Breakfast in Bridgetown

I’m working on a piece about the Little Blue Waffle Wagon at 33rd and Division, and while I was there I found myself reminiscing with Emmy, one of the owners, about the old Cameo Cafe in Northwest.

She was a waitress there, and I ate there while researching the book, and the resulting chapter was the one instance in writing my book where I really let go on a place. Basically, what I wrote was “The only reason to eat here is so you can actually see an $11 waffle.”

Two weeks after I wrote that chapter, the Cameo closed. No one was shocked.

Actually, the real reason I enjoyed eating at the Cameo was Emmy herself, who’s quite the charmer and looker. In fact, I told her she’d have been flattered, had the Cameo chapter made it into the book. So I thought I’d share it below. And by the way, there is still a Cameo Cafe (with a website) — two of them, in fact. The one at NE 82nd and Sandy is covered in the book and is almost anthropological in its interest factor. One day, I really will get someone to order the Kimchee Omelet.

Oh, and as for the Little Blue Waffle Cart, what I had was quite good: a waffle with maple bacon in the batter, topped with whipped cheese, ginger, and pears. More on that later, after I try something else tomorrow and write my piece.

Meanwhile, as promised, here’s what I wrote all that time ago about the Cameo.

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Well, the book has seen its first casualty, so to speak. There’s a chapter in there on Basta’s and their lovely weekend brunch — but, sadly, that brunch is no more. The owner said he was losing money, which I guess is the flip side of what I thought was a strength — no lines! It’s too bad, because I recall a fine brunch there.

On the other hand, they now have Happy Hour prices from 5 p.m. to close, and the food is still good. It’s a lovely place, too, and was hoppin’ when I went in there Wednesday evening. So check out their menu – we were more impressed by the saffron rice fritter and especially the flank steak than the seafood salad — and swing on by.

Meanwhile, the Stepping Stone Cafe (one of my personal favorites) is probably going to piss off even more of their cranky old-time regulars, because they are expanding yet again. Darn success! The barber shop next door split, and the Stone is gonna knock down the wall and put in a half-dozen booths or so. Demo should start this week, I’m told.

So, in all the craziness of launching a book and starting an independent press, I look around today and realize that Breakfast in Bridgetown is now available in five local bookstores. Please go forth and support these fine folks!

Annie Bloom’s Books in Multnomah Village

Broadway Books on NE Broadway

Graham’s Book and Stationery in Lake Oswego (and perhaps their stores in Oregon City and Canby, as well)

St. Helens Book Shop in St. Helens

Tea Party Bookshop in Salem

There has also been some initial contact with other stores, and I’ll report on those when I have something to report.

I have to confess that I started reading this story in The Oregonian because of the words “Bacon Boy.” But it was also because of the word Leukemia. I almost lost a dear friend to Leukemia this year, and looking at that possibility will put some things in perspective.

But Austin Winters’ story is about a whole lot more; mostly, life’s insistence on living with dignity, and the eternal kindness of strangers. If the last two paragraphs of this story don’t pull your heart out, I’m not sure you have one.

Great job, Austin and Frank — and go Bacon Boy!

Yep, and it’s a fun little place. Read more on the blog at LivePDX.com.

Latest “Breakfast Guy” article, on the Radio Room, is now posted at LivePDX.com.

Dig it.

My little take on Jam on Hawthorne is summed up pretty well by that headline: cute place, amazing (lemon-ricotta) pancakes. Yes, lemon-ricotta pancakes. With lots of home-made jam, vegan and organic dishes, and a friendly vibe. Stumptown Vegans said good things, as well.

Read more in my latest posting at LivePDX.com.

So the little place at NW 20th and Kearney is finally open! Apparently it’s in the old Hurley’s space, but I never ate there. I only say it because about half the people I say it to know what that means.

Cafe Nell was written up in the Oregonian this week, and what I would say after one trip is that it’s a classy, tasty place. It looks like it’s expensive, but it really isn’t. They have only a few items on the breakfast menu right now (served Tuesday through Sunday), ranging from beignets for $5 to a steak and eggs for $17. My friend and I split a spinach-mushroom omelet with home fries and toast, and it was excellent. They even split it onto two plates for us, then brought out the whole wheat pancakes with blueberry compote later (at our request), also split. The bill, with tea for me and cappuccino for her, and a tip, was just under $30. Not bad.

It was all good, and the potatoes (fried) were particularly so. They were liberal with the salt, though. We think there might have even been salt on the toast (!) although it could have just bounced there from the taters. Either way, you get the idea. Salty.

Still, a good place, and I’m glad to know it’s there, just three blocks from my office. They even do coffee and beignets to go! I’ll be haunting the place, I suspect.

I ate at the Bijou this morning, and I have an interesting reaction to it.

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Yes, when I came to the office this morning, there were five boxes leaning against my door, labeled “Breakfast in Bridgetown — Bacon and Eggs Press.” I opened one up, and there they were: actual breakfast books! I wasn’t quite as excited as this kid, but maybe on the inside.

I had them send the first 100 by UPS, to make sure I have them for some stuff this week. The other, oh, 1,900 are due later this week.

This means that if you bought a copy already at the online store, I’ll be mailing those out this week. And if you want to buy one in person, I can now confirm that I’ll be selling them at the Belmont Street Fair this Saturday, September 6. I will be in booth #100, on SE 34th, just north of Belmont, on a corner facing south — so when you head up 34th, you should see me.

Me and my breakfast books, that is!