07/29/2023
Hi friends,
We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to have spent 6 weeks as Chefs in Residence at Coquine this summer!
It’s fitting that our summer residency should happen at the place the seed for Meliora Pasta was planted almost two years ago, when Jim was making Sorpresine at the Coquine market side bread bench daydreaming of the awesome food cart scene we fell in love with since moving here.
Although 2023 was supposed to be the year both of us worked in the cart feeding the neighborhood, we were forced to pivot to pop-ups. But with pop-ups, we were able to do something we hadn’t done for five years. Cook together on the same line 💚💛
When approached about this opportunity, we immediately scrapped our summer schedule and started preparing for the chance to cook together once again.
It’s hard to think of a place where connections to the community are so thoughtfully and heartfully entwined as this space curated by Katy and Ksandek.
A morning cafe, a restaurant, a market chock full of local produce and meats, CSA pick-up, and then a summer pop-up? It was an honest pleasure to work in this storied kitchen we’re so lucky to have here in Portland.
In the middle of this whirlwind, we come to find out Coquine was named the #1 Restaurant in North America for neighborhood spots by OAD a couple weeks ago. INCREDIBLE 🤩!!
They’re only saying what many Portlanders seem to know: Coquine is a culinary paradise.
Being surrounded by so many delicious things and food-minded people is a dream. Thank you to the whole staff for being so welcoming this summer; you made this happen.
Six weeks flies by. It was only 18 services, but the lessons we learned as chefs, cooks, stewards, business owners, and community members this summer are indelible. You (all 1,186 of you over the 6 weeks) gave us the chance to experience what we love most.
The pure joy of cooking dinner for you.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Jim & Breckin
