Chris and Heather introduce the podcast, and sit down with Don Bourassa, Portland Community Manager for Yelp!, to talk about chefs’ love/hate relationship with the review site. 

#1 Don Bourassa, Yelp! Portland

Portland restaurateur Nick Zukin counters Don’s interview with his personal take on Yelp! and discusses the challenges of owning multiple restaurants in Portland, and mourns the loss of culinary traditions.

#2 Nick Zukin, Mi Mero Mole

Brett Burmeister, managing editor and co-owner of Food Carts Portland, gives a “state of the nation” on the Portland cart scene. 

#3 Brett Burmeister, Food Carts Portland

Mindy Keith, talented pastry chef at Xico restaurant and native Portlander, reflects on watching the food scene come to maturity, and her own sweet, ascending career path. 

#4 Mindy Keith, Xico

We go deep about life's journey with Alma Chocolate's owner and chief chocolate mistress, Sarah Hart. 

#5 Sarah Hart, Alma Chocolate

Scott Dolich’s Portland roots were planted almost 20 years ago after his bent toward local ingredients was seasoned under renowned locavore Bradley Ogden in California. He was drawn to Portland because of its proximity to farms and produce. He started working with guys like Ricardo Segura and Greg Higgins and David Machado in the early ’90s, and still points to them as Portland’s best restaurateurs. He took much of what he learned in the much smaller Portland food world of the ’90s and made a name for himself once the decade turned. He opened Park Kitchen in 2003, which, in retrospect, can be seen as a milestone. Park Kitchen signaled the start of a new, exciting generation of Portland restaurants, garnering accolades from “Restaurant of the Year” to personal James Beard Award nominations. But the restaurant itself isn’t the whole story. It’s the chef that created fertile ground for more to come. 
We talk to Scott about changing the face of the industry by working to abolish tipping in his restaurants. And more.

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

#72 Scott Dolich - Park Kitchen, The Bent Brick

While Rick Gencarelli was living the farm to table movement in Vermont less than 10 years ago, what he read about Portland appealed to him enough to move his family out here, with the dreams of building an exceptional Italian restaurant. While he had the talent to shine in a chef-rich city like Portland, he lacked the funds.  So, as many do, he set out to make delicious sandwiches from the confines of a food cart.  It didn't take long for his sandwiches and attention to his craft elevated Lardo to the top of the PDX food cart world.  Cut to five years later, and that food cart sits on the property where his first brick and mortar, Lardo, served as the springboard for a brand that now has three Portland locations, as well as his Grass brand, set to open its second Portland pasta-concept in 2016.  It hasn't been easy.  In this interview with Rick, he talks about some of the challenges he's faced, including the current fight with Ramzy Hattar over ownership and name rights to his own company.

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis


#73 Rick Gencarelli - Lardo, Grassa

We caught Greg Denton of Ox the morning he was announced as a finalist for Best Chef Northwest for the James Beard Foundation Awards, and weeks before both his new book, "Around the Fire" with his wife and partner Gabrielle.  If that's not all, we talk about their new restaurant, Superbite, to open soon.

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

#75 Greg Denton - Ox

Brett Burmeister of Food Carts Portland gives us his Spring update of carts to try.  Plus, a little time spent @homebarpdx

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

Soundbite - Spring Food Cart Update 2016 with Brett Burmeister

Michael Russell has been The Oregonian/Oregon Live's chief food critic since 2011.  He recently made news by announcing that he will no longer strive to maintain his anonymity as part of being a reviewer. 

In his first interview ever, we delve into the ins and outs of restaurant criticism with Mr. Russell, as well as some specific thoughts about Portland restaurants and its food scene. 

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:
Leanne Bach with M Realty: www.leannebach.com
Chew Dining Club: www.chewdiningclub.com
www.PortlandFoodandDrink.com

Music: "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Arielle Verinis.
Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArielleVerinis

Exclusive Interview: #83 Michael Russell - Critic, Oregonian/OregonLive

Chefs, restaurants, beer, wine, cocktails and gourmet food.  Listen to the tastemakers' interviews and their recommendations on where to go in Portland, Oregon!

#72 Scott Dolich - Park Kitchen, The Bent Brick

Right At The Fork

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