A podcast with the people who make Portland, OR a great place to eat and drink. Listen now on iTune This is “Right at the Fork.”
Think Portland, OR is all VooDoo Doughnuts and "put an egg on it?" One of Portland's most prominent "food sherpas," Chris Angelus, invites the region’s most prominent and up-and-coming tastemakers to pull up a chair and talk about the craft of food & beverage in their own words. From chefs, to restaurateurs, to wineries, distilleries, brewers and food artisans - we have the interviews you want to hear.
It’s been just over a month since Chad Draizin woke up to a notification that his flagship Fifty Licks Ice Cream store had a problem.
Chad joins us in episode 388 to discuss the challenges the damaging fire presents to his business and what needs to happen to think about opening that location again.
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BIG DAY FOR PORTLAND!! Huge bows go to Akkapong Earl Ninsom and his stellar team at Langbaan Portland as the OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT IN THE USA, and also Gregory Gourdet for yet another win, this time BEST CHEF NORTHWEST.
🙏⚡🙏⚡🙏⚡🙏⚡🙏⚡🙏⚡
This is big, and the winners are so deserving. I'm personally honored to know these great people and have enjoyed their talents at numerous places over the years. And also to have had GG, Earl and others on our Right at the Fork Podcast.
Two of the toughest reservations in town just got a little tougher.
Don’t miss Episode 387!
Elias Cairo () is the co-owner and head salumist at in Portland. We talk to Eli about his business ventures, including the restaurants Bar Casa Vale and most recently, Alpenrausch
We also talk about life balance, and how he best keeps so many balls in the air, and what makes him happiest in and out of work.
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$50!! Deal.
Now that is officially coming to the Portland metro, what does it all mean, and why are people so excited?
In episode 385 we talk to Portland radio’s biggest Double Double fan, of .
A fresh episode (never frozen!) of podcast is available now at or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Don’t miss Episode 384!
Sandi Wilkens () is the proprietor of both the Portland restaurant and also the Willamette Valley’s .
We talk about the virtues of both and what helped them to drive through the pandemic to be beacons in their respective worlds today.
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Episode 383 has arrived.
Rob Sample () joins us on the podcast. He’s the Chief Schmoozing Officer , where his wife Lisa () has been well known as the chef and restaurateur since 2002.
Rob has lots of Portland stories to tell. Listen anywhere fine podcasts can be found.
Episode 379 is here!
We head east to enter into a conversation with Lindsay Gott, who is growing a tasty brand of frozen baked goods, Gateaux (), from Hood River, Oregon.
You’ll also benefit by Lindsay's 20 years of food loving in Hood River, as she shares over a dozen of her favorite places to imbibe in the area. See the list below!
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Don’t miss episode 378 with chef Dana Francisco (.food), the recently appointed head chef of both and .
Dana discusses his strengths and weaknesses in the kitchen and at home, as well as his guilty pleasures between the two places.
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Don Bourassa () was Right at the Fork's first guest ever in 2014. Back then, he was the Community Director for . Now, he's moved to Porto, Portugal with his wife and among his many endeavors, he writes on substack: International Adulting. We talk to Don about what's transpired in the ten years since his first visit with us, including the process of deciding to move and the ins and outs of moving to another country. Also, having traveled the world, his thoughts on Portland as a food city. We also get a taste of Portugal, where, among other tasty morsels of info, his wife has created a community of Vegans.
Wrap up 2023 with ’s Year End List of PDX Favorites! Episode #373 is here!
Don’t miss episode 366 with Kathy High from .
Kathy shares the story of her journey into the food world and why she and her professional partner, chef Derek McCarthy, opened Bay City Kitchen on Tillamook Bay.
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Don’t miss episode 367 with , ’s national restaurant editor.
We talk about how Eater covers restaurants, and some of the challenges in the industry now and how operators might tackle them, as well as a discussion about her book: Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes from the Authority on Where to Eat and Why It Matters.
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Episode 365 is here with Sylvan Mishima Brackett.
Sylvan is the owner/chef at in San Francisco. Born in Kyoto and raised in Northern California - Sylvan attended Reed College and worked at some Portland’s best known restaurants in the 90s.
Sylvan has released a new cook book, called Rintaro: Japanese Food from an Izakaya in California - and will be at this Saturday October 14th at 3pm.
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Don’t miss episode 361 with John Denison.
John joins us at a time of big changes in his life. Having just opened his seafood bar, Câche Câche, he's on the cusp of marriage to a woman he met in Paris four years ago while working at Verjus.
We will follow John on his culinary journey from the Portland Meat Collective and St, Jack, where he met Kate Hill and found a way to follow her to her beautiful Camont in Gascony. It was there where French cuisine got into his soul. He moved over to Barcelona and the world-famous Tickets to gain key experience in that kitchen before heading to France for four years. Just as the pandemic started, John and Maddie decided to jump from France to Portland, where they both landed jobs at notable restaurants, St. Jack and Nostrana, respectively.
Now at Câche Câche, John fuses his love of French food with his background growing up in the DC area, delving into the foods of the mid-Atlantic coast.
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
This is where you can donate to help get food to the people of Maui. Our friend Vitaly Paley is helping to coordinate the Big Island effort to bring chefs and suppliers together to make and ship prepared meals to .
Keeping Farmers Farming, Chefs Cooking and Communities Fed Volunteer Donate Mahalo to those who have already reached out to volunteer during this Maui wildfire crisis. As we learned from the pandemic, situations like this are a marathon not a sprint. Our efforts are intended to focus on long-term re...
It’s a fresh episode with Kurt Huffman of ChefStable Group.
Kurt is an integral partner in so many of Portland's successful restaurant ventures, we wanted to talk to him about the state of the restaurant industry in 2023, and what it takes to operate a viable restaurant in seemingly post-pandemic times.
The discussion takes us into a few perspectives, from restaurant owner, to worker, to what diners can expect and what they should know about restaurants as they also navigate this changed world.
Also, some places Kurt is enjoying these days.
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Don’t miss Episode #359 featuring Adam Sawyer.
Adam built a writing career from the depths of heroin addiction writing about what helped him through that, which was communing with nature. Serendipitously, it was in nature where he met the love of his life, Kara, with whom he bought a home off the grid in Washington to base their lives together. While away on a business trip less than two years ago, a fire took away virtually every single thing in his life. His life partner, his home, and his cherished cat, not to mention all his possessions. Adam's grieving journey has been quite difficult, but once again he found himself seeking open spaces to help him through his horrific thoughts and emotions.
Just recently Adam declared himself in an emotional place to start mingling with people, and so he has begun giving talks about the grieving process at libraries and other places. We invited Adam to share some of his realizations and processes with us on the podcast in a fascinating hour-plus talk about what he's been through. As with most all RATF episodes, we hear about some of Adam's favorite spots to eat, too.
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Catch up on the latest episodes!
Episode #358: We take a journey through time with Mark Lopez, who discusses the opening of his taqueria in Portland in 1997 and all that occurred up to today, when currently he runs both Crave Catering and Gather and Feast Farm. We will learn how one of the businesses fed off the other, and how they operate together and also a bit more independently now.
We hear about some perspectives and tools Mark learned during some strife that made a huge impact on his life and businesses. Mark also shares some of his favorite places to eat in Clark County.
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
EPISODE 357: has found a new home at his new restaurant/wine bar with business partner Jeff Vejr, also of Las Caves. We discuss what L'Orange is all about, including the visions both he and Jeff had when opening their wine bar/restaurant in the former Willow space.
Joel has worked at some of the best restaurants in Portland, and the world. Arzak, Alinea, French Laundry to name a few, and of course Holdfast Dining in Portland. We'll hear how Joel targeted working at the French Laundry long before he got a gig there, and now that happened. Joel will also discuss how his prior experiences influences his cooking. We'll also talk travel ideas, especially Spain.
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Catch up on recent episodes, including Episode 356.
We had the pleasure of spending an hour with , now the Director of Compliance at in Portland. Many knew Kat as one of the key people at , and during her tenure at Aviary as part owner and pastry chef.
We will discuss her new responsibilities, as well as the experiences that led her on her journey. Kat and Chris also talk a little about their days in Connecticut. Kat also shares some of her favorite spots to dine in Portland.
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Bruce Porter () joins us for Episode #355 to talk about his journey in the Portland hospitality industry toward his new position heading up
’s new Midtown Beer Garden, a sophisticated good cart pod outside ’s new headquarters.
Bruce managed some of Portland's iconic properties, from Oba to Ringside Hospitality Group prior to establishing his own consulting business. As the pandemic hit, Bruce ran into some very challenging health issues. We discuss how he managed his emotions and optimism throughout the long ordeal.
The Midtown Beer Garden is slated to open in late July, 2024.
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Gary Okazaki is back in episode #354.
gives listeners the benefit of his prolific dining adventures in Portland. His top 5 lists include Weekend Brunch, Pasta, lunch, opening he's looking forward to, and of course his current Top 5 restaurants in Portland. We'll discuss the James Beard Awards, and how his friends manage to win.
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This week’s episode is a chat with Chris Schultz, CEO of Portland's iconic brand . 🍩🍩🍩
Chris joined the company in 2017 to bring his 30+ years experience in the restaurant industry to the company. Prior to taking over the leadership of Voodoo, he helped Mod Pizza expand nationwide and before that, worked at Starbucks during its rapid expansion.
Since coming aboard, he's helped Voodoo expand into new markets and weather a pandemic. We talk about bringing Voodoo and its Portland ethos to new markets, what the criteria is, and how it's been accepted.
Chris drops hints at new locations and also announces a new paintjob for their flagship store. 🩷🩷🩷
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
We asked ChatGPT about our podcast. This came back in five seconds.
"Right at the Fork" is known as a popular podcast that focuses on the vibrant culinary scene of Portland, Oregon. Hosted by Chris Angelus and Cort Johnson, the podcast delves into the local food and beverage industry, featuring in-depth interviews with chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, and other influential figures within the culinary world.
"Right at the Fork" aims to provide listeners with a behind-the-scenes look into the Portland food scene. The hosts engage their guests in candid conversations, discussing their culinary journeys, creative processes, and the unique aspects of their establishments. Listeners can expect to hear insights into the inspirations, challenges, and successes of the featured guests, as well as learn about the city's evolving food culture.
The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including restaurant openings and closures, emerging food trends, sustainability, and local ingredient sourcing. It also touches upon broader discussions about the hospitality industry and the impact of food on the community.
"Right at the Fork" has gained a reputation for its informative and entertaining content, providing a platform for passionate individuals to share their stories and expertise. It has become a valuable resource for food enthusiasts, locals, and visitors alike who are curious about the culinary landscape of Portland, Oregon.
You can't deny positivity that comes from talking to Rodrigo Baena, co-owner and founder of in Southeast Portland.
Rodrigo opened Favela with his wife, Dunya De Souza, in 2019 as a place not just for Brazilian immigrants to gather and celebrate the country's culture, but for everyone and anyone in the community to come together.
Hear about Rodrigo's journey from Brazil, to England, Italy and India and eventually Portland, and what he utlimatly wants Favela to be in the community. Plus, where does Rodrigo like to eat when not at Favela.
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
ICYMI: Episode 348 of the podcast is with Adam Evans, who recently embarked on a writing career with his first book. "Why The Customer is NOT Always Right" takes a different perspective on dealing with bad customers from his experience of more than 20 years in the hospitality industry as an owner and operator in Florida.
He uses his unparalleled access to his group of over 30K quality hospitality employees across Florida to provide staff for all occasions. He's had lots of experience with all sorts of employees and customers.
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
Gary Okazaki, our most prolific and worldly guest, joins the podcast to discuss his recent lists of best cheap dishes in Portland.
You'll definitely hear about some places that will be new to you! As part of this discussion, we talk about the increasingly expensive cost of entry to eat out these days, and yes, you guessed it, TIPPING! The topic has been in the national news lately, and while we don't solve anything, Chris was glad to know he's not alone in his personal frustration with encountering tip lines to get a donut. He's not cheap (full disclosure: he's writing this)--he offers a solution.
Gary also reels off his top 5 pizza spots in PDX. Not really any surprises there, but most importantly, we think, is that the landmarks still hold up after so many new places have opened over the past 7 or 8 years.
Gary is always a fun conversation and can be found at on IG.
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
Episode #346 features Dina Avila (), one of Portland's most prolific photographers in the food industry.
She joins Chris to talk about her craft and her life. We talk about her childhood food influences, how misery in Hawaii caused her to move to Portland and take a job at Whole Foods, and how she forayed into full time work as a photographer.
We'll hear what she's reading these days, how the pandemic caused her to rethink her priorities, and where she may be in a few years.
Listen wherever you find great podcasts, or click the link our bio.
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ICYMI: Everything you want to know about @florwines, @andyfortgang’s latest project. Plus, much, much more. Link in bio.
Anne Hubatch (@ebes) is a wine maker, cider maker, foodie and a mom. Hear her journey into the world of wine making, and what pushed her out on the road this summer,in the latest episode of RATF. Link in bio.
Katherine Benvenuti (@simple_aint_easy) believes in making great tasting food and creating a work environment that her employees will want to return to. Hear about her journey in the PDX food world, and how it brought her to @fillsdonuts 🍩 (and burgers! 🍔). Right at the Fork is supported by @zupansmarkets & @ringsidesteakhouse.
ICYMI: Ep #281 features @kyocooks of Danwei Canting, who talks to @portlandfoodadv from Brooklyn, NY, where he is working on a new project. Right at the Fork is supported by @zupansmarkets.
On the latest episode of RATF, we catch up with @jacksonglidden from @eaterpdx and talk about journalism during the pandemic. Link in bio.
SOLD!! Food Carts Portland! @dieselboi made his name in the Portland food scene by writing about food carts in a way no one else had. Hear the new episode of RATF to find out why Brett sold, and what he’s up to now! Link in bio!
