Party Report/Feast Portland: Sandwich Invitational & Pork of Ages

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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Features Editor

Day One of Feast Portland saw the return of the Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational presented by Dave's Killer Bread and a killer after party, "Pork of Ages," presented by the National Pork Board and Portland Monthly. 

Pork is so rock 'n' roll. That's just one of the many things garnered on the first day of Feast Portland.

As always, one of the first big Feast-y events was The Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational presented by Dave's Killer Bread in Director Park. Here is where festive Feast-goers gathered to devour delicious sandwiches created by chefs both of local and national repute.

Paul Kahan of Chicago's Publican dazzled the crowd with a gyro, San Francisco's Chris Cosentino had jaws flapping away on a slightly naughty sandwich he called the "Cicciolina" in honor of the Italian porn star/politician and letting people know it was time "to have fun with sandwiches."

Cathy Whims of Nostrana just whizzed in from Hawaii with a lei still around her neck and former Wildwood chef Dustin Clark was to do something very different with a panini press. Kachka's Chef Bonnie Morales' smoked sprats was the judges' winner at the Sandwich Invitational and Salt & Straw's (which had one of the longest lines of the night) ice creamy brioche concoction went home as the crowd favorite. 

"Pork of Ages," an official Feast Portland After Party, lived up to its billing as a night of "epic pork and rock 'n' roll." Presented by the National Pork Board and Portland Monthly, the party held at the hipster hive that is Ron Tom's featured not one, but more than a dozen extra large roasted pig heads that lined the tables where celebrity chefs—including Richmond, Virginia's Jason Alley, Denver's Justion Brunson, Los Angeles Chad Colby, San Francisco's Allison Waddell and Portland's own Adam Sappington—thrilled the crowd.

Sokol Blosser's sabered up their sparkling Evolution Wine and Union Wine made slushie-style Americanos.  

Both events were a who's who of the foodie world locally and nationally. When GoLocalPDX ran into one of the most acclaimed food writers in the country, Ruth Riechl, at Pork of Ages, we asked her why she was in town for Feast without a big assignment from a national publication.

"I heard that this was the food festival to be at," said Riechl. "That's why I am here."

For more of Byron Beck's Feast Portland Day One photos click here. 

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Related Slideshow: Feast: Sandwich Invitational and Pork of Ages

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