Have I told you all how much I love to travel to different places for food events?!
Photo credit: Aubrie LeGault
When I travel I love to explore each location’s culinary offerings – I think it’s one of the best ways to experience the place you’re visiting!
A couple of years ago my husband Scott and I drove up the Oregon Coast, finishing our trip in Portland where we ate some of the best food we’ve ever had. We checked out the famous Voodoo Donuts along with a couple wonderful local restaurants but my favourite food experience when we were there was attending the ‘Sandwich Invitational’ at the food festival, Feast Portland.
Photo credit: Brooke Bass
Now you’re probably thinking, Sandwich Invitational, what on earth!? Picture this – almost 20 chefs setup at different stations in an outdoor venue, putting their spin on the classic sandwich and you get to sample ALL OF THEM along with craft beer, cocktails and wine, then you get to vote on your favourite! You literally get to eat all the things and enjoy an array of creative sandwiches.
Photo credit: Brooke Bass
What I love is a lot of the chefs are from Portland so you get to discover all that Portland has to offer along with which restaurants each chef is from, adding it to an ever-growing list of places to check-out afterwards! My personal favourite from the event was an ice-cream sandwich which had cinnamon-sugar toasted brioche bread, layered with raspberry jam and peanut butter ice cream, then topped with crunchy peanut butter nuggets and whipped cream – it is still to this day one of my favourite bites of food!
I have so many fun memories from the Sandwich Invitational, like this photo Scott and I took in their kitchen-themed photobooth.
And since we only got a taste of the festival in 2014, we are going back this year and going back big! We are going to start our Feast Portland weekend off with this year’s Sandwich Invitational and follow that with a couple of other events including:
Night Market
Photo credit: Michael Kraus Delicious Contents
A Latin-themed outdoor event, ‘lit by festive stringed lights’ and with food from over 20 chefs – ‘it’s a taste of Latin America, Spain and more.’
Bon Appétit’s ‘Inside the Test Kitchen’ Hands-On Class
Photo credit: Brooke Bass
‘Bon Appétit’s food editors offer guests a glimpse into the recipe process (lots of cooking—and tasting!) as they explore some of the dishes developed for their October 2017 Issue.’
Smoked!
Photo credit: Aubrie LeGault
This is ‘Feast’s over-the-top take on the backyard cookout of your wildest imagination…It’s every carnivore’s smoky dream sequence—but you’ll be fully awake, wandering from grill station to grill station in a meat-fueled blissful state.’
Brunch Village
Photo credit: Processed with Snapseed
There’s always room for brunch. ‘An eye-opening international food and beverage dreamland, led by master brunch makers from New York, New Orleans, Austin and, of course, many of Portland’s brunch mainstays.’
Scott and I cannot wait for our trip to Portland AND all of the events we’ll be attending! Follow along on our trip, starting in Seattle and making our way along the coast and inland to Portland on my Instagram stories and Facebook page.
Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess
I’m lucky enough to live in Portland, the hubbers and I love every minute of it. We were at the coast yesterday, trying to escape the intense heat. We are relatively new to town which means we’re discovering new places to eat/drink every week! What I love about posts like yours because it introduces me to events I’ve never heard of! I can’t wait to keep this event on my radar! Fun post, glad you had fun in town!
Thanks Christina for stopping by the blog!! We’re really excited to come back to lovely Portland and visit the coast too! If you have any restaurant or ‘things to do’ recommendations would love to hear them! Hope you’re able to enjoy Feast Portland at some point too 🙂
Portland is such a cool city — I visited a few springs ago and completely fell in love! The eats are delicious, the city itself is beautiful and the people are so friendly. I’d love to go back and experience Feast! Great recap. 🙂
I agree Justine! Thanks for the post love! I’m so looking forward to our trip and walking around Portland, plus alll of the food at Feast Portland!
I’ve heard this is an incredible event. I’d love to go some day.
It is incredible Ayngelina! Definitely add it to your ‘must see & do’ list!
This is the stuff dreams are made of! lol I completely agree about travel and food. It’s the best way to discover new cultures I think. Food brings people together. I’m jealous. I haven’t been to Portland yet, but it’s one of the rare places in the U.S. that is on my list to visit! I hope you guys have a blast!
Thanks Gabby! And yes, it IS the stuff food dreams are made of! I really love Portland and can’t wait to check out more of it this time since we’ll be there longer this time. When you go, make a trip out to the Oregon Coast too – its also amazing!
Sandwich invitational???! LOL…I love it! I think I would’ve been won over by every ice cream sandwich entry 😉
I agree Riz! Ice cream sandwiches are ALWAYS a win! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Just like you, I love learning about other cities or cultures through their food. Portland is a great foodie city and this looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing.
I agree, Portland is such a great foodie city! And this event is indeed a blast – such a great way to learn about Portland restaurants & chefs, plus eat amazing food!