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Hawthorne Wellness Center
Multifaceted Clinic, Yoga and Movement Studio

Convergent Communications

The Columbian

by Angela Allen

Basic French Zinc Bistrot rises from Zefiro ashes

Maybe 500 N.W. 21stAve. in Portland will reprise its former fame. Recognize that address?

It was the home of the now defunct Zefiro, Bruce Carey's pace-setting spot that thrust Portland food into the national limelight and has left this area glowing in it 10 years later.

Now the warm-walled Zinc Bistrot -- thanks to the eye of Mary McMurray, color consultant -- has opened at that address, and yes, the 'T' should be at the tail end of that all too familiar "bistro."

Co-owner Susan Sarich and Houston Striggow, a Chicago food couple with Levy Restaurants, Lettuce Entertain You and five-star French chef Jean Joho on their resumes, have done their research and revamped the place to look urbanely urban-French.

after: the Zinc Bistrot at opening. Photo by Holly Stickley

Though "bistro" has become overused to mean just about everything informal and trendy, the old spelling, "bistrot," conjures up back-to-basics, wine-on-the-table, says Sarich, who thinks clearly in concepts. Fresh baked baguettes, a zinc-topped bar (a Parisian thing), steak frites (you know them as french fries), coq au vin (a traditional French chicken dish), 12-foot communal tables and "plat du jours" are part of the scene, which judging by the shoulder-to-shoulder June 8 opening, will be well-received. What lucky timing, as "Moulin Rouge" can-cans at the same time.

A "Napoleon's tent" a private dining area draped in red velvet, a tribute to Napoleon's penchant for eating well during battle, is not part of that unfussy concept, but it is French and will no doubt be popular in an outré sort of way.

Right now it's dinner and late night bar only, and closed Mondays.

home place

COLOR paints our dreams and memories, and at times it dominates our vision of a particular moment. Think of a perfect sunset. The fading tints draw hints of romance and sentimentality. Or consider that certain blues build a sense of calmness and trust. Scientific research -- and even some common sense -- tells us that colors greatIy affect our moods and emotions. Everything from schools to day-care facilities to offices are painted to stimulate the people inside them. In short, there are few forces that shape our sense of style and personality like color. That's why we're painting with personality. While many homeowners approach interior renovation projects with some anxiety, it may help to know that the costs of a makeover may not be so high.

Experts say the most inexpensive way to change the look of a room is to change its color. While that look may eventually include the entire palette of a room's furnishings and decor, the paint on the walls is where it starts. With all the focus on color, what about traditional white? Homeowners have used that color for years. People are painting with more shades now because the average home is much different these days. Most homes of today are much more of a home base than a residence -- a foundation for our personalities, if you will; the refuge where we gather with family and friends. Even when we're alone, we're spending more time at home with our entertainment centers, home offices, computers, high-tech kitchens and backyard grills. That gradual shift explains the dramatic possibilities for an increasing number of homeowners.