I enjoyed learning a tiny bit about where the origin of pizza + ranch came from - and it wasn't what I expected. Glad to see Atlas take over this space to keep the pizza vibes going there.
I think this is going to be a great addition to Portland and the Slabtown neighborhood. Love Urdaneta and the food they make there. Fun fact: Years ago, that was the first place I ever had burnt basque cheesecake. Anyway, the food of southern Spain is the focus of Feli. Really looking forward to stopping in when they are open.
The owners of Society Pie seem like really nice folks and joyful in this work. A nice transition from pizzeria to pizzeria, too, over at the Ranch space. They were hoping to be open this week and that may come to pass; will keep an eye on it. https://bridgetownbites.com/2026/08/04/society-pie-pizza-will-open-in-downtown-hillsboro-oregon/
It was really a pleasant experience to chat with James Beard Award-winning chef Hajime Soto about Sazanami, which is opening officially this week in the old Red Curry space. Reservations are booked into August 2026, FYI. Sustainability and variety are on his mind, and I imagine the quality of the fish, vegetables, and other things are top notch. I hope you enjoy the interview (and that it's ok to include this commentary in the post here).