Here’s what Portlanders think about Vancouver’s Portland Craft

by Carolyn Ali on Oct 25, 2012 at 11:16 am
Portland has a distinct food-and-beer culture, but does it translate up in B.C.?
Photo by Shutterstock

If a restaurant called Vancouver Special opened in Portland, wouldn’t you be curious about what that's all about?

While that hasn’t happened yet—and probably never will--Portlanders have gotten wind of Vancouver’s Portland Craft bar and restaurant, which opened last May on Main Street.

Yesterday (October 24) in Portland’s Willamette Week, writer Martin Cizmar takes issue with some of our clueless Canadian ways, including how patrons “charmingly flub the pronunciation of Seattle’s Elysian Brewing”. He doesn't seem entirely convinced that Mount Pleasant is the real name for the neighbourhood. But overall he approves of this “culinary embassy”, and says Portlanders “can be proud of Portland Craft”.

Follow Carolyn Ali on Twitter at twitter.com/carolynali

Comments (8) Add New Comment
That Settles That ...
Oct 25, 2012 at 1:22 pm
“We’ll run a line soon,” the bartender laughs. “Oh yeah, we’re doing it right. We’ll even hold the line if we don’t need to.”

What a pompous, self-aggrandizing attitude to have ... & get in print!

Never been ro this place ... & now I never will bother!

Bravo, prick!

3
0
Rating: +3
Not Portland
Oct 25, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Another hipster hangout....This isn't Portland. This is the no fun overpriced Vancouver. If I want Portland, I'll go to Portland, where they really know how to run a city.
2
2
Rating: 0
adam gee
Oct 25, 2012 at 7:56 pm
not portland:agreed, portland craft is a pretty weak name but the owners shouldnt be lumped in with the dead politicians and inhuman policy makers of vancouver. how about " Flatliners"? now theres a good name for a bar. they can have that for free, just remember where u heard it first.
2
0
Rating: +2
stud
Oct 25, 2012 at 8:03 pm
"not portland' - do us a favour and leave. One less cynical economic parasite would be tres welcomed
2
0
Rating: +2
Oh, stud
Oct 25, 2012 at 11:43 pm
That's just what happens on the internet.
0
2
Rating: -2
Jiff
Oct 26, 2012 at 9:16 am
Nice to see that even emanating from Super Awesome Rugged Individualist Portland there's that nice little tang of American condescension towards Canadians. Thanks for the pat on the head.

And as for a Portland theme - that should be worn out in about five minutes. Look what happened to Seattle.

2
2
Rating: 0
R2
Nov 1, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Say what you will it's better than having another G D sushi shack
2
3
Rating: -1
Jean
Nov 4, 2012 at 8:24 am
I'm not even sure why Vancouver should waste time and money on emulating a beer-food festival/event except obviousy to draw in money when Nov. or Feb. is restaurant biz slump time.

I'm sorry here I am in Calgary (after living in Vancouver for 8 yrs.), they are into the beer thing and it gets reaaaaal old here. They love their BBQ-northern style (which is not as humungous as southern U.S. or even Seattle where we had shockingly huge dishes of food) , gourmet thin pizzas and bison. Truly the bison is superb and best in Canada. (Well, we are in ranchland Canada).

Vancouver should be sticking to innovative fusion of meals with B.C. wines, blackberry wine (not too many places in the world produce blackberry wine. Ontario doesn't.), Asian-fusion-seafood cuisine. (Portland is quite white, compared to Metro Vancouver which is now mind-boggling in non-white locals that definitiely adds quality punch to cuisine).

Let go of Portland ...it's nice, but not as global as Vancouver in its peoples, cuisine and perspective. More to the point, VAncovuer is forced to be global, its people define it.

From a Canadian-born Asian who shuttles between Vancouver, BC and Calgary, Alberta.




3
2
Rating: +1
Add new comment
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.