Gresham Community Advantage Magazine February 2024 by Active Media Publishing Group

GRESHAM FEB/MAR 2024

COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE

Building Community One Sandwich at a Time

TASTE OF THE TOWN

BIG TOWN HERO GRESHAM

Not All Heroes Wear Capes Handcrafted sandwiches on homemade bread

By Angie Helvey, Contributing Writer Photos by Brittany Jungenberg

ig Town Hero is known for their giant deli sandwiches served on bread made daily from scratch, guaranteed to satisfy any appetite. But it’s more than just a sandwich shop to owner Andres Radilla. Immigrating from Mexico at fourteen, he started at the Tualatin location and learned the nuts and bolts of running the business while in high school before buying his first location in January 2021. “They took me in and gave me my first job here in the U.S.A.,” he says, “Pretty simple, you know, making sandwiches. I’ll always have that personal attachment to the franchise.” Andres fell in love with the product as well. “No frozen dough and toppings cut fresh every day. It makes you feel good about what you’re selling.” He also owns Big Town Hero in Hillsboro and Vitality Bowls in Tualatin, a pretty impressive resume for a 23-year-old. Sandwiches are fully customizable to match your taste buds and cravings. Choose from a variety of traditional subs like the Italian and Turkey Bacon Avocado or build your own! Start with choosing a variety of their thick, soft bread, either white, cheesy garlic or onion. “It’s made by hand here at the restaurant,”

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Andres says. “We mix, roll and bake it each morning.” Then, add up to four tasty deli meats and all your favorite toppings and condiments. “We slice everything fresh each morning,” adds Andres. “That’s how we keep it tasting great.” If you’re hungry for a hot sandwich, order a grilled panini or choose from classics like a Reuben, Meatball or French Dip. Vegetarian sandwiches and salads filled with fresh produce are made to order. Breakfast subs are served all day starting at 8:00 am. A kid’s menu is available for the little ones including peanut butter and jelly that comes with a cookie, a small fountain drink and potato chips. Other sides include macaroni and potato salads. Guests are always welcome to enjoy their meal in Big Town Hero’s cozy dining room or order online for pick-up or delivery through Doordash, Ubereats or Grubhub. Let Big Town Hero cater your event with fun options like sack lunches or a gigantic six-foot hero, big enough to feed a crowd. Building community is important to Andres, and the Gresham restaurant has a loyal following and long-term employees that add to the friendly atmosphere. “We see many of our customers once or twice a week,” says Andres. “My team is great; they’ve all been there since I took over and one employee started when it opened 15 years ago.” Even a few family members help out. Next time you’re craving a deli sandwich, count on Big Town Hero for classic subs on homemade bread loaded with the highest quality meats and toppings. You won’t leave hungry! Big Town Hero is located at 1334 NW Civic Dr. Gresham, Oregon, 97030. Please give them a call at 503-489-1980, or visit their website at https://bigtownhero.com.

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READ MORE AT CITYHANDSHAKE.COM R11

The History of Chocolate Ancient, delicious and divine

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

hen we hear the word “chocolate,” most of us picture a bar, ice cream, baked goods, or a confection of some type. Typically eating chocolate, not drinking it, and a sweet taste is usually associated with chocolate rather than a savory one. However, for approximately 90% of chocolate’s extensive history, it was primarily a beverage, and sugar didn’t figure into the equation at all. While the terminology can be a bit puzzling, most contemporary experts refer to “cacao” as the plant or its beans prior to processing, while the term “chocolate” refers to a product made from the beans. “Cocoa” is the term for chocolate in powdered form, though across the Atlantic, the British frequently use the word “cacao.” “Chocolate” has been traced by etymologists back to the Aztec word “xocoatl,” which described a bitter beverage brewed from cacao beans. The Latin name for the cacao tree,

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Theobroma cacao, translates to “food of the gods.” Historians today estimate that chocolate has been around for at least 2000 years, but recent research suggests it may be even older. Although it’s difficult to establish an exact date for the origin of chocolate, it’s evident that it was valued from the very beginning. For many centuries in premodern Latin America, cacao beans were actually used as currency. A single bean could buy one tamale, while 100 beans could be traded for a good turkey hen, as noted in a 16th-century Aztec document. Both the Mayans and Aztecs considered the cacao bean magical and sometimes divine. It was commonly a part of sacred rituals of birth, death, and marriage. It wasn’t until Europeans discovered the Americas and became familiar with the native cuisine that chocolate made its entrance on the world stage. According to legend, the Aztec king Montezuma welcomed the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes with a feast that included drinking chocolate. Although chocolate didn’t initially agree with the European palate, once it was mixed with honey or sugar, it rapidly grew in popularity throughout Spain. By the 17th century, Europeans had embraced chocolate as a glamorous drink, reputed to possess medicinal, nutritious, and even aphrodisiac properties — rumors suggest that Casanova was a

big fan of chocolate. But it remained primarily a drink of the upper class until the invention of the steam engine revolutionized chocolate production, resulting in chocolate becoming available in mass quantities to society at large. It was in 1828 when a Dutch chemist devised a method to create powdered chocolate by filtering out approximately half the natural fat (cacao butter) from chocolate liquor, pulverizing what remained and introducing a mixture of alkaline salts to negate the bitter taste. This product, known as “Dutch cocoa,” eventually led to the development of solid chocolate. Joseph Fry, in 1847, is credited with the creation of the world’s first chocolate bar. Fry discovered that by adding melted cacao butter back into Dutch cocoa, the result was a moldable chocolate paste. Within 20 years of Fry’s discovery, the now famous company Cadbury was selling boxes of chocolate candy in Britain. Soon thereafter, another recognizable name, Nestle, pioneered the creation of milk chocolate in Switzerland.

During the Revolutionary War in America, chocolate was so valued that it was included in soldiers’ rations in lieu of wages. Most of us today wouldn’t likely settle for payment in chocolate over dollars, but that doesn’t mean the

humble cacao bean isn’t a potent force in the economy. In the U.S. alone, chocolate is a four billion dollar industry, and the average American consumes at least half a pound per month.

In recent times, a chocolate revolution has swept across the globe, marked by a burgeoning interest in high-quality, artisanal chocolates and sustainable, efficient cacao farming and harvesting techniques. Due to this shift in consumer tastes, large corporations like Hershey’s have developed artisanal chocolate lines by acquiring smaller premium chocolate producers, and independent chocolatiers have proliferated as well. Here in the Pacific Northwest, artisanal chocolate has exploded in recent years. One of the first chocolatiers on the Portland scene was Moonstruck; though recently sold to a larger company, Moonstruck helped establish a market for gourmet chocolate in the city. Currently, there are a plethora of artisanal chocolatiers in the local area. Missionary Chocolates in Northeast Portland, founded by a doctor with a passion for chocolate, produces delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan chocolate and non-allergenic truffles.

A Yen for Chocolate was founded and is operated by Cristina Yen, a chocolatier who has brought her multicultural experiences from around the globe to Northwest Portland, where she handcrafts mouthwatering chocolate creations for a growing clientele. Named in honor of the Wildwood Trail in Portland’s Washington Park, Wildwood Chocolate sources the finest ingredients and crafts masterfully blended ingredients such as cardamom, honey and berries with chocolate to create award-winning confections.

So, the next time your sweet tooth has a hankering for chocolate, know that this wonderful treat has a history stretching back to indigenous peoples of South and Central America, and that the tasty chocolate morsels available in your local supermarket are the result of centuries of trial, error, and innovation. And if you wish to sample the cutting-edge creations of local chocolatiers, be sure to visit some of the artisanal producers featured above, or the myriad of other producers in our country’s continually evolving chocolate landscape. READ MORE AT CITYHANDSHAKE.COM R13

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE

SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY

Senior Citizens Council of Clackamas County

n the month of February, all MWNW stores will be asking for donations to support the Senior Citizens Council of Clackamas County. This nonprofit has served seniors of Clackamas County for 50 years and counting! Why is this nonprofit so important? Their services provide critical support to at-risk seniors and adults with disabilities who are in danger of abuse, neglect and exploitation. The highly skilled and professional staff protect the seniors’ finances, oversee bill-paying needs, and when necessary, find them a safe, clean place to live. Their staff then continue to regularly check on each client for as long as they are needed. On average, their staff serves 750 new clients annually. 75 percent of their clients are women and 70 percent are at or below the federal poverty level. Seniors above 85 years old are the fastest

growing population and are also the most in need of services. It is estimated that 1 in 6 seniors will be a victim of financial exploitation and 1 in 10 will be abused or neglected. Please help us raise funds by donating online or visiting one of our local stores. Family-owned and -operated, dedicated to providing their customers the best products at the best prices, all while donating to and participating in their local communities, Mattress World Northwest exemplifies the best of what retail businesses have to offer. This proves that not all mattress stores are created equal. Get a better night’s sleep and help support your local community at the nearest Mattress World Northwest store. They are open every day or you can order online at mattressworldnorthwest.com.

Please join us for our Annual Dinner Auction on March 2, 2024. Special Guest Tony Starlight. Please contact the Senior Citizen Council for more information. Call 503-657-1366

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