Portland Foodie Finds
Portland Chefs in Wine Country By Andrea Slonecker
This fall, take a jaunt to the charming Oregon wine country town of McMinnville, which was included in the October issue of Bon Appétit magazine’s roundup of “foodiest towns” in America. The accolade is undoubtedly due in part to the eclectic eatery, Thistle, which will launch its 2nd Annual Guest Chef and Winemaker Dinner Series to benefit the Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP) on November 14.
One Sunday each month through June of next year, Thistle owners Eric Bechard and Emily Howard will host out-of-town chef-friends to prepare a five-course feast for 25 diners. Wines will come from neighboring Willamette Valley vintners. All proceeds from the $100-per-plate communal dinners go to the YCAP—last year’s series brought in $5000 for their regional food bank.
The kick off dinner on the 14th will welcome Chef Ben Bettinger of Portland restaurant Beaker and Flask partnered with Ransom Wines & Spirits. Following that, the schedule includes:
December 12: June with Soter Vineyards
January 16: Beast with Evening Land Vineyards
February 13: Ned Ludd with Cristom Vineyards
March 20: Grain & Gristle with EIEIO Wines
April 17: LUC with Eyrie Vineyards
May 15: Navarre with Anne Amie Vineyards
June 19: Nostrana with Remy Wines
As an aside, Bechard and Howard have plans to open a second establishment in downtown McMinnville on February 1, 2011 called Community Plate. The new spot will operate from breakfast to dinner, with a bright, communal coffee shop ambiance by day and cozy dinner house feel at night. Check it out for breakfast, should you attend one of the later dinners in the series, as McMenamins’Hotel Oregon will offer diners discounted rooms to make a weekend of it.
For reservations and more information, call Thistle at 503-472-9623.
