too, and the partners plan to use their capacious baking space to meet local restaurants' ever-growing demand for vegan and gluten-free goods. Sweet Thing's Café Femenino coffee comes from female Peruvian coffee farmers, and even the lids of the to-go cups are virtuous, being compostable. I haven’t tried the soups or panini yet, but I'll definitely be back for some of that chocolate cake.

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Treasure Trove

Walking into Flutter is like discovering an old attic full of forgotten treasure. Proprietresses Cindy Rokoff and Kalaisha Watrous have an elegant, worldly aesthetic and know how to make the most of their space. Antique furniture hides beneath colorful textiles and stuffed pillows, while all manner of curiosities line the shelves and spill out of open drawers and suitcases. Many items fall into the moderate to expensive range, but there are plenty of affordable options, too: fake birds and peacock feathers, novelty toys, paper dolls, vintage photographs and fancy wrapping paper, for starters. Spend a small fortune on a Frocky Jack Morgan dress or some Captain Cat folk art, or plunk down a fiver for a pack of Black Jack gum and a bar of French-milled soap. Or simply browse; there's no sales pressure whatsoever. You'll be back once you realize you can't possibly live without a rickshaw and a set of antlers.

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