A Culinary Celebration: Reliving the Flavors of Feast Portland

Oregonians hold a deep and abiding pride in the incredible array of local food and beverage offerings our state provides. When an opportunity arises to showcase this bounty, we embrace it wholeheartedly, creating a sensory experience that engages every sense. From the tantalizing tastes to the captivating aromas, the textures that delight, the sights that inspire, and the stories that resonate, we share the essence of our roots and the values that underpin the remarkable abundance our state has to offer.

Feast Portland, an annual four-day food and beverage extravaganza held from September 19th to 22nd, 2013, served as the quintessential stage for displaying the very best of Oregon’s culinary landscape. It was a vibrant celebration of artisan foods and beverages, innovative cuisine, groundbreaking industry concepts, and a profound passion for authentic, sustainable food practices. The festival underscored Oregon’s commitment to culinary excellence and its dedication to preserving the integrity of its agricultural heritage.

Indeed, Feast Portland was an overwhelming success. Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing a series of posts dedicated to exploring various facets of this remarkable event, now in its second year:

• Feast Portland Speaker Series: I had the privilege of attending several insightful and thought-provoking discussions, and I am eager to share my reflections on these enriching experiences.
• My Top Picks from the Alaska Airlines Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting: A curated selection of the most memorable and delicious offerings from the Grand Tasting event.
• Widmer Brewing Sandwich Invitational & Tillamook Cheese Comfort Call: A recap of these popular and highly anticipated events, showcasing the creativity and skill of local chefs and producers.
• Basic Pig Butchery Class with Camas Davis: An immersive and educational experience in the art of whole animal butchery.
• Top Ten Tips for Attending Feast Portland: Practical advice and insider insights to help you make the most of your Feast Portland experience.

To begin, here is a recap of some of the behind-the-scenes highlights, along with some delightful details that contributed to making Feast Portland an exceptionally special event.

The Hospitality Suite: A Warm Welcome

With media representatives arriving from across the nation to cover Feast Portland, the festivities commenced with a media check-in at the Westin Hotel’s hospitality suite. Here, we were treated to the first of many delectable spreads, this one featuring fresh fruits and vegetables sourced from Feast partner Elephant’s Delicatessen. This thoughtful offering provided a healthy foundation before we embarked on four days of indulging in richer fare. Local Stumptown Coffee, alongside local beer and wine, further enhanced the welcoming atmosphere.

The media swag bag overflowed with an impressive array of local goods, showcasing the generosity and support of various sponsors and partners:

• National media sponsors: Bon Appetit
• Title sponsor: Travel Oregon
• Presenting sponsor: Whole Foods Market
• Event title sponsors: USA Pears and Widmer Brothers
• Event presenting sponsor: Alaska Airlines
• Platinum sponsors: Portland Monthly and Travel Portland
• Platinum drink sponsor: Union Wine Company
• Gold drink sponsor: San Pellegrino
• Partners: Hot Lips soda, and many more. A comprehensive list of sponsors and partners can be found at FeastPortland.com.

Paley’s Pre-Funk at the Imperial: A Relaxed Start

One of the most rewarding aspects of covering events such as Feast Portland is the opportunity to connect with individuals in the food and beverage industry, as well as fellow media professionals. In the hospitality lounge, I had the pleasure of meeting Naomi Bishop, a writer for Serious Eats and The GastroGnome. Together, we embarked on a journey to Paley’s Pre-Funk event at the Imperial. Naomi quickly learned how locals navigate their way around: simply walking until we find our destination (though perhaps that’s just my preferred method!).

Upon arriving at the Imperial, we were greeted with an enticing selection of appetizers prepared by Chef Ben, an exceptionally delicious IPA from Breakside Brewery (bright and citrusy, but not overwhelmingly fruity – I truly loved this IPA!), and wines from gold drink sponsor Hawks View Cellars.

[Photo above: Chef Ben from Imperial prepared, among other appetizers: fire roasted gazpacho with herbs and brioche croutons; Albacore tuna with padrones and pistachio romesco; and smoked trout salad with horseradish and apple crisp.]

The Hawks View Cellars team, led by co-founder A.J. Kemp, was present to share their wines. My personal favorite was the refreshing 2012 White Pinot Noir.

[Photo above: Hawks View Cellars 2012 White Pinot Noir]

Perhaps it was the early arrival, but this pre-funk event offered a welcome respite before the non-stop excitement that was to follow over the next few days. It was a joy to savor Chef Ben’s culinary creations and connect with new acquaintances in a relaxed setting.

[Photo above, from left to right: me / AJ, co-founder of Hawks View Cellars / Garret Peck, GM of Imperial / Naomi Bishop, writer of Serious Eats & The GastroGnome]

The Media Lounge: A Haven for Content Creators

Given the four-day duration of Feast Portland, its diverse locations, and the constant demand for writers to utilize their devices and post updates, the Feast Portland Media Lounge provided a much-appreciated sanctuary for weary feet and depleted cell phone batteries. We extend our gratitude to Media Lounge sponsor Urbanspoon, as well as Pacific Foods, Kyra’s Bake Shop, Elephant’s Delicatessen, Stumptown Coffee, Oregon Craft Beer, and Archery Summit Wines for ensuring that we media representatives were well-nourished while we recharged and networked with one another.

[Photo above: My fellow bloggers, writers, and reporters hard at work in the Urban Spoon Media Lounge.]

[Photo above: Perfectly shaped, mouthwatering macarons in the Media Lounge.]

[Photo above & below: cupcakes from Kyra’s Bake Shop in the Urban Spoon Media Lounge / photo above: smoothies from Pacific Foods at the Media Lounge/ mint patties from Seely Family Farm at the Speaker Series]

The Media Breakfast: Fueling the Feast

Friday morning saw us returning, bright and early, for a media breakfast at Imperial. Feast Portland’s Co-Founder Carrie Welch, alongside Imperial Chef Vitaly Paley, extended a warm welcome to the group as we indulged in a buffet of baked goods, savory dishes, smoothie shooters (likely the last low-fat item I consumed for the next three days), Irish coffees, and Bloody Marys. This breakfast set the tone for the days ahead: abundant eating, copious drinking, engaging conversations about food, wine, and beer, and diligent story planning.

While the food was undoubtedly a central highlight of Feast Portland, it was the small details that truly elevated the event. Two examples that stood out were the Lincoln Motor Company test drives and the Pacific Foods Pedicabs.

Lincoln Test Drive: A Touch of Luxury

On Friday and Saturday at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Feast Portland attendees had the opportunity to experience test drives courtesy of event presenting sponsor Lincoln Motor Company. Bee Talmadge from The Spicy Bee, Meghan Shamy from Mommy Travels, and I test drove the Lincoln MKZ. The surround sound system, reportedly developed by George Lucas, was a notable feature. While I don’t fully grasp the appeal of such a system in a compact vehicle, it is undoubtedly impressive for those who appreciate premium audio. The car itself was pleasant, although I had never previously considered test-driving a Lincoln. While it is not precisely aligned with my personal car preferences, I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it firsthand, as it possesses a certain sophistication that exceeded my initial expectations. I encourage you to explore Lincoln vehicles for yourself; you may be pleasantly surprised.

[Photo above: Bee Talmadge test driving the Lincoln MKZ]

Pacific Foods Pedi-Cabs: Convenient Transportation

Those who frequented downtown Portland that weekend likely encountered the Pacific Foods pedicabs, transporting Feast Portland attendees to various locations. I considered this a strategic move by both Feast Portland and Pacific Foods, especially considering the intermittent rain showers and the fact that some attendees were navigating the event in heels. The pedicab drivers were exceptionally courteous and helpful, and even though I’ve utilized pedicabs on several occasions, this particular group contributed to enhancing the overall experience.

Stay tuned for more insights and highlights from Feast Portland over the coming weeks. If you have any inquiries regarding this annual event, please feel free to share them in the comments below. I will do my best to address them in future posts or within the comment section. If I do not have the answer readily available, I will endeavor to find it for you!

Does YOUR hometown boast a specialty local food or beverage item that you take particular pride in? I would be delighted to hear about it! Please share your response in the comments below. And if your hometown is located in Oregon, please tell me: what is YOUR favorite local food/beverage item?

FTC Disclosure: Feast Portland provided me with a Blogger Media Pass to attend the Grand Tasting, Speaker Series, Whole Foods Market Butcher Competition/Fishmonger FaceOff, the Basic Pig Butchery class, and media events. Tillamook Cheese sponsored Sandwich Invitational tickets for me and my husband. No specific coverage was requested by either party. As always, the opinions expressed herein are solely my own.

More Feast Portland Articles

• Cooking classes at Feast Portland
• Top Tips for Attending Feast Portland
• Feast Portland Drinking Guide
• Feast Portland 2014