Meat Un-Loafed
A blue-plate special done right
Vitaly Paley’s third restaurant in his Portland, Oregon, lineup, Portland Penny Diner, pays homage to the vendors and lunch wagons that filled that city’s streets during the 1800s. The casual diner offers creative classics with a modern bent, including a house-made bologna breakfast sandwich with coffee mayonnaise, and executive chef Ben Bettinger’s “Mom’s meatloaf,” his reinterpretation of the comfort staple. Earthy chile powder, plenty of fresh basil and ground fennel seed give the loaf a modern boost without sacrificing its blue-plate-special roots. Mom would approve.
Mom's Meatloaf
Yield: 4 servings
Cook Time:
1 hour
- INGREDIENTS
1¾ pounds 80% lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork (preferably ground pork shoulder)
1 large egg
⅓ cup finely chopped basil
5 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
6 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs
5 tablespoons ketchup, divided
1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
1½ teaspoons ground fennel seed
1½ teaspoons onion powder
1½ teaspoons garlic powder
1½ teaspoons Chimayó or sweet paprika
¾ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco
About The Chef
Ben Bettinger first worked with Vitaly Paley at Paley’s Place in Portland, Oregon, working his way up the ranks to chef de cuisine. Bettinger then went to work at other notable Portland restaurants, including Beaker & Flask and Clyde Common. He returned to the Paley family in 2012 and is now the executive chef at Imperial and Portland Penny Diner.
Portland Penny Diner, 410 SW Broadway, Portland, OR; 503-228-7222 or portlandpennydiner.com
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