Mexican restaurants in Portland, Oregon are a dime a dozen. Few are excellent, many are great, and a couple are just not good. As someone who loves Mexican food, this is a blessing for me and yet another perk of living in Portland, Oregon.

While Mexican food is probably the most popular Latin American cuisine, it’s far from the only one. But, as with the beer options here in Portland, therein lies a problem: Which Latin American cuisine do I choose?
One Portland (well, Oregon City, to be precise) eatery, Mesa Fresca, seeks to solve that problem.
Roy Galván, chef owner of Mesa Fresca, is a culinary tourist. He is well versed in many food cultures, but his specialty is Latin American cuisine. From the hurried streets of Mexico City to the high-altitude kitchens of Cusco, chef Galván is inspired by the culinary traditions of Mexico, Chile, Peru, and other Latin American countries. You may have had steak fajita tacos before (and I really don’t want to be your ...

Summer is just over a month old but it’s already starting to feel like it’s winding down. Back to School ads are prevalent on television and in stores, the days are just getting a little bit shorter, NFL training camps have started and the MLB all star game is well behind us. Yes, these are all signs of the impending fall and, while many are saddened by this, in Portland, the fun is just beginning.

Before the Summer is out, make sure you head out to the Oregon Coast. A drive through Portland into Hillsboro, up the jagged mountains of the Cascades and down into the valley floor and, before, a ubiquitous blue ocean, temperate temperatures and frigid waters that still beckon swimmers and surfers. Yes, Oregon has surfing. Great surfing in parts.

Also, be sure to hit up any of the numerous food and drink and music festivals peppering the area this summer. Portland is a hub of creativity and delicious food and creative libations and summer is a great time to keep abreast ...