#289 Andrew Fortgang - Flor, Le Pigeon & Canard

After announcing the scheduled opening of his new retail wine shop, we caught up with Andy Fortgang, known to many as the business brains behind Portland's storied Le Pigeon and sister restaurant/bar Canard, which Andy owns with Chef Gabriel Rucker.

We discuss Andy's new project, Flor, and the genesis behind it, as well as the severe challenges of owning two restaurants through the recent pandemic. Andy tells us what the current operating situation is at both restaurants. This is a must-listen, since Andy will be expanding his horizons from and in addition to two of the most important restaurants in Portland.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

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

#288 Kurt Huffman - ChefStable

We catch up with Kurt Huffman of ChefStable to discuss lots to do with the state of the restaurant business in 2021. Having a stake in dozens of projects and restaurants gives Kurt and great perspective on some of the challenges facing both restaurants and their employees, and diners these days. We talk about his new projects in Lake Oswego and Beaverton and perhaps as far as the Oregon Coast. We touch on the evolution of buying the Tasty brand from John and Renee Gorham. Kurt also shares how boxing has helped him deal with the stresses of owning a host of restaurants.

Also, we hear why if all goes as planned, Kurt will be living in France in 2023.

Lastly, we talk about the loss of much of the foundation of Portland's hallmark restaurants and chefs with the exit of Andy Ricker, John and Renee Gorham, and Jose Chesa from the city.

The link to donate to Chef Chesa's GoFundMe campaign is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-chesas-rebuild-their-home

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

RATF Classic: #281 Kyo Koo - Bokki Seoul NYC

Chef Kyo Koo, whom Portlanders will know from his days at BlueHour and more recently as proprietor of Danwei Canting, joins Chris to talk about working on his new concept in New York City, Bokki Seoul. Coming out of the pandemic, Chris asks Kyo about his thoughts about fast casual, take-out, and whether something closer to fine dining is something we can expect to return like the days of old.

Issues like rent and labor are considered, as well as what may be in store for Portland's food scene coming out of the pandemic (we hope!)

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

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

#287 Jason F. French - Personal Coach for Men

Jason French was once referred to as an "Portland ambassador" by our host Chris Angelus when it came to Portland's food world, but even beyond that: embodying much of the spirit of the city, a dozen years ago to the point before Covid hit. Cut to 2021, and Jason is moving out of the hospitality business and into personal coaching for men, utilizing many of the skillsets and experience he gained as chef/owner of Ned Ludd, which he's now selling.

We talk about his years at Ned Ludd, where Portland is now as a city and how we got here, and also why men can benefit from his introspective coaching.

Email Jason at jason.f.french@gmail.com

Or check him out on Instagram: @jasonffrench

And his wife Carrie: @carriekalscheuer

RATF Presents: The Joy of Drinking Podcast with Joy Church - Ep #11 Carrie & Jody of Greater Goods

The Joy of Drinking Podcast returns, as Joy sits down with Carrie from Greater Goods!

If you've ever tasted their delicious CBD chocolates, you know that everything they create is of superior quality and is absolutely delicious.

Carrie and Jody share with Joy details about a new line of products: 100% vegan CBD gummies.

Right at the Fork podcasts are supported by:

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

#286 Mary Amter - Mary's Culinary Classes for Kids

We venture outside of Oregon this week with Mary Amter, host Chris' former beloved neighbor in Connecticut, who joins us to talk about her cooking classes geared for kids and adults.

Covid brought her classes online, which can be found on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/mccguilford/videos.

Mary talks about her childhood cooking with Mom and Dad, her husband's chef and teaching world, and how she decided, as a busy mother of three teenage kids, to start offering cooking classes on the Connecticut shoreline.

Right at the Fork is supported by: 

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

#285 Lauro Romero - República

Lauro Romero, chef of República  , a new hotspot on the Portland food scene, joins us to discuss his childhood and Mom's influence in his native Mexico on his food sensibilities.  We track his journey from farms in Mexico through Utah to Portland, where Chef Lauro helmed one of Portland's best seafood spots, King Tide.  Chef talks about the things that came together with his partners to form what he believes is a perfect team to offer great food, drinks, coffee and service at República.

Right at the Fork is supported by: 

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

RATF Classic: #217 Kristen Murray - MÅURICE

MÅURICE's Kristen Murray's story begins in Southern California, baking with her great-grandmother and great-aunt. On this episode, hear about Kristen's journey from California, to New York City, to France and eventually Portland (with many more stops in between), and the eventual creation of MÅURICE.

Right at the Fork is supported by: 

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

#284 Mike Thelin - Feast Portland

Mike Thelin joins us again to talk about rethinking Feast Portland, and what's important to the pared down, revised festival this year, and as the organization looks beyond the pandemic to future years. Chris and Mike get into a discussion about restaurants and Portland and quality of life. Mike always gives us a great conversation, and this is no exception.

You can hear about Mike's food, life and business background in episode 122.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

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

#283 Anne Hubatch - Helioterra Wines and Alter Ego Cider - Road Trip!

We asked Anne Hubatch to join us to discuss her family trip around the west this summer with her kids, visiting national parks and monuments along the way.  The first part of the podcast is dedicated to the wonders of long summer road trips, and then in the second segment we talk about Anne's journey to become a self-employed winemaker.  We discuss Helioterra and how she managed to weather the pandemic after 8+ years in the business. Anne also tells us about the women winemaker events at Division Wines.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

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

#282 Katherine Benvenuti - Fills

Katherine Benvenuti, pastry chef and proprietor of Fills , joins us to talk about all the ups and downs she's experienced since opening Bar King six days before the pandemic.  That upheaval has led to her new venture, Fills Donuts, as well as being partner in the new Tasty restaurant.  We discuss donuts, tipping, work/life balance, sweet versus savory, how Lake Oswego compares to Portland, the challenging labor market and how best to navigate that from an operator's perspective, and more.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

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

RATF Classic: #231 Kelsey Glasser - Arden

Looking back to February 2020, before everything changed, with Kelsey Glasser of Arden.

Kelsey Glasser is the owner and sommelier of Arden in Northwest Portland.  She joins the podcast to talk about what took her from the Willamette Valley to pursue acting in New York and L.A... and how wine brought her back to the Pacific Northwest.  Plus, she'll share how Arden brought the two career paths together.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

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

#281 Kyo Koo - Bokki Seoul NYC

Chef Kyo Koo, whom Portlanders will know from his days at BlueHour and more recently as proprietor of Danwei Canting, joins Chris to talk about working on his new concept in New York City, Bokki Seoul. Coming out of the pandemic, Chris asks Kyo about his thoughts about fast casual, take-out, and whether something closer to fine dining is something we can expect to return like the days of old.

Issues like rent and labor are considered, as well as what may be in store for Portland's food scene coming out of the pandemic (we hope!)

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 

#280 Jeff Ridabock - Home Grown Smoker Vegan BBQ

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 

Jeff Ridabock hails from the same town host Chris Angelus, so in this fun episode Chris and Jeff reminisce about growing up in privileged Darien, Connecticut in the 60s and 70s. (You may not want little ears to hear this!) Also, Jeff talks pandemic in the restaurant business, and reaches back to his best memories of Portland when he arrived to the city in 1979.

Also, Jeff talks about how vegan food's acceptance has changed since he started making vegan BBQ over a half dozen years ago.

#279 Brooke Jackson-Glidden - Eaterpdx

It's been a while since Eater Editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden joined us.  This will be our first visit with Brooke since the pandemic.  We talk about her job and having to work it mostly from home over the past year, reporting versus criticism, what the future of the food industry might look like, as well as some of the restaurants and carts Brooke is most excited about as we begin to emerge from under Covid clouds.

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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.