#83 Michael Russell - Critic, Oregonian/OregonLive

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Michael Russell has been The Oregonian/Oregon Live's chief food critic since 2011.  He recently made news by announcing that he will no longer strive to maintain his anonymity as part of being a reviewer. 

In his first interview ever, we delve into the ins and outs of restaurant criticism with Mr. Russell, as well as some specific thoughts about Portland restaurants and its food scene. 

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:
Leanne Bach with M Realty: www.leannebach.com
Chew Dining Club: www.chewdiningclub.com
www.PortlandFoodandDrink.com

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

Soundbite - Portland Farmers Market New Vendor Picks

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Hear about some of the newest, favorite vendors of Portland Farmers Market Director Trudy Toliver. We also talk about the new Portland Farmers Market cookbook by Ellen Jackson.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:
Chew Dining Club: www.chewdiningclub.com
Leanne Bach with M Realty: www.leannebach.com
www.PortlandFoodandDrink.com

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

Soundbite - Jose Chesa's Barcelona Faves

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Ataula Chef Jose Chesa went to culinary school in Barcelona at 15, and then worked his way through some great restaurants before leaving for Paris and the United States. Now he accompanies Portlanders on culinary adventures in Spain with our host Chris Angelus. Jose shares some of his favorite Barcelona dining suggestions in this podcast. 

Some of Chris' and Jose's suggested spots include:
Bar Canete
Bar Central
Taperia Lolita
Bravo
Louis 1856
Can Jubany
Disfrutar
El Celler de Can Roca
Pinoxto

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:
www.CrowdCow.com
Leanne Bach with M Realty: www.leannebach.com
Chew Dining Club: www.chewdiningclub.com
www.PortlandFoodandDrink.com

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

#82 Han Ly Hwang - Kim Jong Grillin

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Han Ly Hwang owns Kim Jong Grillin food carts and some nationwide notoriety after two appearances on The Food Network's Chopped. The first of which he made on the heels of his only food cart having been destroyed by fire. That wasn't the first time Han overcame adversity to pull himself out of the trenches.  Hear how he navigated a rough childhood to become one of Portland, Oregon's beloved chefs.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:
Leanne Bach with M Realty: www.leannebach.com
Chew Dining Club: www.chewdiningclub.com
PortlandFoodandDrink.com

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

#81 Trudy Toliver - Portland Farmers Market

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Trudy Toliver runs one of the most renowned farmers markets in the country, Portland Farmers Market. It encompasses seven different markets in Portland, and is an integral part of Portland's food scene. Trudy joins Right at the Fork to talk about what the market means to Portland's community and shares some stories from decades of this wonderful market.

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

#80 Nate Snell - Pip's Original Donuts & Chai

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Nate Snell attacks life with passion. He knows Portland, music (especially in PDX), instruments, musical and timekeeping, donuts and chai, We talk to half of the Pip's Original Team about how to approach a business starting from the seed of caring, giving and love, and watching it blossom.

#73 Rick Gencarelli - Lardo & Grassa

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While Rick Gencarelli was living the farm to table movement in Vermont less than 10 years ago, what he read about Portland appealed to him enough to move his family out here, with the dreams of building an exceptional Italian restaurant. While he had the talent to shine in a chef-rich city like Portland, he lacked the funds.  So, as many do, he set out to make delicious sandwiches from the confines of a food cart.  It didn't take long for his sandwiches and attention to his craft elevated Lardo to the top of the PDX food cart world.  Cut to five years later, and that food cart sits on the property where his first brick and mortar, Lardo, served as the springboard for a brand that now has three Portland locations, as well as his Grass brand, set to open its second Portland pasta-concept in 2016.  It hasn't been easy.  In this interview with Rick, he talks about some of the challenges he's faced, including the current fight with Ramzy Hattar over ownership and name rights to his own company.

 

#72 Scott Dolich - Park Kitchen & The Bent Brick

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Scott Dolich’s Portland roots were planted almost 20 years ago after his bent toward local ingredients was seasoned under renowned locavore Bradley Ogden in California. He was drawn to Portland because of its proximity to farms and produce. He started working with guys like Ricardo Segura and Greg Higgins and David Machado in the early ’90s, and still points to them as Portland’s best restaurateurs. He took much of what he learned in the much smaller Portland food world of the ’90s and made a name for himself once the decade turned. He opened Park Kitchen in 2003, which, in retrospect, can be seen as a milestone. Park Kitchen signaled the start of a new, exciting generation of Portland restaurants, garnering accolades from “Restaurant of the Year” to personal James Beard Award nominations. But the restaurant itself isn’t the whole story. It’s the chef that created fertile ground for more to come. 

We talk to Scott about changing the face of the industry by working to abolish tipping in his restaurants. And more.

# 71 John Gorham - Toro Bravo, Tasty, MEC, Pollo Bravo and more

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John Gorham carries a big stick in the Portland food world.  His restaurants are known and held in high esteem not only in Portland, but all over the US.  One of the major reasons he keeps expanding is that it's the best way to make sure he takes care of the talent at his restaurants and gives them room to grow in their careers and in the organization.  The results can be seen in the lines outside his restaurants: Toro Bravo, Tasty N Sons, Tasty N Alder, Mediterranean Exploration Company and Plaza del Toro.  We talked to John about his growing restaurant empire just as he and his powerful staff embarks on opening Pollo Bravo and Shalom Y'all.

Also mentioned in this episode:  

http://apizzascholls.com/ http://www.clydecommon.com/  http://woodsmantavern.com/  http://bamboosushi.com/  http://www.pizzajerkpdx.com/  http://www.grainandgristle.com/