Sweet Lorraine's

Inspired by the "dairy restaurants" (or luncheonettes following kosher law)^[1] of New York,^[2] Sweet Lorraine's operated from a food cart in Portland, initially serving latkes and later expanding to include other Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine such as matzah brei, kasha varnishkes, and noodle kugel.^[3] Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland described Sweet Lorraine's as "one of the few dairy restaurants on the West Coast, and one of the few places in the city where folks can eat latkes and whitefish year round."^[1] Sweet Lorraine's billed itself as the city's only Jewish dairy restaurant, serving "homestyle New York Jewish cuisine".^[4] The restaurant also served lox, potato knishes, egg sandwiches with challah,^[3] and sufganiyah. Gluten-free latkes were available, and latkes came with apple sauce or sour cream.^[5] Dessert options included black-and-white cookies, a cake similar to a "devil dog", and egg creams.^[6]

Spouses Aaron Tomasko and Rachel Brashear, who had previously worked as musicians and teachers, opened Sweet Lorraine's in February 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted them to change career paths. The business is named after Tomasko's grandmother,^[7] who also inspired the menu. In 2023,^[1] Sweet Lorraine's relocated from the Killingsworth Station food cart pod to others,^[8][9] then to Labyrinth Forge Brewery on Southeast Yamhill Street.^[1][3][6]

Sweet Lorraine's served poppy seed hamantash for Purim in 2022,^[10] and hosted a Hanukkah party in 2023.^[11] For Passover in 2024, a temporary menu featured coconut macaroons, matzo brei, matzo toffee, smoked salmon dip, tzimmes, and vegetarian matzo ball soup.^[12]

In February 2024, the business announced plans to expand to Lefty's, the cafe inside the Oregon Jewish Museum.^[13][14] The two locations operated until April 13, when Labyrinth Forge Brewing went out of business.^[15][16]

In May, Tomasko and Brashear announced plans to close on May 26. Citing increased operations costs,^[17] the couple said "we're not sure how anyone can maintain the level of quality food and service we value without going into massive debt" and planned to continue working as musicians.^[9] Sweet Lorraine's closed at a time when there were few options for Jewish cuisine in the city, according to Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland.^[1][18]

• History of the Jews in Oregon
• List of Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants

• Official website
• Politzer, Kerry (November 29, 2022). "Found! Chanukah latkes, sufganiyot & meals". Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
• "Sweet Lorraine's now open at Lefty's Café". Oregon Jewish Museum. February 27, 2024.