Portland Dumpling Week 2020

February 1 – 8 2020 marks the 6th annual Dumpling Week as organized by the Oregonian. This year there are 35 restaurants participating in offering a special dumpling menu item for $10 or less. I have been enjoying Dumpling Week throughout the years – you can see my photos from last year in 2019, then in 2018, then 2017, and 2016, and first year 2015. Here are what I have enjoyed for Portland Dumpling Week 2020.

I went on a Dumpling Crawl on Day 1 (February 8) with friends @eatrichordietryin, @trailofcrumbs, and @hummingbirdhigh, so you may find additional photos there. I then went on a second smaller crawl with @perfectfooddays. You can find a Dumpling Map at the initial link above for Dumpling Week, but for the descriptions of the dumplings being offered at each location check out the article at the Oregonian here.

One possible start is for a dumpling crawl (and which we used on Sat) was they serving dumplings after 11 AM at Nel Centro. Here they are offering a Duck confit and radicchio Tortelloni in porcini parmesan brodo. I recommend also ordering a side of foccacia bread for a few dollars more to soak up all that lovely broth.
Nel Centro offered for Portland Dumpling Week 2020 a Duck confit and radicchio Tortelloni in porcini parmesan brodo

Next we popped into wine bar Canard for the maple sausage, egg and cheese breakfast gnocchi. Seared foie gras can be added optionally for $15. I found it sort of dry since it is not with a sauce, and sweet with the maple flavors. But, lean into the sweet and do as we did – order the Paris Brest with the cookies and cream and chocolate sauce, which was wonderful.
Portland Dumpling Week 2020 offering from Canard was a maple sausage, egg and cheese breakfast gnocchi Canard dessert offering of Paris Brest with cookies and cream and chocolate sauce

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Nel Centro

Nel Centro is one of those hidden gems of a restaurant. Most people don’t think to go dine or hang out at what is the restaurant of a hotel – and in many cases they are over priced, serving food for business expense accounts that are American staples generic enough to please any traveler.  But yet, you can’t deny that Imperial of Hotel Lucia and Departure and Urban Farmer of The Nines break that mold by pushing that envelope to bring good food that can comfort after a long work day but also allow creative license to wow you with deliciousness in new ways. It helps that Hotel Lucia and The Nines are boutique hotels – and so is Hotel Modera, which is where Nel Centro resides.

Nel Centro is also cousins with Hotel Eastland, home of the trendy Altabira Tavern by the Oregon Convention Center I’ve written about earlier. Hotel Modera is in Southwest Portland but still walkable to downtown, and located perfectly by theaters like Keller Auditorium and Arlene Schnitzer as well as PSU and the museums by the South Park Blocks.
Nel Centro Nel Centro

I don’t like to always advertise Nel Centro and how I adore their fire pit outdoor patio, mostly because I don’t want competition for those seats in the evening while sipping cocktails. So can I encourage you to go for lunch, dinner, or to their brunch that takes reservations…
Nel Centro firepit patio Ol Man River cocktail with Burnside Bourbon, Calisaya, and Bitters, inspired by the Portland Opera’s 2015 run of Show Boat.

Nel Centro specializes in cuisine of the French and Italian Riviera, bringing you options that are light and classic but the simplicity still promises plenty of flavor. For an authentic Italian Riviera touch, I enjoy that they offer foccacia as part of the complimentary bread service with dinner.
Complimentary foccacia with your meal at Nel Centro, reflecting its French and Italian Riviera cuisine

Perhaps start by sharing the Mussels with Garlic and Parsley available at lunch, happy hour, and dinner. There’s so many mussels included in the bowl they barely fit.
Mussels with Garlic and Parsley at Nel Centro, available at lunch, happy hour, and dinner Mussels with Garlic and Parsley at Nel Centro, available at lunch, happy hour, and dinner

For lunch or happy hour, there’s also this fantastic Wild Mushroom and Gorgonzola Pizza which would be great to share with 4 or more as a starter – it has lots of bold full flavors. Or make it your main dish at the bar.
Wild Mushroom and Gorgonzola Pizza at Nel Centro, available at lunch and happy hour Wild Mushroom and Gorgonzola Pizza at Nel Centro, available at lunch and happy hour

Meanwhile, a starter especially for happy hour and dinner service is this Duck Leg Confit with Kumquat Gastrique. This is a winning dish – I can eat this one all by myself.
Happy Hour and Dinner only starter at Nel Centro of Duck Leg Confit with Kumquat Gastrique

They change their cocktail options seasonally, but also create special drinks to go with the theme of various theater productions. For instance, everyone at my table enjoyed The Magic Flute cocktail, a special creation for the Portland Opera Prosecco, Nardini Acqua di Cedro, Grapefruit Bitters – even someone who said she doesn’t usually like sparkling wine!
The Magic Flute cocktail at Nel Centro, a special creation for the Portland Opera with Prosecco, Nardini Acqua di Cedro, Grapefruit Bitters

For the current Sweeney Todd production of Portland Opera, they have crafted the Sweeney Todd cocktail with Bulleit Bourbon, Luxardo Marschino, and Creme de Cacao.
Nel Centro Sweeney Todd inspired cocktail of the Sweeny Todd with Bulleit Bourbon, Luxardo Marschino, and Creme de Cacao.

Other drinks from productions in the past are still in the rotation by popular demand, such as the Ol’ Man River cocktail with Burnside Bourbon, Calisaya, and bitters, inspired by the Portland Opera’s 2015 run of Show Boat.
Ol Man River cocktail with Burnside Bourbon, Calisaya, and Bitters, inspired by the Portland Opera’s 2015 run of Show Boat.

I usually skip right past the salad section of a menu, but the Nel Centro salad of Roasted Beets with Baked Ricotta, Arugula, Orange and Hazelnuts is seriously perfect. I appreciate the ratio of their fresh cheese to everything else to, don’t you? I’ve been loving this salad combo since 2011, believe it or not as proved by this previous blog post. Just for lunch, you can also imagine yourself at the French Riviera with the Grilled Tuna Niçoise Salad.
The Nel Centro salad of Roasted Beets with Baked Ricotta, Arugula, Orange and Hazelnuts is seriously perfect. I appreciate the ratio of their fresh cheese to everything else to, don't you? The Nel Centro salad of Roasted Beets with Baked Ricotta, Arugula, Orange and Hazelnuts is seriously perfect. I appreciate the ratio of their fresh cheese to everything else to, don't you? The Nel Centro salad of Roasted Beets with Baked Ricotta, Arugula, Orange and Hazelnuts is seriously perfect. I appreciate the ratio of their fresh cheese to everything else to, don't you?

Another Italian Riviera famous dish is pesto – so you should give serious consideration to their lunch and dinner option of Spaghetti with Kale Pesto, Almonds and Pecorino. I like saving some of the complimentary focaccia at dinner to eat with the pesto so I can really pretend I’m there in Italy.
Nel Centro Spaghetti with Kale Pesto, Almonds and Pecorino Nel Centro Spaghetti with Kale Pesto, Almonds and Pecorino

At Nel Centro they make their pastas daily, so you won’t go wrong with other great pasta bets like the Spinach and Ricotta Tortelli with English Peas and Lemon or the Pappardelle with Braised Lamb Shoulder and Smoked Pecorino, both also available at lunch and dinner. OK OK I confess I pretty much want ALL their pasta dishes.

Spinach and Ricotta Tortelli with English Peas and Lemon from Nel Centro at lunch or dinner Spinach and Ricotta Tortelli with English Peas and Lemon from Nel Centro at lunch or dinner Pappardelle with Braised Lamb Shoulder & Smoked Pecorino at Nel Centro

In addition, at lunch Nel Centro offers a selection of intriguing sandwiches varying from Spit Roasted Pork with Mostarda di Frutta to one with Rotisserie Chicken with Bacon and Herb Aioli, Albacore Tuna Melt on Levain with Raschera cheese, or Fried Eggplant with Tomato Jam & Feta Cheese for the vegetarian. Seriously, one of the best and classiest business lunch options you can pick.

Meanwhile at dinner, the sandwich sections shifts into a heavier main entrees that include Rotisserie Chicken, Spit Roasted Pork Chop, Halibut, Grilled Skirt Steak or Grilled New York steak, or Lamb Shank.

For brunch, not only can you get the Duck Leg Confit with Kumquat Gastrique, Rotisserie Chicken sandwich or Spit Roasted Pork Sandwich that I mentioned above, but they have a Poached Eggs on Griddled Polenta with Cured Pork Loin & Sage Hollandaise. Yes. This particular poached eggs on polenta with pork dish is available every day to jump start your morning since it’s also on their normal everyday breakfast menu. It’s one of the things I love about hotel restaurants – I don’t have to always fight it out at brunch if something I love is on their regular breakfast rotation anyway.

This year marks Nel Centro’s seventh anniversary – congratulations! – and this milestone helps reinforce how they have been doing well all along, even without your knowledge. But now you’re in the know with me too.
Happy Hour and Dinner only starter at Nel Centro of Duck Leg Confit with Kumquat Gastrique along with the Ol' Man River cocktail with Burnside Bourbon, Calisaya, and bitters, inspired by the Portland Opera’s 2015 run of Show Boat. Wild Mushroom and Gorgonzola Pizza at Nel Centro, available at lunch and happy hour

One thing I should warn you is that it’s best to visit after the theater crowd leaves since there is a big hustle to get them in and out quickly that changes the airy open atmosphere – unless of course you are a theater goer yourself, then this will work out as they are experienced in making sure you will get to the show on time.

Which of these dishes intrigues you? Have you heard of or been to Nel Centro before?

Nel Centro Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Disclosure: I attended a complimentary bloggers/media dinner, but I also returned on my own and I have been at the restaurant several times previously. I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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A dinner at Nel Centro

It was my first time at dinner at Nel Centro, although I have passed it many times and always supported the blazing flames of the firepits of their patio. It being November, it was too chilly to enjoy those fires outdoors that evening, but we did have dinner in a cozy booth in the mid century atmosphere of the restaurant. 

The focaccia bread came with a small little pitcher of olive oil shortly after we had ordered. Of the meal, my favorite dish was my starter of the Roasted Beets with Baked Ricotta, Arugula, Orange & Hazelnuts.

Entrees: I had the Pumpkin Agnolotti with Hazelnut Sage Butter. It's a medium sized dish, and I was expecting the size that I received based on the price of the entrees in comparison- it's meant to be the pasta first course, aka a il primo piatto, followed by a secondi or second course that is the heavier filling main dish of dinner.

In terms of actual entrees at the table, the Grilled New York Steak with Maître d'Hôtel Butter & Potato Gratin looked delicious and put me in a steak mood for later in the week for when my brother is coming for a quick visit.  The Spit Roasted Pork Loin with Red Cabbage, Polenta & Mustard Sauce was quite a hunk of pork. Both were plated prettily- particularly that steak.

The large floor to ceiling windows let in the atmosphere of the dark evening (along with the hint of mysterious fog returning from the morning chill), but this was balanced with enough spot lighting on the table to actually see and enjoy my food and easily enjoy conversations. The restaurant is colocated on that block with the boutique hotel Hotel Modera, and its atmosphere and positioning is befitting for those restaurant patrons who want to treat themselves on vacation to a cozy dinner without going far from the room, or have a networking business dinner, or dine before or after a nearby show at the theater… and fair warning, so do the prices reflect such.

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