Paley's Place

12/30/2021

In Russian, the word "love" is only reserved for people, not places or things, but at Paley's Place, Kimberly and I endeavored to reimagine what that word means to us.

To us, love includes clinking glasses, shaking cocktails, phones ringing nonstop. It's Kimberly blurting out "Let them taste the love!" night after night in the kitchen as cooks cook and servers serve. Each night, love was carried out with every plate and glass. This love affair continued until our last ticket was cooked, and we did it all with love.

On our last night of service, a party of two was the final meal served. As their dessert was plated, we popped champagne, applauded each other, hugged with our masks on and toasted to new beginnings. We wanted to go out healthy and on a high.

After two weeks of cleaning, we set the dining room one last time as though it were ready for action. Our staff, Kimberly and I stood in silence admiring our work and feeling accomplished. We took a few deep breaths together and bid our goodbyes, not knowing if our paths would cross again. Kimberly and I looked at each other, held hands and closed our eyes. As we embraced in the stillness, memories started rushing in.

In that room, we felt the presence of so many who once gathered here to eat, sip and celebrate. The smell of food wafted through. We began to hear familiar voices and the sounds of clanking pots. The occasional "Pick up, please!" rang out from behind the kitchen curtain. When we finally came out of our trance, alas, our place was empty and the dining room was peacefully quiet.

In the end, love was expressed to us by so many of you, our customers, over the years and in the form of hundreds of sweet cards and gifts. Some of you traveled for miles to have one last meal with us. We will deeply miss these connections and, like a very first kiss, we will remember you forever.

Finally, the love affair of Paley's Place has come full circle. To our kitchen, our staff and our customers, we wish you much love, warmth, happiness and health.

Peace, Love, Foie Gras.

Kimberly and Vitaly Paley

12/09/2021

Our wine sale continues today through December 11 from 3 to 5 pm each day. As we approach the holidays, we wanted to offer something special to friends and family of Paley's Place as we part ways: a piece of our cellar.⁠ ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
To take part, just show up at Paley's Place where you may review our wine list and select what you would like to purchase.⁠ ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The list changes weekly based on availability, but rest assured that there will always be several gems to choose from. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Kindly bring your own wine tote, box or crate to carry your wines, as we will not be able to provide them—and please remember to wear your mask! Pro tip: if you still have a Paley's Place gift card, this is a great way to use it.⁠ We hope to see you soon!

11/19/2021

We would like to invite you for a very special wine sale from December 8 through 11 from 3 to 5 pm. As we approach the holidays, we wanted to offer something special to friends and family of Paley's Place as we part ways: a piece of our cellar.⁠
⁠
To take part, just show up at Paley's Place where you may review our wine list and select what you would like to purchase.⁠

Over the last 26 years, we've developed a list that champions the Pacific Northwest, keeps us in touch with our love of France and extends to beloved worldwide wine regions. The list changes weekly based on availability, but rest assured that there will always be several gems to choose from. ⁠
⁠
Some of our favorites are the the 2019 Antiquum Farm Juel Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, a non-vintage, Cuvée Rosé Grand Cru Champagne from Ambonnay's R.H. Coutier, the 2018 Ken Wright Cellars Abbott Claim Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and so many more.⁠
⁠
Kindly bring your own wine tote, box or crate to carry your wines, as we will not be able to provide them—and please remember to wear your mask! Pro tip: if you still have a Paley's Place gift card, this is a great way to use it.⁠ We hope to see you soon!
⁠
Peace. Love. Foie Gras.

11/12/2021

Friends and family of Paley's Place, please give this beautiful piece in Portland Monthly on the final days of Paley's Place a read.

Thank you to our dear friend Karen Brooks for so beautifully mapping our journey over the last 26 years, and to our friends and fellow chefs who lent their kind words in this piece.

Thank you thank you thank you for helping us close out this chapter on such a high note.

Parting thoughts on the Northwest bistro icon, one of the last pioneers of Portland's farm-to-table fever dream

11/05/2021

Since our announcement, the outpouring of love from our community has filled our hearts. We were especially honored to be on the cover of the November issue of Oregon Wine Press , which is on stands now. Highlighting and uplifting Oregon's many wonderful wineries has always been a core element of the vision at Paley's Place and our love for Oregon wine is strong.

Thank you to the Oregon Wine Press, to Kerry Newberry for charting our story so beautifully and Andrea Johnson for the beautiful photographs and heartfelt letter.

Read the story here: https://www.oregonwinepress.com/time-and-place

10/08/2021

We set down roots in Portland 26 years ago, and that time has been filled to the brim with happy memories. What first drew us to the Pacific Northwest was the stunning natural beauty and the overflowing regional bounty, but chief among it all was the generosity and kindness of people like you.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve you at Paley's Place for 26 years, and on that sky-high note, we have made the decision to close the restaurant at the end of this year. After our Thanksgiving weekend, the doors at Paley's will close.

The events of the last year and a half have given us all time to reflect on what's most important, and that was certainly true for us. This next chapter in our lives will be about the two of us, charting out a new life together, whatever that may be.

We have been so privileged to work alongside such incredible culinary talent, and to currently be a home to the dreamiest dream team of both front and back of house staff. We feel deep gratitude to you, our community, for your everlasting support and for sharing in the meals that bring us joy. You've given so much to us, and we are thankful to you all.

When we announced our decision to retire and close Paley's Place earlier this week, we weren't exactly sure what to expect. Over the last few days, we've received countless loving emails, phone calls and posts from you all and we were touched. It's so nice to know that we did something special on our little corner on Northrup and 21st.

With much heart and gratitude, our dining room is fully committed until November 27, and we thank all of you for your patronage and support over the last 26 years. We encourage you to support the incredible people who make up Portland's culinary scene by dining out often and eating well.

Love,

Kimberly and Vitaly Paley

09/25/2021

Taco pizza and others. All fantastic !!! You need to run not walk to taste these and more from

09/22/2021

Two beloved members of Portland’s food scene, Jose Chesa and Cristina Baez, have endured a devastating string of events over the last year and we’re asking for your support to see them through it. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-chesas-rebuild-their-home

In 2016, we did a dinner with Jose (right) and Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern (center), and it was an absolute delight. We were certainly sad to see Jose and his family leave Portland.

During the pandemic, Jose and Cristina lost their three restaurants, , and , which is devastating on its own. Cristina suffered a broken foot in 2020, and she found herself in the hospital with major head pain and loss of her sight. She would later be diagnosed with a rare birth defect in the veins of her brain which causes them to overfill with fluid, creating extreme pressure, excruciating pain and impaired vision. A neurologist recommended they move to a lower elevation to help her condition and the family set out on their journey to New York once Jose found a new job.

Unfortunately, half of their belongings were destroyed by the moving company before it reached their new home. Childhood photos, letters from deceased family, furniture, restaurant equipment—much of which was imported from Spain—were lost. What remained was sent to a storage unit in New York which flooded during Hurricane Ida, and insurance doesn’t cover natural disasters.

Two beloved members of Portland’s food scene, Jose Chesa and Cristina Baez, have endured a devastating string of events over the last year and we’re asking for your support to see them through it. In 2016, we did a dinner with Jose (right) and Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern (center), and it was an absolute delight. We were certainly sad to see Jose and his family leave Portland.

During the pandemic, Jose and Cristina lost their three restaurants, , and , which is devastating on its own. Cristina suffered a broken foot in 2020, and she found herself in the hospital with major head pain and loss of her sight. She would later be diagnosed with a rare birth defect in the veins of her brain which causes them to overfill with fluid, creating extreme pressure, excruciating pain and impaired vision. A neurologist recommended they move to a lower elevation to help her condition and the family set out on their journey to New York once Jose found a new job.

Unfortunately, half of their belongings were destroyed by the moving company before it reached their new home. Childhood photos, letters from deceased family, furniture, restaurant equipment—much of which was imported from Spain—were lost. What remained was sent to a storage unit in New York which flooded during Hurricane Ida, and insurance doesn’t cover natural disasters.

Please consider visiting the link in our bio to donate and help the family rebuild for their new life in New York. Thank you all.

08/27/2021

Even though left to pursue his dream of making knives our charcuterie game is strong. Check out what we have been working on past few weeks. Duck Rillettes with foie and prosciutto pinwheel, mushroom and duck terrine, Tasso style ham, Jambon Persille, Caillettes Provençal.

08/24/2021

Want to learn about how Paley's Place came to be? Chef Vitaly Paley joined Ian Costello with KOIN 6 for an episode of their 6 Questions podcast. You can listen at the link below:

"If you’re tracing the somewhat recent history of the culinary revolution in the Rose City, it won’t take you long to come across the name Vitaly Paley.

This week, the award-winning chef stops by the KOIN Podcast Network to chat with Ian Costello about his journey from the Soviet Union to Portland, finding inspiration in farmland, and his love for Queen.

Paley also talks about the birth of the farm-to-table movement and navigating the rough waters of the pandemic that forced him to close several of his Portland restaurants."

Award-winning chef talks farm-to-table and Portland culinary scene

08/17/2021

Dear Friends, Paley’s Place is now requiring that guests be vaccinated and wear a mask both inside and outside. ⁠We appreciate your steadfast support through these difficult times and thank you for your understanding.
⁠
Due to a rise in cases locally and nationally, we’re introducing these changes to the experience to ensure a safe and healthy space for both guests and staff. As always, we are grateful to our community for sticking with us through it all.⁠ You can preview the incredible menu we’ve put together for the week ahead and make a reservation. We hope to see you soon! https://www.paleysplace.net/
⁠
Reservations are open for the dining room and patio for Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 10 pm.⁠
⁠
You can also enjoy Paley's Place from the comfort of home with the Paley's Marketplace or the Paley's At Your Place takeaway menu—available Wednesdays through Saturdays—will be updated weekly, each Tuesday at 3 pm. Orders must be in before 10 am, for same-day pickup.