About Us

We were inspired to start Sweet Lorraine’s because of our shared passion for delicious food and our desire to reconnect with our roots. We named the business after Aaron’s Grandma Lorraine. Grandma Lorraine grew up in Brooklyn and raised her family on Long Island. Lorraine’s father Herman worked at Ratner’s. Sharing love through food was, and is, an important part of our family passed down through Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants. 


Growing up in the midwest, these roots felt far away. Aaron loved getting a taste of it when visiting family on the east coast, but that culture was almost non existent where he lived. When  we moved to Portland years ago, we also lamented the lack of NY style Jewish food. 

During the pandemic our careers as musicians were put on hold. We decided to try something new and bring the foods we had been longing for to our community here in Portland. We believe that community is built, shared, and preserved through things like food and the arts.  We don’t want to only provide nostalgia through comfort food, but also use culinary traditions to create new lasting memories and connections.


Our desire is not be your typical Jewish deli, but to lovingly cook foods that are hard to find and delicious, to preserve them and share them with new generations. We offer homestyle Jewish comfort food, in the tradition of a Dairy Restaurant - or your Grandma’s house.

What is a Dairy Restaurant?


In the Jewish tradition of keeping kosher it is generally forbidden to mix meat and dairy. Therefore, it became popular to eat a dairy meal for breakfast or lunch and eat meat with dinner. Because of this tradition restaurants in Jewish communities often specialized in one or the other. Dairy Restaurants became popular places to eat kosher dairy meals and socialize. All of our menu items are based on this idea and are things that you might have found at a classic New York Dairy Restaurant. 


Dairy Restaurants are rare these days, even in New York City. We decided to make Sweet Lorraine’s a Dairy Restaurant because we found that the foods fit into our own diet and lifestyles. We also feel that’s its important to keep kosher traditions out of respect for the culture and religion. 


In places with large Jewish communities, like New York City, many of these foods have become part of the culture of the city, and some have even spread across the country. Most people know about bagels and pastrami on rye, but many other dishes are not well known outside of Jewish communities. Our desire is to learn about and share these wonderful dishes with EVERYONE in our community. You don’t have to be Jewish to love traditional Jewish comfort foods!


Food is our love language, and the way we share that love with all of you. 


With Love, Rachel & Aaron