Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016

Here’s a look at the Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 brunch bites and bloody mary contenders for the Bloody Mary Smackdown. I have previously recapped the Portland Monthly Country Brunch when I attended last year in 2015, the year before in 2014, and then in 2013. If you haven’t heard of this event before, it’s an annual event, now in it’s fifth year, that benefits Zenger Farm.

Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Last year's winner of the Bloody Mary Smackdown Raven and Rose returns with the Full Bloody Irish that includes a Bloody Mary topped with Oregon made (Agrarian Ales) Irish Stout AND bites of a Irish Breakfast for garnish and wins the 2016 Judge's Choice and People's Choice

This year was the first one where the event setup did not have tables and chairs, which left people trying to find room to stand at the hightop cocktail tables or a few stone counters that were placed on top of garbage cans (so you throw your garbage into the center of it where the hole is). Of you were very lucky you might sit really low at a handful of round ottomans with a few end tables. It was that or awkwardly balancing their food and drink standing. The comfortable seating for everyone at previous events was specifically one of the pros for me, and now that advantage is gone. I was lucky in that since I had a VIP ticket that let me an hour before regular tickets, I was the first to grab a chair and part of a small low end table in a corner by the entrance, farthest away from all food and which I shared with a family that included 3 generations. The event is  family friendly since you can buy tickets for food only, and those under 3 years old are free, but it’s hard to agree it’s comfortable for a family with next to no seating.
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Spring Kale Salad from Milk Glass Mrkt with Farm Kale Mix, French Lentils, Garlic Dates Pickled Red Onions, and Savory Granola Tossed in a Creamy Sunflower Dressing plus Grain & Gristle's Bloody Mary Smackdown contender of Beet'n to a Bloody Pulp with Pureed Beets, Tomato Juice, OJ, Old Bay, Portland Ketchup Company Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco Horseradish Pepper, Bacon Rim and Pickles Spear

The lines for some of the food participants snaked through an entire section of the outdoor area – I’m not sure why they thought to put 5 of the 6 food participants all in one place as they tried to cook and plate dishes while the beverage booths and high tables but otherwise empty space  took up the largest area, inside Castaway. Without seats, people tended to go as soon as they were done eating and drinking, so no more feel to relax and listen to the live music (this year by June Bugs) or a little dancing in front of the stage like in previous years. The June Bugs were fun, performing some folk rock interpretations of some modern pop songs now and then.
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016, live music provided by the June Bugs

The main positive is as always that the bloody marys were carefully crafted and were done quickly with a lot if prep work done before. There was never a line of more than a half dozen people in the way to get a Bloody Mary. And, the photo booth station this year by BedMart and Phototainment did inspire some hilarious poses
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Photo Booth sponsored by BedMart

The six restaurants and food carts offering brunch bites include

  • Screen Door offered my favorite of the brunch bites, Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 – Brunch Bite by Screen Door of Shrimp & Grits, wild caught gulf shrimp sauteed with country ham, garlic, tomato, and white wine over parmesan spoon bread
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Brunch Bite by Screen Door of Shrimp & Grits, wild caught gulf shrimp sauteed with country ham, garlic, tomato, and white wine over parmesan spoon bread Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Brunch Bite by Screen Door of Shrimp & Grits, wild caught gulf shrimp sauteed with country ham, garlic, tomato, and white wine over parmesan spoon bread Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Brunch Bite by Screen Door of Shrimp & Grits, wild caught gulf shrimp sauteed with country ham, garlic, tomato, and white wine over parmesan spoon bread Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Brunch Bite by Screen Door of Shrimp & Grits, wild caught gulf shrimp sauteed with country ham, garlic, tomato, and white wine over parmesan spoon bread
  • Broder always does a nice tablescape presentation whenever they are at these food events, which I appreciate. They brought warm fresh aebelskivers with lingonberry which you can watch them making right behind the table. Definitely my second favorite of the brunch bites.
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - tablescape by Broder for the aebelskivers with lingonberry Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Broder of a warm fresh aebelskivers with lingonberry Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Broder of a warm fresh aebelskivers with lingonberry Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Broder of a warm fresh aebelskivers with lingonberry Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Broder of a warm fresh aebelskivers with lingonberry
  • The Dump Truck had the longest line of all the food vendors where you had a choice of 2 dumplings from the menu of Mr Ma’s Special (a pork with green onion and ginger), Bacon Cheeseburger, Down2Earth (vegetarian with portabella and rice noodles with ginger), Potato Curry (vegetarian malaysian style with yellow curry), or the Dump Truck Breakfast with egg, jack cheese, seasoned sausage, red pepper and chive which is what I got to go with the breakfast theme, and since I’ve already tried the others at their usual truck location by SW 12th and Alder.
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by The Dump Truck where you had a choice of 2 dumplings from the menu of Mr Ma's Special (a pork with green onion and ginger), Bacon Cheeseburger, Down2Earth (vegetarian with portabella and rice noodles with ginger), Potato Curry (vegetarian malaysian style with yellow curry), or the Dump Truck Breakfast with egg, jack cheese, seasoned sausage, red pepper and chive Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by The Dump Truck where you had a choice of 2 dumplings from the menu of Mr Ma's Special (a pork with green onion and ginger), Bacon Cheeseburger, Down2Earth (vegetarian with portabella and rice noodles with ginger), Potato Curry (vegetarian malaysian style with yellow curry), or the Dump Truck Breakfast with egg, jack cheese, seasoned sausage, red pepper and chive Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by The Dump Truck 2 dumplings of Dump Truck Breakfast with egg, jack cheese, seasoned sausage, red pepper and chive
  • Pip’s Original Doughnuts offered a sample of two of their mini doughnuts, a Raw Honey and Sea Salt doughnut and a Meyer Lemon and Pear Butter doughnut, a sample of either their Smoky Robinson Chai or Heart of Gold Chai
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Pip's Doughnuts of their Raw Honey and Sea Salt doughnut and a Meyer Lemon and Pear Butter doughnut, with a sample of either their Smoky Robinson Chai or Heart of Gold Chai Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Pip's Doughnuts of their Raw Honey and Sea Salt doughnut and a Meyer Lemon and Pear Butter doughnut, with a sample of either their Smoky Robinson Chai or Heart of Gold Chai Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Pip's Doughnuts of their Raw Honey and Sea Salt doughnut and a Meyer Lemon and Pear Butter doughnut, with a sample of either their Smoky Robinson Chai or Heart of Gold Chai Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - brunch bite by Pip's Doughnuts of their Raw Honey and Sea Salt doughnut and a Meyer Lemon and Pear Butter doughnut, with a sample of either their Smoky Robinson Chai or Heart of Gold Chai
  • Milk Glass Mrkt offered a nice break from the mostly sweet brunch bites with the Spring Kale Salad from Milk Glass Mrkt with Farm Kale Mix, French Lentils, Garlic Dates Pickled Red Onions, and Savory Granola Tossed in a Creamy Sunflower Dressing that was vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Spring Kale Salad from Milk Glass Mrkt with Farm Kale Mix, French Lentils, Garlic Dates Pickled Red Onions, and Savory Granola Tossed in a Creamy Sunflower Dressing is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Spring Kale Salad from Milk Glass Mrkt with Farm Kale Mix, French Lentils, Garlic Dates Pickled Red Onions, and Savory Granola Tossed in a Creamy Sunflower Dressing is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free
  • Batter PDX Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Brunch Bite of Maple Bacon Pancakes (although this is clearly a waffle…) from Batter Griddle & Drinkery
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Brunch Bite of Maple Bacon Pancakes (hey that's what the sign said even though it's clearly a waffle) from Batter Griddle & Drinkery Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Brunch Bite of Maple Bacon Pancakes from Batter Griddle & Drinkery (hey that's what the sign said even though it's clearly a waffle)

Meanwhile, the seven competitors for the Bloody Mary Smackdown (the vodka is from Crater Lake Spirits) include

  • Raven & Rose (2015’s Judges’ Choice Winner) returns with the Full Bloody Irish that includes a Bloody Mary topped with Oregon made (Agrarian Ales) Irish Stout AND bites of a Irish Breakfast for garnish
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Last year's winner of the Bloody Mary Smackdown Raven and Rose returns with the Full Bloody Irish that includes a Bloody Mary topped with Oregon made (Agrarian Ales) Irish Stout AND bites of a Irish Breakfast for garnish Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Last year's winner of the Bloody Mary Smackdown Raven and Rose returns with the Full Bloody Irish that includes a Bloody Mary topped with Oregon made (Agrarian Ales) Irish Stout AND bites of a Irish Breakfast for garnish
    Once again they won Judge’s Choice, and they were the People’s Choice winner too for 2016.Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Last year's winner of the Bloody Mary Smackdown Raven and Rose returns with the Full Bloody Irish that includes a Bloody Mary topped with Oregon made (Agrarian Ales) Irish Stout AND bites of a Irish Breakfast for garnish
  • Pizza Jerk just a stack of pizzas ready to be warmed in the oven and then serve as garnish for their Pizza Mary that has a slice of pizza chilling in a sauced up bloody mary that took cues from pizza tomato sauce.
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - just a stack of pizzas ready to be warmed in the oven and then serve as garnish for Pizza Jerk's Pizza Mary that has a slice of pizza chilling in a sauced up bloody mary Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - pizzas warmed in the oven and then serve as garnish for Pizza Jerk's Pizza Mary that has a slice of pizza chilling in a sauced up bloody mary Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - pizzas warmed in the oven and then serve as garnish for Pizza Jerk's Pizza Mary that has a slice of pizza chilling in a sauced up bloody mary Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - pizzas warmed in the oven and then serve as garnish for Pizza Jerk's Pizza Mary that has a slice of pizza chilling in a sauced up bloody mary
  • Grain & Gristle Bloody Mary Smackdown entry of the Beet’n to a Bloody Pulp with Pureed Beets, Tomato Juice, OJ, Old Bay, Portland Ketchup Company Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco Horseradish Pepper, Bacon Rim and Pickles Spear
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Grain & Gristle's Bloody Mary Smackdown entry of the Beet'n to a Bloody Pulp with Pureed Beets, Tomato Juice, OJ, Old Bay, Portland Ketchup Company Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco Horseradish Pepper, Bacon Rim and Pickles Spear Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Grain & Gristle's Bloody Mary Smackdown entry of the Beet'n to a Bloody Pulp with Pureed Beets, Tomato Juice, OJ, Old Bay, Portland Ketchup Company Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco Horseradish Pepper, Bacon Rim and Pickles Spear
  • Besaw’s Maria en Verde, with under ripened green tomatoes used to make a green bloody mary garnished with a smoked oyster
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Bloody Mary Smackdown contender Besaw's with Maria en Verde, with under ripened green tomatoes used to make a green bloody mary garnished with a smoked oyster Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Bloody Mary Smackdown contender Besaw's with Maria en Verde, with under ripened green tomatoes used to make a green bloody mary garnished with a smoked oyster Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Bloody Mary Smackdown contender Besaw's with Maria en Verde, with under ripened green tomatoes used to make a green bloody mary garnished with a smoked oyster
  • Boke Bowl presented the Boke Bloody Mary that feature stheir Hot Boke Sauce, Fish Sauce, Housemade Pickles, and Boke’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken (available spicy or extra spicy). I’ve been to Boke Bowl brunch before, and the one at the actual restaurant is pretty impressive in terms of garnish
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Boke Bowl presented the Boke Bloody Mary that feature stheir Hot Boke Sauce, Fish Sauce, Housemade Pickles, and Boke's Buttermilk Fried Chicken (available spicy or extra spicy)
  • My Father’s Place Blood Sucker, a housemade bloody mary mix infused with cilantro and garlic and with lots of aleppo pepper for smokiness in the garnish
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Blood Sucker, a housemade bloody mary mix infused with cilantro and garlic and with lots of aleppo pepper for smokiness in the garnish from Bloody Mary Smackdown contender My Father's Place Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Blood Sucker, a housemade bloody mary mix infused with cilantro and garlic and with lots of aleppo pepper for smokiness in the garnish from Bloody Mary Smackdown contender My Father's Place Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Blood Sucker, a housemade bloody mary mix infused with cilantro and garlic and with lots of aleppo pepper for smokiness in the garnish from Bloody Mary Smackdown contender My Father's Place
  • Woodsman Tavern wins for most impressive display with their many many bottles of Bottle Conditioned Bloody Mary with Potato Vodka, Amontillado Shery, Tomato Juice, and Woodsman Secret Bloody Mix with a pepperoni stick
    Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - The Woodsman Tavern brought a Bottle Conditioned Bloody Mary with Potato Vodka, Amontillado Shery, Tomato Juice, and Woodsman Secret Bloody Mix with a pepperoni stick Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - The Woodsman Tavern brought a Bottle Conditioned Bloody Mary with Potato Vodka, Amontillado Shery, Tomato Juice, and Woodsman Secret Bloody Mix with a pepperoni stick Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - The Woodsman Tavern brought a Bottle Conditioned Bloody Mary with Potato Vodka, Amontillado Shery, Tomato Juice, and Woodsman Secret Bloody Mix with a pepperoni stick

For dessert, or to relieve your palate from the spicy bloody marys, Crispin Cider offered Honey Crisp Floats with Crispin Cider’s Honey Crisp Cider and ice cream
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Honey Crisp Floats with Crispin Cider's Honey Crisp Cider and ice cream Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Honey Crisp Floats with Crispin Cider's Honey Crisp Cider and ice cream Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Honey Crisp Floats with Crispin Cider's Honey Crisp Cider and ice cream

To sober up, Coava Coffee was present with David Mancia coffee sourced from Honduras
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Coava Coffee Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Coava Coffee Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Coava Coffee brought David Mancia single sourced from Honduras

Additionally, a booth from New Seasons Market sponsor offered Mimosa Gummies, made of orange juice, cava, and grassfed beef gelatin and non alcoholic beverage options of Urban Moonshine Digestive Bitters + Owls Brew Pink and Black Tea Minxer + La Croix Sparkling Water + Lime, and also an option of Urban Moonshine Energy Tonic + Hot Lips Ginger Soda
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Mimosa Gummies presented by New Seasons, made of orange juice, cava, and grassfed beef gelatin Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Urban Moonshine Digestive Bitters + Owls Brew Pink and Black Tea Minxer + La Croix Sparkling Water + Lime, presented by New Seasons Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 Urban Moonshine Energy Tonic + Hot Lips Ginger Soda, presented by New Seasons

Sunshine Dairy also offered two extra beverages, chocolate martinis using Sunshine Dairy and Moon struck Chocolate collaboration full milk Drinking Chocolate.
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sunshine Dairy booth offering two chocolate beverages, this one is the Moonstruck Chocolate Martini with chilled drinking chocolate Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sunshine Dairy booth offering two chocolate beverages, this one is the Moonstruck Chocolate Martini with chilled drinking chocolate Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sunshine Dairy booth offering two chocolate beverages, this one is the Moonstruck Chocolate Martini with chilled drinking chocolate Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sunshine Dairy booth offering two chocolate beverages, this one is the Moonstruck Chocolate Martini with chilled drinking chocolate and hazelnut espresso

Most importantly, Sunshine Dairy brought Sandy, Sunshine Dairy’s newest fuzzy friend at only six weeks old and 90 pounds from an organic dairy farm.
Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sandy, Sunshine Dairy's newest fuzzy friend Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sandy, Sunshine Dairy's newest fuzzy friend Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sandy, Sunshine Dairy's newest fuzzy friend Portland Monthly Country Brunch 2016 - Sandy, Sunshine Dairy's newest fuzzy friend

If some of these bloody marys got you excited and thirsty, there is a new event this year, the Kachka Bloody Mary Bloc Party, that is happening this Sunday May 1, 2016 from 11 AM – 3 PM that also includes brunch bites and housemade bloody marys from

The cost is $30 ticket (buy your tickets here) and is good for a shot of Kachka Horseradish Vodka when you first check in to get your passport in your souvenir shot class. Then the passport is good for one mini bloody mary and one brunch bite at each of the five location with a closing rally at Bit House Saloon from 2 – 3 PM for your vote (votes must be in by 2:30 PM) to hear the winner of the “Best Bloody Mary on Grand.” The first 75 people to purchase a ticket, like myself, also get a Kachka Trucker Hat. I can’t wait to model mine during the event.

I’ll be there!

Do you enjoy bloody marys, and if so what is your favorite bloody mary joint in Portland? If bloody mary is not your brunch beverage of choice, what is?

Signature

Comments

  1. Portland does love its brunch – it’s too bad that they didn’t have tables and chairs this year though! Also, how cool that the event benefited Zenger Farms. I volunteered there a few years ago, and it is such a great urban farm!

  2. Once again looks like a great party with a bunch of great food – I love Zenger Farms!

  3. Screen Door. I must go there. Enjoy your weekend, Pech!

  4. Oh my goodness, so much goodness at once! I had to do a double take on those bacon maple “pancakes” as well. They look so good, but why are they not waffles?? And Sandy is adorable! My daughter had a working field trip out to Zenger Farms and it was so much fun! Such a great organization.

  5. Food truck heaven! I guess the seating was so limited because they expected people to walk and eat and mingle at same time.

  6. The paper goods… GAH! Love the color scheme, font choice… so perfect for a brunch event. The presentation is heads and shoulders above what I’ve seen at other food events. It does bum me out that it wasn’t more comfortable, especially with all those amazing things to enjoy and a live band. But, it looks like it was a tasty day for you. (Also, pizza on a bloody mary be still my heart.)

    • I love the two sides for the bloody mary punchcard and the brunch bites punchcard too – not only decoratively, but that it lets you know ahead of time what all the vendors and food/drink options are and what you’ve had to track it!

    • You guys!! I designed this event collateral last year. I was just searching for images for my portfolio and i’m SO HAPPY TO HAVE STUMBLED UPON THESE NICE THINGS YOU ALL SAID!! xoxoxox

      • Well, now you know how much we liked the designs!! They were super cute, I was a little sad I had to turn in my punch card in order to get my vote in because I sorta wanted to keep it for my scrapbook!

Speak Your Mind

*