Chef Juan Gomez is getting ready to unveil his new project in the North Park Blocks this month.
Per an article in The Oregonian, Lilia Comedor, the restaurant will be replacing De Noche at 422 NW 8th Avenue which is closing. This restaurant is also with Republica Hospitality Group. According to Gomez, his restaurant will be opening around June 17.
Gomez has been recognized by Starchefs.com for his journey of working at bars and restaurants until creating Lilia Comedor. He told What Now Portland the restaurant did not plan on moving from his 3159 S Moody Avenue location until the opportunity arose due to the closing. Now, he believes this will be an area of more traffic for the restaurant.
For cooking, Gomez and his team focus on ways to get produce consistently as the weather in Oregon fluctuates. He said recently there have been large amounts of produce to choose from in their markets.
“We’ve been speaking about hyperseasonality for about three years,” Gomez said.
The menu at the current location changes daily as they bring in new locally sourced ingredients. In the past, they have made dishes such as hamachi with squash blossom preserved in bulgarian aguachile, patty pan curtido and hakurie turnip. It’s an example of their mixing of many ingredients to create bursts of flavor.
Gomez works at the restaurant with his wife, Sam, who will be the pastry chef at the new location. Until they open the new restaurant, Gomez will help manage the bar adjacent to the new Lilia spot, Bar Comala.
