Feast Portland | Sept 19-22

Susie and I both are regular visitors to our Northern Pacific neighbors in Portlandia — for food conferences, to see friends and family and most importantly to eat and shop the fab food stores and markets! Coming up September 19-22nd, is the second annual Feast Portland, founded by a friend in food, Carrie Welch who left NYC and Food Network for PDX. Feast celebrates the ample bounty of this inspiring and inspired region.  I’ll be there at a number of events — but many are selling out, so if you’re considering a weekend to discover Portland’s culinary essence, get planning epicureans!  In addition to Feast, be sure to visit the Saturday Farmer’s Market at Pioneer Square it doesn’t disappoint, and the NYTimes just wrote about the inventive food scene. /Laiko

A few highlights:

The Sandwich Invitational

Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting

Night Market (SOLD OUT)

Cooking class with Andy Rickter & live culinary demonstration with Mark Bittman & The American Experience Talk

The all-star line up is impressive: Aaron Barnett (St. Jack), Jason Barwikowski (The Woodsman Tavern), Greg Denton (Ox), Patrick Fleming (Boke Bowl), Jason French (Nedd Ludd), Rick Gencarelli (Lardo), Benjamin Gonzales (Nuestra Cocina), Gregory Gourdet (Departure), Christopher Israel (Grüner), Jenn Louis (Lincoln), Vitaly Paley (Paley’s Place), Trent Pierce (Roe), Naomi Pomeroy (Beast), Andy Ricker (Pok Pok), newly minted 2013 James Beard Foundation (JBF) award winner Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon), Adam Sappington (The Country Cat), Scott Snyder (Levant), Erik Van Kley (Little Bird), Johanna Ware (Smallwares), Cathy Whims (Nostrana) and others welcome a roster of visiting chefs including Hugh Acheson (The National), 2013 JBF award winner Danny Bowien (Mission Chinese Food), 2013 JBF award winners Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (State Bird Provisions), Sean Brock (McCrady’s), Floyd Cardoz (North End Grill), Tom Douglas (Tom Douglas Restaurants, Lola), Renee Erickson (The Walrus and the Carpenter), Jason Franey (Canlis), Aaron Franklin (Franklin BBQ), Duff Goldman (Charm City Cakes), 2013 JBF award winner Stephanie Izard (The Girl and the Goat), 2013 JBF award winner Christopher Kostow (Meadowood), Matt and Ted Lee, Matt Lightner (Atera), David McMillan and Frédéric Morin (Joe Beef), Thomas McNaughton (Flour + Water), Sarah Simmons (CITY GRIT),  Christina Tosi (Momofuku Milk Bar), Michael Voltaggio (ink.) and Kris Yenbamroong (Night + Market).

TICKETS: FEAST PORTLAND