Arden PDX

A little good news we’re proud to share: Arden was just recognized by with a Bronze Star in their International Open Awards!

Star Wine List is a global guide dedicated entirely to wine programs, judged by an international panel of sommeliers and wine professionals. This year, fewer than 25 restaurants and wine bars across the entire United States received an award of any level — so we’re extremely honored and humbled to be among them!

We don’t build our wine program for awards, but we will happily(and gratefully) take the nod. Thank you to our team, especially our wine director 👏🏼), to the incredible producers who supply the wines for our list and to all of you who keep showing up curious and thirsty!

Can’t wait to pop a bottle with you very soon 🥂

Today we celebrate 🎂

Our Erik, a man who insists he doesn’t care about birthdays or presents or fuss of any kind. A man of simple pleasures yet very high taste… who loves his guitars, his kitties, his family, his partner, his skateboard, and his kitchen (which we are lucky enough to call our own).

Anyone who has ever eaten Erik’s food knows this: the man has creativity and the talent to know what to do with it. There’s discipline in his cooking with just the right amount of daring — to combine flavors we’ve never imagined that always surprise and delight.

And then there’s this, which is even more important: Erik, because you don’t seek the spotlight (in fact you shy away from it), you don’t always get the credit you deserve. In a world where the role of chef has almost been elevated to entertainer, you work quietly in the shadows. You are our steady grounding force, the one we can always turn to for kind words and a steady hand.

More important than preparing amazing food, which you absolutely do, is the fact that our whole team not only likes you, but loves you, trusts you, and looks up to you. We don’t know if you were always this great, but if these decades are any proof, it’s that you’re only getting better with time (much like a fine wine 💅🏼)

So on this milestone birthday, we wish you many decades more of enjoying excellent food (not too boring, but not too fancy), curated music ( mostly, duh), plenty of time with your guitar collection and your loved ones and, of course, unlimited

We are so glad you’re spending this big day exactly as you should: eating and drinking yourself silly on a beach in Thailand and getting a much-deserved vacation.

Happy birthday, Erik. We love you 🤍