John Taboada of Navarre Restaurant looks over the produce delivered by Laura Masterson of 47th Avenue Farm. Both are featured in the documentary TABLELAND.

TABLELAND is an award-winning documentary that profiles the production and benefits of local and seasonal food. It’s about the people with their hands in the dirt; the farmers, chefs, activists and consumers of small-scale, sustainable food.

Tableland features mouthwatering imagery and a cast of captivating characters, including local Chef John Taboada of Navarre, Jean-Paul Cameron of Cameron Winery, and Laura Masterson of 47th Avenue Farm.

The Portland screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Vancouver filmmaker, Craig Noble. Guests are then invited to a seasonally inspired meal featuring produce from 47th Avenue Farm and wines from Cameron Winery, prepared by John Taboada at Navarre.

Tableland – Portland Screening
Thursday, September 18, 7:00 pm
Laurelhurst Theater, 2735 E. Burnside, Portland
$6.00 at the door

Tableland & Navarre Restaurant Dinner
Thursday, September 18, 9:00 pm
Navarre, 10 NE 28th Street, Portland
By reservation only. Call Navarre at 503-232-3555

Posted by Deborah Kane at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 )

IN THE ORCHARD

This fall, nurseries and farms in and around the city are celebrating seasonal bounty with their own harvest festivals. Oh, don’t worry! Summer is still here; and in the coming weeks, as it lingers on (cross your fingers), we have the chance to taste these delicious times of transition. Visit a nearby orchard and experience the season as it shifts—from luscious peaches to crisp apples, from succulent figs to crunchy Asian pears.

This Saturday, and again in October, One Green World, a nursery stock supplier specializing in unique fruits and ornamentals, will host its annual Harvest Festival and Orchard Tours.

September 13
10am–4:30pm
Featuring Cornelian Cherries, Asian Pears, and Sea Berry Juice

October 11
10am–4:30pm
Featuring Paw Paws, Grapes, Apples, and Hardy Kiwis

28696 S. Cramer Rd., Molalla, Oregon 97038-8576

Posted by Laura Ford at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Come hear where Congressional candidates stand on the issues you care about!

Local Food & Farms Forum
September 10, 6-8:30 pm
Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy, Canby, Oregon

This forum provides an opportunity for you to ask questions of all candidates running for office in Oregon's 5th Congressional District related to food and agriculture.

Topics include:
Barriers to local farm production, processing, and distribution
Public participation in the siting of industrial farms in rural communities
The next Farm Bill
Development pressures felt by farming communities
Farmers' markets
Roadblocks for the next generation of family farmers

A Meet the Candidates Mixer (with candidates for Oregon House and Senate seats in the north Willamette Valley) will be held prior to the forum from 6 to 7pm.

For more information, please contact Christine at 971-533-5470 or christine@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org.

This event is sponsored by Friends of Family Farmers, OSALT, Oregon Tilth and Slow Food Portland.

Posted by Laura Ford at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

The annual Muddy Boot Organic Festival is a city-wide festival celebrating sustainable living in Portland, Oregon. Under the sunny skies of early September, people experience a vibrant and enriching event, with live music, wine, and food. Booths, workshops, speakers and walking tours of local sustainable projects allow you to share in the experience of living naturally.

Muddy Boot 2008: Nurturing Growth from Seed to Soul
Friday, September 5, 7-9 pm
Keynote address by Wes Jackson of The Land Institute
$15

September 6 & 7
Muddy Boot Marketplace, Live Music, Workshops, Kids' Activities
$5, ages 12 and under free

St. Philip Neri Church
2408 SE 16th Avenue (near 18th & Division)
Portland, Oregon

Posted by Laura Ford at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Owner and executive chef Kenny Hill of Trébol to teach this class at In Good Taste Cooking School:

Trébol - Old World Mexican Cuisine
September 15, 6:30 pm
In Good Taste
231 NW 11th Ave, Portland
Register here

Menu for the evening:
Mango Mint Agua Fresca
Prickly Pear Cactus Margarita
Sautéed Mexican Spot Prawns With Chorizo and Tossed In A Chipotle Cascabel Salsa
Late Summer Salad Of Roasted Beets And Wilted Spinach With Candied Walnuts
Slow Braised Pork Cheeks With Brick Red Mole Served With Seasonal Vegetables
Tequila Caramel Flan

At Trébol, Kenny Hill and his team has created a Mexican cantina using locally grown sustainable ingredients and quality tequilas for house-made cocktails. The cantina serves old world Mexican cuisine, combining Hill’s love of Oaxacan fare with his passion for using ingredients close to the source.

After eight year as the sous chef at Higgins, Hill saw firsthand how choosing the right ingredients and building relationships with local farmers makes a difference when preparing food. Now at the helm of his own restaurant, Hill continues embracing the local food movement and changes his menu based on what is available locally.

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

ANNUAL TOMATO FESTIVAL

This Saturday, Farmington Gardens will host a free tasting of over 80 varieties of locally grown, heirloom tomatoes.

August 30, 2008, 11am-3pm
6th Annual Tomato Festival
Farmington Gardens
21815 SW Farmington Road, Beaverton, OR
503-649-4568
www.farmingtongardens.com

While there, watch cooking demonstrations by Chef Dan Brophy, from the Oregon Culinary Institute, as he shares recipes using different types of tomatoes. And, learn more about how to grow the best tomatoes right in your own backyard.

Posted by Laura Ford at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

HELLO HUCKLEBERRY HOUNDS

Huckleberry Hikes
With Mount Hood and Mount Adams so near our fair city, Portlanders are blessed with the chance to amble like a bear and enjoy the taste of Western wildness. That’s right, it’s huckleberry season! Grab an old bucket, pack a sack lunch, and go on a hike through huckleberry country!

24th Annual Mount Hood Huckleberry & Barlow Trail Days
For those who couldn’t possibly get enough huckleberry thrills this summer, take a drive up to Welches for the 24th Annual Huck Fest!

Fresh huckleberries, huckleberry pancakes, milkshakes, and fresh tarts – oh, just the thought makes us growl in joy.

August 22, 23, 24, 2008 | Mt. Hood Village | (503) 622-4798
65000 East U.S. Highway 26 near the Village of Brightwood
Sponsored by the Cascade Geographic Society
Free admission and parking

Huckleberry Recipes
Want to indulge in something too good for words in your own kitchen? Try these crispy fritters from the adorable Huckleberry Cookbook by Alex and Stephanie Hester.

HUCKLEBERRY BEIGNETS

2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup huckleberries
Vegetable oil
1/2 cup powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs until light and fluffy. Add flour, milk, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk well, making a smooth batter. Fold in huckleberries.

Fill a large deep pot or electric deep fryer with vegetable oil, about halfway up. Heat on high to 360 degrees.

Gently drop about 6 heaping tablespoons of batter into the hot oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry and turn until beignets are evenly brown on all sides. Remove from oil and place on paper towel. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Best served warm.

Makes about 20 beignets

Posted by Laura Ford at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )

Ecotrust has canceled the video presentation and discussion, The Hands that Feed Us, originally scheduled for August 20th. Thank you for your interest and we’ll keep you up-to-date on future events. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

Posted by Laura Ford at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 )

Photo by Dan Gonzales

A Slice of Portland Life

Pies can hold so many things: stone fruits, berries, custard; leafy greens, mince meat, ground beef. Whenever you leave the recipe behind, you discover yourself a little more. What suits your tastes? What suits this moment?

This summer, a number of Portlanders responded to a contest asking them to create a pie that tastes like the current state of their lives. All in all, these home cooks created a flavor map for Portland aka Pietopia.

You can read the recipes and rationales for the five winning entries here. Intimate, sincere, diverse: these pies express very different lived experiences, but each feels earnestly real to this strange city where we live — each pie holds a revealing self-portrait.

Do you want to experience what life in Portland tastes like? Do you want to actually eat edible Portland? You can! This Thursday you have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to try samples from each of the five winning entries. Bring your fork!

Eastbank Farmers’ Market
Thursday, August 21 | SE Salmon & 20th | 3:30 – 7:30 pm

Posted by Laura Ford at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

It’s official, with a proclamation from Governor Ted Kulongoski, July is Oregon Craft Beer Month.

Did you know? Oregon hop farms stretch back over 130 years. Oregon's first brewery, Liberty Brewing, opened in 1852. Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world. And the Oregon Brewers Guild has decided to celebrate this rich history of craft brewing with over 100 events across the state.

Where to begin? How about at the official kick-off event at Portland's Horse Brass Pub, which will be featuring 20-25 taps of all Oregon beers including new releases, world premier exclusives, and rare and vintage beers.

Tuesday, July 1, 5 p.m.
Horse Brass Pub
4520 SE Belmont, Portland, OR 97215

Not in your neighborhood? There are 22 other events to choose from on July 1.

Other Oregon Craft Beer Month events to take note of:

July 9, 7pm, Beer and Oregon Cheese Pairings with Steve’s Cheese, Hopworks Urban Brewery
July 24–27, Oregon Brewers Festival, Waterfront Park
July 25–July 26, 12-6pm, Homebrewing Demo by the Oregon Brew Crew, Waterfront Park

Posted by Laura Ford at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

CAR-FREE IN PORTLAND

On June 22, join your fellow citizens to celebrate our incredibly walk-able and bike-able city at Portland Sunday Parkways. This 6-mile, car-free temporary park is being created to give people more open space to be active without worrying about oncoming traffic. Bike, skate, jump, or skip your way through the streets to imagine what a city with fewer cars might be like!

June 22, 2008, 8am–2pm
Route Map here
Highlights - including food vendors - here

- Kathleen Bauer

Posted by Deborah Kane at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Wed., June 18, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
RENEWING AMERICA'S FOOD TRADITIONS
Saving and Savoring the Continent's Most Endangered Foods: An Evening with Gary Paul Nabhan

Powell’s City of Books
1005 W Burnside, Portland
Free to the public

Ethnobotanist, professor, social activist, and author Gary Paul Nabhan will speak about his book Renewing America’s Food Traditions. Nabhan is a national leader in the movement to reconnect citizens with American food heritage. With eloquence and wisdom, Nabhan brings to light both our tremendous agricultural diversity and the role we can each play to keep it alive with every delicious bite.

Wed., June 25, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
ONE SOLUTION TO THE FOOD CRISIS: EAT LOCAL!
An Evening with Michael Shuman

First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th, Portland
$10 in advance; $12 at the door
Sponsored by SBNP; 503-232-2943

Michael Shuman, author of Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age and The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition, will discuss how communities are increasingly feeding themselves and simultaneously reaping huge economic, environmental and social benefits. As a forerunner to Eat Local Week (July 4–11), the night will kick off with seasonal delicacies along with a presentation by Lisa Sedlar of New Seasons Market.

Posted by Laura Ford at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

LENTS INTERNATIONAL FARMERS' MARKET
Sundays, June 15 – October 12
9am – 2pm
SE 92nd and Foster, Portland

10 new vendors join the Lents International Farmers' Market this season, increasing the market total to 19 vendors.

What will you find at the market? All your familiar summer veggies plus produce such as Chinese long beans (here's a great recipe from Epicurious.com), Thai basil (delicious in mojitos and salad rolls), Russian cucumbers (tasty fresh and wonderful pickled) and bitter melon (learn all about this fascinating fruit from the National Bitter Melon Council). You'll also find fresh eggs from chickens raised just blocks away, Armenian and Ukrainian bread and pastries, and tamales.

Read Growing New Roots: Immigrant and Refugee Farmers Dig In to learn more about the market.

Posted by Laura Ford at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Don't miss the opening of Edible Portland's favorite farmers' market, the Portland Farmers Market at Ecotrust (conveniently located in our parking lot at NW 10th & Irving).

For Opening Day this Thursday, Portland freelance writer Ivy Manning will be doing a cooking demo and book signing for her new book, The Farm to Table Cookbook: The Art of Eating Locally.

Organized by season, Ivy Manning offers a spectacular collection of recipes calling for the freshest local ingredients. Recipes are made even more appealing due to the full-color photographs taken by Gregor Torrence.

SAVE THE DATE for these upcoming Berry Festivals at two Portland Farmers Markets:

Thursday, June 19, Eastbank Market, 3:30–7:30 p.m., SE Salmon & 20th
Thursday, June 26, Ecotrust Market, 3:30–7:30 p.m., NW 10th & Irving

What's happening? The markets will dress fresh-baked shortcake with your favorite berries topped off with organic whipped cream. Berry shortcakes will be served to shoppers who make a $5 minimum purchase from any market vendor.

Posted by Deborah Kane at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

All proceeds from this dinner to benefit: Abernethy Elementary School's Garden of Wonders (above).

Celebrate the wonder of school gardens at Vindalho this weekend! Just a few seats remain.

Sunday, June 1, 4–6 p.m.
Vindalho, 2038 SE Clinton St., Portland, OR

$60.00 per person includes gratuity
Four courses served family-style paired with wine
Call Patty Fink for tickets 503-236-3232

The menu includes Samosas filled with Asparagus, Fava and English Peas; Paneer Pakora; Lamb Koftas with Tomato Yogurt Curry; Chicken Tikka, Prawn Saute, or Vegetable Curry. And much more!

Posted by Laura Ford at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Thursday, May 29 at 7p.m.
PSU Multicultural Center in Smith Student Union, Room 228
Portland, OR

Young farmer Tyler Jones from Afton Fields Farm will discuss his experiences as a farm intern with writer and food activist Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm.

Following his internship, Tyler moved back to Corvallis and now owns and manages about 30 acres using Joel's methods of raising pastured poultry (for eggs and meat), grass-fed beef, oak savanna pork, turkey, lamb, and bees for honey.

Tyler will address what is wrong with our current food system based on his experiences as a new generation farmer with old-school sustainable values.

Local food sustainability organizations will be on hand to discuss ways to get involved with food system issues.

Hosted by Portland State University's Food Matters student group

Posted by Laura Ford at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

"Couldn't be more timely! A film made to awaken our taste buds and our courage to create a food system aligned with what the earth needs and what our bodies yearn for. Good Food shows us it's possible. It's happening!"
- Frances Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet and Hope's Edge

Something remarkable is happening in the Pacific Northwest; family farms are making a comeback. These farms, the farmers, ranchers, cultivators, and the food they produce, are the focus of the new documentary, Good Food.

• Brooke and Sam Lucy of Bluebird Grain Farms in the Methow Valley plant, harvest and sell organic grain on land they have recovered from years of disuse.
• The Hatfields, family ranchers in eastern Oregon who founded Country Natural Beef, explain how proper grazing of cattle can actually improve the environment.
• Hilario Alvarez, who came to the U.S. as a farm worker decades ago, shows off the innumerable varieties of colorful peppers that brighten his fields and Seattle farmers markets.
• George and Eiko Vojkovich of Skagit River Ranch raise chickens, pigs and beef for your table, all sustainably and naturally.
• Diane Dempster of Charlie’s Produce, talks about how offering local growers the ability to distribute is an important part of their business and commitment to the area.

Seattle International Film Festival Premiere:
Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.
Egyptian Theatre, 901 E. Pine St.

Saturday, June 7, 4:30 p.m.
SIFF Theatre, 321 Mercer St.

Good Food brings you close to the producers and the people that are helping to sustain and support the cycle of great food getting to our tables.

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday, May 18, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Portland EXPO Center
www.greenerhomesandgardens.com

The 6th Annual Greener Homes and Gardens Expo features a ton of seminars and workshops designed to help us promote sustainability in our home and garden. Edible Portland's favorites include a honey bee seminar and a seed swap hosted by NW RAGE.

Produced by the ReDirect Guide, a benefit for the Habitat for Humanity ReStore
$3 suggested donation

Posted by Laura Ford at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

VegFest 2008 in Portland!

Friday, May 9, 7 p.m.
Howard Lyman
"Destroying the Earth a Bite at a Time"
Author of Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat

Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
VegFest Fair!

All events at: Benson High School, 546 NE 12th Ave., Portland, OR
Cost: $5 each day

In addition to tons of food, chef demos, and an experts table, the VegFest Fair features local and national experts speaking on the following:

Juan Castillo Hererra, a Peruvian Farmer's Perspective on Fair Trade
Mia MacDonald of Brighter Green on eating sustainability (What is meat's carbon footprint?)
Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society on animal welfare in today's food system

Posted by Laura Ford at 5:54 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Portland celebrates its newest market — Parkrose Farmers' Market — this Saturday, May 3rd located in northeast.

Parkrose Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
May–October
Parkrose High School parking lot
NE 122nd and Shaver (near Sandy Blvd)

Opening Day features the 17-piece Jazz Express Band. Check their website for a great list of vendors and entertainment lined up throughout the year.

Posted by Laura Ford at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Grand Opening
Friday, May 2
210 NW 11th Avenue, Portland

Deschutes opens a full brewery and restaurant this Friday in Portland. Located in a beautiful old building in the Pearl, the brewpub has almost a lodge-like feel with its massive reclaimed timber beams and intricate wood carving by Oregon artist J. Chester Armstrong.

The daring and diverse menu includes ingredients from a few of Edible Portland's favorite producers, including goat cheese from Juniper Grove and greens from Siri Farms. The brewpub also features house-baked breads and pretzels and house-cured prosciutto.

I might stop by tomorrow night for the NW mushroom pizza or house-made veggie burger, but I'm staying for the beer. I tasted their fresh-from-the-tap Black Butte Porter the other day, and it was heavenly.

Posted by Laura Ford at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

In Good Taste celebrates its 10th Anniversary this Saturday, April 26. Shopping in the Pearl tomorrow? Stop by In Good Taste between 10am and 5pm for all sorts of activities in celebration of this local cooking school and retail store. At noon is a demo on Indian delights, a primer on salts follows at 1pm, and from 2-4pm, a chocolate tasting with Elizabeth Montes of Sahagun Chocolates. (That's a photo of Sahagun's Single Luscious Caramel above.) Yum!

In Good Taste's Open House
Celebrating their 10th Anniversary
Saturday, April 26
10–5 p.m.
231 NW 11th Ave at the corner of Everett, Portland

Posted by Laura Ford at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Small, independent producers are the heart and soul of Oregon’s world-class wine industry. The Portland Indie Wine Festival is your opportunity to meet the next generation of winemakers emerging from cellars all across the state. This relatively unknown brigade of craft wineries (those who produce less than 2,000 cases each year) represents a diversity of styles and a bent toward sustainable agriculture and production.

What happens at the Wine Festival? At the Grand Tasting on May 3 and 4, you can meet the winemakers and hear their stories first hand, sample great food from top Oregon chefs, and buy wines on site to take home and enjoy with friends.

2008 PORTLAND INDIE WINE FESTIVAL

Grand Tasting
Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4
3–6 p.m. each day
NW 16th Ave. between Flanders & Everett, Portland

New this year! Two seminars including:
Terroir 101: Can you Taste Place in Chocolate, Coffee and Wine?
Saturday, May 3
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Hotel Vintage Plaza, 422 SW Broadway, Portland

Buy tickets
This event will sell out!

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Portland's Urban Growth Boundary has slowed the development of surrounding farmland, but it has not stopped it. What must we do to protect this essential resource?

No Slow Food Without Farmland!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
5:30–7:00 p.m.

Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave, 2nd floor
Portland, OR 97209
$10–$15
rsvp@slowfoodportland.com

This event explores the critical link between the outstanding foods we buy at our local farmers’ markets and the ongoing challenges of land-use planning in the metro area.

Jim Johnson, Land Use Specialist at Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Mary Kyle McCurdy from 1000 Friends of Oregon will lead a discussion of these issues and explore some new and innovative techniques to help us better protect our fertile local farmland. Both Jim and Mary Kyle have been working to protect Oregon’s farmland for decades.

Land-use planning in Oregon has done a good job of slowing development on farmland but none of this valuable land is actually permanently protected.

We are fortunate in the Willamette Valley to have some of the best farmland in the world. If we want to keep eating local what must we do to protect this essential resource?

Presented by Slow Food Portland.

Posted by Laura Ford at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Some gardeners will remember
from their own earliest recollections that no one sees the garden
as vividly, or cares about it as passionately,
as the child who grows up in it.
- Carol Williams, Bringing a Garden to Life

SEEDS OF SCIENCE
Saturday, April 19 – Sunday, April 20
9:30am–5:30pm

OMSI's back courtyard
1945 SE Water, Portland, OR
Free with paid museum admission

Children and Gardens: both require a whole lot of time and love to grow to full glory. Wonderfully, the more they interact, the better both will become.

This weekend, OMSI offers the opportunity for you to learn with your kids about the great, dirty, and rewarding world of gardening and sustainable food at Seeds of Science, a two-day community event.

What will you learn?
• Preserving the pollinator population — Xerces Society
• Creating home herb gardens — Portland Nursery
• Guide to backyard farming — Your Backyard Garden
• Composting — Metro
• Container gardening — Growing Gardens

Also:
• Plastics in the Food Chain: When We Become Our Waste — An art exhibit
• Farmer’s Market — OMSI vendors provide info on local farming

Give your kids a leg up while learning some valuable lessons yourself. And then everything can grow together: you, your kids, your compost bin, and your vegetable patch.

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Presented by the Oregon Food Bank

Ken Meter: The Future of Food in Oregon
7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 24
First Congregational Church
1126 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR

Imagine a food and agricultural economy in Oregon that is strong, thriving and sustainable. Imagine Oregon producing enough food to feed its population.

Ken Meter, farm and food system analyst from Minnesota and president of the Crossroads Resource Center, helps communities and states achieve goals such as these. Meter studies existing food systems and creates reports using hard economic data to demonstrate the importance of developing local, sustainable food systems.

Meter moves people from being passive recipients of the food system to active participants working toward positive change.

The Oregon Food Bank will accept food and cash donations at the door.

Posted by Laura Ford at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )

The Kitchen Conference brings together the smartest minds in marketing to help companies reach new customers, build strong brands and strengthen customer loyalty. Companies encouraged to attend are those that use ingredients with integrity, honor their employees’ contributions, respect customer intelligence, nurture the earth, and contribute to their communities.

The mission? To produce the most effective, thought-provoking marketing conference ever offered to help the natural and organic business sector thrive.

April 23–24, 2008
The Governor Hotel
Portland, OR
Register Now!

Speakers include representatives from Annie's Homegrown, Burts Bee's, YOLO Colorhouse, KEEN Footwear, The Hartman Group and Sokol Blosser Winery. Go here for the full agenda.

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Chicken Fest!
March 28-30, 2008

Livingscape Nursery
3926 N Vancouver, Portland
livingscapenursery.com

Find a schedule of workshops and films online. Chicken Fest! is a benefit for Growing Gardens.

Posted by Deborah Kane at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Talk with author Gene Baur
President and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary

7 p.m., Thursday, March 27
Clinton Theater
2522 SE Clinton, Portland
FREE

Factory-farmed meat has been front and center in the news, mostly thanks to the recent undercover investigation at the California slaughter plant that revealed rampant animal cruelty. The fact that the plant was a major supplier to America's school lunch program made us all sit back, take notice, and ask questions: What are downer cows? What is supposed to be done with them? Where were the USDA inspectors who are tasked with keeping such cruelty from happening?

It is a great time, then, to pick up a copy of Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food. Author Gene Baur knows firsthand what happens in stockyards, slaughterhouses and factory farms. Baur, a vegan, does not proselytize in this book. "Rather, he makes a strong case that meat eaters have an ethical responsibility to ensure that the animals they eat have not been abused." (Publishers Weekly)

Baur encourages us to support local farms and to avoid factory-farmed meat, milk and eggs when possible. We're lucky to be living in Portland, where it's relatively easy to do so.

Posted by Laura Ford at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

MARCH 15 - OREGON CHEESE FESTIVAL

Left: Siletz River Drum by Rivers Edge Chevre; Right: Hillis Peak by Pholia Farms

Oregon Cheese Festival
Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rogue Creamery, 311 North Front St, Central Point, OR
$5 entry fee includes tastings and demonstrations
Contact: Rogue Creamery, 541-665-1155 x163

Thousands of visitors will attend this festival, gathered under a giant tent to sample cow, sheep and goat cheese from Oregon creameries.

"The farmers' market format will present an interactive experience between makers and visitors, giving everyone an opportunity to talk about the product, the process and learn each individual cheesemaker's story," says David Gremmels, owner with Cary Bryant of Rogue Creamery. "It's a way to truly be connected with the source of the cheese being presented."

MARCH 19 - D.I.Y. CHEESEMAKER ROUNDTABLE

Foster & Dobbs Authentic Foods
Wednesday, March 19, 7:15 p.m.
2518 NE 15th Ave., Portland, OR
Free
Contact: Foster & Dobbs, 503-284-1157

Foster & Dobbs found that a sizeable group of D.I.Y. cheesemakers are in the Portland area. Why not meet each other? In January, a group of 18 home cheesemakers - of all different experience levels - showed up to Foster & Dobbs to exchange ideas, experiences and resources. The group is meeting again and is open to newcomers.

Come with your questions and ideas, and bring some of your homemade cheese to share!

VIDEO: SHEEP CHEESE BY ANCIENT HERITAGE DAIRY

So, how do the professionals do it? This video by Cooking Up A Story explains the ways Ancient Heritage Dairy in Scio, Oregon.

Sheep cheese tastes distinctive, characteristically strong, and very different from cow or goat cheese. On this family sheep farm, the making of cheese reflects a slower pace of life along with a direct connection to the land.

Posted by Laura Ford at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Tonight's event at Powell's on Hawthorne has been canceled! The author is stuck on the east coast due to weather.

You can find more information about local farms using the community supported agriculture model through the Portland Area CSA Coalition.

Posted by Laura Ford at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE: THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR FOOD LOVERS AND FARMERS ALIKE

Talk and book signing with Elizabeth Henderson
Monday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.
Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne, Portland

To an increasing number of families, the CSA (community-supported agriculture) is the answer to the globalization of our food supply.

The premise is simple: create a partnership between local farmers and nearby consumers. In exchange for paying in advance—at the beginning of the growing season, when the farm needs financing—CSA members receive the freshest, healthiest produce throughout the season and keep money, jobs, and farms in their own community.

In Sharing the Harvest, authors Elizabeth Henderson and Robyn Van En lay out the basic tenets of the CSA, provide useful information for both farmers and consumers on starting and running a successful community farm project, and describe hundreds of useful strategies that have worked (or not worked) for CSAs from Alaska to Florida.

Shari Sirkin of Dancing Roots Farm CSA will also be on hand to answer questions and get you signed up for the upcoming season.

Posted by Laura Ford at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

More Michael Pollan-inspired 2-word, 3-word, 2-word stanzas follow. Allow Michael Pollan's words, Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants, to inspire you, and post your own poem below.

Eat slowly
Savor the time
With friends

Worm bin
Daily food scraps
Happy worms

Buy local
Support small farms
Except coffee

Molecular cuisine
Not for me
Tried it!

Like bears
We should eat
More berries

So much
Food available today
Exercise prescribed

Small bites
Prepared with care
Enjoyed completely

Detasseling corn
Mile long rows
First job

Continue reading " Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants. (II) " »

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

An audience of 600 people gathered at the Bagdad Theater in Portland on February 12th, in anticipation of Michael Pollan who was there to talk about his new book, In Defense of Food.

As we waited, Deborah Kane, Vice President of Ecotrust Food & Farms and publisher of Edible Portland, asked the crowd to help her prepare her introductory remarks for Michael's talk.

She wanted us to duplicate the exercise Michael had preformed so successfully in creating what has become the book's mantra:

Eat Food.
Not Too Much.
Mostly Plants.

In the spirit of this 2-word, 3-word, 2-word stanza, this is how the audience responded:

Grow corn
Just for food
Not cars

Go home
Rip up lawn
Plant kale

Sweet beet
Dye my mouth
Winter red

Earl Butz
Liked his corn
In cups

Feed lots
Make our beef
Torture raised

Picking fruit
Low hanging plum
You're mine

To eat
What I grow
Is heaven

Hot dog
Are you real?
I'll pass

Walk there
Know your farmer
Eat fresh

Continue reading " Thank you for your Michael Pollan-inspired haiku that are not at all true haiku (I) " »

Posted by Deborah Kane at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 )

SEXY COOKIE GIVEAWAY
All Hotlips Pizza restaurants
The first 3,000 people in the door will receive a free cookie on Valentine's Day! Sugar cookie lips are made with sustainably grown Shepherd’s Grain wheat from Eastern Washington.

LOVE ME TANDOOR!
Vindalho's Valentine's Day Specials:
Dungeness Crab Soup with Ginger and Warm Spices
Six Sinku Oysters on the Half Shell with Chile-Lime Mignonette
Pan-Seared Diver Scallops with Mango-Coconut Curry and Spicy Cabbage Salad
Tandoor Roasted Lamb Sirloin with Black Pepper Jus, Masala Mashed Potatoes and Grated Carrot-Cashew Relish

Vindalho
2038 SE Clinton St., Portland, OR
503-467-4550

JON'S VALENTINE'S DAY PRIX FIXE DINNER
Opposable Thumb Gallery and Cafe
A special performance featuring local, seasonal and aphrodisiacal foods from chef Jon Grumbles. Guaranteed to get you in the mood!

Price: $25 per person (Three courses plus appetizers and wine)
Reservations required
3312 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR
503-235-0146

Posted by Laura Ford at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Photos by Pat Dixon

"They draw their inspiration from salmon and slime lines, empty nets and empty wallets, rolling decks and weary limbs. They write about lures, loves and even lives lost in pursuit of a fickle bounty. The Fisher Poets Gathering celebrates the men and women who find the raw beauty in this fishing life and share their joys and frustrations in verse."
- From The Daily Astorian, February 24, 2005

The eleventh annual Fisher Poets Gathering, where there will be 70 presenters from all over the west and east coasts, takes place in Astoria, February 22-24. Find the schedule online at clatsopcollege.com/fisherpoets and scroll to the bottom on the page to download audio from last year's event.

This event is not to be missed. But if you can't be there, Jen Winston's 2005 documentary Fisher Poets captures the moment almost as well.

Posted by Laura Ford at 6:17 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

WHO IS FOOD ALLIANCE? Food Alliance is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways, and educating consumers and others in the food system about the benefits of sustainable agriculture.

WHY GO TO THE ANNUAL DINNER? Join Food Alliance for their 10th Anniversary Dinner to celebrate a decade of work promoting sustainable agriculture and bringing more socially and environmentally responsible food to consumers.

Plus, the Food Alliance Annual Dinner is the social event of the year for anyone working with food - whether you're growing, processing, distributing, educating, policy-making, cooking, or eating - in the Portland area.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
University of Portland, Chiles Center
5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland

6 p.m. Drinks & Appetizers
7 p.m. Dinner
Tickets: $100

Purchase tickets and learn more at www.foodalliance.org/annualdinner

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

It wouldn't be winter on the coast without the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival. Since 1977 the Seafood & Wine Festival has attracted visitors from around the world to the central Oregon coast.

Friday, February 22, 2 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 23, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, February 24, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

South Beach Marina Parking Lot
2320 OSU Drive, just south of downtown Newport
newportchamber.org/swf/

Posted by Laura Ford at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Michael Pollan's photo by Alia Malley

Please join Edible Portland for an evening with Michael Pollan, presented by Powell's Books:

Tuesday, February 12 at 7 p.m.
Bagdad Theater
3702 SE Hawthorne, Portland

From the author of the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma comes In Defense of Food, a bracing and eloquent manifesto that shows readers how they might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich their lives and enlarge their sense of what it means to be healthy. Pollan proposes a new (and very old) answer to the question of what we should eat that comes down to seven simple but liberating words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

"[T]his powerfully argued, thoroughly researched and elegant manifesto cuts straight to the chase," hails Publishers Weekly.

Tickets: $21.95 (Includes admission and a copy of the book)
Available at: Bagdad Theater and Crystal Ballroom box offices, Ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster outlets

Posted by Laura Ford at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Photo courtesy of Oregon Truffle Festival

Beginning January 25, Eugene will host truffle harvesters, chefs, growers, gastronomic aficionados, and truffle hunting dogs at the annual Oregon Truffle Festival. A celebration of the native truffle at its peak of ripeness, the festival recognizes Oregon truffles as one of the world's great delicacies and a national treasure.

There will be plenty to do this weekend in Eugene, as the festival attracts top chefs, vintners and artisan producers from all over the region. Take a closer look at who will be at the Truffle Marketplace on Sunday, January 27.

Contact: 503.296.5929, info@oregontrufflefestival.com

Posted by Laura Ford at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

A four course dinner, each course paired perfectly with a local wine, will be held at Vino Paradiso to benefit p:ear, the organization that builds relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to create more meaningful and healthier lives.

Each course will incorporate a variety of Oregon pears, their significance presented by a local pear farmer.

Sunday, January 27, 2008
6 - 8:30 p.m.
Vino Paradiso Wine Bar & Bistro
417 NW 10th Ave, Portland

Cost? $100 per person
Reservations? Call 503-295-9536

Posted by Laura Ford at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )

Did you know that February 2008 is Portland's first ever Chocolate Month - as proclaimed by Mayor Tom Potter. And this weekend, the World Forestry Center is celebrating chocolate and the cacao tree!

Be prepared to eat lots of chocolate, offered by many of Portland's artisan chocolatiers. There will also be demonstrations on making chocolate and presentations on the history of chocolate.

February 2 & 3, 2008
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
World Forestry Center
Washington Park
Portland, OR

www.worldforestycenter.org

Proceeds benefit the World Forestry Center's Discovery Museum and education programs.

Posted by Laura Ford at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

A BENEFIT FOR BLACK SHEEP CREAMERY

The owners of Black Sheep Creamery, Brad and Meg Gregory, suffered extensive damage to their farmhouse, barn and property due to the storm that hit the Pacific Northwest in December 2007. The Gregory's also lost most of their flock of more than 80 sheep.

In response, Portland area cheese enthusiasts are sponsoring the benefit event, Cheese for a Good Cause. For a suggested donation of $25-50, attendees will enjoy local beer and wine and cheeses from local and international producers.

The cheeses produced by Black Sheep Creamery, located in Adna, Washington, are handmade from the milk of Rideau-Arcott and East Friesian sheep. The award-winning cheeses are available locally at Steve’s Cheese, Foster & Dobbs, Curds & Whey, Market of Choice, and various farmers' markets.

Black Sheep Creamery Benefit
Friday, February 1, 2008
6-9 p.m.

Ecotrust Building
721 NW 9th Ave, 2nd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

All funds raised will go directly to the Black Sheep Creamery Benefit Fund at Bank of America.
Purchase tickets now.

Posted by Laura Ford at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

JAN 5 - 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Social
JAN 19 - 5-9 p.m. - Cocktail Chemistry & Appetizer Alchemy reception
JAN 19 - Molecular Dinner & Auction - SOLD OUT

Sometimes it doesn't matter whether you're in a fine dining restaurant or a fish shack, how the lights blink down on you, or who sits at your side. When the food hits your tongue, you lose your rational self. Jarred by something eerily familiar or astonishingly strange, you are suddenly overcome by your senses - you taste and feel and smell instead of think. And after the rush subsides, you remember that life is erratic and full of surprises. For me, in those rare moments, I feel a little more excited to be alive.

This intense sensory experience is one aim of molecular gastronomy, what I once heard someone call "the science of deliciousness." Molecular gastronomy, or "scientific cooking," utilizes techniques, tools, and materials rarely found in the kitchen to create food that challenges our expectations and introduces us to new sensations. Despite its name, scientific cooking does not take creativity and personality out of the kitchen; it does the inverse, offering those with bravado and curiosity the opportunity to challenge culinary norms.

Most famously, scientific chefs wield esoteric contraptions (like the "anti-griddle," which freezes things on contact!) or hazardous chemicals (like liquid nitrogen, which also freezes things on contact!) to create Willy Wonka-like masterpieces. Once these foods reach our tongues, they melt or tingle, wiggle or pop. Always, the results shine light on the endless possibilities of food to please and frustrate us and to stimulate our minds and our memories.

This year, OMSI will challenge our notion of its annual fundraising gala as well. Instead of a predictable auction, with dinner and a wine bar as necessary accessories, the food and chefs will be the entertainment themselves.

Science in the Kitchen: an Evening with the Nation's Top Culinary Alchemists will take place on Saturday January 19th, 2008. First-class chefs from New York and Chicago, along with Portland's creme de la creme, will create an evening of sense-astonishing cocktails, appetizers, and entrees.

Continue reading " JAN 19, 2008 OMSI Gala: Alter Your Senses with Molecular Gastronomy " »

Posted by Laura Ford at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

It's time for Portland's annual Holiday Ale Festival at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Although held outdoors, you won't be freezing you're fingers off: You'll be warm and dry under a large, clear-ceilinged tent with several gas heaters.

You'll also be happy that for free admission and the purchase of a $5 beer mug, you get to sip over 36 winter ales, including:

Wreck the Halls from Full Sail (Hood River)
Jubelale from Deschutes (Bend)
Santa's Private Reserve from Rogue (Newport)
Tannen Bomb from Golden Valley (McMinnville)
Blitzen from Rock Bottom (Portland)
O'Holy Hops from Max's (Tigard)
Sled Halucinator from Collaborator (Portland)
Brewdolph from Lompoc (Portland)
Kringle Krack from Calapooia (Albany)
Brown Shugga from Lagunitas (Petaluma, CA)
St. Nick's Sock Knocker from Karlsson (Sandy)

Thursday, November 29 - Sunday, December 2
11am-10pm Thursday-Saturday
11am-6pm Sunday

Posted by Laura Ford at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Blossoming Lotus creates all-vegan food from scratch daily for their Pearl District cafe and catering business. All dishes are sourced locally and use organic products whenever possible. If you'd rather spend your Thanksgiving day catching up with friends, playing games with your family, or taking a walk outdoors, think about ordering an entire Thanksgiving meal from Blossoming Lotus.

Orders must be received by November 19. Email their catering manager, or order the whole meal, for 2 to 12 guests, online.

The Menu:
Savory House Made Seitan and Vegetable Cassoulet
Autumn Squash Gratin
Escarole and Arugula Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables
Dried Cranberry and Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette
Onion Rye Rolls
Persimmon Cranberry Bundt Cake
Holiday Nut Nog Soft Serve
Stellar Cabernet (optional)

Prices range from $40, dinner for 2, to $270, dinner for 12.

Posted by Laura Ford at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

King Corn has sold out at movie theaters across the country. It opens in Portland tonight at Hollywood Theatre, showing at 7:15 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Buying advance tickets is highly recommended.

Curt Ellis will also be at Hollywood Theatre Friday and Saturday nights to answer your questions.

Read Curt's story in the Summer issue of Edible Portland: All Ears: An Oregonian harvests wisdom in Iowa.

Posted by Laura Ford at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Opposable Thumb's panini sandwich and gelato. Photo courtesy of www.portlandpicks.com.

Cozy cafe, gallery showcasing local artists, Ristretto Roasters coffee, Stella Gelato (from Eugene), Kettleman bagels, and every dish chock full of local ingredients, locally processed meats, wild and line-caught salmon. Welcome to Opposable Thumb Gallery + Café - where I dined just last week.

Chef Jon Grumbles (one-time chef of Candle Cafe in NYC, widely considered one of the best vegetarian restaurants ever) works on his focaccia pizzas, panini sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts in a tiny back kitchen.

I was very excited to hear that Chef Jon will be preparing a special vegetarian meal (vegan upon request) for 25 diners at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 8th. This $25 3-course meal (plus complimentary glass of wine - Hello! Best deal of the year.) will feature local, seasonal ingredients and could become a once monthly event.

Reserve your seat now by emailing Mary Nichols.

Opposable Thumb Gallery + Café
3312 SE Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214
503.235.0146

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 9am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 9am-11pm

Posted by Laura Ford at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Reminder! Ann Vileisis, author of Kitchen Literacy, will be speaking at the Ecotrust Conference Center at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5. This event is free.

I'm very excited to see what Ann has in store for us. Her presentation includes a slide show of historic images showing the profound changes in how Americans have cooked and thought about food over time. She promises to make people think differently about what we know about what we eat.

Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave, 2nd Floor, Portland

Questions? Call: 503-467-0806. Or email.

Posted by Laura Ford at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

Have you seen the clip for the film-in-progress "Ingredients"? It's just over half-way through production - eventually it will be aired on OPB. The documentary, filmed in Portland and featuring local food leaders, explores the local, seasonal food movement and why it continues to rise (with Portland at its head).

Illustrating the crucial relationship between chef and grower, featured local food leaders include: chefs Greg Higgins and Pascal Sauton, winemaker Josh Bergstrom, and farmer Laura Masterson.

Posted by Laura Ford at 6:40 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )

Ask children where food comes from, and they’ll probably answer: “the supermarket.” Ask most adults, and their replies may not be much different. Where our foods are raised and what happens to them between farm and supermarket shelf have become mysteries. How did we become so disconnected from the sources of our breads, beef, cheeses, cereal, apples, and countless other foods that nourish us every day?

Ann Vileisis will present an inspiring slide show at Ecotrust on November 5th, telling the story of just how the urban/suburban consumer got into the habit of not paying attention to our food. All this and much more is explored in depth in her new book, Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back. Ann will also be signing copies of her book.

Why should we be interested in knowing our foods once again? And how do we find ways to gain that knowledge? Find out on November 5th.

Kitchen Literacy by Ann Vileisis
Monday, November 5th, 2007
5:30-6:30 pm

Ecotrust Conference Center
721 NW Ninth Ave, 2nd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

No reservations needed. This is a free event.
Contact: Laura Ford, lford@ecotrust.org, 503-467-0806

Posted by Laura Ford at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )

In our summer issue, Curt Ellis wrote about his experience growing one acre of (genetically-modified, pesticide-laden, subsidized) corn in Iowa (All Ears: An Oregonian harvests wisdom in Iowa). Curt reminisced that by the Fourth of July, "the field of yellow dent was up to our chins. Tassels were forming on the tops of the plants, and one perfect ear w