Salem native Rex Robertson joins us to discuss his exciting new restaurant, Cozy Taberna, that just opened in a few months ago.  We follow Rex's journey from falling in love with his father's A&W; Restaurants in Salem as a kid, to working in finer dining over time and realizing hospitality was for him.  He and his wife Lois bought a hallmark deli in Salem and turned that into the popular Little Lois, which is now humming along.  They brought partners into that business and decided it was time to try something bigger.  Rex found a big restaurant space in a downtown Salem alley and were then introduced to both John Gorham and Ryan Magarian, both who made their marks in Portland over the years.  Both consulted to help develop the menu and the bar program at Cozy.  Rex talks about his relationships and what excites him about Salem.  We'll get his suggestions of things to do in Salem as well as some of his other favorite local restaurants.  Right at the Fork is supported by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

#314 Rex Robertson - Salem's Cozy Taberna and Little Lois

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.”

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Chef Sam Smith has been a notable figure in the Portland culinary scene since he arrived in the city from the Bay Area. He is currently the chef at Yaowarat, Portland Monthly's 2023 Restaurant of the Year.  Sam talks about the experiences of traveling through Thailand with his team doing extensive research to develop the recipes for the restaurant, as well as why the team of Sam, Akkapong Earl Ninsom, Kyle Webster and Eric Nelson is such a powerhouse.     Smith has honed his skills through experiences at renowned establishments like Zahav in Philadelphia and Ava Gene's in Portland. He has a talent and great resume helping restaurants get off the ground, contributing to the success of ventures like Spirit of '77, Ava Gene's Tusk, Sweedeedee, and Yaowarat. He was also recognized as a 2018 Portland Rising Star by StarChefs.   Sam also reveals his favorite Portland places.         Photo credit:  Thom Hilton/Eater Portland  Right at the Fork is supported by:  Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com  RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com   Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com  Capitola Coffee: www.CapitolaCoffee.com   Acre Forge Knives: www.AcreForge.co (use code: CUT25 for 25% off      

#386 Sam Smith - Yaowarat

Right at the Fork is supported by:  Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com  RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com   Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com  Capitola Coffee: www.CapitolaCoffee.com   Acre Forge Knives: www.AcreForge.co (use code: CUT25 for 25% off This week's episode comes from September of 2023, and our conversation with Garrett Peck. It's always a pleasure to have Garrett Peck on our podcast.  For years, Garrett was at the center of the Portland food world as GM and host at some of Portland's most prolific restaurants.  He managed the Heathman, later Headwaters, as well as The Paley Group's other hotel properties, Imperial, Rosa Rosa and The Crown.    When turmoil of 2020 put beyond a damper on the viability of those restaurants, Garrett and his wife Jonie sought greener pastures, which led them to Sisters, OR.  There, they connected with some of Portland's other most successful restaurateurs, who also found central Oregon more to their liking. In 2022, the three opened RBC (Rancher Butcher Chef) with other investors.  Now with a year under their belts, RBC is lauded as one of the states most successful restaurants, outside of Portland.   Garrett shares with us some of the joys of central Oregon life, as well as the growth of Bend as a living and dining destination.  Listen to the end for some of his faves in the area. www.rbcbend.com.    

RATF Classic: #362 Garrett Peck - RBC (Rancher Butcher Chef) Bend

There may be no bigger fan of In-N-Out in the Portland area than Danny Dwyer. Yes, that Danny Dwyer, a long time voice on country radio in Portland at 98.7 The Bull. In this episode we talk about his love of In-N-Out, what it might mean for the Portland food scene.  We also hear about some of the places around the Portland/Vancouver area that are his go-to spots. Right at the Fork is supported by:  Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com  RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com   Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com  Capitola Coffee: www.CapitolaCoffee.com   Acre Forge Knives: www.AcreForge.co (use code: CUT25 for 25% off

#385 Portland Radio's Danny Dwyer - Talkin' In-N-Out

Sandi Wilkens is the proprietor of both the Portland restaurant Quaintrelle, and also the Willamette Valley's Abbey Road Farm.  We talk about the virtues of both and what helped them to drive through the pandemic to be beacons in their respective worlds today.     Sandi talks about her recent trip to Japan and what she saw there that inspired her.     We also talk about how her places weather the current challenges with food and labor costs.    Right at the Fork is supported by:  Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com  RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com   Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com  Capitola Coffee: www.CapitolaCoffee.com  

#384 Sandi Wilkens - Quaintrelle and Abbey Road Farm

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)

#314 Rex Robertson - Salem's Cozy Taberna and Little Lois

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