The Portland Indie Wine Festival made an appearance in the April 2009 issue of Horizon Air Magazine!  This year’s festival includes a Producers Dinner at Ten 01 that should excite those interested in mingling with small Oregon wine producers, while enjoying great food and tasting hard-to-find Oregon Indie wines.

To learn more about the festival, the Producers Dinner and some of the restaurants involved check out the Horizon Air article below and visit www.indiewinefestival.com.

Many might consider a sandwich to be simple food, something akin to a one-pot meal. But, in my opinion elemental dishes like that can be more satisfying than a complicated plate of cerebral food pairings. And in the hands of meat-loving Tommy Habetz the lowly sandwich is elevated to a sloppy, abundant meal full of flavor and calories – a masterpiece for the tastebuds, not the brain.

Sausage Po' Boy

I stopped by Habetz’s Bunk Sandwiches a few days ago, and I have to admit… it was my first time. That’s because Bunk is on the EAST side, which is basically a four letter lunch word for those of us who work downtown. But I vow right now, “Thou shalt never let the river keep me from a Sausage Po’ Boy ever again. Never.”

I’ll follow that with another vow, “During my next visit to Bunk, thou shalt order the Meatball Hero.” You’d be making the same vow if you were sitting at the bar and witnessed these melted mozzarella monsters pulled from the oven. I promise.

View from the sandwich bar

When we started with the Oregon Brewers Guild two years ago, one of our main priorities was to raise awareness about the amazing culinary possibilities of beer and food pairings.  The Guild even went so far as to work with 6 renowned Oregon chefs to create a press release highlighting their favorite recipes and beer recommendations.  We’re glad to see national magazines picking up on this delicious trend!

Check out the April issue of Sunset Magazine, which includes a feature story on food and beer pairings with mentions of Oregon’s own Higgin’s Restaurant and Pelican Pub and Brewery, and start planning your own spring food and beer menu.

Tea maker Steve Smith started Portland’s first natural food store in 1971.  He is the ultimate thirsty serial entrepreneur.  A man who is fueled by creating rather than sitting on his laurels.  His next venture was Stash tea, and then he started that little tea brand, Tazo (with the help of an elite group of branding folks including Steve Sandstrom).  Now, it’s on to the next tea venture and we’re honored to chosen as the PR partner.

Our work building the business and creating positive images for other Oregon pioneers — Dick Erath, Cory Schreiber, Nancy Hamren from Nancy’s Yogurt, Gary Fish from Deschutes, Cathy Whims, always stands out to us as particularly exciting.  The invitation to partner with an innovator who’s got such deep roots here but whose vision goes so far beyond the local market allows us to tell a national story and continue to shine a light on the value system and creativity that is bubbling in Oregon.

Stay posted for more information and the official launch.  We’ll preview the tea line at the Fancy Food Show in NYC in June and start peppering media with information and story ideas as the project and brand become further defined.

Start boiling the water, it’s tea time.

Hotel Monaco Portland was included in the “Stay List” in the April issue of National Geographic Traveler.  Hotel Monaco Portland was the only hotel listed in Portland and was one of two hotels listed in the state of Oregon.

“To find these hotels, Traveler tapped into the collected experiences of veteran journalists, inveterate road warriors, and local experts. They based their nominations on key criteria. Is the hotel engaged with the local community? Does it subscribe to sustainable practices that respect the region? Does it truly capture the spirit of its setting? Further research and detailed questionnaires winnowed hundreds of submissions down to this sweet list of 129 hotels.”  —Charles Kulander, National Geographic Traveler

To check out the rest of the list click here.

We are pleasantly surprised when this guy walks through our door!  His name is Ryan Kennedy.  He is a friend of Lisa’s and a student at the Western Culinary Institute, and we’re super happy that we’re first stop after every pastry class.  Thanks Cake Boy!

Last month he brought us chocolate filled croissants, and this week he has popped into our office twice. On Tuesday, he brought us carrot cake and chocolate cake.  Today, he surprised us with Tiramisu, cherry cheesecake and lemon and olive oil cake.

Oh wait, he also brought in smoked lamb chorizo sausage! (See below)

Thank you Ryan for bringing us your creations.  All of them have been fabulous and we know you’re on the road to great culinary success.

Check out Nancy’s Kefir in this story from CBS on 2009 Health Food Trends!

Last Friday marked the 10th anniversary of my move to Portland.  Thanks to all the folks who helped make the occasion so memorable and who generously helped us raise $ 1,000 to send to the World Wildlife Fund.

The LADies in all their festive gear!

The menu was crazy good thanks to our friends at Country Cat, Culinary Artistry, Deschutes, Black Cap, House Spirits, Nostrana, Tabla, Boedecker Cellars, Grochau Cellars, Penner-Ash, Alma Chocolates, and Cory Schreiber.  Extra credit to Holland Studios who shot the event and to our amazing entertainment — The Shanghai Woolies.

thanks Cory and Julie! Can't wait for your new book.

SAVE THE DATE!
May 1-2, 2009

The Portland Indie Wine Festival was listed in the “Future File” in the March/April issue of Northwest Palate.

Click here to learn more about the 2009 Portland Indie Wine Festival!