Summer just got real, and not because of the 90+ degree temperatures this week.

Two weeks ago this Monday, summer reared it head and things got serious. All day giddy with anticipation for the Feast Kick off Party, and it did not disappoint. But man, did it put summer into drive. This is the season my life gets crazy with promotional events, that nervous excitement settles in my stomach with the first one and doesn’t go away until the final Feast event ends late September.

Feast is Oregon’s 4-Day celebration of food, beverage, chefs and producers. And, as my employer is a presenting sponsor, it isn’t a one and done, turn turn key activation for us. No. All summer I’ll be planning, calling, following up, checking lists, securing product, props, labor, t-shirts for all the spaces we show up

Holoceen played host to a small collection of Portland taste makers, foodies and chefs offering up sneak peak nibbles hinting to what Feast is all about. My favorite bite was from St. Jack, who I am slowly developing a crush on- side story- when I moved from Seattle to Portland, I was most sad to leave my two favorite restaurants, Le Pichet and Cafe Presse of the genius Jim Drohman. But, it appears that if you were to smash those two together, you have St. Jack. Plus they were so accommodating wit my vegan request the other day, I simply can not help but love them. Their not at all vegan plate reminded me how wonderful granny smith apples are and that I should use them more often to deliver a bit of acid and sweet.

 

As the party moved on I had one too many Cold Fashioned- Stumptown’s Cold Brew + Bourbon. I was dubious about the combo when I first ordered one (caffeine AND booze??), and while very very tasty, my condition the following morning proved testament to my concern. A peek at the photo booth proofs reminded me that you must wait for all your friends to arrive, or the photographer just starts taking photos of you. Regretsy.

Seeing so many of my favorite food people together, Gregory Gourdet, Ben Jacobsen, the Chef’s Table Group, Urban Coop, Stumptown Peeps, Rosemarried, the Little Green Pickle Team, my work colleagues and my favorite, Dana D, reminded me just how lucky I am to be on the fringe of this extraordinary culinary community of chefs, restauranteurs, food producers, wine makers, brewers, cold brewers,  bartenders, mixologists, event planners and promoters who take Oregon’s brilliant bounty and return it to adoring fans and customers better than the sum of its parts.

Let summer begin!