Jacobsen Salt Co. Kick-Starts; Lorena's Debuts; Chopped

OLD TOWN—PDX-based sea salt harvester Jacobsen Salt Co. — already a favorite of restaurants like Ned Ludd — has turned to micro-lending site Kickstarter to raise cash to build Oregon's first salt-harvesting facility, in an abandoned restaurant/warehouse space on the coast. Owner Ben Jacobsen currently hauls the coast's seawater back to Old Town's KitchenCru in order to create his line of finishing salts, which can be purchased at spots like the Meadow, Woodsman Market, and Salt & Straw. [EaterWire]

HOLLYWOOD—Thrillist is the first to report that Lorena's Mexican Restaurant has debuted on NE Sandy, in a space formerly home to Wild Tiger. Per the official website, the spot's affiliated with El Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant in Bend, and the sprawling, five-page menu features nine burrito options and 14 seafood dishes, including a Dungeness crab chimichanga and prawns cooked with bacon. Hours of operation: Sunday through Thursday, 11a.m. to 10p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11a.m. to 10:30p.m. [Thrillist, EaterWire]

SEATTLE—Those of you who applied for Top Chef season 10 but didn't make the cut, take your knives over to Ted Allen's Chopped. Eater Seattle spots a notice for the New York-based show's upcoming casting call up in Seattle. [-ESEA-]