Inside Three Key Events at the Feast Festival

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Jack Rushall, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Feast.

Portland’s craving for the Feast Festival is about to become fulfilled: the 2015 Feast Festival finally arrives from Thursday, September 17th through Sunday, September 20th. The festival pulls together some of Oregon’s finest artisan breweries, chefs, distillers, tastemakers, and wineries in order to raise money for Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon (PFHO) and No Kid Hungry, two organizations dedicated to helping kids who lack food-related resources.

“Feast Portland is all about celebrating what makes the culinary scene in Oregon awesome, but we also have a mission: we benefit two organizations that work extremely hard every year to make sure that kids and families are not going hungry and that they have access to breakfasts before school and after school meals – the food that they need,” says Feast Co-Founder Carrie Welch.

Welch adds, “Though it [Oregon] is a state so bountiful, it’s one of the top five hungriest states in the country.”

Due to its mission and also its content, Feast attracted 12,000 culinary and drink enthusiasts to Portland last year. This year, the festival could entertain a larger turnout as it is holding over 30+ events. Overall, Feast includes a collaboration of 15 chefs, 15 wineries, 1 brewery/cider house, 1 distillery, and 13 participating sponsors.

PFHO has been able to appropriate 700,000 meals to at-risk children in Oregon. Indeed, your taste buds are aiding local kids who might be suffering from hunger or malnourishment.

But where does this leave a potential novice to the festival? What should you see, and what should you keep in mind before you see it? With tickets mostly sold out for many of the events, there are still three key functions that are possible to experience even this late in the game.

Sandwich Invitational

The Sandwich Invitational is happening on Thursday night (September 17th) at 6 PM at Director's Park in order to kick off this year’s Feast. Naturally, this sandwich exposition is the perfect starting point for a newbie to this year’s Feast or the Feast festival in general.

“It’s the most laid-back event,” said Carrie Welch. “If you are a Feast novice, this is a good place to get the lay of the land and the feel of the event. It’s almost like relaxing with 1200 of some of your closest friends.”

One main suggestion for this event: bring a friend. “Split the sandwich! If you eat the whole sandwich, you are only going to make it through two,” encouraged Welch.

The Sandwich Invitational also has a couple of unique features that distinguish it from the other Feast events. The Sandwich Invitational is the only event at Feast that has chefs compete. Participants will be given a token when they walk into the event and will be able to cast a vote for who they think delivered the best sandwich.

Another important feature of the Sandwich Invitational: it’s the only event where participants can try the four Widmer collaboration beers that they brewed especially for Feast. Here, anything is possible: patrons could try a beer with Pok Pok's Andy Ricker or experience the Widmer collaboration beer with Stumptown.

Buy a $95 ticket here.

Grand Tasting

Another event with tickets still available is the Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting, which is held on Friday, September 18th from 1 to 5 PM at Pioneer Courthouse Square and on Saturday, September 19th from 12 to 5 PM, also at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

The Grand Tasting is the premiere Feast event where patrons can sample some of Oregon’s best bounty: berry pies, artisan cheeses, hand-crafted chocolates, a showing of the who’s who of 30-plus top Oregon wineries, and more than a dozen breweries (cider included).

“It’s another great event for a beginner,” said Carrie Welch. “You name artisans you enjoy from around town and they will be here.”

When it comes to the Grand Tasting, there a few things potential novices to the festival should certainly keep in mind.

“The wine is out of control because wineries bring their reserve wine. You are not getting wine out of a bag. Usually, the winemakers themselves are pouring the wine for you,” said Carrie Welch.

Brand new additions to this year’s Grand Tasting include a culinary stage. “We have done presentations in the past, but this will be full of surprises. Keep an eye out on this stage for panel discussions to juicing competitions to even dance parties,” reported Welch.

Buy a $60 ticket here.

Old MacDonald Had a Brewery

One of Feast’s “drink panels” is Old MacDonald Had a Brewery, which takes place from 2 to 3 PM at the Portland Art Museum at Evans H. Roberts Sculpture Hall on Saturday, September 19th.

“Drink tanks are more like 60 people rather than 1000,” according to Carrie Welch. “They’re more intimate.”

Old MacDonald Had a Brewery celebrates European-style farm ales. This event is where you go to see all that farm-raised brews have to offer. Additionally, the event is also the cheapest option with tickets still available.

Buy a $35 ticket here.

Related Slideshow: Party Report: Feast Portland 2015 Launch Party At Clyde Common

Hosted by Clyde Common and The Cleaners at Ace Hotel, the "Feast Portland 2015 Launch Party" foisted incredibly delicious drinks by Jeffrey Morgenthaler (slushies and gin fountains, anyone?) and delectable eats by Chef Carlo Lamagna on a craft cuisine-centric crowd on Monday, May 18.

Inside Three Key Events at the Feast Festival

Related Slideshow: Party Report: Feast Portland 2015 Launch Party At Clyde Common

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