• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life As A Strawberry
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Bread Class!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Bread Baking
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Bread Baking
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Life

    Feast Portland 2018 // Part 1

    Published: Oct 25, 2018 · Last Updated: Jan 5, 2023

    This post is sponsored by my friends at Feast Portland.

    A pile of green grapes. this recipe

    It's almost NOVEMBER (which, wait, WHAT, where did 2018 go??) which means I've traded sundresses and cold beers on the patio for sweaters and hot tea on the couch.

    I always have a hard time letting go of summer, but for the last few years, I've been using Feast Portland as my official-unofficial fall kickoff event. There's something about a full week of food + chefs + wine + sunshine + amazing friends that just soothes my soul and puts me in the right headspace to close the books on one season and say "oh haiiiiiiii" to the next one.

    If you've been following le bloggity blog here for awhile, you may already know that Feast is one of my very favorite annual traditions.

    If you're new to my favorite food festival, let me start with the best part (besides the food. because ohhhhhh, the food): Feast Portland raises money to end childhood hunger and fight food waste and insecurity in Oregon.

    This year, the festival benefitted Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Urban Gleaners, and raised more than $40,000 toward ending hunger in Oregon (cue *ALL THE FEELS*)

    I have a whooooooole other post comin' atcha tomorrow (seven straight days of shooting = KIND OF A LOT OF PICTURES WE NEED TO GET THROUGH), but for now, come on down the rabbit hole with me to peep the first half of this year's Feast Portland.

    Hands holding a poster that says 'because if more kids ate school breakfast, they would do better in school and life.'

    TRAVEL OREGON: EXPLORING THE TUALATIN VALLEY

    Alright. I grew up in the Tualatin Valley (#WestCoastBestCoast), and I had been to NONE of the places we went with Travel Oregon during this kickoff trip. Shoutout to The Washington County Visitors Association for planning a trip full of firsts!

    PS - Heading to Oregon? They'll help you plan your trip, too!

    Manhattan cocktail on a wood table next to a window.Breakfast cocktails (for, um, research) at one of many hidden bars at McMenamin's Grand Lodge.

    Pinot noir grapes hanging from a vine in an Oregon vineyard.

    Multiple plates of el salvadorian food on a large table at Gloria's Secret Cafe.If you find yourself in Beaverton, GET THEE TO GLORIA'S SECRET CAFE. I can't believe I made it almost three decades without these pupusas. Also, Gloria was the ACTUAL BEST, and if you're nice, she might tell you the stories behind all the photos on the walls. ALSO also, if you do a little digging, you might also be able to see a snap of yours truly in full obnoxious-food-blogger-mode grabbing the shot above.

    A small dish of fried pickles next to a plate of pupusas.

    Four red trays full of pastries at Oyatsupan restaurant.Another instant favorite: Oyatsupan (also in Beaverton - photo above). Everything was excellent (and we tried EVERYTHING). Also, I'm going to need you to trust me when I tell you to get the Beef Curry Donut. 

    Hands pouring wine from one glass into another glass.

    Grilled salmon with corn succotash on a white plate next to a window.

    (ABOVE) Salmon with succotash in the new private dining room at Ponzi Vineyards. Please, PLEASE book an event here. Because it's stunning and the food was excellent. And then please invite me. I'll bring snacks!

    Black dish filled with fried pickles on a wood table.

    Hands pouring wine into glasses in the middle of a wine room.

    David Hill is another one of my new favorite wineries. Their wines are delicious and they have some of the oldest vines in Oregon.

    Hands passing a plate of sweet potato fries over a table of food.

    Roasted salmon on a white plate next to a wooden board where an oyster is being shucked.

    Dark red grapes on vineyard vines.

    Overhead view of several plates of food on the table at bites restaurant.

    Bites Restaurant in Forest Grove was another favorite stop. The owners are lovely and everything we tried was delicious (and, again...we tried EVERYTHING). Standouts: Korean BBQ wings, Cucumber Salad, Seoul Dumplings, Coconut Risotto.

    Wood fired pizza displayed on large cutting boards.

    Platter of eggs benedict on a wood table.

    Dear Olympia Provisions, I am obsessed with your eggs benedict. Love, Jessie. (PS, if you live near Portland, I'm gonna need you to go get some of this eggs benny liiiiiiiiike, IMMEDIATELY. Please and thank you).

    FEAST PORTLAND: 80s vs 90s

    This year's main events kicked off with 80s vs. 90s, a head-to-head culinary competition where chefs put their spin on classic childhood foods (think pop tarts, chicken nuggets, hot pockets, corn dogs, and more -  but, like, better). The food was delicious, but we all know we were really there for the throwback playlist and the excuse to rock a side pony.

    Fresh hops in front of a cooler of beer.

    Homemade hot pockets next to homemade ding dong pastries.

    Hot sauce being poured out of a squeeze bottle onto a hot pocket.

    Hands chopping cabbage with a large knife next to a blt sandwich.

    Appetizer in a mini waffle cone.

    Fried corn appetizers on small white plates.

    Heirloom tomato slices on a dark sheet pan.

    Chef pulling rice noodles out of a metal container.

    Hands assembling appetizers on a wooden cutting board.

    Hands holding a stack of appetizers on small white plates.

    Mini corn dogs in plastic cups with cheese sauce.

    FEAST PORTLAND GRAND TASTING

    Feast's annual two-day-long Grand Tasting is the perfect bite-sized intro. to the rest of the weekend. Hallmarks: snacks, chef demos, fireside chats, and more wine than you've ever seen in one place. EVER.

    Hand pulling sprigs of thyme out of a plastic container.

    Feast Portland Grand Tasting Tent.

    Fresh hops in a glass jar.

    Crackers topped with goat cheese and fresh herbs.

    Hands shredding parmesan cheese over fresh pasta.

    Crackers topped with cheese and caviar.

    Blue cake stand filled with cupcakes, next to several small bowls of fresh pasta.

    Plastic container full of toasted breadcrumbs.

    Hand shredding cheese over fresh pasta.

    Hand holding a long white plate with several appetizer bites.

    Hands adding ingredients to a black skillet full of gnocchi.

    Hands putting bread crumbs over fresh pasta.

    WASHINGTON STATE WINE LUNCH

    I snuck away from the Grand Tasting for a few hours to join Washington State Wine for a winemaker's lunch at Enoteca Nostrana, a new wine bar extension of one of my favorite restaurants. Their wine list is, umm, COMPREHENSIVE (just look at their enormous + stunningly beautiful wine cellar in the photo below!) and the food was some of my favorite of the whole weekend.

    Floor to ceiling wine storage room with glass doors.

    Raddichio salad on a white plate.

    OOF. Are you hungry yet? Because Iiiiiiiiiiii definitely need a snack. I'll be back tomorrow with the rest of this year's Feast Portland roundup!

    Thanks to my friends at Feast Portland, Travel Oregon, and Tualatin Valley for hosting me at this year's events! 

    More Life

    • Holiday Gift Guides - 2022
    • Feast Portland 2018 // Part 2
    • Feast 2017 Recap // Part 2
    • FEAST 2017 Recap // Part 1

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. Tag your recipes #LifeAsAStrawberry on social media to share your creations! Learn about our team!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessie standing in a kitchen lifting a fork full of pasta.

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. On this website, you'll find well-tested recipes and tutorials to help you make weeknight comfort food you're proud of.

    Learn More →

    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Easy Crusty French Bread (VIDEO)
    • How to Make a Cheese Plate (with step-by-step photos!)
    • 30 Minute Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
    • Butterless Chocolate Chip Cookies with Coconut Oil
    • Easy Creamy Mushroom Sauce
    • Cupcakes 104: How to Store and Freeze Cupcakes (With Video!)

    Easy Winter Recipes

    • Crusty Cranberry Pecan Bread (No Kneading)
    • Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Dried Cranberries and Goat Cheese
    • Instant Pot Short Ribs with Red Wine
    • Mushroom Spinach Lasagna
    • Easy Jalapeño Cheese Bread in a Dutch Oven (no kneading!)
    • Small Batch Crusty Bread

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT US

    • Meet Our Team
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility

    RESOURCES

    • Subscriber Resource Library
    • Meal Planning Resources
    • Sustainability Resources
    • Social Responsibility
    • At The Table Podcast
    • Everyday Artisan Bread Course

    RECIPES

    • Recipe Index
    • Homemade Bread
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Meal Ideas

    JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

    Life As A Strawberry logo
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    1% for the Planet logo

    About - Recipes - Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2012-2023 LIFE AS A STRAWBERRY