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It's an irresistibly spicy week that threatens to knock you over with flavors from all around the world. Kick off the week with festivities from La Ruta, a gastronomic food festival devoted to showcasing the best of Spain, and round it out with a pop ups or Feastly dinner.
From intricate Japanese meals to a Spanish festival and a very twisted Filipino dinner, it's finally time to celebrate the diverse range of potent flavors summer has to offer.
Thursday, July 13
A Summertime Whiskey Wash
Brix's Whiskey Wash brings a variety of whiskey-makers together and pairs them with complimentary summertime bites to help you soak up all the booze. Expect to see local distillers like Indio Spirits alongside Basil Hayden, French oak-aged Maker's 46 and Old Forester's Prohibition-themed "Whiskey Row" series. The bites include a sweet-bourbon rotisserie pork leg, though you'll probably be too busy trying to adjust to all the whiskey you've just knocked back to notice much. Brix Tavern, 1338 NW Hoyt St., brixtavern.com. 5 PM, Tickets $35.
Rosé All Day with Katherine Cole
Why just read a book about rosé when you can get the book's author to pour you a whole bunch of them to taste? Oregonian critic wine-writing grande dame Katherine Cole will be hosting a tasting at the venerable SE Wine Collective to guide 20 lucky people (first come, first serve) through all things summery and rosé. The tasting includes 6-8 wines along with a copy of Cole's latest book, also titled Rosé All Day. SE Wine Collective, 2425 SE 35th Pl, sewinecollective.com. 6PM. Tickets $35.
I Love Cats. And Drinking
The happy-hour party Portland deserves is finally here, and it's—wait for it—cat-themed. Get wasted to the tune of all things feline and meow your favorite songs in Meoweoke, or indulge in one of the plentiful cat-themed drink specials while watching some cat-centric standup comedy. There's also a "Drunk Cat Story" in play along with a raffle put on by Voodoo Donuts and the promise of gift packs with handmade catnip toys at stake. What are you still waiting for? Tryst, 19 SW 2nd Ave. bartryst.com. Every Thursday from 5-8 PM, $2.
Friday, June 14
La Ruta Ambassador Dinner Series
A gastronomic festival devoted to celebrating the culinary culture of Spain, La Ruta PDX is composed of a series of events that'll take place from the 13th to the 16th of July. One of their tastiest looking events is their Ambassador Dinner series, in which $150 gets you a seat and drinks at a private dinner put on by some of Spain's best chefs and winemakers. Participating locations include Bar Casa Vale, Urdaneta, Toro Bravo, Park Avenue Wines and the sold out Can Font. The sold-out Toro Bravo dinner is of special interest: hosted by chef Jordi Parra (of Michelin star elBulli fame) along with the promise of ample wine from winemaker Xavier Esteve, it's shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind culinary experience that's actually worth the price tag. La Ruta PDX, various locations, larutapdx.com. 6:30 pm,. $150.
Twisted Filipino Dinner #5
Thanks to the folks over at Feastly chefs are finding new, more intimate ways to connect with their audiences all across town. Hosted by Clyde Common's Carlo Lamagna, the Twisted Filipino dinner is an exploration of Filipino cuisine that promises food prepared from a menu with "no boundaries or borders". Expect small, refined plates like Sinigang, a Filipino stew with shellfish, taro and tamarind, along with a Pork Cheek Adobo main lovingly paired with chicharrons, to kick your senses into overdrive. Twisted Filipino Dinner, inner SE Portland (location TBD), eatfeastly.com. 7 pm. $55
Saturday, July 15
Bastille Day
In honor of the day angry, hungry French people stormed the Bastille, Portland's Alliance Francaise will hold their 11th annual waiter's race in which angry, hungry local servers run really fast while balancing water on a tray. Also! Zydeco music, petanque, and shit-tons of wine and Hardy Cognac and French snacks from St. Honore bakery, C'est Si Bon! creperie and others. Jameson Square, 810 NW 11th Ave. Noon-6 pm. Free.
Jamaican Taste Pop Up
In Boston, chef Robert Bryant was the cook for every Jamaican band that rolled through town. He makes everything from scratch right down to the jerk spice for his chicken, plus lightly breaded fish cakes and habanero aioli. Balance out the heat with sweet fried plantains or a vegan slaw, and nab some curried beef pasties on your way out. Jamaican Taste PDX Pop-up, The Beer Mongers, 5 PM.
Pinot, Pork and Port
This holy trinity of P's is brought to you by Hip Chicks do Wine, the warehouse-turned-winery tucked away in Southeast Portland. Expect food and drink pairings to complement the rich, earthy flavors of Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and a Tempranillo Port, just to keep things extra fancy. There's live music and plenty of pork up for grabs including a pork tenderloin with a port/fig reduction and pulled pork served with an apricot chutney. $15 gets you a taste of 3 wines and the port along with the bites. Hip Chicks Do Wine, 4510 SE 23rd Ave, squareup.com/store/hip-chicks-do-wine. 2 pm. $15.
Sunday, July 16
La Ruta Tastes Of Spain
La Ruta culminates with a free for all final "Taste of Spain" event in which local chefs, winemakers and artisans team up to show Portland what Spain is really all about. Get your fancy meat and cheeses on with bites from Pollo Bravo, Ox, Clyde Common, Urdanata and more–all while being serenaded with live Flemenco music and sipping on some quality wine, of course. Tastes Of Spain, Director Park, 877 SW Park St, larutapdx.com. VIP 12pm. General Admission 1 PM, $20 for kids, $65 adult
Summer Turkish Feast
Do you know anything about Turkish food other than the fact they serve doner kebabs? Do you want to? If you want to become better acquainted with real Turkish food—the likes of which are scarce around town—check out Chef Umut Matkap's four course Summer Turkish Feast. Expect family style recipes influenced by Matkap's native Antakya like summer mezze platters laden with artichokes, eggplant, bulgur and hummus. Finish off your evening with a helping of halva, a soft candy made of sesame paste with caramelized nuts, and thank your lucky stars you decided to try something new today. Summer Turkish Feast. Tickets at eatfeastly.com. 6:30 PM, $43.
National Ice Cream Day
Did someone say free ice cream? The folks behind Salt & Straw are celebrating National Ice Cream Day by throwing a city-wide series of giveaways at all of their Portland locations that include free pints, merch and plenty of tasting flights. Did you think the lines were long when pints cost $9? Just you wait. No seriously: Wait. Salt & Straw, various locations, saltandstraw.com. All day, free.
Monday, July 17
Fukami Omakase Japanese Pop Up
Indulge in Japanese haute cuisine on with chef Cody Auger's new Fukami pop up at East Burnside's Davenport. After closing Fukami Sushiya down in February 2017, chef Auger vowed to bring Fukami back to Portland in high style, launching the Fukami pop up back in March. The elaborate 17-19 course meal fuses together seasonal Pacific Northwest staples and Japanese food together in perfect harmony. Served in modern kaiseki style, the meal starts off with light bites before moving to heavier items like nigri. Fukami Omakase pop up, Davenport, 2215 East Burnside Street, eatfeastly.com. 7 PM, $95. Drinks not included.
Berries With Friends At Han Oak
In an ongoing effort to make Monday nights even more awesome, Han Oak is pairing up with Rubinette Produce for two special berry-themed nights to kick off berry season. Indulge in all things berry with a berry tasting bar along with specialty cocktails and infused drinks from Smith Tea. Now add in time spent shoveling savory dumplings and desserts made by Tusk's resident pastry queen, Nora Antene, into your mouth, and you've got one satisfying night on your hands. Han Oak, 511 NE 24th Ave, hanoakpdx.com. 5 PM, free.
Tuesday, July 18
N.O.E.L Dinings Gnocchi Night
Making good gnocchi from scratch is no easy feat, which is exactly why you should leave it to the professionals. Take your boring Tuesday night and spice it up with this gnocchi Feastly dinner in which the delectable hand-rolled dumpling is paired with plenty of fresh produce and an-oh-so floral dessert to boot. You can also add on a wine flight for $25 or a mocktail flight for $15 if you're so inclined, but isn't a mouthful of cheesy, carby goodness enough to soothe even the most savage of souls? N.O.E.L Dinings Gnocchi Night, Inner Southeast Portland, eatfeastly.com. Seatings at 6 and 8 PM, $48.
Ayurvedic Foods Cooking Class
I appreciate a healthy dose of tasty daal and tumeric as much as the next girl, and the goal of the event—to learn how to use spices to manage health issues—is nice and noble. But for $65 these had better be the most ravishing "glowing greens" this world has ever seen. This plant-based cooking class is run by a "Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Educator", which may sound dubious, but promises to teach you how to make fresh cheese, which is amply delicious. Nourishing the Body with Ayurvedic Foods Cooking Class, Nourish Northwest, 4418 SE Hawthorne Blvd, nourishnorthwest.com. 6:30 PM, $65. -JANELLE ALBUKHARI.