Expatriate Brunch

Brunch at Expatriate, despite being highlighted a few times in the food media here, still seems to be a hidden secret. But this is fine with me, as it means the vibe is laid back and uncrowded and unhurried. It’s available only on the weekend on both Saturday, Sunday 10 AM – 2 PM. It’s easy to find parking a few blocks away, even on a Sunday – and no line! Here’s a look at some highlights of their brunch menu.
Expatriate Brunch Expatriate Brunch, Rice Waffle with Black Sesame Ice Cream, Smothered and Covered Expatriate Hash Browns and Expatriate Congee

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Headwaters Brunch

I’m going to share one of my brunch secrets – Headwaters PDX, a place that is never too crowded for brunch so I’ve easily walked in (they serve brunch both in their main restaurant area and their lounge area by their bar so have large capacity). PLUS they take reservations! It’s only been almost exactly a year since they opened and I’m not sure if not everyone knows they offer brunch. Whatever, this all adds up so it’s perfect when you have out of town guests and want to stick to a schedule and not have to wait around so you can get going on your way to other weekend adventures. The atmosphere is classy and the service has always been impeccable for anytime I stop in. Weekend brunch is available Saturday and Sunday 8 AM – 3 PM and they also serve breakfast on weekdays.

Start with a brunch cocktail – of course I always recommend a bloody mary. The Headwaters Mary version offers lemongrass green chili vodka and housemade bloody mary mix, horseradish, and Steigl Radler
Headwaters Brunch - Headwaters Mary, lemongrass green chili vodka and housemade bloody mary mix, horseradish, and Steigl Radler

But, my other favorite and highly recommended cocktail for your consideration is the Never Too Early brunch cocktail with aged rum old fashioned, averna, coffee syrup
Headwaters Brunch - Never Too Early brunch cocktail with aged rum old fashioned, averna, coffee syrup

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Brunch at Tusk and Upcoming Summer Party

Tusk in Portland took over the old Levant space on SE 24th and Burnside, transforming it into a light filled bright space with a sweet touch but continuing to offer Middle Eastern food and making use of the inherited open wood-burning hearth. Brunch at Tusk is only 10 AM – 2PM on Saturday and Sunday, otherwise they are open for dinner daily.

It’s quite a contrast seeing almost kitty corner across the street the line of people waiting for the heavier Southern brunch and fried chicken and biscuits versus here, the lighter Middle Eastern brunch plates, many which are vegetarian, can be made vegan, and feel healthier. Extensive studies have shown that Mediterranean eating patterns – of which Middle Eastern food share some commonality with its use of chickpeas, lentils, vegetables, olive oil, etc. –  are directly correlated with good health including the reduction of that LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) bad cholesterol,  risk of Alzheimer’s by approximately 40 percent, and the development of Parkinson’s Disease. So let’s bring on the hummus and pita, shall we!

Bright interior full of light welcomes you and keeps you feeling cheerful during your meal.
Tusk in Portland interior Tusk in Portland interior

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Brunch at Broder Nord

There are always lines for the Broder restaurants at brunch on the weekend for their unique Swedish cuisine – but I’ve never experienced them. That’s because though I love Broder, I go on the weekdays because they offer brunch everyday 8 AM – 3 PM, not just on weekends! For an example of my favoriter Broder dishes, here’s a look at my brunch at Broder Nord.
Brunch at Broder Nord - Lefse, a Norwegian potato crepe filled with rotating ingredients (mine was Havarti and salami) topped with baked eggs and served with mixed greens; Aebelskivers (Danish Pancakes) served with lingonbarry jam and lemon curd; Smørrebrød, Danish Open Faced Sandwiches where you can choose two of five options, we picked the Gravlax with shrimp skagenröra, radish, mustard sauce, microgreens and the Beet and Asparagus with asparagus, beets, and chevre; and at the top Förlorade ägg (Lost Eggs) a dish of 2 eggs on a bed of sliced ham and spinach baked under breadcrumbs in a skillet
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Bagel Farm in Portland

There’s a new bagel option in Portland – at least sometimes. It’s a Bagel Brunch pop-up by Sean Coyne called Bagel Farm that offers bagels to dine in at a pop up locations on Saturdays (Elder Hall) or Sundays (right now Renata). The bagels are organic, use Pacific Northwest flour, and have a great crispness to the outside but doughy inside that is a perfect combo.
Bagel Farm pop up in Portland menu when popping up at Renata Bagel Farm pop up in Portland menu when popping up at Renata Salmon Deluxe bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, salmon, horseradish cream cheese, salted cucumbers, capers, onions. Vegan Lox bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, walnut spread, carrot lox, capers, red onions, salted cucumbers. This was my favorite especially on the sesame bagel

I happened to stop by the Renata pop-up at the beginning of the month when they first appeared at the wonderful space that is Renata. The next pop up is this weekend and next weekend, August 20, 21, 27, and 28.

The bagel choices include

  • Plain
  • Poppy
  • Sesame (this is my personal favorite)
  • Salt
    Salt Bagel from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland
  • Everything (my #2)
    Everything Bagel from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland

Meanwhile, the schmears are particularly fun, including besides having your bagel plain, or with butter, the spreads of

  • Plain cream cheese
  • Leek, scallion chive cream cheese
  • Horseradish cream cheese
  • Country ham cream cheese (here on an Everything bagel)
    Everything bagel with country ham cream cheese from Bagel Farm, a pop up offering bagel brunch in Portland
  • Hummus (vegan)
  • Walnut spread (vegan)

You can also additionally add cucumbers, capers, onions, or a tomato to enhance your sandwich. Or, they also offer open faced bagel sandwiches, which they called “Bagels Composed”, that include

  • Salmon Deluxe: choice of bagel, horseradish cream cheese, salted cucumbers, capers, onions. I was a big fan of the horseradish cream cheese.
    Salmon Deluxe bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, salmon, horseradish cream cheese, salted cucumbers, capers, onions. Salmon Deluxe bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, salmon, horseradish cream cheese, salted cucumbers, capers, onions.
  • Hammy Time: choice of bagel, country ham cream cheese, fennel slaw, radish
  • Hummus Among Us: choice of bagel, hummus, salted cucumber, radish, paprika, olive oil, lemon
  • Vegan “Lox”: choice of bagel, walnut spread, carrot “lox”, capers, red onions, salted cucumbers. This was my favorite especially on the sesame bagel.
    Vegan Lox bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, walnut spread, carrot lox, capers, red onions, salted cucumbers. This was my favorite especially on the sesame bagel Vegan Lox bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, walnut spread, carrot lox, capers, red onions, salted cucumbers. This was my favorite especially on the sesame bagel
  • Israeli Salad: choice of bagel topped with Israeli salad of tomatoes and cucumbers

Because I was at Renata, I was happy to treat myself to a well earned after the gym cocktail – and I wanted to make sure I got my fruit into my brunch too. This cocktail is called the Buon Giorno Princepessa with white peach – blueberry mint sorbetto and prosecco. It takes a little care and love to create, but it’s worth the wait – I could have drank these all morning.
 

What’s your favorite type of bagel, and what do you top with your bagel in terms of schmear?

Vegan Lox bagel composed bagel sandwich from Bagel Farm pop up in Portland that comes with choice of bagel, walnut spread, carrot lox, capers, red onions, salted cucumbers. This was my favorite especially on the sesame bagel

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