The International Food Bloggers conference swings into Foodvana this weekend for a three-day extravaganza August 24-26, extolling the virtues and expanding the scope of all great things food-related – on-line.

So if you see a group of (even more than usual) very knowledgeable peeps queuing up, iPods and smartphones in hand, at some great food joints… or even ones you didn’t know were great food joints… you may want to jump in line with them.

They know what they’re doing. (They probably saw this video.)

You might even spot a few of them on a Flavor Street, Epicurean Excursion or Chocolate Decadence tour. After all, they are the experts… and they want the best.

In case you missed it, here’s the link. Enjoy!

Come see (and more importantly taste) why Oregon is one of the world’s great destinations for world class pinot!

But, in the end I still feel pretty bad.

Luckily, there is this new handy dandy program for those attempting to cut back on their waste guilt levels. GO box. You can buy a container for $8.50 and then give it back, exchange for a token and next time you get a meal at the food carts they will give you a new GO Box. It is microwave safe and you don’t even need to clean it before returning it. I will forever be relieved of my wasteful food cart guilt!

I can’t wait to pick one up. Find out more at www.goboxpdx.com.

I usually walk away with a few goodies thinking that Portland is the greatest city because we have access to so many wonderful things, like the fresh honey in my bag.

One reason to be thankful is the Urban Growth Boundary put in place by the Columbia Region Association of Governments (later Metro) in 1977. The Urban Growth Boundary has left our city with excellent access to all of these small, mostly organic farms surrounding the city. With the farms having easy access to the city and the people having easy access to the farms, we are one lucky bunch of people.

Check out the Portland Farmer’s Market nearest you.

www.portlandfarmersmarket.org

You can also learn all about Portland’s foodie scene – and more – simply by joining our Epicurean Excursion. Not only will you taste a tremendous variety of great food, but you’ll walk a mile or so and burn off all of those calories.

If you want to make it a full day Foodie Adventure then join us for one of our Epicurean Excursion beforehand!

You can also find a list of all the breweries who will be represented at this year’s OBF on their website:  http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/

You can find more information on our website at: http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/tours/epicurean_excursion.php

For more information visit the official festival site at http://www.oregontrufflefestival.com/tickets.html

If you can’t make it to Eugene, you can always join us for one of our Epicurean Excursions. We always try to sneak in a truffle whenever we can.

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday (January 29th, 30th and 31st).

For more information see: http://worldforestry.org/discovery-museum/events/events-and-news/test.html

You could make a full day of it by starting off the day with one of our Epicurean Excursions.

If you want to experience local food and drink in a less crowded and more sedate setting then you might think about joining our Epicurean Excursion. Our tours are limited to just 16 people, so get your tickets early! And if you want to make a full day of it, our morning Epicurean tour starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends around 2:00 p.m. giving you plenty of time to make to Memorial Coliseum for the start of the festival.

On Saturday, August 15th from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., the BridgePort Brewpub & Bakery in the Pearl are throwing a free outdoor event commemorating the brewery that has been serving thirsty Portlanders since the beginning. Partygoers will also be supporting a good cause with one dollar of each beer sale going directly to the event’s official charity, The Audubon Society of Portland.

Did you know that the their Blue Heron beer was first brewed 22 years ago as a special release for the Audubon Society, and is named after Portland’s official city bird. Well, if you didn’t then you haven’t been on our Epicurean Excursion! Our 10 a.m. tour goes behind-the-scenes at Bridgeport every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

There will be food, music, and BEER!!!

Urban farming is not a new idea and the fine city of Portland was ahead of it’s time…as usual. The city completed an audit of urban land a number of years ago in a study performed by a group of Portland State University students. The study called “The Diggable City” is available on the website of Portland’s Office of Planning and Sustainability. Multnomah county took it one step further and is making urban farming a reality in the Portland area with real tangible projects like County CROPS and County DIGS.

A few of us chat this up on our Epicurean Excursion tours since it’s not just about trying to eat & drink about 25 things; it’s about rethinking food while having some fun.  We also serve extra knowledge.

An old, tired section of Northwest Portland, once known for its worn-out warehouses, has been transformed almost overnight into one of the nation’s snazziest neighborhoods. The Pearl District, featuring upscale condos, art galleries and shops has become a favorite with both locals and tourists. The area also boasts some of the top rated restaurants in the city and a great place for a foodie exploration.

Start feeling the pulse of the Pearl at the Blossoming Lotus restaurant on N.W. Davis, just a couple of blocks from Powell’s bookstore. You may want to eat lightly since you will be tasting your way through the day. The Lotus is the perfect spot for a healthy vegan and organic dish such as the “live breakfast parfait” or the peanut butter-banana Smoothie is a delicious meal in a cup.

The Epicurean Excursion, offered by Portland Walking Tours, is a great way to experience the flavors of this vibrant, scenic district. Invest in some comfortable walking shoes, head to the Heathman Hotel downtown, and meet your tour guide. Be prepared to sample some delicious eats while your host answers questions about the Rose City.

A short stroll and a stop at Flying Elephants Delicatessen offers a sampling of soup and a game of guess the mystery ingredient. A creamy tomato-orange soup warms you on a cool Pacific Northwest day. This delightful deli at Park and Yamhill offers a great menu so make sure to come back for the grilled tuna melt and caprese panino sandwich or an Elephants chicken Caesar salad.

Next, you’ll hop on the Portland Streetcar and head to the Pearl to visit Oregon’s oldest craft brewery, Bridgeport Brewpub and Bakery. Bridgeport cranks out up to150 thousand bottles of hand-crafted brew a day. Tour the conditioning room, where the beer is aged. After enjoying the sweet smell of ale as it is being produced, head to the bar for some beer tasting. Notice that India Pale Ale has a citrus/floral flavor while Ropewalk is darker and less bitter. Observe the original brickwork in this Historic Landmark Building, formerly the Portland Cordage Company Building (1888).

Beer may give you a craving for baked delights, and you are in luck, because the next stop is a tour of the Pearl Bakery, at N.W. 9TH Avenue. Sample a Parisienne or whole grain baguette and dip them in olive oil for a yummy taste. While the bakers may not reveal their secrets, you’ll be able to see a vat of starter mixture, a key ingredient for breads such as Ficelle and Ciabatta. A flaky croissant will give you the energy to continue the tour.

As your tour progresses, notice that Portland has the feel of a European city, complete with bicycles, buses and streetcars.

As you wind your way through the Pearl, drop by a food lover’s fantasy land. In Good Taste Store, on N.W. 11th and Everett, features a plentiful selection of Northwest wines as well as imported foods, cooking utensils and books. Sit down to sample rice crackers topped with zesty City of Roses grand marnier creamy mustard and try a Jezebel 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir, from Dundee, Oregon. Jezebel is the second label for Daedalus Cellars, a small, family winery. Before you move on, buy some chocolate sea salt or black truffle salt.

Just as you are becoming an expert on Portland, it’s time for a tea break. At The Tea Zone and Camellia Lounge, sip some Jasmine Green or Oolong Tea and see how they taste with yummy tea cookies.

If all that tea hasn’t made you sleepy, gather up your strength and experience Portland’s “greener” side. The Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center, on N.W. 9th Avenue, is home to tenants who believe strongly in the environment. Enter the ecologically friendly brick and timber structure, also known as the Ecotrust building, and drop by Hot Lips Pizza. Hot Lips is locally owned and uses area ingredients. On this particular day, the seasonal pizza had a delicious mix of sliced potatoes, mushrooms, kale, garlic and mozzarella cheese. Try a pear soda (Hot Lips makes the soda) with your thin-crust pizza.

Your Epicurean Excursion ends with a stop at Cupcake Jones at 10th and Everett and a sampling of a Pearl Cupcake. Don’t skimp on the napkins when you bite into the white cake, filled with slippery vanilla bean pastry cream and mouth-watering butter cream icing.

If you took the early tour, do some more Pearl exploring. Pick up a map and “Explore the Pearl” Magazine at Green Frog Toys, at 11th and Marshall. While there, try to find your inner “kid” as you browse through books, board games, toy trucks and stuffed animals. Youngsters will enjoy the marble display, where marbles can be placed on a circular maze.

Head to Jamison Square, where 11th meets Johnson Street, sit on a bench and observe the beautiful landscaping. Notice the open area where kids can run and play. You may be lucky enough to listen to a local musician playing the guitar. This is a great time to reach for your Pearl District map so you can plan your strategy for the rest of the afternoon.

Before sampling the shops and galleries, explore Tanner Springs Park, a short stroll from Jamison Square. Notice the habitat garden created on reclaimed industrial land. It’s a grassland-wetland area complete with streams of water. You may even spot a small red fish. Be sure to stay on the lawns and stone paths.

A fun stop in the Pearl is Lexidog Boutique and Social Club. Dog lovers can find a wide selection of dog clothing and accessories like a champagne bottle squeeze toy and several dog munchies.

Your tour of the Pearl art scene can begin at Quintana Galleries, on N.W. 9TH Avenue. This charming, intimate Native American gallery features antique and contemporary Northwest coastal Indian art. Recent exhibitions have included arctic sculpture and native glass arts.

Wrap up your Pearl adventure by visiting a lively restaurant that offers authentic Peruvian dishes. At Andina, 13th and N.W. Glisan, you can choose the large dining area or the intimate bar where you’ll find a cozy fireplace.

On the appetizer (or tapas) menu, try Anticucho De Pollo (marinated chicken kebobs, served with huacatay-peanut sauce). De Pescado “5 elementos,” features Ono fish, sweet potatoes and corn, with a sweet and tangy sauce, spiced with lime juice and onions. A delightfully mild seafood blend is the Mixta Nikkei, featuring tuna, crab salad and shrimp.

Andina owner Doris Rodriquez de Platt takes great care in making sure your dining experience is memorable. She’ll even answer your questions about NovoPeruvian cuisine.

In one perfect day, discover why Portland is emerging as a destination for food lovers and marvel at how a district of dusty warehouses has turned into an oasis of perfectly polished pearls.

Article by Scott Keith

If you have friends or family coming into Portland this (or any) month don’t forget about our Beer Here! walking tour. You’ll get to tour the city, meet the makers, and sample some of the best beers in the world! Check out more info about arranging your private Beer Here! tour.

The big new change this year is the whole display will be choreographed to music! No word yet on what music will be featured. (Fingers crossed its not The Starland Vocal Band… you know, Sky rockets in flight.)

Anyway, come early to save your space. It looks like the weather should be nice. See you there!

For more information you can visit the Rose Festival’s official website.

This photo of street art was taken by one of our guides during an Epicurean Excursion tour. The tour sometimes winds us down historic 13th street on its way to something delicious.  Noam Chomsky is primarily a linguist, but is also known for his unabashed criticism of US foreign policy and the media. Maybe that helps you understand the psyche of Portland a bit more.

Oregon also came in third in a new ranking of breweries per capita with 93 breweries! We meet a lot of people who say that Portland has more breweries per capita than any other city in the world, but this is not true. Forget that per capita nonsense. Simply said, we have more breweries than any other city in the world. The January 2009 count was 36, but we know of 2 more that opened since this was posted in mid-April 2009. The next city down from there is Stuttgart Germany, which had a December 2008 count of 29.

On our morning Epicurean Excursion, we go behind-the-scenes at a local craft brewery and give you insights in the differences between Microbreweries, Brewpubs, Contract Brewing Companies, and Regional Craft Breweries. If you want an in-depth beer exploration, checkout our Brewery Tour.

Talking about beer, be sure to visit the 22nd annual Oregon Brewers Festival, one of the nation’s longest-running and best-loved craft beer festivals. It’ll take place July 23 through July 26 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. It’s the event that brings together 80 craft breweries, 2,000 volunteers and 70,000 beer lovers for a four-day summer celebration of American craft beer.

PORTLAND, Ore. – June 5, 2008 – Fresh off the success of Portland Walking Tours’ original Epicurean Excursion, the company has cooked up a second culinary exploration. Starting at 2 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, the new Epicurean Excursion takes walkers on a three and a half hour, on-foot journey to savor more than 20 new flavors.

Inspired by the often sold-out original Epicurean Excursion, the new tour also promises an engaging stroll with an expert guide through Portland’s Pearl District with stops at some of the city’s favorite culinary hot spots. The unscripted, behind-the-scenes peek is filled with fun facts about the city’s booming urban neighborhood, its innovative architecture, sustainable living and, of course, tasty treats.

Featuring local, sustainable and seasonal ingredients is part of this tour’s appeal. Walkers are encouraged throughout the journey to stop, smell the aromas, savor the flavors and appreciate the complexity of the featured delicacies. Perfect pairings of wine, chocolate and cheese unfold the tastes and textures of each treat offered on the tour. The numerous stops for sips and nibbles may change from time to time but often include locally roasted coffee, hand crafted chocolates, gourmet cupcakes, Oregon distilled spirits, fresh sushi, hearty hummus and renowned wines from around the region.

“We get requests all the time from people who want to taste the sweeter side of the city,” said David Schargel, Portland Walking Tours founder. “This brand new tour offers the chance to indulge in the many rich and decadent flavors hidden in the Pearl District, from sinfully delicious drinking chocolate to local artisan cheese.”

The new Epicurean Excursion will begin on June 20, 2008 and is limited to intimate groups of 16 people per tour to preserve the flexible and personal nature of the walk. All samples, sips and nibbles are included in the $59 price per person. The original Epicurean Excursion will also still be offered at 10 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays. Private group tours are also available.

Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended for all tours.

CONTACT:
Portland Walking Tours
503-774-4522
www.portlandwalkingtours.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Erica Erland
Maxwell PR
503-231-3086

About Portland Walking Tours
Portland Walking Tours, a division of Hometown Advantage, offers guided tours exploring Portland’s food, history, art, architecture, fountains, parks and neighborhoods. Private walking tours and school field trips are also available. Parent company Hometown Advantage, www.hometownadvantage.com, provides event and meeting planning services including customized group tours throughout the Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge as well as, step-on guides, transportation services and entertainment. The 24-hour Portland Walking Tours information and ticketing line is 503-774-4522. Additional information and online ticketing are available at www.portlandwalkingtours.com.

[ipaper docId="2878327" access_key="key-1iblgaewr1nx92li3jko" height="600" width="400" /]