Foodies Favorite Finds: Chef David Ezelle of RingSide Fish House

Monday, September 07, 2015

GolocalPDX Lifestyle Team

David Ezelle is Executive Chef of RingSide Fish House, the contemporary seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon’s thriving downtown Cultural District with a commitment to local Oregon ingredients.

David Ezelle is the Executive Chef of RingSide Fish House, the contemporary seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon’s thriving downtown Cultural District with a commitment to local Oregon ingredients. Letting nature write the menu, RingSide Fish House’s extensive and wide-ranging seafood menu features Pacific Northwest year-round favorites like oysters, Dungeness crab, King Salmon, Wild Alaska Halibut and Day Boat Sea Scallops alongside seasonal specialties, earning OpenTable’s Diner’s Choice Award for best seafood.

RingSide Fish House, overlooking Director Park in the heart of Downtown Portland’s Cultural District, has a modern, sophisticated interior adorned with historical photographs and celebrity-signed menus from the last 70 years of exemplary service at the three RingSide properties.

Born in Orange County, CA, Chef Ezelle relocated to the Northwest in the 2004 after spending more than a decade working in Northern California with highly recognizable restaurant groups and respected chefs.

David made his way to college in Missouri, eventually taking part time work in restaurants as a way to generate income to pay for school. It wasn’t until his mid-twenties that David changed gears and made a path to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY graduating in 1995.

Upon graduation from CIA, David joined Real Restaurant hired by co-founders Bill Upson, Bill Higgins and Cindy Pawlcyn. Chef David found mentorship from Doug “Bix” Biederbeck and Gordon Drysdale partners of several Bay Area iconic restaurants as Chef David worked his way up the kitchen ranks at Real Restaurant Group. Chef Ezelle has a respect for fellow Bay Area noted chef/restaurateur Thomas Keller which has helped shape his balanced approach in the kitchen.

Chef Ezelle made his way to Portland in 2004 to move closer to his family. It wasn’t long before he found his way back at the helm of the kitchen, this time with Paragon, a part of the Moana Restaurant Group. Chef David took a hiatus from Paragon when Moana management sent him into their seafood restaurant, Bay 13 as Executive Chef to steady that kitchen before eventually returning to Paragon.

Chef David describes his cooking as one with an honest, straight-forward approach allowing the ingredients to shine in each dish he creates. He values that the Northwest is a region that typically has chefs showing an ingredient driven approachability.

When not in the kitchen at the Fish House Chef David resides in Portland finding time for his favorite non-cooking hobbies; golf, scuba diving and fly fishing. He can also be found dining at Le Vieux, his “foodies favorite find.”

"One of my favorite casual restaurants is Le Vieux in Northwest Portland. It is located on Northwest 23rd place. This place has rustic old world cuisine prepared with an honest approach based on traditional cooking techniques. The owners Annette Yang and Brian Leitner are veteran restaurateurs from San Francisco. They are super hospitable and passionate about their craft. Its a great place to get dishes like Grilled Hanger Steak, Pate Maison, Braised Rabbit, and a version of the classic Cassoulet with duck breast. The menu changes often and is based on seasonal ingredients. Nice wine list and good cocktails make this spot an affordable gem in northwest Portland,” said Chef David Ezelle.

Related Slideshow: The 10 Legendary Food Challenges in Portland (Big Eaters Club)

Looking to challenge your appetite? Here are some possible food challenges that may spark your interest.

Prev Next

Casa del Sol

Food: Burrito

Price: $22

Challenge: It's all free if you eat 2 pounds of carne asada, 10 ten inch tortillas, and a side of beans and rice. If you eat this all in 30 minutes you can also get a $15 gift card or a Casa del Sol t-shirt.

Casa del Sol, 14324 S.E. Division St. and other locations. [link to website], 97236, 503-762-1033

Photo Credit: jeffreyw via Compfight cc (image cropped)

Prev Next

Mad Greek Deli

Food: Sandwich

Price: $30

Challenge: 8 pound massive Mad Greek Sandwich, 1 lb. of Greek fries, and a 32-ounce drink must all be consumed within one hour. If you accomplish that goal (and you must) you will receive all the money in the pot which is at $640 right now. If you fail, at least you have a new pot in your belly to take home.

Mad Greek Deli, 1740 E. Burnside St. [link to website], 97214, 503-645-1650

Photo Credit: Antonio Fajardo i López (Own work) Live look

Prev Next

Voodoo Doughnuts

Food: Doughnut

Price: $4.25

Challenge: Eat a gigantic glazed doughnut in 80 seconds. Guess what you get if you eat the Texas doughnut... You guessed it! A button thats says, "You Win!"

Voodoo Doughnuts, 22 SW 3rd Ave. [link to website], 97204, 503-241-4704

Photo Credit: travel oriented via Compfight cc (image cropped)

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Sayler’s Old Country Kitc

Food: 72 ounce steak

Price: $65

Challenge: One 72-ounce medium rare top sirloin steak must be consumed with all the trimmings: 2 pieces each of celery, carrots, olives, dill pickles, one regular salad, ten french fries or one baked potato and one slice of bread. To top it off you also must eat a dish of ice cream and drink a regular sized beverage. If you chew this all down in one hour you will get the dish free of charge and the honor of being “that guy/girl.”
Winners so far: 8 women and 571 men. Losers? 39 women and 1,285 unlucky dudes.

Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen, 10519 SE Stark St. [link to website], 97216, 503-252-4171

Photo Credit: Petr K (Own work) Live link

Prev Next

Skyline Burgers

Food: Burger

Price: $25

Challenge: It’s all about the 4 1/2 lb. Quadzilla Burger. Scarf that sucker down with a coke and a pound of fries in less than 30 minutes and you don’t have to pay for it.

Skyline Burgers, 2200 NE Broadway St. [link to website], 97232, 503-808-1553

Photo Credit: stu_spivack via Compfight cc (image cropped)

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The Original

Food: Poutine

Price: $25

Challenge: Consume 5 lbs. of poutine—cheese curds, potatoes and gravy—within 30 minutes and you not only get your meal free but you also get a free t-shirt. As of right now this competition is discontinued, but in a couple of months you may be able to take on the challenge.

The Original Dinerant, 300 SW 6th Ave. [link to website], 97204, 503-546-2666

Photo Credit: yurilong via Compfight cc (image cropped)

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Stepping Stone Cafe

Food: Pancakes

Price: $8.50

Challenge: Complete three “Mancake” pancakes and you will end up on this Northwest breakfast joints “wall of shame.”

Stepping Stone Cafe, 2390 NW Quimby St. [link to website], 97210, 503-222-1132

Photo Credit: jeffreyw via Compfight cc (image cropped)

Prev Next

Salvador Molly’s

Food: Habanero Cheese Fritters

Price: $7.95

Challenge: Complete five habanero cheese fritters with sauce and you will end up with your name on the wall with 40 other people (the wall comes down every year).

Salvador Molly’s, 1523 SW Sunset Blvd. [link to website], 97239, 503-293-1790

Photo Credit: dfilippini via Compfight cc (image cropped)

Prev Next

Hungry Tiger

Food: Vegan Corn Dogs

Price: $1 on Wednesdays

Challenge: If you eat more than the last guy or gal, you get $1 PBR for 90 days as long as your record holds.

Hungry Tiger, 207 SE 12th Ave. [link to website], 97214, 503- 238-4321

Photo Credit: stu_spivack via Compfight cc (image cropped)

Prev Next

Fire On The Mountain

Food: Hot Wings

Price: $13

Challenge: 15 El Jefe wings in three minutes. One sauce. One drink. One napkin. If you swallow all that down you end up with an organic t-shirt that says “I Survived The El Jefe”… XXX

Fire On The Mountain, 1708 E. Burnside St. and other locations. [link to website], 97215, 503-230-9464

Photo Credit: goodiesfirst via Compfight cc (image cropped)