I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’ve never had food quite like it. You see, it’s more than just food. It’s more than just a restaurant. It’s more than just a meal.

It’s an experience.

It’s memorable.

It’s special.

It’s a place you will walk away from continuing to talk about. It’s a place you will want to return to. The atmosphere feels like home in a way. You walk in, and you feel like family. You leave, and you feel loved. You feel like you’ve just been given the royalty treatment.

You see, they don’t just bring your dish to you after you order. They bring it to you and describe every layer of flavor with detail, they tell you a story in a way, of what you’re going to taste, and what you’re going to experience. It makes you want to savor every bite, and retell of its flavor.

Urdaneta. It’s like the heart of Spain in the middle of Portland. You walk in and you feel transported to a place you don’t want to leave from anytime soon. I’ve had the great privilege of photographing Chef Javier Canteras’ food several times, and each time I walk away in awe of the art he creates through simple ingredients. He has the gift of transforming everyday ingredients into something complex. I guess you could say I don’t ever want to stop photographing the food that comes from Urdaneta, because I walk away inspired. Who would have thought that charred leeks could be so good!? Yet he created a leek ash emulsion and used it as the base layer for their seasonal green bean dish. I’m not sure it’s still on the menu, but it’ll forever be one of the best meals I have ever eaten.

You may at first think “Tapas? Small bites? I’m not going to get full.” But you’d be surprised. It’s the experience. Urdaneta will teach you the art of slowing down. The art of staying awhile. The art of slow conversation over a savored meal.

I’m so thankful for the relationship I have with Chef Javier and his wife, Jael. They are such a gift to Portland and to the restaurant industry. They’ve worked hard, and succeeded. Their restaurant has only been open since the summer of 2016, and in just over a year, they’ve won awards and been booked out for reservations. I have no doubts in my mind that their restaurant will only continue to thrive, and I’m so excited to watch it grow.

Enjoy this peek into their summer dishes! I can’t wait to go back in a few weeks and photograph their current seasonal offerings. If it’s anything like I’ve seen before, it’ll be amazing, once again. :)