Oven & Shaker fixing up and serving tasty little meatball puccia at the 2012 Portland Taste of the Nation.

This year’s 25th anniversary Portland Taste of the Nation at Jeld-Wen Field was incredible and rather than type up all of the reasons why I’m going to lay it all out in photos for you. If you were there you might see yourself in some of the photos below because I snapped a lot and managed to only drop my camera once. It’s ok. This was the first year Taste was held at Jeld-Wen Field and I think it’s a fantastic venue. You’ll see from the photos. If you weren’t able to make it please consider attending next year. It costs a pretty penny but 100% of proceeds go toward hunger relief in Oregon. Without further ado…

One of the most decadent treats of the night was Gruner's foie gras torchon on toasted brioche topped with riesling pickled rhubarb. One of my favorites of the night and they went fast.

Another favorite only available to VIP ticket holders (spend more on your ticket for several additional tastes and early entry) was Bamboo Sushi's amberjack topped with red jalapeno, cilantro, black flying fish roe and miso vinaigrette.

My friend Craig joined me this year and this is what his tray looked like 10 minutes in. So many tasty treats. And we got to sample a lot of nice wine, beer and spirits as well.

Chop's table was very popular and they had one of the most diverse spreads of any of the partipants. Tried all kinds of delicious salames, proscuittos and pates and had a difficult time leaving that table and moving along...

This was probably about 30 minutes into general admission. Packed but not uncomfortable because of all the natural light and air flow above. Everyone was in great spirits sampling all the food and drink and knowing that all money spent goes to a great cause.

For $25 you could try your luck at restaurant roulette. All sorts of local food and drink gift certificates to be won...

I won these! Anya Spence of Miss Zumstein is a good friend of a friend and looking forward to using both GCs.

Departure was serving up one of my other favorites of the night -- spicy steamed honey chicken bao.

They deserve a close-up -- Departure's spicy chicken bao.

I always look forward to what Andina cooks up for Taste of the Nation. This year they did lomo saltado empanadas and potato, avocado, smoked tomato causitas. Both were delicious as always.

My boyfriend's friend Brewer Dylan Goldsmith of Captured by Porches poured my friend Craig an alt beer right before Mayor Sam Adams gave a speech declaring May 8th officially No Child Hungry Day and at the end thanked Dylan for the tasty IPA he was drinking.

Happy to donate some copies of my book to the silent raffle. My book came with gift certificates to Chop, Nong's Khao Man Gai and Missionary Chocolates. Not too shabby.

Closing shot -- love this one of Irving Street Kitchen's station cooking up potato latkes with gravlax and apple butter. Can't beat cooking in sunglasses...

Stay tuned for next year’s Taste of the Nation!
www.portlandtaste.org

Congratulations lucky number 6 commenter! Email me so we can set aside two tickets for you at will call!

You know who you are lucky #6 commenter! You’ve won yourself two tickets to this year’s Taste of the Nation next Tuesday, May 9th at Jeld-Wen Field. Drop me a line @ info at lizcrain dot com with your full name and contact info. and I’ll pass that along to the organizers who are donating the tickets. Your two general admission tickets will be available the night of the event at will call. (Don’t worry if it takes me a few days to respond — I’m out of town for work and will be back mid-week.)

Thanks everyone for all of your tasty comments! I hope that some of these businesses come to fruition. If you build it they will come!

For those of you who didn’t win tickets there are still tickets available for this year’s 25th anniversary Taste of the Nation. It’s one of the best food events in town and I highly recommend it. In addition to it being delicious and super fun 100% of proceeds go toward ending local child hunger. Gotta feel good about that.

Thanks everyone!

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
6:30-9pm
Jeld-Wen Field
1844 SW Morrison St.
Portland, OR 97205
Tickets $85 and up (order by phone 877.26TASTE, online or at any New Seasons Market)
www.strength.org/portland

Biwa kicked ass at last year's 2011 Portland Taste of the Nation as usual with their braised pork lettuce wraps with pickled veggies.

Share Our Strength’s annual Taste of the Nation on Tuesday, May 8th at Jeld-Wen Field is just two weeks and a day away and it’s the 25th anniversary of this fantastic event. In the interest of shouting it out loud and clear and getting as many people to come out for it and support it as possible I’m giving away a pair of tickets here on my blog.

I love this event because 100% of ticket sales go toward working to end child hunger via Oregon Food Bank, Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Food Recovery Program and Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Read about last year’s Taste of the Nation here.

This year’s TOTN will showcase food and drink from 50 restaurants, 25 wineries and 5 breweries — these folks. The list is growing daily.

So it’s a VERY worthwhile cause that I highly recommend buying tickets for. You can also try your luck for a pair of general admission tickets here on my blog. I’ve got a number in mind and I’ve written it down and taken a photo of it as proof. That numbered person to comment takes the cake. You get me your name and contact info. and there will be a pair of tickets waiting for you at this year’s Taste of the Nation will call the night of May 8th. Please help me to spread the word about this ticket giveaway and Taste of the Nation on Twitter, Facebook etc. I’m foodloverPDX on Twitter.

So what to comment about? Let me know what sort of food/drink business you’d love to see launch in Portland. It could be a food or drink product, a market, a non-profit, coffeeshop, brewery. It could be something that already exists and you’d like to see replicated in another neighborhood or it could be a business you’ve just always wished existed here that you’ve never seen. Leave a comment and let me know — just because I’m curious.

I’ll announce the lucky winner early next week!

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
6:30-9pm
Jeld-Wen Field
1844 SW Morrison St.
Portland, OR 97205
Tickets $85 and up (order by phone 877.26TASTE, online or at any New Seasons Market)
www.strength.org/portland

Congratulations April! You won two tickets to Ecotrust’s 20th Birthday Bash this Saturday night! Email me at info at lizcrain dot com with your first and last name and an email address that Ecotrust can send your tickets to!

And for those of you who have no idea want I’m going on about here are the details about a fantastic birthday benefit with tasty food and drink taking place in Portland this Saturday that you can still purchase tickets for…

ECOTRUST’S 20th BIRTHDAY BENEFIT BASH
FEATURING STORM LARGE
Saturday, September 10th
Doors open at 6pm
All ages
721 NW 9th Ave., Portland
MUSIC, LOCAL FOOD & DRINK

Tickets are $125 per person and are available here.
Price of admission includes light fare by Artemis Foods and two complimentary tickets for local beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Check out the tasty food & drink menu.

Straight from Ecotrust:

Not your traditional fundraising event, we will be joined by the fabulous Storm Large for a full outdoor concert, and share delicious local bites and drinks throughout the evening. A portion of your ticket price will help us continue to create economic opportunity, social equity and environmental well-being in our region for the next 20 years. Your tax-deductible contribution has enormous impact: for every $100 donated to Ecotrust, we create more than $500 in capital for local economies, communities and nature from Alaska to California. Join us, and help businesses, people and nature thrive.

Ecotrust's birthday bash! Ticket giveaway below!

If you don’t know Ecotrust then I’m thinking that you’re new to this blog. I love Ecotrust and really admire all of the incredible work that they do. If you have a second please read what they’re up to with one of my favorite Ecotrust programs — the Food and Farms Program. They’ve also hosted our Portland Fermentation Festival from the get-go and will be hosting this year’s third annual PFF! We couldn’t do it without them.

Ecotrust is turning 20 years old this year and this organization knows how to work hard as well as play hard which is why they’re throwing a huge party and you’re invited! Don’t worry though, just because even though Ecotrust is only turning 20 this year you can still drink while she sips her her Shirley Temple. Here are the details:

ECOTRUST’S 20th BIRTHDAY BENEFIT BASH
FEATURING STORM LARGE
Saturday, September 10th
Doors open at 6pm
All ages
721 NW 9th Ave., Portland
MUSIC, LOCAL FOOD & DRINK

Tickets are $125 per person and are available here.
Price of admission includes light fare by Artemis Foods and two complimentary tickets for local beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Check out the tasty food & drink menu.

Straight from Ecotrust:

Not your traditional fundraising event, we will be joined by the fabulous Storm Large for a full outdoor concert, and share delicious local bites and drinks throughout the evening. A portion of your ticket price will help us continue to create economic opportunity, social equity and environmental well-being in our region for the next 20 years. Your tax-deductible contribution has enormous impact: for every $100 donated to Ecotrust, we create more than $500 in capital for local economies, communities and nature from Alaska to California. Join us, and help businesses, people and nature thrive.

TICKET GIVEAWAY!

And now to something special for all you lovely readers of my blog — I’ve got TWO tickets to give away here to ONE lucky person. I’m doing this contest like I do all contests here. I’m writing down a number in my handy dandy notebook and that numbered commenter takes the cake — well tickets. Keep in mind that if you win you need to email me your name and your guest’s name as well as both of your email addresses so that Ecotrust can email you your comp. tickets.

So here’s what I want to know. I’m keeping it simple so that I don’t stump any chumps. What’s your favorite vegetable this summer and how have you been enjoying eating/cooking it? Comment away! Stay tuned for the middle of the week when I announce the lucky winners!