A Family-Owned Argentinian Food Cart Lands in Beaverton

Happy Friday, Portland. After a brief respite from the scorching heat we’re heading back into 95-plus degrees weather next week, because that’s Portland now. Luckily our bars are stepping up their slushy game, and those heading to the Gorge for a dip in the river now have even more reason to visit with the fabulous new drive-in spot. For everyone staying in town we have other news, including a new Beaverton food cart, a birthday, and new latin menus.

Grandma’s Cooking — Abuela Chona is the newest food cart to land in the Beaverton Food Cart Pod. The family-owned Argentinian shop makes puff pastry shells for its baked (not fried) empanadas daily, and offers a variety of meaty and vegetarian options, plus a chimichurri sauce made with a proprietary recipe. [EPDX]

Tapas Time — Bar Casa Vale, the brick-lined Spanish tapas arm of Nate Tilden’s food empire, has spent 2018 revamping its food menu, from new chefs to fried chicken brunch. Now, guests can throw down $29 each Monday and see their table covered in wood-fired tapas with the new Tapalunes night. Plus, discounted Spanish wines and ciders. [EPDX]

Bánh Mì Birthday — Help Vietnamese restaurant and bar Short Round celebrate its birthday this weekend. From Friday to Sunday find $5 frozen watermelon margaritas and blue hawaiians, plus $5 Bánh mì sandwiches. It sounds like a great way to celebrate any birthday. [EPDX]

Eat Your Breakfast Veggies — Vegan South American restaurant Epif is jumping on the weekend brunch train. Chickpea scrambles, “chorizo” and potato wraps with creamy sauce and salsa, and parfaits with mango cream adorn the menu, along with mimosas and pisco drinks. [EPDX]

Juicy Gossip — Kure Juice Bar is opening its sixth shop, the Mercury reported. Going into the Pearl at 850 NW 13th Avenue, the new shop will launch with the usual smoothies and acai bowls, as well as new protein shakes. These will reportedly taste like a milkshake, but will offer high protein, fat, carbs, and fiber, and will land in the other Kure Bars soon after. Look for the new shop next month. [The Merc]

Do the Shuffle — It looks as though Irish restaurant and cocktail bar Raven and Rose is getting a new executive chef in Matthew Howard. He’ll be leaving his decade-long stint at Screen Door to join his wife Jessica, who has worked at R&R for five years. No word on whether Howard will be bringing over those famous chicken and waffles. [EPDX]