Cooking With Love is expanding its reach to open a new brick-and-mortar location at 3435 NE 128th Ave, confirmed by its owner Brittinie Love.
“I am still looking for a bigger location, and am hoping to be able to work with Cloud Kitchen within the next 6 months, but our opening date is still to be determined,” Love told What Now Portland.
“I started my company amid the pandemic, where uncertainty was the norm and the world retreated into their homes, with a goal that would not only teach people to cook with love but also inspire people to connect to their community.”
“The beginning traces back to the pandemic’s early days, and I had a goal to teach individuals eager to elevate their culinary skills while spending more time at home. I started on social media with some shared home-cooked recipes and techniques, and as I grew, a more profound passion for the culinary arts came to light—one that was rooted in my childhood dream. Instead of being the kid watching cartoons, I grew up watching the Food Network with chefs like Rachel Ray or Guy Fieri.”
The journey took a transformative turn when Cooking With Love ventured into catering, responding to growing demand from an enthusiastic audience. As the culinary craft expanded, an opportunity arrived—the chance to cater an event at the Portland Art Museum. This marked a milestone, not just for the business but also for the founder, who became the first African American caterer to collaborate with the museum.
A shared sentiment between Brittinie and her clients is the importance of presentation. Believing that food is art, Cooking With Love has embarked on collaborations with visual designers to ensure their creations are as visually captivating as they are delectable. With a focus on tiered platters, artful arrangements, and a meticulously curated aesthetic, every dish is an invitation to indulge the senses.
While the menu is an ever-evolving canvas, certain dishes stand out as favorites—Tuscan chicken, vegan Cajun pasta, and carefully crafted charcuterie boards among them. Brittinie stated that she wanted to serve a little bit of everything and cater to diverse palates with Cooking With Love.
“We tend to eat with our eyes first. We look at food and ask does it look good, does it smell good, will it taste good? My view is that food is art, and should be curated to intrigue people.”
