NEW HOURS Estes is now open on Sunday! One more day to get your pasta fix and Eat Your Holiday Feelings! WED- THU - SUN 5-9 FRI - SAT 5-10 I’ll be honest - business has been kinda wild - we’re either slammed or dead slow, and I know a lot of us are in the same boat right now. It’s always a good time to support small local business! Thank you to everyone for your support. I’m on the hot line Sunday Nights with Athena, so come see us and let us cook for you! Cacio e pepe, extra pepper, always. Grazie Mille!
Red Sauce Wednesday is back, and I am READY! I have been waiting for the right time to be able to cook this menu again - I’ve had several people ask if we would bring it back! Having a night where we have my Mom’s Lasagna and Spaghetti and Meatballs on the menu at the same time is exciting, and I’m stoked to have this menu available every Wednesday! A perfect night to EAT YOUR FEELINGS!
Life in and around Estes - I’m very proud of our menu development! If you know me, you know my family is the most important thing! So happy my daughter Bella and her husband Andy have moved closer to us, we have missed them so much, and they’re both so good to Oliver! Lightsaber battles at Portland’s best pizza - @pizzeriastellinapdx
Who I am in the kitchen as a cook, chef, and leader are because I got to spend 10 yrs in your kitchen. I hear myself telling my cooks the same things you told me, I conduct myself in the kitchen like you are there. I hope to be as good a teacher as you were for me. Thank you for coming in for dinner - it was an absolute honor to cook for you again. Thank you, Vito, for everything. Peace, Love, Foie Gras. @vit0bike @paleysplace
BALANZONI It’s basically a large tortellini, filled with ricotta. Traditionally served in a butter sauce, I love the mushroom brodo with chanterelle for this one. Yeah, we’re breaking the rules, but so what?! It’s perfect as we transition between seasons, and won’t be leaving the menu any time soon. Here for you Wed - Sat inside Broder Nord. See you soon! Ciao …
To our first summer back as Estes … Thank you! High high and low lows, a country in turmoil but community bound to stay together. Grazie Mille to everyone for your support, I can’t wait to keep cooking for you all. I’m sad to see tomatoes go, but so happy to see delicata squash. Summer, you were tough but you were fun. Here comes the rain!
Last little bits of summer! Tomato Fest was a blast and I sold out of gazpacho in about 45 minutes … sooo, I’ll make more next year! Me and our sweet boi Leo, such a good dog, hot pot with friends last week reminded me that community is everything - no matter where we come from or what we do, food brings us all together. Thank you so much for your support at Estes - come #eatyourfeelings Big thank you to friend @shawnlinehan for the first couple of photos at Tomato Fest with @wellspentmarket
A guest came up to the pass last night and said, ‘We love your food. We’ve had it before at your previous spot, and this was our first time to Estes. We loved dinner and I just wanted to say to you, ‘Keep Going’. The words struck me, and resonated. We were busy, the restaurant was full. Her words meant so much to me because, being honest, we have struggled as a new business. While I have cooked in Portland for many years, starting over with a new brand has proven that none of that matters. Even though I love doing this, sometimes I’ve thought about quitting. It’s tough. It’s also rewarding and I love this too much to give up. I want to share this food I love so much, and I want this to be a great place for our community to gather. It was a great thing that happened to me yesterday, just hearing those words. Keep Going. Grazie Mille for stopping by the pass.
ESTES Cooking for others has always been something that I love doing. Being able to cook the Italian food of Estes brings me joy. My mission with Estes is to honor my Mom and our Italian heritage, to share our food and create a space to gather, eat, and be the community we need. Thanks for coming along on the ride.
Things I love that I’ve learned, things I’m looking forward to, holding onto summer
Happy Birthday, Mama! Thank you for instilling in me the values of community, hospitality and the love of cooking for others. Estes wouldn’t be here without you. Tanti Auguri, Mama!
National Recovery Awareness month is here! Donating part of our proceeds from our ricotta gnocchi dish to Alano Club of Portland!