Remedy: A New Kind of Wine Bar

It’s 4pm. You got to work at 6:00 this morning to catch up. You’re whipped. You just want to sink into a nice loveseat and have a glass of wine; maybe you want to chat with a friend, skim over your iPad, or read a book. You can’t make decisions, but you also don’t want to be at home alone. You just want someone friendly to put a glass in your hands and say, “Relax and enjoy. I got you covered.” This is a typical weeknight at Remedy, a new kind of wine bar.

With wide windows that open up to the park on sunny Portland days, the rotating list of reds, whites and rosés is served alongside simple and elegant small plates showcasing the best local ingredients. Fresh, seasonal produce inspire Chef Ingrid Chen’s specialties such as the daily rotating market special.

The comfortable chairs and cozy, living room vibe ensures Remedy lives up to its history and name. Located in a historical pharmacy that provided the entire western United States with cure-alls and other tinctures, Madigan wanted to make sure their wine bar would be a much needed “remedy” for all types of occasions and wine drinkers. A place for wine novices who want to know more, wine experts who want something different, and people who just want to enjoy a glass, Remedy is the perfect neighborhood wine bar.  

At Remedy, off-the-beaten-path wines on the menu are also available for purchase, so guests can even take a bottle of their favorite wine home. From Tuesday through Sunday, visit Remedy for any occasion—an afternoon glass of wine, a special occasion, or an escape from First Thursday—and you’ll understand why Remedy is nicknamed “the neighborhood’s living room.”

Michael Madigan

Owner, KitchenCru, CruMarket, Bowery Bagels, and Remedy Wine Bar

An entrepreneur and accomplished businessman, Michael Madigan is the brains behind KitchenCru and the owner at both Bowery Bagels and Remedy Wine Bar. A New York City native, Michael moved to Portland, Oregon in 1987 amidst a career in computer technology. With a love of food and wine and a passion for knowledge, Michael’s vast array of interests led him to become an accomplished home cook, cheese maker, butcher, winemaker, brewer and baker. After 25 years in computer tech, and ready to start something new, Michael realized he was happiest when around food and wine.

A born and bred New Yorker, Michael grew up as the second eldest of five children living first in Brooklyn and then in Queens. His relationship with food goes back to the beginning, with his fondest childhood memories centered on large Sunday dinners with his Italian-American family. Opening the cans of tomatoes for the tomato sauce while his mother and grandfather made the meat and pasta, his grandmother baking up fresh desserts, his family sitting around a large dinner table filled with pastas, meats, and wine—all were part of a typical Sunday. He also recalls his grandfather bringing home fresh octopus and eel and teaching him how to clean fish. It was hardly the diet of a typical child, but Michael loved every bite.

After the success of a retail wine shop in the neighborhood, the natural next step was a wine bar where guests could stay – a living room of sorts amidst the park blocks. Remedy Wine Bar, with comfortable seating and a welcoming atmosphere, feels like the neighborhood’s living room.

Josh Wiesenfeld

General Manager, Remedy Wine Bar

Josh Wiesenfeld is the General Manager at Remedy Wine Bar. Learning about the industry from the bottom up, Wiesenfeld knew he was passionate about wine from his first sip. Quickly realizing that humility is one of the most important traits in the wine industry, he uses this outlook in his approach to wine at Remedy Wine Bar.

Wiesenfeld was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended the University of Iowa. During his time in college, he began his career in the food industry by working his way up from part time delivery driver to regional marketing director for a Midwest soup and sandwich chain. When he relocated to Portland, he quickly began working for Elephant’s Deli – a premiere specialty foods retailer. Wiesenfeld began learning about wine from their massive selection, approaching it with such a passion and incredible palate that he was promoted to Wine Promotions Coordinator.

From Elephant’s Deli, Wiesenfeld moved to the Wine Director position at renowned, James Beard Award winning restaurant Paley’s Place for five years before moving over to Imperial for one year and ultimately becoming the General Manager at Remedy Wine Bar. Wanting to expand his knowledge, he completed the Wine Fundamentals Levels 1 and 2 through the International Sommelier Guild.

Even though he likes all wine, his personal favorite wines include sparkling wine, rosé, white Burgundy and Mosel Riesling.

Ingrid Chen

Chef, Remedy Wine Bar

Ingrid Chen is the Chef at Remedy Wine Bar in Portland, Oregon. Chen’s dedication to elegant but simple food pairs perfectly with the wine and philosophy at Remedy. Inspired daily by the abundance of Portland’s fresh ingredients and trips to the farmer’s market, Chen lets the individual components of her dishes shine.

Even though she loves Taiwanese food now and recognizes its positive influence from her childhood, Chen’s first cooking experiences occurred when she wanted to break away from her family’s Taiwanese food traditions. As a result, she started cooking up mashed potatoes and other “non-Taiwanese” dishes at the early age of eight. Chen began working in restaurants in North Carolina at 19, doing everything from hosting to waiting tables to bussing. When she moved to Portland in 2002, she continued to work the front of house before attending culinary school at the Oregon Culinary Institute in 2008.

Chen has since worked at other top Portland restaurants including Clyde Common, Olympic Provisions, Brasserie Montmartre and Aviary. Chen’s favorite part about cooking at Remedy Wine Bar is that she gets to pair the food with the wine, and not the other way around. For her, it’s a welcome and inspiring challenge.