Right of the Fork RATF

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 that's an apt designation for Lisa than Rob.  Rob has lots of Portland stories to tell, and also stores of raising two young kids with Lisa after tragedy struck a few years ago.  So, we talk about that and hear what a remarkable and wonderful couple Rob and Lisa are.
Right at the Fork is supported by: 
Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com 
RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com 
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com
Acre Forge Knives: www.AcreForge.co (use code: CUT25 for 25% off your first order)

From July 2023:
 
Joel Stocks has found a new home at his new restaurant/wine bar L'Orange with business partner Jeff Vejr, also of Las Caves.  We discuss what L'Orange is all about, including the visions both he and Jeff had when opening their wine bar/restaurant in the former Willow space. 
Joel has worked at some of the best restaurants in Portland, and the world.  Arzak, Alinea, French Laundry to name a few, and of course Holdfast Dining in Portland.  We'll hear how Joel targeted working at the French Laundry long before he got a gig there, and now that happened.  Joel will also discuss how his prior experiences influences his cooking.  We'll also talk travel ideas, especially Spain.
Right at the Fork is supported by:
Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.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

 
Kyo Koo joins us again on the podcast to talk about Warsugai, his new restaurant that opened in February of this year.  Kyo is a Portland native who grew up with frequent exposure to the Asian food world in Portland at the time of his childhood.  Kyo has had key roles at Clarklewis and Bluehour, before embarking on commanding his own restaurants and consulting for others.
 
To hear his more extensive backstory, please listen to our first interview with Kyo:
https://rightatthefork.com/shows/2019/7/11/207-kyo-koo-danwei-canting

Listen in as Chef and restaurateur Louis Lin takes us from his childhood to his cooking career to Portland, where he and his partner Jolyn have created a beautiful spot that celebrates the idea of a first generation American serving casual food one might find in a late night setting. Louis also addresses pricing out menu items and some of the joys of owning his own business in Portland.
 
Also, he shares a great list of his favorite spots in Portland. Make sure to stay tuned! 
 
Right at the Fork is supported by: 
Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

Kris Trimble is a professional barista at Capitola Coffee.
 
He started getting into coffee during undergrad days in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Going to cafes and trying different types of coffee started him on his path. Kris started making french presses at home and it evolved from there. He's always been drawn to coffee - the process, the ritual, the time and intention put into the final product. From studying Counseling Psychology in undergrad, to Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy in grad school - he always had his mind on how slowness and sensory experience impacts our psyche. 
 
Grad school at Lewis and Clark eventually brought him to Portland. The hyper-local and intense attention to detail he witnessed in Portland drew him in. His first coffee job was part time at one of Portland's first micro-roasters Kobos Coffee. After they were acquired by Groundwork Coffee, he was promoted to Coffee Educator and Trainer. He fell in love with this role and was stoked to be around other people that are stoked about coffee!  Since then, he's lived the dream and feels it was his calling.
 
Capitola Coffee does cuppings and sells fine retail coffee and provides a relaxing environment just across the popular food carts on Mississippi.  Go see Kris and order coffee the way you like it and enjoy their beautiful shop.
 
Right at the Fork is supported by: 
Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

Upon the very sad news of the passing of Chef Lauro Romero on February 16, 2024, we revisit our interview with him from 2021.
 
After this interview, Chef Romero left Republica to start his lauded pop-up, Clandestino. From there, he was hired as chef du Cuisine to build a menu and team at Bellpine, the new restaurant at Portland's new Ritz Carlton hotel and luxury apartments. 
 
At the time of this writing, the cause of death is unknown. The Portland food community is quite sad and devasted about his death.  Here is a rare opportunity to hear Chef Romero talk about his life in his own voice, unedited. RIP, Chef. 
 
Right at the Fork is supported by: 
Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

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Original Show Notes:
Lauro Romero, chef of República  , a new hotspot on the Portland food scene, joins us to discuss his childhood and Mom's influence in his native Mexico on his food sensibilities.  We track his journey from farms in Mexico through Utah to Portland, where Chef Lauro helmed one of Portland's best seafood spots, King Tide.  Chef talks about the things that came together with his partners to form what he believes is a perfect team to offer great food, drinks, coffee and service at República.