Lovely Hula Hands was a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, operating from 2003 to 2009.

Lovely Hula Hands
Map
Restaurant information
Established2003 (2003)
ClosedDecember 31, 2009 (2009-12-31)
Owner(s)Sarah and Jane Minnick
ChefTroy MacLarty
Food typePacific Northwest
CityPortland
StateOregon
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45°32′46.6″N 122°40′33.7″W / 45.546278°N 122.676028°W / 45.546278; -122.676028

Description and history

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The restaurant opened in 2003.[1] The Oregonian's Grant Butler said the original Lovely Hula Hands operated from a "painted-pink Old Portland saltbox house" (938 North Cook Street), serving Pacific Northwest cuisine[2] representative of the neighborhood's "funkiness". The menu included salt-and-pepper calamari, pan-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, and a Thai flat iron steak with sticky rice.[3] The pork chop had chipotle barbecue sauce with succotash.[4]

The restaurant debuted a new location (4057 North Mississippi Avenue), chef (Troy MacLarty), and menu in November 2006.[5] According to The Oregonian's Michael Russell, the menu "[shifted] from comforting Asian fusion to riskier seasonal fare"[6] and MacLarty "was as known for his seasonal salads as he would later become known for his frequent change of kitchen".[7] MacLarty worked on a Sauvie Island farm one day per week, growing and harvesting ingredients to use at the restaurant.[8]

In December 2009, owners Sarah and Jane Minnick confirmed plans to close on New Year's Eve. Lovely Hula Hands has been called a "parent" to Lovely's Fifty Fifty.[9][10][11]

Reception

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In 2007, David Hochman of The New York Times said MacLarty was receiving "decent" reviews.[12] In 2016, Grant Butler included Lovely Hula Hands in The Oregonian's list of "97 long-gone Portland restaurants we wish were still around".[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gottberg, John; Lopeman, Elizabeth (2010-06-01). Best Places: Portland, 8th Edition. Sasquatch Books. ISBN 978-1-57061-699-0. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  2. ^ Portland, Oregon: Including the Metro Area and Vancouver, Washington. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7627-5580-6. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  3. ^ a b Butler, Grant (2017-01-01). "Tasty memories: 97 long-gone Portland restaurants we wish were still around". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-12-28. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  4. ^ Beason, Tyrone (2006-10-26). "A trip down Portland's hip, revitalized Mississippi Avenue". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  5. ^ Gadberry, Liz Colie (November 23, 2006). "Newly transplanted Hula Hands is just as lovely as ever". Portland Tribune. Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Russell, Michael (2019-12-29). "Meet Portland's restaurants of the decade". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  7. ^ Russell, Michael (2013-06-20). "Diner 2013 Rising Star: Bollywood Theater". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  8. ^ "Portland, Oregon". Bon Appetit. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  9. ^ Hagberg, Eva (2009-12-07). "Lovely Hula Hands Closing--For Good--This New Years' Eve". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  10. ^ Evans, Kaitlyn (December 7, 2009). "Goodbye Lovely Hula Hands". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  11. ^ Stamm, Chris (2010-02-23). "Isn't She Lovely?". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  12. ^ Hochman, David (2007-11-07). "Outrageous? He's Heard That Before". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
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