A Proustian Travel Guide: Tim Healea

Name: Tim Healea
Profession: Baker
Age: 44
Location: Portland, Oregon

For eight years, Tim has been baking some of Portland's best handcrafted breads and pastries at Little T Baker in the heart of foodie mecca SE Division St.

What are you most proud of? 
I opened Little T at the depths of the Great Recession in 2008, and with hard work and the support of the SE community, I built it into one of the city's favorite bakeries.

What is your most cherished possession? 
My limited addition Kylie Minogue Rhythm of Love double CD from 1991.

What was the best gift you’ve ever received? 
When my boyfriend and I started dating, he gave me a Catholic escapulario. He bought it from a prostitute on the beach in Rio, but it means the world to me.

When traveling, what do you never leave home without?
Ambien. I cannot sleep on a plane.

Where is your all-time favorite travel destination? 
There's so many, but I'd choose Melbourne, Australia. It's a place you can just be yourself and fit in.

Describe the perfect weekend in SE Portland.
The perfect weekend in Southeast Portland is all about eating and drinking. Kick off Friday evening with a pub crawl at the lively beer garden at Apex (1216 SE Division), where you can choose from over 50 beers and ciders on tap. Next hit dive bar Reel M Inn (2430 SE Division), which boasts the best fried chicken and jojos in Portland. Afterward, class it up with one of the fantastic craft cocktails at La Moule's comfortably elegant bar (2500 SE Clinton). Finally, stop last at Sunshine Tavern (3111 SE Division) for the perfect combination of slushy margaritas, vintage video games and shuffleboard.
After a good night's sleep, recovery begins at Broder (2508 SE Clinton), a tiny Scandinavian cafe serving one of the city's best brunches. Afterward, explore the rose gardens of Ladd's Addition, the adorable neighborhood with diagonal streets and 100-year-old elms. Then, stroll down Hawthorne Blvd for some great shopping, including Powell's Books for Home and Garden (3747 SE Hawthorne), which features a giant selection of vintage books for cooks. Happy hour is spent visiting the distilleries, wineries and breweries around SE 7th Ave, including House Spirits, The Commons Brewery and Clay Pigeon winery. After a disco nap, a chef's tasting meal at the exceptional Holdfast Dining in the Fausse Piste winery (537 SE Ash is in order, before heading to Holocene (1001 SE Morrison) for a night of getting down.
Sunday morning, don't miss out on one of the legendary biscuit sandwiches from Pine State Biscuits (1100 SE Division) Then trek up to Mt. Tabor Park, SE Portland's highest point, for a great view of the city. Next, it's on to SE Wine Collective (2425 SE 35th Pl.) to sample pours from some of the city's top urban wineries. Finally, wrap up your foodie adventure over candlelight at romantic neighborhood bistro Bar Avignon (2138 SE Division).

What makes someone a local in Portland? 
We may get a lot of rain in Portland, but no one would actually be seen walking with an umbrella.

Tell us about your favorite restaurant in Southeast Portland.  
Many of Portland's restaurants are known for big, bold flavors, but I love the subtle, exquisite cooking of Kevin Gibson at Davenport (on the edge of SE at 2215 E Burnside). Kevin has a way of bringing out the best from Oregon ingredients. Also, you can't go wrong with co-owner Kurt Heilemann's wine advice.

Where is the most unique shopping experience? 
Hidden from the street and up a flight of stairs, the expansive Look Modern (800 SE Hawthorne) boasts one of the best restored midcentury furniture selections in the country.