Brunch at Salty's on the Columbia

I had some trepidation about a restaurant known for its seafood, but Salty's won me over.

I don't object to a riverside restaurant being known for its seafood either; there's just a good chance that it's not for me.

Honestly, they might be for anyone.

We were impressed with the customer service even before we got there.

They called the day before to verify that we knew it was a buffet and the price, as well as to see if there were any issues with stairs, elderly diners, or children.

We took that as a chance to ask whether there was a dress code. Given the price point ($90 each for persons 16 and older), we thought maybe we should be a little fancier.

There is not a dress code. Given that you are on the Columbia, passing two marinas and a boat yard on the way, people could easily come in from boating, fishing, or hiking. It makes sense.

We called on the way, having lost one member of our party and also running a little late. They told us not to worry, and we were seated very quickly.

Everyone was very friendly and helpful, from the parking valets (their service is free) to the host who seated us to the individual cooks.

While it is obvious where to get the made to order crepes and omelets, it was a cook who let me know that with the crepe pans there was also a grill for pancakes or French toast. 

Those mix-ins for sweet crepes could also be used to make, for example, banana pancakes.

The food was very good, including some things that don't always impress me. For example, usually when I have biscuits and gravy, I think that my own are better. Not so much here. 

Creme brulee is often kind of bland, but theirs was delicious. It makes me wish I had tried their eggs Benedict. 

We had thought this would probably be something that we just tried once, but we think we want to go again. It is still a special occasion place, at least for us, but one worth repeating.

COVID: It is a place where you are eating. It does look like they have some outdoor seating, though that was not something we tried. That day's weather was a big part of why we were running late.

Accessibility: This was really good. First of all, the free valet parking removes parking issues. 

Yes, there is an upstairs, but if you let them know that you can't do stairs they will get you on the main floor where you should be fine. We would have been fine with stairs, but ended up on the main floor anyway. If there are any concerns, ask the staff. 

We found them wonderful.  

https://www.saltys.com/brunch-portland/

PDX: Franz Bakery Tour

One tricky thing in writing about the Franz Bakery Tour is that we could not take pictures on the tour. 

That means I have pictures from around the building and in the waiting room and in the outlet store, but not while actually touring on the floor.

While some of this probably relates to trade secrets, there are also many rules related to food safety that affect other things, and appropriately so.

I have seen people lose all sense when taking photos. I like to think that I am not one of them, but in abiding by the rules of the tour, that was not put to the test.

I still have to say that it was really cool.

If you have ever been around the factory in NE Portland, chances are you have watched a conveyor belt (quite possibly conveying English muffins). I could not get a picture of it because of the holiday train art, and I am not angry about that.

Once inside, there are more conveyor belts, and mixers of dough, and ovens and bins for rising and supplies and quality sheets and all sorts of fascinating things.

They get explained in good detail, with questions answered.

One thing I learned is that the length of the conveyor belts is due to the freshly-baked products needing to cool. There would probably still be some transport, but that process is not just about getting from point A to point B.

We also learned some things about those safety and quality procedures. 

Tours were always on Tuesdays, which is not incredibly convenient, but that is related to the baking and cleaning schedule. There are times when it would be much worse to have people around, either more dangerous for them or more dangerous for the product.

This is very much a part of local history. Many of us from the area did a tour as school students. (Though my school went to the Frito-Lay plant instead. It was closer.)

One thing they did to make getting a tour easier is allowing signups that are not coordinated on the group level, meaning we went through with several people we did not know, and it was fine. 

There were some fun packs for the children on the tour, and everyone got a coupon for one free item at the nearby outlet. (You may remember that the Tigard Franz outlet was reviewed here in September 2024.) 

My favorite doughnuts were free!

One reason I wanted to review now is that the 120th birthday block party is coming up on April 14th, and there were tours available. They have all already been booked!

Well, it is a great tour, and there were extra tours set up.

It could still be fun to stop by the block party. The Franz Grilled Cheese Machine will be there. I am planning on checking it out.

COVID: Masks were not required but were encouraged. I stayed masked and it was fine.

Accessibility: As a working factory floor there are some restrictions and issues that cannot be accommodated. This is well covered on the signup page, but it is mainly that there is walking up and down multiple flights of stairs, as well as walking by hot ovens.

https://www.franzbakery.com/HTML/tour 

None of the staircases were so long or the pace so fast that it was exhausting, even for not particularly fit people, but if you require mobility aids it would probably not work. They are good about responding to questions. 

https://www.franzbakery.com/

Bridgeport Village Blooms & Buzz Springtime Scavenger Hunt (through April 5th)

There is another Mike Bennett scavenger hunt at Bridgeport Village:

https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2025/10/bridgeport-village-mike-bennett-studios.html 

This one is a lot like the Spooktacular one in October, but with a different theme. 

The twelve items involve flowers, insects, and gastropods, including one very familiar snail.

Participation is free, and there are once again prizes that you can get at the security office.

You can also pick up your initial form at the office or print one online. 

The gift bag includes stickers, a craft kit, and a couple of coupons.

One thing I have been reluctant to detail is the location of the items, taking away the "hunt" part. However, it can be hard to know if you are in the right area.

I am just going to note that the coupons are for La Frenchie and California Pizza Kitchen. If you walk from one to the other, looking around and taking a few detours but staying in that area, you should be fine.

Once again we found ourselves talking with people and having a good time. Bennett really is a joy-maker.

COVID: You do not have to enter any of the stores; this can be done all outside. Okay, if you want the prize you need to go into the security office.

Accessibility: The mall is pretty accessible in general. There are some areas where there are steps, but there was also always access without steps. 

https://www.bridgeport-village.com/event/37561-spring-scavenger-hunt