Right at the Fork

The Portland food community mourns the news of the sudden passing of one of its long-time brightest stars, Justin Woodward.  He passed away. losing a long battle with alcoholism, on Oct 2nd, in California.  He was best known for his work in the kitchens of Castagna and OK Omens in Portland.   This episode is a replay from our time with Justin and dear friend Gary Okazaki in 2016 when he was only o...

This week's episode is an encore presentation of our conversation with Tyler Malek of Salt & Straw from January, where we discussed the expansion of Portland's favorite ice cream shop. And don't forget to check our our news partner and sponsor, DU/ER!  Be sure to visit  www.shopduer.com/fork and receive 15% off your first purchase! ORIGINAL POST: Tyler Malek is the Chef and co-owner of one of Port...

Join us in welcoming  DU/ER as a new sponsor to the podcast. Visit www.shopduer.com/fork and receive 15% off your first purchase!   Portland Food Adventures events have featured the best of over 250 Oregon restaurants, food carts, coffee shops, wineries, and more.  Then,10 years ago its international travel division began taking food lovers with chefs and artisans to their favorite places overseas...

Please join us in welcoming DU/ER as a new sponsor to the podcast. Visit www.shopduer.com/fork and receive 15% off your first purchase! In this engaging conversation, Rose Archer shares her culinary journey from Hawaii to Italy, Germany, and finally to Bend, Oregon. She discusses her experiences working with renowned chefs, including Massimo Bottura, and the challenges and triumphs of establishing...

Please join us in welcoming DU/ER as a new sponsor to the podcast. Visit www.shopduer.com/fork and receive 15% off your first purchase!       Chris and Will Preisch discuss Will's return to Portland and his new restaurant, 82 Acres. They explore the farm-to-table philosophy, the challenges of parenting, and Will's culinary journey from his early days in the restaurant business to his current role....

We're jumping back to February... and our conversation with Jose Camarena of República. ORIGINAL POST: This is a must-listen.  Chef Jose Camarena, Executive Chef at Portland's highly regarded República, may just be the youngest guest of over 400 on our podcast.  But you wouldn't know it if we hadn't drawn attention to that fact.  At just 24, he's in a position few others are at his age, and it's e...

One of Portland's most prominent entrepreneurs, Ron Khormaei, joins us once again on the podcast to discuss the factors that have gone into his successful building of two companies from the ground up in Portland, Finex and Steelport.    We start with a discussion about how his immigration from Iran as a teen shaped his ethics and viewpoints on life and business in the USA.  And Ron points out that...

In the heart of Oregon, Rose Archer has been building quite a culinary brand.  Her Luscious Supper Club events have been selling out for years, and now she embarks on quite an undertaking, highlighting the best of Bend's culinary scene, the Luscious Bend Food and Wine Experience.  We discuss what's in store at that event, on Sept 27, 2025.   Listen to this episode to follow Rose's fascinating stor...

On host Chris Angelus' bucket list and perhaps on yours, is an African Safari.  Lynne Gross has been curating trips for years to Africa and has great relationships with guides, restaurants and hotels.  She and Chris met walking doggies at Nehalem Bay State Park a few years ago, and for next year Lynne put together a trip with particular attention to food and luxury for Portland Food Adventures . ...

With news that RingSide Steakhouse is opening back up next week, we wanted to return to our conversation with Executive Chef John Dyss from earlier this year... ORIGINAL POST: This week, we talk to John Dyss, Executive Chef at RingSide Steakhouse. We talk about his upbringing in Northern California, his venture into the food world - and quite possibly his hand in changing pizza forever. We also ta...

We thought it would be good to have Greg Higgins, one of Portland's most notable and historically important chefs, expand on the letter he wrote to Portland that went viral about the perilous state of his restaurant.  As if the challenges in the restaurant industry aren't heavy enough, downtown businesses are facing a huge loss of tourism dollars, a fraction of office workers, years of a bad reput...

A wonderfully summery and tasty podcast with Lauren Wilson, who shares with us her journey from moving to Vermont and uncovering her kryptonite -- an ice cream maker in the restaurant where she worked.  She immediately started making ice cream and found that others loved her flavors.  That led to a move back to Seattle, where she developed a wholesale business, accomplishing getting her product in...

Lisa Schroeder, chef/owner at Mother's Bistro, now in its 25th year in Portland, joins us on the podcast to discuss the state of the industry and what she's doing to keep moving forward at the restaurant.  That includes a new New York Deli menu.  Lisa explains that while there used to be real Jewish deli food in Portland, there's a vacuum for a real pastrami sandwich and other great dishes that ne...

It's summer, and that means it's Hog Dog Season...  So here's a look back to our conversation with Michael Mudd from earlier this year.   We venture out to Manzanita for this podcast, and take the opportunity to chat with Michael Mudd, the proprietor of Manzanita Mudd Dogs. Whether you have been to or plan on visiting Manzanita, the story of how the iconic Manzanita Mudd Dogs started to how Michae...

We look back at our January 2025 conversation with Frank Squillo of Wanda's Cafe & Bakery. ORIGINAL POST:   Frank Squillo has had quite a storied career, but as he points out in this episode, there are definite parallels between his career as a radio host and now, as co-owner of the storied Wanda's Cafe and Bakery, a mainstay of the North Oregon Coast that he purchased with his husband in 2019 and...

Chef Allen Routt and his wife Jessica just celebrated their 20th year as proprietors of Newberg's The Painted Lady.  It's been a long, focused run to accomplish such a feat in this challenging restaurant world. Allen's interest in food started in Virginia as a boy, out in the yard and in the forest, right to his family kitchen.  His Mom and grandmas influenced his keen interest.  Staying at his gr...

We're flashing back to October 2024, and our conversation with Nori De Vega, with Right at the Fork guest host: Bill Oakley.   We are honored to have Bill Oakley guest host this episode of Right at the Fork, featuring Nori De Vega - one of Portland's most prominent food and restaurant video creators on Instagram and TikTok.  Nori De Vega was born in Manila, Philippines, and currently lives with he...

This week, we talk to John Dyss, Executive Chef at RingSide Steakhouse. We talk about his upbringing in Northern California, his venture into the food world - and quite possibly his hand in changing pizza forever. We also talk about his upcoming knife demo with Steelport Knife Co. on May 31st. Get more information about the event and how you can attend here . Right at the Fork is supported by:  Zu...

Ben Jacobsen is the founder of Jacobsen Salt Co., renowned for producing premium sea salts harvested from Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast. Established in 2011, Jacobsen Salt Co. has become an iconic food brand in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  Jacobsen's journey into the world of salt began during his time living in Denmark and Norway, where he developed an appreciation for the quality and ver...

Sandro Paolini joins us to discuss all things gelato!  He's the founder and gelato artisan behind Pinolo Gelato on Division St. in Portland. Born in Pisa, Italy, Paolini has a rich background in agriculture and forestry, which deeply influences his approach to crafting authentic Italian gelato. After moving to the United States, he combined his agricultural expertise with culinary passion, and was...

This Right at the Fork Classic comes from July of 2016, and our conversation with Lisa Schroeder. ORIGINAL POST: Chris feels that Lisa Schroeder should be cited as "Portland's Official Mother."  Lisa visits the RATF studios to talk about the challenges of running a packed Portland culinary institution, especially in light of a the increased responsibilities she's taken on to provide love and care...

We venture out to Manzanita for this podcast, and take the opportunity to chat with Michael Mudd, the proprietor of Manzanita Mudd Dogs. Whether you have been to or plan on visiting Manzanita, the story of how the iconic Manzanita Mudd Dogs started to how Michael and his brother Brad took over the operation of the business from their parents, Jim and Lynn Mudd, is an awesome story.   Michael talks...

We look back to April of last year, and our conversation with Rob Sample of Mother's Bistro. ORIGINAL POST: Rob Sample joins us on the podcast.  He's the Chief Schmoozing Officer at Mother's Bistro, where his wife Lisa has been well known as the chef and restaurateur since 2002.  Lisa just won the area's "Most Remarkable Woman" award on KOIN and we thought there was no one better to talk about why...

Joel Gunderson  of Heavenly Creatures, Coopers Hall, Grassa, St. Jack and a host of places, joins us again to talk about how deeply Trump's tariffs would affect the wine and restaurant industries.  Coincidentally, the tariffs were suspended just minutes before we started recording this episode.  But we talk about the stress uncertainty puts on the industry and how things have just begun to bounce...

Gary Okazaki aka @garythefoodie joins us for the umpteenth time to share information on his favorite pop-up restaurants in Portland, including where to find them on Insta, and where they take place.  Also, he'll go over some of his most anticipated openings in 2025. Right at the Fork is supported by:  Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com   RingSide SteakHouse: www. RingSideSteakhouse.com   Portland Foo...