#278 Alexander Diestra - New Executive Chef at Andina + Chicha

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With a new child on the homefront, Alex Diestra is poised as the new Executive Chef at Portland's iconic Andina Peruvian restaurant, where he's also helped develop their new outdoor/take-out concept, Chicha. His pedigree is strong, after having worked in kitchens at Bruce Carey's Saucebox and Clarklewis, but also growing up with Peruvian food from childhood.  Chris and Alex talk about his moving to Portland from Peru at age 19, how he became a chef as well as his feelings about being at the helm of Andina as it changes with a younger generation running the show, as well as the format changes after Covid.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
Finex: www.FinexUSA.com  
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

#277 Brett Burmeister -- Sells Food Carts Portland Business

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SOLD!!  Food Carts Portland! 

Brett Burmeister made his name in the Portland food scene by writing about food carts in a way no one else had.  For 10 years, he ran Food Carts Portland's website, which includes blogs and social media, becoming the face of the Portland food cart scene.  He consulted with cities and others around the world who wanted to develop a street food scene like Portland's, and curated events as well as running food cart tours.  He recently sold the business, hook, line and sinker, to focus on his bar, HOME.   We talk with Brett about those 10 years in the food cart world, how he got into it and why he sold it, and also about being a bar operator during the pandemic, and what he sees for the Portland food world coming out of it.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
Finex: www.FinexUSA.com  
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

RATF Classic: #170 Nolan Hirte - Proud Mary

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Let' go back to August of 2018, when we first spoke to Nolan Hirte of Proud Mary (as we learn that Proud Mary is expanding into Austin Texas)

A coffee at Proud Mary in NE Portland is not your average coffee stop.  On this episode of Right at the Fork, we talk to Nolan Hirte, the co-founder of Proud Mary in Portland, and Melbourne, Australia. 

Hear what makes coffee to important to Nolan - and maybe most important, the care and service that goes into it.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
Finex: www.FinexUSA.com  
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

#276 Michael Gibbons - Papa Haydn and Jo Bar

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Michael Gibbons and his wife own Papa Haydn and Jo Bar, which have been a staples in the Portland Food world since they met each other as employees at Papa Haydn many cakes and drinks ago. Since then, they've largely stepped away from the day to day operations to leave that responsibility in younger, capable hands, including their son Brendan.

We talk to Michael about his trajectory from a kid in LA slinging burgers to Reed College in the 70s to his building of Papa Haydn's bar program as a stop between semesters, which of course turned into the love of his life with the love of his life for years and years. We also talk about service, Portland as a city now and how it may fare coming out of the pandemic. And the Dodgers.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
Finex: www.FinexUSA.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

#275 Kat LeSueur - Little Lucy Baking

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This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
Finex: www.FinexUSA.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

Kat LeSueur, former chef/owner of Cocotte, has been busy with family life for a few years. During the pandemic, she honed her baking game, and recently began popping up selling her sourdough loaves and other goodies. We catch up with Kat to hear how Little Lucy allows her the flexibility she desires, but has given her the opportunity to flex her kitchen muscles.

Find Kat at @littlelucybread on Instagram.

#274 Jill Taylor - CEO of Burgerville

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This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
Finex: www.FinexUSA.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

We're thrilled to be able to interview Burgerville's CEO, Jill Taylor  Jill was recently named one of the most influential women in the food industry by Nations Restaurant News.  We talk with Jill about pandemic pivoting, infiltration of big national burger chains and how someone goes from being a nurse to CEO of Pacific Northwest Food icon.  We'll also hear about smashburgers and what's around the bend for Burgerville.

#R260 Cory Schreiber - Culinary Specialist at Sysco

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As we hear about the closing of more Portland restaurants, we felt it important to return to a conversation with Chef Cory Schreiber from December 2020, discussing the future of Portland's restaurant industry post-pandemic.

Cory shares his perspective from years of experience beginning with the chef/owner of one of Portland's legendary restaurants, Wildwood, to his present day position at Sysco, consulting with restaurants to help them maximize efficiency and promote excellence. We talk real estate as it pertains to restaurants, packaging, food carts as a model, and more.

Cory shared this invitation with us: I can be reached at schreiber.cory@pdx.sysco.com I am a culinary specialist and I am available for no extra fees to all food service operations for all categories for short and long term consultation. My main focus is on Sysco customers but operators can become customers with no minimum order fees and signing up is easy through our on-line shopping platform, SHOP.

To hear Cory discuss his experiences BEFORE the pandemic, click to Episode #196.

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

#273 Missy Maki - Former Host of the Simple Kitchen

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

Missy Maki, former host of Simple Kitchen radio show in Portland, picked up moved to Missoula, Montana with her family of four in the midst of the 2020 pandemic.  She maintains her ties to Portland through her work as self-proclaimed Sales Director Extraordinaire for the Western Region of Landry's McCormick and Schmick's and Jake's properties. 

Chris and Missy talk about quality of life issues that prompted the move, work/life balance, and what she sees in Portland's food and beverage future.  Oh, and we're sure she'd love us shouting out that she turned 50 on April 12th! 

Recorded April 9, 2021.

#272 Eytan Zias - Steelport

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

No matter how you slice it, our conversation with knife maker Etyan Zias is a must-listen for anyone who uses knives either at home or in a professional kitchen.  We previously interviewed Eytan three years ago (Episode 161) when he told us his backstory of Portland Knife House. 

Now we will hear how he is living and working his dream of crafting and selling uniquely American-made high quality kitchen knives with Steelport, only a week old company as of the recording of this interview.  (April 5, 2021).  Eytan worked nights during the pandemic to craft and hone his knives, while simultaneously overseeing his kids' schooling and running Portland Knife House.  Chris and Eytan talk about what makes a quality knife, who would notice the quality, and what it takes to maintain one.  Also, Eytan shares the story of his full sleeve tattoos, which is not what you would think!  Listen to find out lots more.

#271 Gabe Rosen - Zupans Markets, formerly of Biwa, Noraneko and Giraffe

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

Gabe Rosen joins us on the podcast. Listeners may remember Gabe as the former owner of Portland's iconic Biwa, Noraneko and Giraffe. Gabe landed at Zupans a year ago during the pandemic and is really enjoying working there now, as opposed to the rigors of owning restaurants. That doesn't mean he won't open a new place someday, but we hear Gabe's take on how food will be delivered going forward, operating grocery stores versus a restaurant, and what he misses most.

Disclaimer: Gabe works at Zupans, which sponsors this podcast.

#270 Jen Hilger -- Recess Food Truck / Tillamook

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

Jen Hilger, along with her partner, Brooke, is the co-founder and proprietor of the Recess Food Truck in Tillamook.  We talk about how she landed in Oregon and built her business after working in the corporate world, what it's like owning a food truck in a seasonal community, as well as some of her food and hiking recommendations in and around Tillamook County, with host Chris chiming in on some of his faves, too.  This is a great podcast episode for any food lovers visiting Oregon's North Coast!

Photo Credit: Tillamook Coast

#269 Kate Hill - Kitchen at Camont

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

We celebrate International Women's Month in fine style with a literal international visit to the Gascony Region in France with Kate Hill, who runs a wonderful cooking school known around the world, Kitchen at Camont. We find out how Kate made her way from San Francisco to Amsterdam and then to France, where she fell in love with all things local around the sweet little town of Agen. Chris recalls his visit there a few years ago, where Kate kindly showed Chris and his son around Agen and environs, and hosted a beautiful, simple chicken dinner in her intimate, lovely dining room.

Kate talks about how the pandemic forced her to realize a vision she's had for quite some time, to take her cooking classes and demonstrations online. She now features a Gascon Year Membership whereby passionate cooks of all levels can enjoy an interactive relationship with Kate throughout the year. That can be found at https://kitchen-at-camont.com/ Also, follow Kate at @katedecamont on Instagram.

This is our first international episode and we think you'll love Kate.

#268 BitHouse Collective - Natasha Mesa, Erick Russ and Carlo Lamagna

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

We welcome the three restaurant and bar industry professionals who have come together to form BitHouse Collective, coined an "experience" by our guests during the interview. Natasha Mesa, seasoned bartender and manager, Erick Russ of Pono Brewing and Carlo Lamagna of Magna bring their respective skills and followers to the mix to take over the beautiful, classic BitHouse space in Portland. This interview was conducted on March 1, 2021 just before their official opening.

Our conversation runs from talking about Natasha's experience, to the Detroit connection between Carlo and Erick, as well as what they foresee in the Portland Food world when we emerge from Covid.

#267 Katie McCarron - Portland Pet Food Company

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

Right at the Fork goes dog-friendly friendly this week, and wetalk to Katie McCarron, founder of Portland Pet Food Company.  Katie reached out to our host Chris after she saw him posting about the challenges of feeding his aging beloved dog, Oakley, since she had similar challenges with her dog Rosie.  In fact, Rosie's feeding challenges were the impetus for Katie to start her own human-grade pet food line in 2014.  Portland Pet Food Company has grown from sampling at the Beaverton Farmers Market to being carried in stores nationwide, and now even internationally.   We talk dogs and food, Portland and our dog-friendly coast in this four-legged interview that took place on February 23, 2021.

RATF Presents: The Joy of Drinking Podcast with Joy Church - Ep #10 Katherine Harris & Katy Connors of True Tea

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On the February episode of the Joy of Drinking Podcast, host Joy Church introduces True Tea. Co-founders Katherine Harris and Katy Connors share their mission and entrepreneurial journey while Joy sips three of their delicious teas; Organic Genmaicha, Organic Earl Grey, and Organic Tulsi (sourced right here in Oregon!).

Supporting women-owned tea estates around the globe is priority number one for @truetea.pdx. Listen in to learn more about this new Portland-based beverage business! And, don't forget to shop these outstanding teas at trueteapdx.com.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

#R201 Chris Angelus - The Interview! Plus, Cort & Chris Chat

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

This is a long one, folks!  First, catch up with Chris and Cort a bit, before hearing a classic episode of Right at the Fork, as we all get to know Chris a little better.

This episode updates us a bit from original episode #201.

The tables are turned on Chris for the episode of Right at the Fork - an interview taken from The Portland 50, hosted by Cort, for KINK.FM.

Here we find out what brought Chris to Portland from the East Coast, what it was liking raising two young boys on his own, and what prompted him to start Portland Food Adventures. 

Learn more about Chris' upcoming dinners and trips at www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

#R87 Brian Spangler - Apizza Scholls (w/ Janis Martin)

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It's a classic episode of Right at the Fork!

Brian Spangler's ascension into the psyche of Portland through his acclaimed and loved pizza started with the dough, learning how to bake in northern California while in college.  That led him to buy an Oregon Farm, the Portland Farmers Market, a pub, and then to Hawthorne Blvd.  He shares his story and Chick Fil A sandwiches with us, which for this episode, includes his friend Janis Martin of Tanuki sitting in to join in the conversation. 

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

#266 Mike Aldridge - Mid City Smash Burgers

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

Chef Mike Aldridge has been on quite a career and personal journey over the past couple of years. Mike, a native North Dakotan, has cooked in some of Portland's well-known restaurants, including Urban Farmer, Imperial and Headwaters, among others. He became chef at the coastal restaurant, Salmonberry Saloon in 2017 and garnered lots of press for making hay in a region not known for great dining. After leaving there, he started his own pop-up, Ope, in Portland, with the goal of opening up a place near Mt. Hood, where his heart as a winter enthusiast had always drawn him.

His love of New Orleans drove him to expand his horizons there in early 2019, but when the pandemic hit in 2020, his plans were derailed, as restaurants struggled through yet another calamity in that city. To make ends meet, he started making burgers at home and offering them to friends and neighbors. Before he knew it, he was sold out each time he put his burger party together. Now, we talk to Mike about his adventure back to Portland, and the opening of Mid City Smash Burgers as a food cart. Mike talks about his plans to expand that business and realize his dream of a brick and mortar restaurant on this episode.

@midcitysmashburgers on Instagram

#265 Erika Polmar - Independent Restaurant Coalition

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Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

Erika Polmar, advisor to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, was chosen for the Nation's Restaurant News Power List by IRC co-founder Tom Colicchio for how she mobilizes the group’s members and “reminds us what we are fighting for and what’s at stake.” Much of the Portland restaurant world and now across the US, businesses and people are benefiting from Erika's steadfastness in navigating the governmental agencies that hold sway over relief for our independent restaurants.

Erika joins us on the podcast to discuss what's been done, what's being done, and what consumers can do to help this huge industry that's been hit very hard by Covid-19.

Important links discussed on this episode:

https://indprestaurants.org/

https://www.saverestaurants.com/

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts-mobile_new.htm

Also, a great article Erika sent us about travel and food:

https://www.travelpulse.com/opinions/column/we-shouldnt-forget-that-restaurants-are-part-of-travel-too.html

Find Plate and pitchfork here: https://www.plateandpitchfork.com/p/events/rafting-adventure