Right at the Fork

RATF
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Think Portland, Oregon is all VooDoo Doughnuts and "put an egg on it?" One of Portland's most prominent "food sherpas" and Portland Food Adventures' founder Chris Angelus along with co-host Cort Johnson invite the region's most prominent and up-and-coming tastemakers to pull up a chair and talk about the craft of food & beverage in their own words. This is "Right at the Fork."

  1. #447 Meg Cotner - Bridgetown Bites April '26 Update

    4 DAYS AGO

    #447 Meg Cotner - Bridgetown Bites April '26 Update

    With the recent sale of Portland Monthly, local media's coverage of the Portland food scene is surely less voluminous.  But there is one person and her small team, Meg Cotner, publishing her Bridgetown Bites, online and via email push multiple times each week.  We took the opportunity once again to talk to Meg about what's new and upcoming in Portland.  Also, we have a discssion of the business of Bridgetown Bites as well. Key topics in this episode: Portland's culinary landscape Bridgetown Bites and local food coverage James Beard Awards and local recognition Challenges of food journalism and AI misconceptions Upcoming restaurant openings and food events Website - https://bridgetownbites.com/   Right at the Fork is supported by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 8min
  2. #446 Patrick McKee - Estes

    27 MAR

    #446 Patrick McKee - Estes

    Chef Patrick McKee joins us for the third time on the podcast, sharing his journey of opening Estes through its popup iterations to now, his brick and mortar restaurant in the heart of a great restaurant block.  We talk about his influences from Italy and family and of course, his mentor Vitaly Paley, and his vision for creating a space that honors heritage and community. We touch on how overcoming adversity shaped his character, and is a lesson to anyone that they can recover from extreme devastations.   Also, Patrick talks about marriage and the challenges associated with the current political atmosphere and having an immigrant wife. Estes Restaurant - https://estespdx.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/estespdx/   Right at the Fork is supported by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 30min
  3. RATF Classic: #374 Don Bourassa - International Adulting and Inaugural RATF Guest

    20 MAR

    RATF Classic: #374 Don Bourassa - International Adulting and Inaugural RATF Guest

    We flast back to January 2024 and our conversation with Don Bourassa. Original post: Don Bourassa was Right at the Fork's first guest ever in 2014. Back then, he was the Community Director for Yelp.  Now, he's moved to Porto, Portugal with his wife and among his many endeavors, he writes on substack:  International Adulting.  We talk to Don about what's transpired in the ten years since his first visit with us, including the process of deciding to move and the ins and outs of moving to another country.  Also, having traveled the world, his thoughts on Portland as a food city.  We also get a taste of Portugal, where, among other tasty morsels of info, his wife has created a community of Vegans.  https://internationaladulting.substack.com/ Insta @thedonb   Right at the Fork is supported by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 27min
  4. #445 Jackie and Adam Sappington Part 2 - Harlow, Country Cat, solpdx and their son's football journey

    13 MAR

    #445 Jackie and Adam Sappington Part 2 - Harlow, Country Cat, solpdx and their son's football journey

    In the second part of our interview with a couple with deep roots in the Portland food world, Jackie and Adam Sappington share their insights on the state of Portland's food scene and the socio economic factors that affect it.  Adam shares that he remains focused on their own businesses and personal goals rather than the city as a whole, while still being aware and doing their best to serve their communities.  They talk about their much healthier practices now, with some moderation.   They share their unique and fascinating family journey which includes two very athletic sons and the chronology of events that led to their son Atticus' remarkable football career, including his rise to Division 1 and NFL prospects. We talk stadiums, hot dogs, agents, and their love of Oregon.  Adam fills us in on his solchefpdx project, too.   This is a fun conversation with all sorts of wonderful elements that make these two back-to-back episodes must-listens.   www.harlowpdx.com www.thecountrycat.net www.solchefpdx.com/   Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 8min
  5. #444 Jackie and Adam Sappington Part 1 - Harlow and The Country Cat

    6 MAR

    #444 Jackie and Adam Sappington Part 1 - Harlow and The Country Cat

    We are thrilled to have two of the legends of the current Portland dining scene on the podcast with us, Jackie and Adam Sappington.  Back in 2007, they left Wildwood to create The Country Cat, which was one of the staples of Portland's restaurant heyday.  They eventually opened The Country Cat at the airport, pioneering the idea that a great local restaurant could succeed serving people coming and going from PDX in a very special way.   8 years ago, the Sappingtons bought Harlow restaurant, a plant-based restaurant.  So interested that Adam, who was such a down home Ozark born country boy, would move from so much meat to a plant-based restaurant.  In this interview, we talk about why they did that, personally and professionally, and what it's meant for them since.   Part 2 of this interview will stream starting next week, where we will talk a little more about airport hospitaility, and then get into being parents of one of the best college footaball players in the country as a Duck at the University of Oregon, as their son Atticus readies for the NFL draft.  Stay tuned!!!   @harlowpdx harlowpdx.com thecountrycat.net   Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    50 min
  6. RATF Classic: #438 Dominic Finzo - The Screen Door

    27 FEB

    RATF Classic: #438 Dominic Finzo - The Screen Door

    This week, we look back to our conversation with Dominic Finzo of The Screen Door. ORIGINAL POST: Dominic Finzo from The Screen Door restaurant in Portland joins us to talk about the iconic restaurant's 20th anniversary, which they will commemorate in 2026. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Dominic's earliest memories are steeped in the comforting rhythm of Southern life—where supper was always on the table, and love was served warm by the hands of his grandparents who raised him. It was in their kitchen that Dominic first felt the magic of food—the way a meal could bring people together and make them feel cared for. That connection lit a fire in him, and from a young age, he knew that cooking was more than just a skill—it was a calling. Dominic sought out mentors and chefs who would help shape his path. His journey took him from Tennessee to Montreal, across Germany, Denmark, and France, then to Maui, and finally to Portland, Oregon. Along the way, he honed his craft in some of the most respected kitchens, mastering techniques and immersing himself in diverse culinary traditions. Yet, no matter how far he traveled or how many flavors he explored, Dominic's heart remained tethered to the soulful food of his Southern roots. When he joined the Screen Door team, it felt like a homecoming—a full-circle moment where he could merge the rich traditions of his upbringing with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. www.screendoorrestaurant.com @screendoorrestaurant Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 18min
  7. #443 Althea Grey Potter - Bar Nouveau

    20 FEB

    #443 Althea Grey Potter - Bar Nouveau

    Althea Gray Potter shares her journey of opening Bar Nouveau, a restaurant in St. John's, Portland. She discusses her initial reluctance to open a restaurant, how it all came about, how she financed it along with the support she received from loved ones and the community\, and the significance of having a great General Manager, Heather Wallberg and how they met and agreed about the match.  Althea emphasizes the significance of community and connection in the culinary world, and we touch on "authenticity" when it comes to menus, and what that means in 2026.   Fun to hear some of Althea's faves in Portland and even more so, her beloved St. Johns neighborhood.  .   @barnouveaupdx   Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 27min
  8. #442 Judiaann Woo - Food Industry Consultant

    13 FEB

    #442 Judiaann Woo - Food Industry Consultant

    We are pleased to have been able to spend time with Judiaann Woo on our  podcast.  Judiaann has her pulse on the food world, which comes from a multi-faceted background and perspective, She shares her journey from a childhood passion for food to her move to New York, where she went from the French Culinary Institute to various high level pastry chef positions, eventually realizing that the kitchen wasn't going to be the place where she would thrive.  She made some adjustments, while also accommodating her relationship in New York, to become a prominent figure in the culinary world before returning to Portland..    Chris and Judiaann discuss her experiences in high-end kitchens, the transition to food consulting and the impact of social media and influencer marketing on the food and travel industry. Ms Woo talks about the importance of authenticity in storytelling and the role of family values --the child of Korean immigrants -- in shaping her career. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by the restaurant industry during and after the pandemic and the exciting renaissance of Portland's food scene, which has always had Oregon's intense agricultural richness as a foundation for the talent and food enjoyed by many.   Judiaann is a thoughtful, intelligent professional who has had an impact on many businesses and organizations.  A must-listen!   Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    1hr 25min
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About

Think Portland, Oregon is all VooDoo Doughnuts and "put an egg on it?" One of Portland's most prominent "food sherpas" and Portland Food Adventures' founder Chris Angelus along with co-host Cort Johnson invite the region's most prominent and up-and-coming tastemakers to pull up a chair and talk about the craft of food & beverage in their own words. This is "Right at the Fork."

Information

  • Creator
    RATF
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 RightAtTheFork
  • Show Website
    Right at the Fork

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