QuickTake:
Excitement is brewing this week as Kohi Time coffee shop finds a permanent home, a cult-favorite Sicilian olive oil returns, and toasts will be made to milestone anniversaries.
After operating a popular mobile coffee business for more than two years, Genelle Izumi is ready to open the doors to a permanent location of Kohi Time, targeting Sept. 21 as the open date. The 270-square-foot space is in the Union on Broadway apartment complex.
Kohi Time will serve Asian-inspired drinks plus shokupan bread. Credit: Genelle Izumi
Izumi ran her coffee business from a converted Sprinter van at the Third and Van Buren food pod in the Whiteaker neighborhood from 2020 until late last year. The transition to a brick-and-mortar location didn’t happen as planned, because her original January 2025 opening was derailed by a landlord who backed out of a lease agreement.
“I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason,” Izumi said.
The new permanent location offers advantages her van couldn’t provide. She’s out of the elements, and she’s hoping that being in a student apartment building will provide a built-in customer base.
Kohi Time — Kohi is the Japanese word for coffee — will feature Asian-inspired coffee beverages alongside Japanese milk bread called shokupan, served as toast with unique spreads including black sesame, honey butter and purple yam. Izumi plans to offer specialty drinks made with ingredients like yuzu, kinako (made from soybeans) and premium matcha, despite a current global matcha shortage driving up prices.
The popularity of matcha has exploded in recent years, Izumi said, which has led to price hikes.
“Matcha is so popular that I can’t not have it on the menu,” she said.
Originally from Los Angeles, Izumi spent 25 years in San Francisco and then moved to Eugene in 2019 to be closer to family. She sold her converted coffee van to another café in Springfield as she focused on building out her new space.
Kohi Time
Union on Broadway apartment complex
480 E. Broadway
Hours are still to be determined
Popular Sicilian olive oil returns to Market of Choice
This rare Sicilian olive oil has not been available in Oregon for almost three years. Credit: Market of Choice
After being unavailable for three years, Sebastiano’s extra virgin olive oil is once again available at Market of Choice.
The partnership to bring the olive oil to Oregon stores is unique. It started when John Boyle, Market of Choice’s merchandising and marketing officer, got connected to Dan and Elise Gold, owners of Sebastiano’s Sicilian bakery and deli in Portland.
“The Golds had fallen in love with an olive oil cake they had when they were traveling in Italy,” said Dewey Weddington, Market of Choice’s vice president of marketing. “The cake was made with a specific olive oil, and they really want to bring that olive oil in to make that cake for their restaurant and have it available in their shop.”
The Golds first had the oil in 2019 and loved it so much they brought home a 9-liter tin. After they ran out, they tried to figure out how to get more.
The makers of the olive oil, who had been making it in Sicily for 100 years, had never exported the oil to the Pacific Northwest before. In order to make the partnership work, the Golds had to bring in six pallets, which was much more than they needed. Through their conversations with Boyle, a plan was hatched that the Golds would keep one pallet and Market of Choice would sell the other five.
“That allows them to get the smaller quantity they need, and then it gives us an incredibly unique, high-quality, amazing-flavor olive oil that isn’t available anywhere else,” Weddington said.
The olive oil was first imported in 2022 and quickly became a customer favorite. The oil originates from the Castelvetrano region and is made with a blend of olives imparting a bright green color with a light, grassy flavor with a peppery finish.
“When John said they were sourcing it again, everybody was like, ‘Oh please, let’s do it,’” Weddington said. “People really missed it when it went away.”
Market of Choice sells a half-liter bottle of Sebastiano’s Olive Oil for $22.99, but it is on sale the week of Friday, Sept. 19, for $17.99.
Sweet Cheeks Winery celebrates 20th anniversary
In June, Sweet Cheeks Winery released Motiv8 Foundation wines as part of the winery’s 20th anniversary. Wines from Motiv8 Foundation, founded by NFL quarterback and Oregon Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, support programs and organizations serving children and families in need, from Oregon to Hawaii. Credit: Sweet Cheeks Winery
Sweet Cheeks Winery will celebrate its 20th anniversary Sept. 20 and 21. Sweet Cheeks was founded by Dan Smith in 2005. Smith died in 2018, but Sweet Cheeks remains family-run with three women at the helm: Beth Smith, Katie Brown, and general manager Jessica Thomas, Smith’s granddaughter. Winemaker Leo Gabica is Oregon’s only Filipino-American winemaker, and was also the first employee Smith hired. To celebrate, Sweet Cheeks Winery released two limited edition 20th anniversary wines on Sept. 10, a 2023 pinot gris ($35) and a 2023 pinot noir ($45). Both wines represent the 20th harvest at Sweet Cheeks. Throughout the weekend visitors can hear live music and purchase food from Jing Jing’s Filipino Food cart.
Sweet Cheeks Winery & Vineyard
27007 Briggs Hill Road
541-349-9463
Jazzy Ladies celebrates 10th anniversary with special dinner
Jazzy Ladies is celebrating its 10th anniversary with special events all month. Credit: Vanessa Salvia / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
This month, Jazzy Ladies is celebrating its 10th anniversary with special events including a Whiskey Pairing Dinner Sept. 28. That menu will include pulled pork empanadas, arugula salad with bruléed figs, braised beef cheeks and a caramel shortbread tart. Each course is crafted to pair with a 10-year aged whiskey. Seatings are at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person with a $25 reservation deposit. Make reservations for these and other special events on the Jazzy Ladies website.
Jazzy Ladies
560 Oak St.
541-636-9923
Oktoberfest celebration for PublicHouse seventh anniversary
A combination seventh anniversary and early Oktoberfest celebration will take over PublicHouse this weekend. Credit: Vanessa Salvia / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
PublicHouse will celebrate its seventh anniversary over three days with Oktoberfest taking over the Beer Hall. Springfield’s Mayor VanGordon will pour the first stein of beer on Friday at 4:55 p.m. and German-style beers will be well represented. The Roseburg German Band will perform outside. Food vendors are preparing some German-influenced food specials, including pastrami and sauerkraut sandwiches on pretzel buns from Tiny’s West Coast Kitchen, and a sausage and sauerkraut special from Black Market BBQ. Moi Poki Grill will feature a currywurst and Bavarian pretzel board while Sugar Kisses will feature a German Chocolate Cake with ice cream. Shalosh will offer a chicken schnitzel plate.
PublicHouse
418 A St., Springfield
Shalosh’s Rosh Hashanah dinner
Also at PublicHouse, Shalosh is offering a special dinner to celebrate Rosh Hoshana, Sept. 22. Chef Corey Wisun will prepare a five-course meal with service beginning at 6 p.m.
The meal includes challah bread, risotto, soup, beef brisket (or maitake mushroom for a vegetarian substitute) and apple cake, among other items.
The price is $115 including beverage pairings or $90 for non-alcoholic beverage pairings. Make reservations by calling 541-912-6268.
Whiteaker Community Market summer squash send-off
The Whiteaker Community Market will continue to host markets every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until mid-October, but Sunday, Sept. 21, is the day they will say goodbye to summer and welcome fall.
The market will host the Summer Squash Send Off with a squash bake off, live music and a demo where participants can make and take home their own jar of Fire Cider.
Whiteaker Community Market
Scobert Gardens Park by West Fourth Avenue and Blair Boulevard.
Dining and Cooking