Photos by Thomas Teal
We first met Chef Don Salamone in 2022 when he was part of our original group of wear testers, back when MISE was just getting off the ground. Chef Salamone was running Burger Stevens, a local smash burger favorite located on Mississippi Ave. From the beginning, Chef Salamone brought the same thing to the table that defines his cooking today: consistency, care, and a deep respect for the work and those around him.
We’re closing out the year by spotlighting Don’s Favorite Foods, his intimate Italian-inspired supper club in Beaverton, Oregon. Created alongside his wife and partner Kate Laurents, and in collaboration with sommelier Adam Galbraith, the restaurant is a small, thoughtful space designed for connection—around 14 to 20 seats, a prix-fixe menu, and a dining room that invites you to slow down and settle in for the evening.
Don’s Favorite Foods grew out of Stevens Italiano, a pandemic-era pop-up that brought comfort and familiarity at a time when gathering wasn’t possible for many in the community. Today, that same spirit lives on in a way that’s refined but no less personal.
The menus change monthly, shaped by seasonality, nostalgia, and Don’s Italian-American upbringing on the East Coast, alongside years spent cooking in fine-dining kitchens including Joël Robuchon and Restaurant Guy Savoy.
Every detail reflects intention, from extruded pastas inspired by old-school supper clubs, to a cocktail program developed with longtime collaborators like Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Banjo Amberg. It’s not about spectacle. It’s about creating a place where people feel taken care of.
Spending an afternoon with Chef Salamone and his crew reminded us why we build what we build. During the busiest months of the year, we’re especially grateful for the Culinary Athletes™ who show up day after day to create spaces like Don’s Favorite Foods, where communities gather, celebrate, and connect.
