SE Wine Collective’s Unofficial Feast Kick-Off Happy Hour

What: Kickstart your Feast festivities at SE Wine Collective with complimentary wine flights. Attendees will also receive a peek at the wine harvest process at this local urban winery.
When: Thursday, September 19 from 5 to 7 pm.
Where: SE Wine Collective, 2425 SE 35th Place.
How Much: Free to attend. Call 503-208-2061 for more information.

Feast Cookbook Social

What: Chat with 18 celebrated cookbook authors at the first-ever Feast cookbook social. Local and national authors will be on hand to sell and sign books, with participants including Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon), Karen Brooks (The Mighty Gastropolis), and Makini Howell (Plum). The Heathman’s Michael Stanton will provide Northwest-inspired small bites and beverages.
When: Friday, September 20 from 2 to 4 pm.
Where: The Heathman Restaurant & Bar, 1001 SW Broadway St.
How Much: A suggested donation of $5 per person will be donated to Feast partner charities.

Bushwhacker 3rd Anniversary Party 

What: Sip all sorts of cider at this all-day celebration at the nation’s first cider tap house.  Attendees will sample ciders, savor sausages made with Bushwhacker Cider, enjoy live music by local singer-songwriters, and play Cornhole on Bushwhacker’s brand new boards. Other community cider makers, including 2 Towns, Outcider, and Bull Run, will be pouring free samples from 3-6 pm.
When: Saturday, September 21 from 12 pm to 12 am. 
Where: Bushwhacker Cidery, 1212-D SE Powell St.
How Much: Free to attend. More information here. 

Springwater Farm Farmers’ Market Tasting Menu

What: Sample a market-inspired tasting menu at the Springwater Farm’s farmers’ market booth at this unofficial Feast pop-up. For one day only, the booth will offer samples of three small plate selections, with offerings rotating throughout the day. Breakfast samples will begin at 9 am, and the menu will switch to brunch and finally lunch fare as the day progresses.
When: Saturday, September 21 from 9 am to 2 pm.
Where:  Portland Farmers’ Market, 1717 SW Park Ave.
How Much: $4 gets you one generous tasting, or $10 for all three.

Pacific Pie FEAST Hangover Brunch

What:  Recover from the decadence of FEAST at this restorative Australian-style brunch. Pacific Pie will over a Pop-Up Aussie Hangover Brunch, which includes a delicious “pie floater,” a dose of Berocca (an Aussie hangover drink), unlimited Portland Roasting coffee, a drink at the Bloody Mary bar, and a surprise dessert. Proceeds will be donated to Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon.
When: Saturday, September 22 from 9 am to 12 pm.
Where: Pacific Pie Co, 1520 SE 7^th Ave
How Much: $25 includes all the aforementioned goodies. Call 503-381-6157 to make reservations. 

5 Moles and 5 Mezcals at Xico

What: Brush up on your mole history with Chef Abel Hernandez. The founder of “Mexican Cuisine Resistance” will prepare a dinner featuring five essential moles paired with flights of mezcales rarely seen in Oregon.
When: Tuesday, September 24 from 5 to 10 pm.
Where: Xico, 3715 SE Division St.
How Much: $75 per person. Call 503-548-6343 or email [email protected] to reserve tickets.

First to Market at the James Beard Public Market

What: Become a founding friend of the James Beard Public Market at this festive preview of the future James Beard Public Market. Attendees will sample regional wines, bites, and microbrews, and hear from speakers including Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury.
When: Friday, September 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. (VIP pre-event reception 4:30 to 5:30 pm.)
Where: 433 SW Naito Parkway & Stark, under the big-top tent.
How Much: $25 for general admission, $250 for admission to the VIP pre-event reception at Hotel Rose. Advanced tickets are required and are available here.

2013 Pacific Northwest Brew Cup

What: Drink your fill of more than 36 regional beers while enjoying an array of food, family games, and majestic views of the mighty Columbia River. This three-day festival along Astoria’s historic waterfront will also feature live music from Portland, Pendleton, Astoria and Boise.
When: Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29. Hours vary by day.
Where: Barbey Maritime Center, 1792 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon
How Much: Free to attend. Tastings and souvenir glasses for purchase on site. Visit the event page for more information.

Harvest Market at Cristom Vineyards

What: Enjoy a flight of Cristom wine and sample products from Northwest growers, bakers, culinary specialists, and artists at this first annual pop-up market. A portion of the day’s wine sales will benefit iSalud!, a non-profit that provides healthcare access for Oregon's seasonal vineyard workers.
When: Saturday, September 28 from 11 am to 3 pm.
Where: Cristom Vineyards, 6905 NW Spring Valley Road in Salem
How Much: $15 includes a flight of wine, vendor samples, and a raffle ticket. To purchase tickets, call 503-375-3068 or email [email protected].

Hillsdale Paella Dinner

What: Break a state record by attending Oregon’s largest paella dinner. Guests can snack on tapas, fresh breads and wine as Chef Greg Schwab of Seasons & Regions prepares the paella in a 5-foot pan. (Vegan paella also available.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Neighborhood House’s food box program.
When: Saturday, September 28 from 6 to 9 pm.
Where: Fanno Creek Clinic Parking Lot, 2400 SW Vermont St.
How Much: $90 per person. Tickets and more information available here. 

Help End Childhood Hunger at Irving Street Kitchen

What: Support efforts to end child hunger by attending this exclusive collaborative dinner. Irving Street Kitchen’s Chef Sarah Schafer will prepare the meal with four respected regional chefs, and guests will be able to view the kitchen via a live feed projected into the dining room. The event will also feature a musical performance by Rita Wilson and a cocktail reception, and proceeds will be donated to Share Our Strength, a non-profit working to end child hunger in America.
When: Monday, September 30 from 6 to 9:30 pm.  
Where:  Irving Street Kitchen, 701 NW 13th Ave
How Much: $250 per person, with tables available for four and eight. Buy tickets online or by calling 415-326-3767. 

Sauvie Island Center’s Farm to City Benefit

What: Eat your way through the Sauvie Island Center’s education curriculum at this kick off event for National Farm to School Month. Each farm-fresh appetizer is assembled by local chefs, uses local ingredients, and represents a part of the farm-based curriculum. The event will also offer fresh specialty cocktails and Ruby Jewel ice cream.
When: Wednesday, October 2 from 6 to 8 pm.
Where:  The Ecotrust rooftop, 721 NW 9th Av.
How Much: $30 includes food and roof access. Widmer Brothers beer, local wine, and specialty cocktails available for purchase. Buy your tickets here.

Great American Distillers Festival

What: Taste handcrafted rum, bourbon, whisky, vodka and gin at this celebration of American spirits. The festival also boasts a mixology contest, a lesson in cooking with spirits, live music and dancing, and much more.
When: Friday, October 4 from 5 to 10 pm and Saturday, October 5 from 1 to 10 pm.
Where:  Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St.
How Much: $20 includes a one-day pass with 10 tasting tickets. Purchase tickets here. Attendees must be 21 and over. 

Bees & Seeds Festival

What:  Salute seed savers, pay tribute to bees, and enjoy music, entertainment, and educational activities for all ages at this World Food Day celebration. Don’t miss Holladay Park’s temporary transformation into an urban farm bursting with local, organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO crops, including fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, grains, and beans.
When: Saturday, October 12 from 10 am to 2 pm.
Where:  Holladay Park, NE 11th Ave and Holladay St.
How Much: Free—event attendees are encouraged to bring non-GMO cans and dried food to support a food drive for the Sunshine Division.

Sugar Skull Decorating Class

What: Satisfy your sweet tooth and your crafty side with this Dia de Los Muertos event. Pastry chef Mindy Keith will teach her students to decorate candy skulls with brightly colored icing, dried chiles, and more. Attendees will be treated to hot chocolate, chocolate con mescal, and pan de muerto, and will leave with a hand-decorated skull.
When: Tuesday, October 15 from 6 to 8 pm.
Where:  Xico, 3715 SE Division St.
How Much: $35 includes snacks, decorations, and two sugar skulls. Call 503-548-6343 or email [email protected] to reserve a spot.

Restaurant Beck and Departure’s Land Dinner

What:  Feast on the freshly foraged bounty of the Northwest’s autumn harvest at this five-course celebration of food from the land. The dinner, the second in a two-part “Land and Sea” collaboration between Departure’s Gregory Gourdet and Restaurant Beck’s Justin Wills, features premiere game meats, fall produce, and forest-foraged ingredients including pine sap, birch crumble, and juniper branches.
When: Thursday, October 17 at 7 pm.
Where:  Departure Restaurant + Lounge, 525 SW Morrison St.
How Much: $72 per person. Call 503-802-5371 to make reservations.

Portland Fermentation Festival

What:  Taste and share homemade live, fermented food and drinks made by professionals and home fermentation enthusiasts. In addition to sampling miso, kefir, mead, cheese, pickles, and more, attendees can swap recipes, enjoy music by DJ Pickle Barrel, and meet Sandor Ellix Katz, author of Wild Fermentation.
When: Wednesday, October 23 from 6 to 9:30 pm.
Where:  Ecotrust’s Billy Frank Jr. Conference Center,  721 NW 9th Ave.
How Much: $10 includes a tasting session, $20 includes a tasting and a talk by Sandor Ellix Katz. Tickets and more information available here.

Know about a great event coming up that should be on our radar? Shoot me an email at [email protected] or give me a shout over on Twitter at @allisonejones. Now get out there and start eating!