Portland Rising
Dean DeCrease on Jul 2nd 2008
There are many things to admire about Portland and its food and farms. Upon my return from a delicious week there, a few impressions linger happily in my thoughts.
1. More than most American cities, Portland is designed for people: The city is walkable and transit works. Restaurants are clustered into neighborhoods. Sidewalks are being widened. People ride bikes.
2. You don’t need a fortune to start a restaurant: Many of the best places are modest, handmade, evolving. The focus is on straightforward, good food and hospitality. Outside of Downtown and the Pearl District, a big fancy restaurant would be like a Clydesdale at a rodeo.
3. Ingredients rule, & farmers are the stars: Agriculture is nestled close-in to the city, farmers markets abound, kids are being taught where their food comes from, and farmers & chefs actually know each other. Several of Portland’s premier chefs commented that chefs are really just “converters” of nature’s bounty, which comes from the farm and the farmer - love that humility and respect for nature.
Our festivore startup visit to Portland was a smashing success, thanks greatly to Portland festivore team members Joanna Miller, Nancy Bardue and Aly Tibbetts, who organized the week. We got input, advice, insights, inspiration and feedback from some key people in Portland’s good food community…
Stan Amy (New Seasons / Pacific Foods)
Suzanne Bozarth (James John)
Eileen Brady (Celilo / Chinook Book / Eco Metro)
Ericka Carlson (Ecotrust)
Katherine Deumling (Slow Food Portland)
Regina Hauser (Oregon Natural Step)
Debra Sohm Lawson (Portland Chefs Collaborative)
Troy MacLarty (Lovely Hula Hands)
Ivy Manning (Portland food writer and cookbook author)
Joanna Miller (Portland food writer and festivore team)
Brooke Myers (Portland food writer)
Vitaly Paley (Paley’s Place)
Cory Schreiber (Oregon Dept. of Agriculture Food Education Manager, formerly of Wildwood)
John Tabaoda (Navarre)
David Yudkin (HOTLIPS Pizza, HOTLIPS Soda and Portland Chefs Collaborative)
…
Memorable bites were enjoyed at Lovely Hula Hands, Carafe, Navarre, Toro Bravo, ten01, Ken’s Artisan Pizza, James John, Country Cat, Por Que No?, Park Kitchen, PokPok Whiskey Soda Lounge and the Portland Farmers Markets.
Check festivore for lots of new Portland content already uploaded and lots more coming…
Dean
Filed in Festivore | No responses yet