Right at the Fork

Nate Snell comes on our podcast to talk about how the pandemic offered Pip's Original Doughnuts the opportunity to sprout a new business he and his wife Jamie had been thinking about for years, which is to bottle their coveted Chai as a concentrate and offer it for sale to their customers and eventually wholesale to grocery stores.  Their new Community Chai has as its foundation a charitable component, which is something the Snells have weaved into everything they do.  We also talk about how COVID-19 changed their world immediately, and how they scrambled to figure out the best path for their popular cafe. Nate discusses the things that they have done as a businesses to generate the loyal community of Pip's lovers who will help them through this period.   Learn more here:  https://squareup.com/store/pips-original https://www.instagram.com/communitychai/   Please listen to Nate on the podcast during more normal times in episode #80 here.   This episode was recorded April 10, 2020. Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Renee Gorham joins us for our ongoing COVID-19-driven Right at the Moment series to discuss the evolution of her restaurant group, Toro Bravo Inc, through this pandemic.  Renee tells us how their first order of business was to make sure everyone was fed, including those in need, and their valued employees, and how that led to their new program, Feed it Forward PDX, whereby people can sponsor meals for people in need through one of four different charities.     Also, for those interested in their restaurants' food, each week, each restaurant is rolling out take-out services and the Gorhams are figuring out their "new normal."   This episode is a good listen in tandem with episode #235, where her husband John is interviewed just as the pandemic began shutting down their restaurants.   Also recommended are other episodes with the Gorhams, starting with 120, 168, 181 and 228.  Start here and then input the episode numbers in the search bar (or Gorham).   Links:  https://www.torobravoinc.com/feeditforward     This episode was recorded April 11, 2020.   Disclosure:  Toro Bravo Inc is a sponsor of Right at the Fork.  

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Michael Madigan, owner of Bowery Bagels and KitchenCru, joins us for a discussion in our Right at the Moment series.  Michael talks about prospects for recovery from the business downturn and what he's doing to assure Bowery Bagels' success and survival.  Michael and his wife Lynn have been key players in the Portland food industry, helping many small producers to find their footing.

For more on Mr. Madigan's background, listen to this episode recorded in 2015.   This interview was recorded in home-studio fashion on April 7, 2020.  

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Our continuing series we're calling Right at the Moment brings us an interview with Craig Gerard of Stone Soup, whose kitchen has deployed its employees and students to cook meals for folks in temporary shelters amidst the Coronavirus.  Craig cites many in the food community who have stepped up to take care of hungry folks in Portland.  If you're interested in hearing Craig talk more about Stone Soup's mission, that episode is here. (#220).   This interview was recorded on April 2, 2020

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Interview recorded on 31 March, 2020

We continue our Right at the Moment series with discussions of the impact of COVID-19 on the Portland food community with Javier and Jael Canteras of Spanish restaurant URDANETA.  The most optimistic of those interviewed so far, Javier and Jael talk about the community and customer support they have received since closing the restaurant before trying take-out only.  We'll discuss what they've learned and what they'll look at differently when the effects of the virus might be behind us.  Also, chefs now doing cooking shows on Instagram, which in this case can be found at @urdanetapdx.   Disclosure: Javier and Jael are collaborators/partners with RATF host Chris Angelus and his venture, Portland Food Adventures.  They also discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the trips they do together to Spain.   Please note that this series of podcasts is recording from host Chris Angelus' home using basic methods of recording the interviews.  We look forward to getting back in the studio with co-host Cort Johnson.  

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Recorded Friday, 28 March, 2020

Erika Polmar of Plate and Pitchfork joins us on the podcast for another in our Right at the Moment series.  Erika found herself on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for Portland's small restaurants in Salem, OR and Washington. She spearheaded campaigns to make sure restaurants' voices were heard and were top of mind with legislators with relief packages.  Erika shares her thoughts on how to best utilize one's time and phone to make an impact.  This is a must-listen!!

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Recorded 25 March, 2020   On this third installment of our Right at the Moment series covering the affects of the Coronavirus on Portland's food community, we check in with Mike Zupan of Zupan's markets to hear how this essential business has changed and what he foresees as we move deeper into the crisis.   Zupan's Markets is a sponsor of Right at the Fork.  Visit them online at www.zupans.com.   Additional support from:

Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Recorded 23 March, 2020   We continue our coverage of the COVID-19's affect on the Portland restaurant industry with one of the key operators in the city, Kurt Huffman.  Kurt's ChefStable Group is dealing with the fallout from the Coronavirus on 20 separate fronts, as over 700 employees and their livelihoods are in limbo.  Kurt discusses how he made the decision to close all of his restaurants in conjunction with his separate partners at each establishment, what the dire cash flow numbers look like, and what he sees the restaurant industry might look like when and whether restaurants will be able to reopen. This is a special Right at the Moment edition of our podcast with host Chris Angelus operating out of his home.   www.chefstablegroup.com   Right at the Fork is supported by:

Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Recorded 18 March, 2020

We've scrapped our planned episodes for the moment, to talk about what's going on at the moment with Ringside's Craig Peterson and Toro Bravo Inc's John Gorham on Week 1 of Life in PDX with COVID-19.

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com 

Right At The Fork's International Women's Month continues, with a chat with Chef Kiara Hardy, owner of Kitchen Killa Culinary Solutions, and personal chef to Trail Blazer Hassan Whiteside. She's joined by Crystal Chanel, business guru and life partner, to talk about their journey to Portland, and what it's like as the personal chef to an NBA player. 

Right at the Fork is supported by:

Toro Bravo Inc:  www.torobravoinc.com Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingsideSteakHouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com