Négociant
What a wonderful gem of a place! It’s a wine bar, French market, and cafe all in one - something we just don’t have enough of in the U.S.
I had previously visited their sister spot, Bar Diane (a couple doors down), which is open later and geared towards evening bites and wine. Négociant has earlier hours and a menu filled with lovely snacks, sandwiches, charcuterie and salads - perfect for lunch or an afternoon snack or happy hour.
They bake their own gluten free bread on site, which is available as a sub for sandwiches or any snack that comes with bread. They have gluten free crackers available as well for their charcuterie. All gluten free dishes and options on their menu are well-marked.
Given the authenticity of the menu, I had to order a traditional French sandwich on their gluten free bread. I opted for a classic Jambon & Butter and added their suggested brie and preserves. This was so delicious and definitely a nice little getaway for my taste buds on an unusually warm January afternoon in Portland. Their gluten free bread holds together and is like a classic white bread, with that little bit of tang that comes from bakery fresh bread.
And as oysters are basically my Jello (there’s always room for oysters! - IYKYK), I naturally had to have some here! The oysters were phenomenal and come with a mignonette as well as a unique hot sauce. Both were superb! I easily could have mowed down a dozen myself, and probably will at some point in the future.
The market and wine shop are top notch. The owner was super helpful in guiding me towards some different options for sparkling (both champagne and other) and the deli case is filled with rare cheeses and lovely cured meats like soppressata and even a duck prosciutto! They also sell various tins of fish and other small snacks.
I’ll be back soon to put together an epic charcuterie spread featuring their duck prosciutto and wonderful cheeses. Their gluten free bread is also available by the loaf, as is delectable, rich French butter! Yum, yum!
