Come to Portland for Foodie Fun: Feast Portland Tix Still Available

Can you believe it? There are still some Feast Portland event tickets left!

Yes, many Feast events sold out within minutes back in June, but there are several stellar Feast events with tickets still available including: 

• Main Events: 
• 80s vs 90s
• Friday and Saturday Grand Tasting Presented by New Seasons Market
• Brunch Village Presented by Bob's Red Mill
• Fun-Size Events
• Basically Bar Trivia
• Big Feast in Little China
• Healthyish 5Kish
• Iron Mixologist: City of Roses Editon
• Nouveau Bistro
• Feast Sunday Tailgate
• Classes:
• Macramé & Rosé
• Pigeon Toe Ceramics + Lord Birthday: Dream Muggin'
• Drink Tank:
• The New (Old) Italy
• Act Naturally: Natural Wine Comes of Age
• Tickled Pink: Why Rosé-inspired Ciders and Beers are Taking Over

#FeastForLifeFlyPDX Get in on the Feast Portland Social Media Contest and Get Life Passes

 Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland, the Pacific Northwest's flagship food and drink festival taking place Thursday, September 13 – Sunday, September 16, 2018, is partnering with the Port of Portland at Portland International Airport (PDX) for a “Feast For Life FlyPDX” campaign and social media giveaway of two Feast Portland “The Package” passes for life.

Starting Friday, August 3^rd, the month-long Feast For Life FlyPDX campaign will showcase collaborative Feast-inspired items available from top food and beverage vendors located inside Portland International Airport. Participating tenants include The Country Cat, Kenny and Zukes, Deschutes Brewery, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters. 

Each week in August, the following exclusive Feast-inspired items will be available for purchase at the participants’ PDX retail space:

·      Friday, 8/3 – Thursday, 8/9: The Country Cat will feature a special BLT sandwich with their newly packaged house-made bacon and local tomatoes.

·      Friday, 8/10 – Thursday, 8/16: Kenny and Zukes deli has created a Bahn Mi sandwich featuring their pastrami, country pork pate, Asian pickled cucumbers and spicy wasabi mayo on a hoagie roll.

·      Friday, 8/17 – Thursday, 8/23: Deschutes Brewery will serve a Backyard BBQ Burger featuring a two quarter-pound Painted Hills beef patty topped with a piece of pork belly confit, Havarti cheese, a house made BBQ sauce and crispy onion straws, all atop braised collard greens. They’ll be pairing the burger with their Black Butte Porter beer.

·      Friday, 8/24 – Thursday, 8/31: Stumptown Coffee Roasters will debut their new Stumptown Coffee Roasters x Feast Portland Mora Mora Ethiopia Heirloom canned cold brew.

On the first day of each product launch, the chef or artisan ambassador will host a tasting of their product at the Portland International Airport’s pre-security Clocktower Plaza from 11:30am – 1:30pm, offering travelers and locals alike a chance to experience their delicious Feast For Life FlyPDX item. Attendees of these special Clocktown Plaza events will have the opportunity for additional entries in the Feast For Life FlyPDX social media contest.  

  

The #FeastForLifeFlyPDX social media contest for will take place on Feast Portland’s Instagram (@feastportland) during the month of August. Contestants will enter for the chance to win two Feast Portland “The Package” passes for life, valid for entry into the main events of Feast Portland every year from 2018 and beyond. The winner will be announced on August 31^st. 

For all contest entry details for the #FeastForLifeFlyPDX social media giveaway, please visit https://www.feastportland.com/feast-for-life-flypdx/.

Feast Portland 2018 Launches New Feast Fab Collab Products

Fabulous Collaboration Products from Feast’s Artisan and Chef Participants Hit New Seasons Market Shelves Starting July 25

Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland announces the return of the “Feast Fab Collab” series for the third year, teaming up several of the festival’s top participating artisans and chefs and retail partner New Seasons Market to create limited edition, one-of-a-kind Feast Portland-inspired items. These collaboration items will be available for sale exclusively at New Seasons Market locations in Oregon and SW Washington, hitting shelves throughout the summer leading up to Feast Portland 2018, September 13-16. 

Feast Portland 2018 Feast Fab Collab participants include: New Seasons Market, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Olympia Provisions, Ruby Jewel, Oregon Fruit Products, Bob’s Red Mill, Chef Maya Lovelace of Yonder (Portland, OR), Chef and Salumist Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions (Portland, OR), Chef Joshua McFadden of Ava Gene’s (Portland, OR) and Chef Abe Conlon of Fat Rice (Chicago, IL).

So here's what to look for:

Feast Mode Lager with 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - Launching Wednesday, July 25

This is the most thirst-quenching beer you could ever hope for. Feast Mode is a premium lager featuring pilsner malt, flaked rice and a subtle hopping for an ultra light and refreshing beer. Perfect for pounding on the porch or while grubbin’ out with friends.

Price: $7.99 / 4 pack

Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches with Maya Lovelace and Ruby Jewel - Launching Wednesday, August 22

Maya’s Southern Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich: Featuring cornmeal from Bob’s Red Mill and strawberries from Oregon Fruit Products, these chewy cornmeal cookie, and strawberry buttermilk ice cream sandwich represents the best of the Appalachian pantry - the preserved corn that serves as the backbone of every meal, the buttermilk giving richness and tang, and strawberry jam pulling us right back into the warm and sunny days of late spring.

Grandma Mae’s Sweet Molasses Ice Cream Sandwich: These ice cream sandwiches are inspired by the molasses and apple butter sandwich cookies found in Chef Maya’s grandma's secret cookie stash – the cookies were soft and chewy, and her apple butter seeped into them to create a surprisingly luxurious texture and a combination of farmhouse flavors she only ever tasted in her Grandmother’s home. 

Price: $2.99

Olympia Provisions Chef Sausage Series with Salumist Elias Cairo – Launching Monday, September 3rd

Ava Gene’s Owner-Chef Joshua McFadden was motivated by his love of Roman-inspired food when creating this specialty Italian sausage stuffed with kale and provolone cheese, poached to perfection. Grill and pair with fresh pasta, olive oil and some garden cherry tomatoes to elevate your pasta game.

Chef Abe Conlon of Chicago’s Fat Rice collaborated on this Goan-style pork sausage heavily spiced with turmeric, garlic, chilies, cinnamon and other spices, then smoked. Try this sausage in a new twist on paella, served with fresh shrimp and mussels.

Price: $8.99

  

A portion of gross sales from all Feast Fab Collab products will be donated to Feast Portland’s 2018 charitable partners, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Urban Gleaners. Since 2012, Feast has raised more than $372,000 to help end hunger in Oregon and is proud to continue supporting this important cause through its charitable partners.

Select Feast Fab Collab items will also be featured at Feast Portland’s main daytime events Friday and Saturday Grand Tasting Presented By New Seasons Market. Tickets are available at FeastPortland.com.

More information and updates about the Feast Fab Collab items can be found at https://www.feastportland.com/about-feast/feast-fab-collab/ and by following #FeastFabCollab on Instagram.

Photos and Information Courtesy: Feast Portland

Feast Portland 2018 - Schedule and Ticket Information and Links

Feast Portland 2018 Festival tickets will be available for purchase beginning at 9am PST on Friday, June 8 at www.feastportland.com. Here’s the Feast Portland schedule so you can be ready!

Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland returns for its seventh year, Thursday, September 13 – Sunday, September 16, 2018. The Pacific Northwest’s flagship food and drink festival and leading national culinary event continues to bring together legendary and emerging culinary talent at more than 40 inventive dining experiences.

The 2018 schedule, packed with large-scale main events, more ‘not too big and not too small’ fun-sized events, once-in-a-lifetime dinners, cutting-edge tasting panels, immersive classes and killer industry parties, will give guests countless ways to Feast across the four days.

New this year, top chefs will battle for the best decade in an 80s vs. 90s throwback throwdown to kick off the weekend. Friday evening’s Night Market introduces a ‘Ring of Fire’ theme covering a breadth of adventurous food and drink. Seven new Fun-Size events are creatively designed to be more action-packed than ever before.

 Highlights from this year’s epic chef lineup and schedule include:

●      ALL NEW Thursday night main event, 80s vs. 90s! Twenty of the hottest chefs from Portland and across America will throw down at the ultimate throwback cook-off that’s guaranteed to be one for the books. The competition style event will enlist half of the participating chefs to represent the ‘80s and the other half the ‘90s all while set to cassette-worthy mixes at RoseQuarter Commons. With 80s vs. 90s as the inaugural inspiration, the Thursday night competition theme will change each year. 

●      Night Market: Ring of Fire Edition Presented by Alaska Mileage Plan will take on a ‘Pacific Rim’ theme, showcasing dishes from the West Coast and places like Peru, Mexico, East Asia and more. Encompassing everything from Hawaiian pig to American whiskey, the breadth of adventurous food and drink from 20 all-star chefs and bartenders will keep guests wanting more.

●      Feast’s popular Fun-Size Events are the ‘Goldilocks’ events of the Feast family – not too big, not too small, but just right for a hot summer night of fun bites and cool drinks. This year’s events will include the return of Aaron Franklin’s Franklin Barbecue and Friends, a slice of Austin in Portland. Attendees can indulge in their love of French bistro food and Old World and New World wines at Nouveau Bistro, hone in on the electrifying flavors of Chinese-American cuisine at Big Feast in Little China, polish off a few oysters with beer in hand at the very first Feast Sunday Tailgate, and test their culinary skills (and knowledge!) in good ‘ole Basically Bar Trivia with the Bon Appétit team. 

●      Bringing together legendary culinary masterminds from near and far, 2018’s coveted Dinner Series will be one for the books. This year’s lineup of ten once-in-a-lifetime meals will feature an epic evening with Emma Bengtsson + Dominique Crenn + Kristen Murray; a one-night-only culinary trip to Mexico City with Joshua McFadden + Elena Reygadas + Fabian von Hauske; and a NYC’s alum beefsteak reunion with Peter Cho + Angie Mar. Plus, Feast’s first Zero Proof dinner featuring Gabriel Rucker, Andrew Zimmern, Sean Brock, Michael Solomonov, Gregory Gourdet, and Evan Zimmerman will break down barriers while serving up a life-changing meal.

●      ‘Glass’ is back in session: Feast’s trend spotting Drink Tank Presented by Imbibe panels will return for discussions and tastings with leading beverage professionals hand-plucked from around the world covering hot topics like revered natural wines in Act Naturally: Natural Wine Comes of Age, a peek into designing the perfect, sessionable cocktail at The Art of the Session Cocktail, how rosé is inspiring brewers and cidermakers at Tickled Pink: Why Rosé-Inspired Ciders and Beers Are Taking Over, and more.

●      Feast’s Classes will once again give guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of a tastemaker, a topic, and leave the festival with more than just a full belly. This year’s classes include Brunch with Benefits, a look into how to host an epic bubbles-fueled brunch, Pie Goals, where you’ll never think about your lattice pies the same way again, Steak & Eggs Part Deux, and an afternoon with Portland’s macramé master Emily Katz where she will demonstrate a handful of her favorite knotting techniques over rosé and bites at Macramé + Rosé, and more.

●      The festival will see the return of the third “Feast Fab Collab” series, teaming up with some of the top participating artisans and chefs to create limited edition, one-of-a-kind Feast Portland-inspired items. Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland will partner with Portland-based apparel company Bridge & Burn to create a limited edition festival t-shirt, now available for purchase at https://shop.feastportland.com/. A portion of proceeds from all “Feast Fab Collab” items and the Bridge & Burn collab t-shirt will be donated to Feast’s charitable partners. 

Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland is an organization with a strong charitable mission. Since 2012, Feast has raised more than $372,000 to help end hunger in Oregon and across the country, and is proud to continue supporting this important cause through its 2018 charitable partners.

The festival will continue its collaboration with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, a statewide nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the problem of hunger and solutions, advocates for more just programs and policies to end hunger, and connects communities to food resources. This year, Feast will also add a second, Oregon-based charitable partner – Urban Gleaners. Urban Gleaners collects and redistributes over 70,000 pounds of food every month, feeding over 5,000 people every week through school pantries, summer free farmers markets, and Mobile Markets at low-income housing communities.

The complete Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland lineup with event descriptions, list of participants, and ticket information can be found at http://www.feastportland.com/. Tickets for each event are sold individually and prices are all-inclusive of food and drink served at that event.

Follow Feast Portland on Facebook, Twitter (@FeastPDX), and Instagram (@FeastPortland), and subscribe to the Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland newsletter at www.feastportland.com to stay updated on all things Feast.

Information courtesy Feast Portland

It’s Feast Portland Week: Hold on to Your Napkins!

Culinary luminaries from across the country and the world join forces with their Northwest counterparts at Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland, held Sept. 14–17 in multiple venues around town. Since its 2012 debut, the food festival has solidified Portland’s reputation as a culinary hotbed, challenging Portland’s chefs to continue innovating their cuisine with local, seasonal fare.

Chef Gregory Gourdet

I’ll be taking a break from Feast this year. It’s been an all-consuming week of tasting and writing for the past several years. Sometimes a writer just needs a break! 

So I’m happy to share that Wander With Wonder's Editor in Chief has arranged to keep us in the know about Feast. Susan Lanier-Graham shared, “We at Wander love the Pacific Northwest and wish we could all be Feasting in Portland. To celebrate Feast Portland, follow along on our Instagram as contributor Tracy Beard takes us through some of the highlights at this year's #FeastPDX. And be sure to check out all the other great things to do and eat in PDX on Wander.”

This year, Feast attendees have more than 40 events to choose from, including marquee affairs, jaw-dropping dinners, fun-size experiences, classes and panels. 

Chef Jose Chesa

New to the roster of “fun-size” events (read smaller) are Pizza & Burgers, serving back-to-basics comfort food; Because Breakfast, with an assortment of Instagram-worthy pastries, donuts, crepes, cocktails and coffee drinks to start the day; and Vegetables: A Love Story, Featuring Healthyish by Bon Appétit, highlighting vegetable-forward dishes from a host of collaborating chefs.

Portland's Pearl District

Hands-on classes provide insight and techniques for preparing everything from candy and confections to dumplings and steak. Meanwhile, Drink Tank lines up industry-leading distillers, winemakers and brewers to lead panel discussions on developing trends in their fields, such as the new world of American whiskey — beyond bourbon and rye — as presented in Kilts Not Required: American Single Malts.

Feast’s signature crowd-pleasing events will also make a comeback this year. The Sandwich Invitational pits 18 all-star chefs against one another, and the Latin-influenced Night Market brings 20 chefs together under the stars.

Two Grand Tastings threaten to burst out of their one-city-block boundary with food and drink from 80 purveyors, while Smoked! carries on its tradition of an over-the-top backyard cookout, and Brunch Village plies late-morning diners with eye-opening flavors. 

Smoked! was always my favorite of the larger events.

Many events are sold out.  Check feastportland.com for remaining tickets. All proceeds of the festival benefit Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon.

More Information

Travel Portland

Travel Oregon

Feast Portland

Note: Information courtesy Travel Portland. Photo credit: Elizabeth R Rose

Feast 2017 Schedule and Tickets: More Fun-Size Events, More Dinners, And An Inspiring Line-up Of Chefs

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Feast On!

Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland returns better than ever for the sixth year, September 14^th-17^th, 2017. Festival tickets will be available to purchase starting at 9am PST on Friday, June 2^nd at http://www.feastportland.com/

With deep Pacific Northwest roots and a mission to reflect and celebrate the most relevant food and drink trends regionally and globally, Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland is widely considered one of the country’s coolest culinary festivals. The four-day festival brings together both legendary and emerging culinary talent at more than 40 events in stunning venues across Portland, Oregon. With a schedule packed with large-scale marquee events, intimate fun-sized events, once-in-a-lifetime dinners, tasting panels, hands-on classes and industry parties, there are countless ways to Feast. 

Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland has donated more than $300,000 to local and national charity partners working to end childhood hunger. In 2017, Feast Portland will partner exclusively with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. 

  

2017 Participating Chefs

Visiting chefs include: Abraham Conlon and Adrienne Lo of Fat Rice (Chicago, IL), Alvin Cailan of Unit 120 (Los Angeles, CA), Barbara Lynch of Barbara Lynch Gruppo (Boston, MA), Brad Farmerie of Public, Saxon + Parole (New York, NY), Bryan Lee Weaver of Butcher & Bee (Nashville, TN), Christina Tosi of Milkbar (New York, NY), Clare Gordon of General Porpoise Coffee and Doughnuts (Seattle, WA), Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme (New York, NY), Derek Dammann of Maison Publique (Montréal, Canada), Edouardo Jordan of JuneBaby (Seattle, WA), Enrique Olvera of Cosme (New York, NY), Ethan Stowell of Ethan Stowell Restaurants (Seattle, WA), Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune (New York, NY), Greg Baxtrom of Olmsted (New York, NY), Ignacio Mattos of Estela (New York, NY), Isa Fabro of Unit 120 (Los Angeles, CA), Jean-Paul Bourgeois of Blue Smoke (New York, NY), Jeremiah Langhorne of The Dabney (Washington, DC), Joshua Henderson of Vestal (Seattle, WA), John Tesar of Knife at The Highland Dallas (Dallas, TX), Josef Centeno of Bar Amá (Los Angeles, CA), Julia Sherman of Salad for President (New York, NY), Laura Sawicki of Launderette (Austin, TX), Matt Fortner of Lola (Seattle, WA), Mike Anthony of Gramercy Tavern (New York, NY), Mike Solomonov of Zahav (Philadelphia, PA), Nina Compton of Compère Lapin (New Orleans, LA), Ravi Kapur of Liholiho Yacht Club (San Francisco, CA), Rene Ortiz of Launderette (Austin, TX), Sam Mason of OddFellows (New York, NY), Tom Douglas of Tom Douglas Restaurants (Seattle, WA), Tony Cervone of Souvla (San Francisco, CA), and Tyson Cole of Hai Hospitality (Austin, TX).

Local Oregon chefs include: Aaron Barnett (St. Jack), Allen Routt (The Painted Lady), Andy Ricker (Pok Pok), Beau Carr (RingSide Steakhouse), Ben Bettinger (Big's Chicken), Benjamin Gonzales (Nuestra Cocina), BJ Smith (Smokehouse Tavern), Bonnie Morales (Kachka), Carlo Lamagna (Clyde Common), Cathy Whims (Nostrana), Chris Cosentino (Jackrabbit), Chris DiMinno (Jackrabbit), Daniel Oseas (Broder), David Sapp (Park Kitchen), Derek McCarthy (Pastaworks at Providore Fine Foods), Dolan Lane (Kimpton Hotels/ Red Star Tavern), Doug Adams (Bullard Restaurant), Dustin Clark (Besaw's), Dustin Koerner (Andina), Earl Ninsom (Langbaan), Elias Cairo (Olympia Provisions), Enrique Sanchez-Rodriguez (Local Ocean Seafood), Erik Van Kley (Taylor Railworks), Gabe Rosen (Biwa) Gabrielle Rucker (Le Pigeon), Geovanna Salas (Castagna), Greg Denton & Gabrielle Quiñonez Denton (Ox), Gregory Gourdet (Departure), Han Ly Hwang (Kim Jong Grillin), Jackie Sappington (The Country Cat), Jason French (Ned Ludd), Jenn Louis (Ray), Jin Soo Yang (Bamboo Sushi), Joel Stocks & Will Presich (Holdfast & Deadshot), John Gorham (Toro Bravo), John Stewart (Meat Cheese Bread), José Chesa (Chesa), Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene's), Justin Wills (Restaurant Beck), Justin Woodward (Castagna), Kate McMillen (Lauretta Jean's), Katy Millard (Coquine), Ken Gordon (Kenny & Zukes Delicatessen), Kim Boyce (Bakeshop), Kristen Murray (Maurice), Kyle Lattimer & Paul Losch (Ruddick Wood), Kyo Koo (Danwei Canting), Leather Storrs (Noble Rot), Lisa Schroeder (Mother's Bistro), Matt Christianson (Urban Farmer Restaurant), Matt Sigler (Figlia), Maya Lovelace (Mae), Melissa McMillan (Sammich and Pastramie Zombie), Naomi Pomeroy (Beast), Patrick Fleming (Boke Bowl), Pete Moss (Double Dragon), Peter Cho (Han Oak), Rachel Yang (Revelry), Rich Meyer (Trifecta Tavern and Bakery), Rick Gencarelli (Lardo), Luke Zembo (Slow Bar), Rodney Muirhead (Podnah's Barbecue), Sam Smith (Tusk), Sarah Minnick (Lovely's Fifty Fifty), Sarah Schafer (Irving Street Kitchen), Scott Dolich (Park Kitchen), Scott Ketterman (Crown Paella), Sunny Jin (JORY, at The Allison), Tim Alves (Bottle + Kitchen), Tim Healea (Little T Baker), Tommy Habetz & Nick Wood (Bunk Sandwiches), Troy MacLarty (Bollywood Theater), Tyler Malek (Salt & Straw), and Vitaly Paley (Imperial).

2017 Feast Portland Events

Bigger than a dinner but smaller than a Feast marquee event, Fun-Size events make a triumphant return in 2017 with a handful of intimate and out-of-the-box experiences including: The Late, Late Show: Adventures in Takeout features the work of chefs Abraham Conlon and Adrienne Lo (Fat Rice, Chicago), Kyo Koo (Danwei Canting, PDX), Han Ly Hwang (Kim Jong Grillin’, PDX) Gabe Rosen (Biwa, PDX) and Bonnie Morales (Kachka, PDX). Vegetables: A Love Story, Featuring Healthyish by Bon Appétit has a dream team of creative vegetable-focused chefs - Edouardo Jordan (JuneBaby, Seattle), Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene’s, PDX) Bryan Lee Weaver (Butcher and Bee, Nashville), Julia Sherman (Salad for President, NYC), David Sapp (Park Kitchen, PDX), Scott Dolich (Park Kitchen, PDX), and Tyler Malek (Salt & Straw, PDX/San Francisco) and Josh Alsberg (Rubinette Produce, PDX). Because Breakfast boasts the most Instagram-ready collection of small pastries, crepes, breakfast goodies, delicious donuts, morning cocktails and inspired riffs on coffee drinks that you’re likely to find outside of Paris, featuring Jehnee Rains (Suzette, PDX), Kim Boyce (Bakeshop), Clare Gordon (General Porpoise Coffee and Doughnuts, Seattle), and Michael Scelfo (Waypoint, Boston). Pizza & Burgers goes back to basics with Tommy Habetz (Pizza Jerk, PDX), Sarah Minnick (Lovely's Fifty Fifty, PDX), John Gorham (Bless Your Heart Burgers, PDX) and Luke Zembo (Slow Bar, PDX).

There are vibrant night markets all around the world and The Feast Portland Night Market Presented by Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card is among America’s best. Outside under the stars with views of Portland’s downtown skyline and colorful Tilikum Crossing, the Night Market is an irresistible array of exotic tastes, kaleidoscopic sights and DJ-fueled sounds. This high-energy, Latin-themed event is lit by festive lights and warmed by the collective buzz of where to eat next, with food from more than 20 standout chefs from coast to coast. It’s a taste of Latin America, Spain and more right here on the banks of the Willamette. 

There’s no better way to kick of the best food weekend ever than at Sandwich Invitational Presented by The Portland Trail Blazers. When 18 all-star chefs bring their ‘A’-game to the Rose Quarter Commons, the awesomeness scoreboard is gonna light up like a Portland Trail Blazers blow-out win. Expect a high-flying affair where featured chefs put some crazy spin-moves on the classic definition of “sandwich.” Throw down some title-worthy cocktails, exceptional craft brews and fine wines. Join the panel of esteemed judges in voting for a favorite creation to see who will hoist the coveted Sandwich Invitational championship trophy.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, there’s Smoked! Presented by Tillamook—Feast’s over-the-top take on the backyard cookout of your wildest imagination. It all goes down at The Fields in the Pearl District, where there’s grass under your feet and the iconic Fremont Bridge providing the backdrop. When the sun dips behind Forest Park, the glow of giant, flaming grills lights the way as 22 world-class chefs serve up the amazing and the unexpected. There’s a noteworthy array of cocktails, fine wines and craft beers to cool it all down, too. It’s every carnivore’s smoky dream sequence—wandering from grill station to grill station in a meat-fueled, blissful state. 

The Grand Tasting Presented by New Seasons Market takes a full block in the heart of downtown Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square, and transforms it into a veritable mosh pit of amazing food, drink and discovery. Jump in and get friendly with more than 80 vendors, including some of the best chefs, vintners, brewers, bakers, cheesemakers and food artisans from the Northwest and across the country. The Grand Tasting is Feast’s largest tasting event, where guests find their favorites side-by-side with those who’ll define tomorrow’s taste trends—from handcrafted chocolates and cheeses to innovation of the liquid variety.

No matter what you believe, there’s always room for a little food worship on Sunday morning. Brunch Village is all about starting a little late and moving a little bit slow—bathrobe and bedhead are fully optional. Expect an eye-opening, international food and beverage dreamland, led by master brunch makers from New York, New Orleans, Austin and, of course, many of Portland’s brunch mainstays. It all takes place within the cozy confines of downtown Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Drink Tank panels shine the spotlight on some of the country’s best winemakers, brewers and distillers. Discuss and taste the hottest trends in the beverage world, including gin, American Single Malt Whiskey, punch, rosé, Beaujolais, and Pilsners with a panel of national experts and moderators like Wine Editor of Bon Appétit Marissa Ross, Executive Editor of Imbibe Paul Clarke, and certified cicerone and beer writer Lucy Burningham.

Learn directly from the masters in dynamic workspaces at Feast Portland’s Hands-On Classes. 2017 classes include Hot Stove Society’s Dumpling Fest: A Hands-On Dumpling Class with Chef Tom Douglas; Drink Like a Pro: Demystifying the Cocktail; Bon Appétit’s “Inside The Test Kitchen”; Ice Cream Social the Lazy, No-Fuss Way with Food52 co-founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs; Cook And Capture: Camera-Ready Cooking At Home with Andrea Slonecker, Colu Henry and Kari Young; The Ultimate Candy Creation Experience Workshop With Jami Curl; Salt Block Grilling: Outdoor Cooking with Slabs of Primordial Salt; Thinking Outside the (Chocolate) Box: Making Confections with Cheese, Beer, and Local Produce; Spiked Tea with Bull in China; Steak & Eggs; and Smith Tea Presents Botany 201: Palate Cross Training.

The Dinner Series events are once-in-a-lifetime meals crafted through the collaboration of the country’s most innovative culinary minds. 2017 Dinner Series events hosted at KitchenCru include: The Bon Appétit Hot Ten Dinner; Union Squared in PDX with Mike Anthony (Gramercy Tavern, NYC), Jean-Paul Burgeois (Blue Smoke, NYC), Cathy Whims (Nostrana, PDX), Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon, PDX), Geovanna Salas (Castagna, PDX); The French Connection with Barbara Lynch (Barbara Lynch Gruppo, Boston), Kristin Murray (Maurice, PDX), Katy Millard (Coquine, PDX); and Quatro Hombres: Adventures in Tex Mex with Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue, Austin) and his fellow Texans Doug Adams (Bullard, PDX), Rodney Muirhead (Podnah's Pit, PDX) and a special guest. In-restaurant Dinner Series events include: The Convivencia Dinner with Mike Solomonov (Zahav, Philadelphia), John Gorham (Toro Bravo, PDX), Sam Smith (Tusk, PDX) and Kasey Mills (MEC, PDX); Game, On with Chris Cosentino (Jackrabbit, PDX), Chris DiMinno (Jackrabbit, PDX), Derek Dammann (Maison Publique, Montréal) and Sam Mason (OddFellows, NYC); For One Night Only with Enrique Olvera (Cosme, NYC), Andy Ricker (Pok Pok, PDX), Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme, NYC) and Jose Chesa (Chesa, PDX); Whiskey Pig Presented by House Spirits Distillerywith Carlo Lamagna (Clyde Common, PDX), Alvin Cailan (Unit 120, LA) and Isa Fabro (Unit 120, LA); Portland Surf and Texas Turf with Gregory Gourdet (Departure, PDX), Matt Christianson (Urban Farmer, PDX), John Tesar (Knife at The Highland Dallas, Dallas), Doug Adams (Bullard Restaurant, PDX) and BJ Smith (Smokehouse Tavern, PDX); Friday Night Lights with Ignacio Mattos (Estela, NY), Naomi Pomeroy (Beast, PDX), Peter Cho (Han Oak, PDX), Justin Woodward (Castagna, PDX); Lamb, Bones and Butter where good friends Gabrielle Hamilton (Prune, NYC) and Jason French (Ned Ludd, PDX) come together to cook a warm-hearted, hearth-driven meal of a lifetime; and Not-So Secret Supper featuring Eva Kosmas Flores and her Secret Supper PDX team, Jessica Fiorillo of Feed Me Dearly, and Ashley Alexander of Gather + Feast bringing your Instagram food dreams to life, creating a stunningly beautiful meal on a farm on nearby Sauvie Island.  

Feast Portland 2017 Lineup
The complete Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland 2017 lineup with event descriptions, list of participants, and ticket information can be found at FeastPortland.com. Tickets for each event are available for purchase individually and prices are all-inclusive of food and drink served at that event. 

 For more information visit www.feastportland.com and follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter (@FeastPDX), and Instagram (@FeastPortland).

Note: Information provided by Feast Portland. My photos are from previous amazing Feast Portland events.

Feasting in Portland: Mark Your Calendars for Feast Portland 2017

We feasted in Portland this September and all for a good cause. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland 2016 welcomed a record 16,286 festival attendees, and raised $70,021 for Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon to help fight childhood hunger in Oregon.

Mark your calendars for Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland 2017, September 14^th-17^th. The 2017 festival line-up and schedule will be announced when tickets go on sale in May.

"We are very pleased with the continued success of the festival, and grateful to the city, our community of participants, the Feast Portland team, and the many small local and regional businesses and contractors who come together year after year to make this festival happen," says Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland co-founders, Mike Thelin and Carrie Welch.

During this year’s festival, which took place September 15-18 2016, 104 chefs from around the world, plus 21 artisans, 23 breweries and cider houses, 62 wineries, and 16 distilleries participated in 42 unique events at beautiful venues throughout Portland.

Festival organizers brought back favorite events Sandwich Invitational, Grand Tasting, Night Market, Smoked!, Brunch Village, Dinner Series, Hands-On Classes and Drink Tank panel series, and also introduced four new Fun-Size Events, a Latin theme for the Night Market, and a new East Portland location for the Sandwich Invitational.

“A big thank you to Feast Portland for highlighting hunger right here at home,” says Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon executive director Annie Kirschner. “This gathering of people to celebrate food – the makers, organizers and guests — helps us make sure everyone, especially children, get enough to eat.”

The money raised by Feast Portland 2016 will benefit Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon’s School Breakfast Program campaign “Let’s Do Breakfast, Oregon!” with a goal of ensuring that more kids are able to start the day with school breakfast, so they have the nourishment they need to learn and focus on being good students and happy kids. Since its inception in 2012, Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland has raised over $300,000 to fight childhood hunger.