Chef de Cuisine, Daron Ruffin to Bring Southern Comfort Favorites to Downtown Portland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – On Tuesday, March 5th, otherwise known as “Fat Tuesday,” Mother’s Velvet Lounge & Café will reopen to the public! Located in the original Mother’s location at SW Stark Street, Mother’s Velvet Lounge and Café, led by Chef de Cuisine Daron Ruffin, will feature a focused menu of Southern comfort foods. The Velvet Lounge & Café closed temporarily in January as Mother’s was transitioning to its new, larger location inside the Embassy Suites in downtown Portland.
“Mother’s Velvet Lounge & Café has always been part of the Mother’s family,” says Lisa Schroeder, owner of Mother’s Bistro & Bar and Mother’s Velvet Lounge & Café. “I’m excited to breathe some new life into the space and menu with the help of the talented Daron Ruffin!”
Ruffin, originally from Oxford, Mississippi, was the sous chef at two James Beard Award-winning restaurants, John Currence’s City Grocery and Snack Bar. He has been cooking at Mother’s Bistro & Bar for the last three and a half years. He has created a menu for the Velvet Lounge that will feature classic Southern comfort food dishes, the cuisine he grew up with, with a Mother’s twist. Dishes included Fried Dill Pickle JoJos and a BLGT with bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomatoes on country bread with Tabasco mayonnaise. Gulf Shrimp & Grits, Chicken & Waffles, Biscuits & Gravy and other Southern-inspired dishes will also be available (full menu attached!).
There will also be a variety of desserts, espresso drinks, and a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails (full menu attached). Featured cocktails include (but aren’t limited to) the Strawberry Blonde with Champagne, strawberry puree, lemonade and mint, the Velvet Sidecar featuring Bulleit bourbon, triple sec and lemon juice served up, and Praline Coffee with Cruzan 151, Kahlua, coffee, praline liquor, cinnamon and nutmeg (served hot or cold).
Mother’s Velvet Lounge & Café is located at 212 SW Stark Street in Portland. The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am-8pm with an all-day menu available.