When I was in Portland, OR last month visiting friends, one of several great (and off the beaten path) restaurants we went to was Bumblekiss. It was down a little side street and the building was painted orange and yellow. The flowerbeds in front were filled with all kinds of flowers and all kinds of bees. I am rarely charmed at this point in my life, but I was utterly captivated. It was like finding a rare jewel in the midst of an ordinary neighborhood.
How’s this
for a gorgeous flower with two bees? Anybody know what this is called? Click on this to enlarge it. I was amazed my old Olympus took such a good close-up photo.
At Portland City Search, there is this review for Bumblekiss:
The diminutive dining room is juicy orange and sunny yellow with contrasting dark-brown trim. Gal-pals, couples and families sip coffee and mango iced tea at tables topped with vases of whimsical felt flowers. Breakfast plates include scrambles and omelets, thick cinnamon-swirl French toast and eggs Benedict on a biscuit. The lunch menu, also available anytime, has soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches and dishes like curried chicken or tofu over jasmine rice.
The owner/chef and our waitress came out to talk as we were finishing brunch. He is a salt-of-the-earth-dedicated-to-organics man who loves his work. Our waitress, who would make an excellent home-town heroine in a Portland novel, said, when I asked her if she enjoyed her work, "I can't think of anyplace I'd rather work. The food is excellent, reasonably priced, and being part of Bumblekiss is pure pleasure."
If you are ever in the area, this little side street gem is a must-go-to. In fact, I’d drive down from Seattle to go to this restaurant!
Bumblekiss
3517 NE 46th Ave
Portland, OR 97213
Phone: (503) 282-6313
Thanks, Vicki and Lynne, for introducing us to Bumblekiss, and a half dozen other great Portland restaurants.
