Right at the Fork

We catch up with Kurt Huffman of ChefStable to discuss lots to do with the state of the restaurant business in 2021.  Having a stake in dozens of projects and restaurants gives Kurt and great perspective on some of the challenges facing both restaurants and their employees, and diners these days. We talk about his new projects in Lake Oswego and Beaverton and perhaps as far as the Oregon Coast.  We touch on the evolution of buying the Tasty brand from John and Renee Gorham. Kurt also shares how boxing has helped him deal with the stresses of owning a host of restaurants.   Also, we hear why if all goes as planned, Kurt will be living in France in 2023.   Lastly, we talk about the loss of much of the foundation of Portland's hallmark restaurants and chefs with the exit of Andy Ricker, John and Renee Gorham, and Jose Chesa from the city.   The link to donate to Chef Chesa's GoFundMe campaign is here:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-chesas-rebuild-their-home   Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com  RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

Chef Kyo Koo, whom Portlanders will know from his days at BlueHour and more recently as proprietor of Danwei Canting, joins Chris to talk about working on his new concept in New York City, Bokki Seoul. Coming out of the pandemic, Chris asks Kyo about his thoughts about fast casual, take-out, and whether something closer to fine dining is something we can expect to return like the days of old.

Issues like rent and labor are considered, as well as what may be in store for Portland's food scene coming out of the pandemic (we hope!)

This episode of Right at the Fork is sponsored by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com  Andina: www.AndinaRestaurant.com RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

Jason French was once referred to as an "Portland ambassador" by our host Chris Angelus when it came to Portland's food world, but even beyond that: embodying much of the spirit of the city, a dozen years ago to the point before Covid hit.  Cut to 2021, and Jason is moving out of the hospitality business and into personal coaching for men, utilizing many of the skillsets and experience he gained as chef/owner of Ned Ludd, which he's now selling.   We talk about his years at Ned Ludd, where Portland is now as a city and how we got here, and also why men can benefit from his introspective coaching.     Email Jason at [email protected]   Or check him out on Instagram: @jasonffrench And his wife Carrie: @carriekalscheuer

The Joy of Drinking Podcast returns, as Joy sits down with Carrie from Greater Goods!

If you've ever tasted their delicious CBD chocolates, you know that everything they create is of superior quality and is absolutely delicious.

Carrie and Jody share with Joy details about a new line of products: 100% vegan CBD gummies.

Right at the Fork podcasts are supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com

We venture outside of Oregon this week with Mary Amter, host Chris' former beloved neighbor in Connecticut, who joins us to talk about her cooking classes geared for kids and adults.   Covid brought her classes online, which can be found on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/mccguilford/videos.    Mary talks about her childhood cooking with Mom and Dad, her husband's chef and teaching world, and how she decided, as a busy mother of three teenage kids, to start offering cooking classes on the Connecticut shoreline.   

Right at the Fork is supported by: 

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

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.

Right at the Fork is supported by: 

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

MÅURICE's Kristen Murray's story begins in Southern California, baking with her great-grandmother and great-aunt. On this episode, hear about Kristen's journey from California, to New York City, to France and eventually Portland (with many more stops in between), and the eventual creation of MÅURICE.

Right at the Fork is supported by: 

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

Mike Thelin joins us again to talk about rethinking Feast Portland, and what's important to the pared down, revised festival this year, and as the organization looks beyond the pandemic to future years.  Chris and Mike get into a discussion about restaurants and Portland and quality of life.  Mike always gives us a great conversation, and this is no exception.   You can hear about Mike's food, life and business background in episode 122.  

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

We asked Anne Hubatch to join us to discuss her family trip around the west this summer with her kids, visiting national parks and monuments along the way.  The first part of the podcast is dedicated to the wonders of long summer road trips, and then in the second segment we talk about Anne's journey to become a self-employed winemaker.  We discuss Helioterra and how she managed to weather the pandemic after 8+ years in the business. Anne also tells us about the women winemaker events at Division Wines.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

Katherine Benvenuti, pastry chef and proprietor of Fills, joins us to talk about all the ups and downs she's experienced since opening Bar King six days before the pandemic.  That upheaval has led to her new venture, Fills Donuts, as well as being partner in the new Tasty restaurant.  We discuss donuts, tipping, work/life balance, sweet versus savory, how Lake Oswego compares to Portland, the challenging labor market and how best to navigate that from an operator's perspective, and more.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com RingSide Steakhouse:  www.RingSideSteakhouse.com Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com