Feast 2014 Recap of Tillamook Brunch Village

This is my final Feast 2014 recap. This year, Feast Portland  added a new Main event, which in retrospect to me seems so obvious: Tillamook Brunch Village! Portland does love brunch!
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village

Despite being four hours long, I definitely felt the 4 days of eating catching up to me, and I knew there was no way I was going to make it to visit all 12 chefs who were brunching it up for us during this event, even with its reasonable start of of basically lunch time (11 AM – 2 PM). I took a very leisurely approach. Also, because I was moving slower, though still taking mental notes for my recap of Tillamook Brunch Village that I knew I would be writing…

One thing I’ve learned from food festivals is that things that are popular are going to have a line, and if you think you can wait until there’s no line, you can take that risk… but you also risk that the chef will run out. I knew right away I needed to hit Aaron Franklin. But, there’s no reason to just go directly in line without some nourishment first! I went to the first chef I saw that had no line. and I added the additional filter that I wanted it to be someone who was not a Portland chef, which happened as it turned out, happened to be Butcher & Bee.

Greg Marks and Chelsey Conrad of Butcher & Bee, traveling in from Charleston, SC brought some southern hug for your tummy via Smoked lamb neck, Geechie Boy grits, okra and harissa jus.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Greg Marks and Chelsey Conrad of Butcher & Bee brought smoked lamb neck, Geechie Boy grits, okra and harissa jus Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Greg Marks and Chelsey Conrad of Butcher & Bee brought smoked lamb neck, Geechie Boy grits, okra and harissa jus Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Greg Marks and Chelsey Conrad of Butcher & Bee brought smoked lamb neck, Geechie Boy grits, okra and harissa jus Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Greg Marks and Chelsey Conrad of Butcher & Bee brought smoked lamb neck, Geechie Boy grits, okra and harissa jus Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Greg Marks and Chelsey Conrad of Butcher & Bee brought smoked lamb neck, Geechie Boy grits, okra and harissa jus

I was tempted by some cold brewed Stumptown coffee but worried it might ruin my palate, I decided I was ready to wait in line for you Aaron.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Stumptown bringing the cold brewed coffee Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Stumptown bringing the cold brewed coffee

And, the wait was soooo worth it for the Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina’s Tex Mex tortillas!
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!

And the brisket was hand sliced for you by Aaron himself. SQQQQUEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeee…..
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!

Yes, I’ve judged BBQ about 10 times or so for PNWBA and I can without a doubt say this was the best brisket I have ever had. I forced myself to tear my eyes away from Aaron and look at the brisket and tried not to take too blurry of a picture as I shook with excitement at looking at all the juicyness. Seriously,  I was wigging out.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!

I was reluctant to ruin the brisket with the sauce and avocado because I wanted to just taste it on its own, but this was Aaron’s vision so I accepted it.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!

I’m pretty sure I might have just disappeared on Spicy Bee and Ktams mid-conversation… I’m sorry! It was a lifetime food memory that needed to be captured immediately! Foodportunity called! I did go back looking for you… and then directly proceeded to the Bloody Mary Bar. I’m a terrible person.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!

Ha ha you can’t tell as you are reading this when I’m done, but I totally had to take a break after writing about this brisket and continue writing on another day.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas! Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue miracle from Austin, TX of Brisket! Breakfast Taco! With charred salsa and Valentina's Tex Mex tortillas!

I knew I couldn’t eat another bite so soon after that heavenly experience, so I decided to go for a drink. I climbed up the steps to the Whole Foods tent where Derek Johnson of Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar

Then it was off to the Whole Foods Bloody Mary Garnish Bar that included 25 some hot sauces including Marshalls Haute Sauce‘s Serrano Ginger Lemongrass and Red Chili Lime, half a dozen pickled items including the pickled Beatnik Beets from Unbound Pickling that are pickled with pomegranate and chai spice, smoked chicken wings and mini drumsticks, smoked oysters, various charcuterie from Olympic Provisions (I eat it so much that I can identify OP charcuterie almost immediately), Firefly kimchee, several Tillamook cheeses, bacon, and more various veggies for your skewer or directly into your glass…
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar that included Marshall's Haute SauceFeast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar

The result:
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Urban Farmer provided the Bloody Mary base and Whole Foods provided an amazeballs Bloody Mary Garnish Bar

I returned to the big tent, where I was shocked at the generous bite / whole breakfast that Black Seed Bagels had brought all the way from New York and freshly made in the oven of Duane Sorenson at Roman Candle. The Black Seed Bagel is a famous mash up of both a New York bagel and a Montreal bagel. Having been to both those cities in the past 6 months, I appreciated that the Black Seed bagel is soft like a New York style bagel but had the sweet melt in your mouth insides like a Montreal bagel.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Black Seed Bagels brings a mashup of a New York Style and Montreal bagel Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Black Seed Bagels brings a mashup of a New York Style and Montreal bagel Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Black Seed Bagels brings a mashup of a New York Style and Montreal bagel Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Black Seed Bagels brings a mashup of a New York Style and Montreal bagel Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Black Seed Bagels brings a mashup of a New York Style and Montreal bagel

Walt Alexander, Kevin Atchley, and Brian Snyder from Pine State Biscuits pleased the crowds with their classic Chatham biscuit sandwich with fried chicken, bacon and cheese topped with apple butter. I photographed but did not partake myself since I’ve enjoyed Pine State Biscuits for years, and didn’t want to take one of those biscuit sandwiches away from others who have not previously enjoyed.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Walt Alexander, Kevin Atchley, and Brian Snyder, Pine State Biscuits (Portland, OR) pleased the crowds with their classic Chatham biscuit sandwich with Fried chicken, bacon and cheese topped with apple butter

The same with another local favorite Lisa Schroeder of Mother’s Bistro & Bar who was the consummate professional and mother who never ran out and was superfast at doling out her delicious buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy to nourish the hungry masses. Also, was it me or did she look even younger than when I saw her just in June…
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Lisa Shroeder of Mother's Bistro was the consumate professional and mother who never ran out and was superfast at doling out her delicious buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Lisa Shroeder of Mother's Bistro was the consumate professional and mother who never ran out and was superfast at doling out her delicious buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy

The other big line besides that for Aaron Franklin was for Alvin Cailan of Eggslut from Los Angeles, CA. Eggslut impressed with both taste, presentation, and threw in a little audience interaction with Kimchee fried rice with Coddled Egg served in a silver tin that you would cover and shake up to break the egg and mix it in with the rice. I feel no shame at all that after a few bites I took my tin AND my friend’s tin home so I could eat it later for dinner.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Alvin Cailan of Eggslut from Los Angeles, CA who impressed with both taste, presentation, and threw in a little audience interaction with Kimchee fried rice with Coddled Egg served in a silver tin that you would cover and shake up to break the egg and mix it in with the rice Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Alvin Cailan of Eggslut from Los Angeles, CA who impressed with both taste, presentation, and threw in a little audience interaction with Kimchee fried rice with Coddled Egg served in a silver tin that you would cover and shake up to break the egg and mix it in with the rice Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Alvin Cailan of Eggslut from Los Angeles, CA who impressed with both taste, presentation, and threw in a little audience interaction with Kimchee fried rice with Coddled Egg served in a silver tin that you would cover and shake up to break the egg and mix it in with the rice Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Alvin Cailan of Eggslut from Los Angeles, CA who impressed with both taste, presentation, and threw in a little audience interaction with Kimchee fried rice with Coddled Egg served in a silver tin that you would cover and shake up to break the egg and mix it in with the rice

As the line for Eggslut wound around 1/3 of the tent, you couldn’t help but go by the Rosé Garden where 3 wineries offered tastes of their Rosé wine, including as pictured here Columbia Winery and not pictured Hawks View.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Columbia Winery at the Rosé Garden Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Columbia Winery at the Rosé Garden

After that delicious Eggslut dish, the beverage from Widmer Brothers Brewing and King Estate Wines who came together for the Hefemosa with Widmer Brothers Hefe, Orange Juice, and King Estate 2008 Blanc de Gris really hit the spot.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participants Widmer Brothers Brewing and King Estate Wines come together for the Hefemosa with Widmer Brothers Hefe, Orange Juice, and King Estate 2008 Blanc de Gris Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participants Widmer Brothers Brewing and King Estate Wines come together for the Hefemosa with Widmer Brothers Hefe, Orange Juice, and King Estate 2008 Blanc de Gris Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participants Widmer Brothers Brewing and King Estate Wines come together for the Hefemosa with Widmer Brothers Hefe, Orange Juice, and King Estate 2008 Blanc de Gris

And it worked well with the offering of Ethan Powell from The Parish who had a take on a fried ball of Shrimp and Grits and Quail Egg.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Ethan Powell from The Parish had a take on a fried ball of Shrimp and Grits and quail egg Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Ethan Powell from The Parish had a take on a fried ball of Shrimp and Grits and quail egg

Umm… I don’t know where this came from. I swear it was also from The Parish. Does anyone know?
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village berry snack

Then it was time to go sweet, starting with Teresa Sasse, Puddin’ River Chocolates & Wine Bar commuted in from Canby with her Salted Caramel Apple Bread Puddin’
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Teresa Sasse, Puddin' River Chocolates & Wine Bar (Canby, OR) and Salted Caramel Apple Bread Puddin Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Teresa Sasse, Puddin' River Chocolates & Wine Bar (Canby, OR) and Salted Caramel Apple Bread Puddin

A palate cleanser as Bendistillery brought a Pina Picante cocktail to help show off their spicy Crater Lake pepper vodka. And spicy things help kick up your metabolism right?!
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Bendistillery brought a Pina Picante using Crater Lake Pepper vodka Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Bendistillery brought a Pina Picante using Crater Lake Pepper vodka Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Bendistillery brought a Pina Picante using Crater Lake Pepper vodka Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Bendistillery brought a Pina Picante using Crater Lake Pepper vodka Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Bendistillery brought a Pina Picante using Crater Lake Pepper vodka

Josh Gregory, of Maggie’s on the Prom from Seaside, OR represented the Oregon Coast with Razor claim ceviche with huckleberries and hazelnuts and housemade kale chip
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Maggie's on the Prom from Seaside who represented the Oregon Coast with Razor claim ceviche with huckleberries and hazelnuts and housemade kale chip Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Maggie's on the Prom from Seaside who represented the Oregon Coast with Razor claim ceviche with huckleberries and hazelnuts and housemade kale chip

Mark Linebarger from Baldwin Saloon in The Dalles impressed with a Castle of Gorge nut bars filled with truffles and other sweet pastries in a beautiful presentation.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Mark Linebarger from Baldwin Saloon of The Dalles impressed with a Castle of Gorge nut bars filled with truffles Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Mark Linebarger from Baldwin Saloon of The Dalles impressed with a Castle of Gorge nut bars filled with truffles Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Mark Linebarger from Baldwin Saloon of The Dalles impressed with a Castle of Gorge nut bars filled with truffles

Tillamook, the awesome named sponsor of Brunch Village, gave everyone both the healthy and unhealthy options of yogurt with berries and granola or a sour cream and cheddar biscuit with a big smear of Tillamook compound butter (choice of fresh basil, garlic herb, or brown sugar masala). Guess what I went with.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village gave you both the healthy and unhealthy options of yogurt with berries and granola or a sour cream and cheddar biscuit with a big smear of Tillamook compound butter (choice of fresh basil, garlic herb, or brown sugar masala) Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village gave you both the healthy and unhealthy options of yogurt with berries and granola or a sour cream and cheddar biscuit with a big smear of Tillamook compound butter (choice of fresh basil, garlic herb, or brown sugar masala) Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village gave you both the healthy and unhealthy options of yogurt with berries and granola or a sour cream and cheddar biscuit with a big smear of Tillamook compound butter (choice of fresh basil, garlic herb, or brown sugar masala)

I washed down my butter and biscuit with Deschutes and a pour of beer Cultivateur, a collaboration between the Bend and Portland brewers of a saison aged in Pinot Casks with Brett.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Deschutes shared a pour of beer Cultivateur, a collaboration between the Bend and Portland brewers of a saisaon aged in Pinot Casks with Brett

I didn’t try this myself as I was waddling at this point, but Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes West brought Gingerbread Waffle with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Candied Pecans from Los Angeles.
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes West offered Gingerbread Waffle with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Candied Pecans

I never made it to visit Aaron Silverman and Mark Cockcroft of Tails & Trotters, and by the time I got to Adam Sappington of The Country Cat he had run out of his cinnamon buns topped with bacon pieces. Oh well. I also never had a single Bon Apetit cocktail! Time just flew by! At least Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte helped me finish with happy bubbles thanks to their Brut Rose
Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, (Chouilly, France) helped me finish with happy bubbles thanks to their Brut Rose Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, (Chouilly, France) helped me finish with happy bubbles thanks to their Brut Rose

One of the new sponsors this year, Dave’s Killer Bread, killed it by presenting every day new ideas on how to enjoy their bread. I had shared 2 chef recipes they had from Jenn Louis (with Hazel on a Mission with ricotta, fig, hazelnut and salt on Sprouted Wheat) and BJ Smith (with a Yellow Submarine with deviled egg salad, smoked tuna, and pickled mustard on 21 Whole Grains) at my Oregon Grand Bounty Tasting on Friday and Saturday Recap.

They were at it again at the Brunch Village where they presented both a sweet and savory recipe from their own in house chef! The Pesto-Change-o is simple basil pesto with heirloom tomatoes and an extra touch of capers to make this fancy enough to serve at your next wine party, while the Rad-berry Cocoa-nut is a dessert option with nutella, fresh berries, and coconut flake. For more recipes check out the recipes and interviews with the chefs at Dave’s Killer Bread Feast!

More coffee? Grab some Sorbenots Coffee and it’s time to go after a 4 hour brunch.
More coffee? Feast 2014, Tillamook Brunch Village participant Sorbenots Coffee

Like all of the Feast events, the net proceeds of the dinner went towards ending childhood hunger in Oregon through Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Share Our Strength.

This is my fourth recap of my adventures at Feast: my first was for the Oregon Grand Bounty Tasting on Friday and Saturday and my second was for the Sandwich Invitational, and then I did one for the State of the Art dinner.

For more recaps of the Brunch Village, check out some of my fellow bloggers’ posts like Ladies in Navy and Salt. Water. Coffee. and Cooking with B.S. and Love Rachel and In the Pink and Green!

Disclosure: I was granted a Blogger Pass for Feast Portland 2014 for blog post and social media coverage but I am not otherwise being compensated. I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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Avocado Pesto and more Avocado Awesomeness

Today is June 30, which marks the last day of June and therefore the last day of California Avocado Month. Of course, just because it’s the end of the celebratory month doesn’t mean you can’t keep using and enjoying avocados, particularly since California avocado season runs approximately from the middle of April through the middle of September. So you have plenty of time STILL ahead to enjoy the awesomeness of avocados.

As part of the celebration of California Avocado Month, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) worked with 15 chefs across the country to help inspire more ways to incorporate avocados in your meals. In Portland, the chef on this list is owner and chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother’s Bistro.
The World's Most Popular Avocado is a California Native, banner courtesy of California Avocado Commission (CAC) California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with  a demo of cutting avocados and making the Avocado, Pink Grapefruit and Dungeness Crab Cocktail California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month

I was lucky enough to be invited to a dinner where Chef Lisa was creating a dinner menu with every food item featuring avocados in some way. More on that in just a little bit. I need to share how much I adore avocados.

I’m a big fan of avocados – I’ve shared recipes on this blog before for various versions of guacamole (the “gateway” to avocados and great for those who are just being introduced to avocados), as well as an avocado mac and cheese that included other green things like lime and jalapeno and green onions and cilantro matched up against Beecher’s Cheddar.

Guacamole from Food Network chefs:  The Rick Bayless Recipe- Sundried Tomato Guacamole Guacamole from Food Network chefs:  The Bobby Flay Recipe- a spicy guacamole and in the back The Alton Brown Recipe- a tomato guacamole Recipe of Green Mac and Cheese for St Patricks: Avocado Mac and Cheese, using cheddar and many green things like avocado, green jalapeno, lime, green onion, cilantro

Yet another recipe you might consider for this summer is Elote Pasta Salad that upgrades pasta salad with roasted corn, cotija and avocado. Or try Vegetarian Hummus Avocado Tomato and Greens Sandwich and/or a Buffalo Blue Cheese Chicken Salad with Avocado and Greens Sandwich, both which I packed for a picnic!

Elote Pasta Salad recipe, vegetarian, summer recipe, easy recipe, pasta salad, picnic recipe Vegetarian Hummus Avocado Greens Sandwich Buffalo Chicken Salad with Avocado and Microgreens Sandwich

And of course, I’ve enjoyed avocados made by others in many wonderful ways, varying from sushi, slicing them and including them in a wrap (even a DIY Vietnamese summer roll) or at breakfasts via the traditional way as part of Eggs Benedict or with a Mexican breakfast dish that could be a breakfast burrito or in this case, Migas (a flour tortilla stuffed with 3 chipotle-cumin scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, Tillamook cheddar, fresh basil, homemade salsa and sour cream and then served with fresh avocado salsa). Yum right??
From Bamboo Sushi's House Signature Roll section: Green Machine Roll (vegetarian) of tempura fried asparagus and green onions topped with avocado and cilantro sweet chili aioli. Amazing. Do It Yourself Vietnamese rolls Portage Bay Cafe, Migas, a flour tortilla stuffed with 3 chipotle-cumin scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, Tillamook cheddar, fresh basil, homemade salsa and sour cream and then served with fresh avocado salsa, breakfast, Seattle

And avocados are always welcome in a large variety of sandwiches or salads… Possibilities are endless.
Steamboat Rock BLT- Thick sliced apple wood-smoke​d bacon layered with vine ripened tomatoes, mixed garden greens and basil aioli served on whole grain toast, Oak Creek Brewery, Sedona, Arizona salad, arugula, roasted corn, spring onion and roasted tomatoes with avocado in a grilled lemon dressing, Picnic House, Portland, picnic restaurant

And then, of course, there was this incredible Avocados Dinner by Chef Lisa Schroder to promote California Avocados that I attended. The menu included

  • Lucy Brennan’s Avocado Daiquiri
    California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Lucy Brennan's Avocado Daiquiri California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Lucy Brennan's Avocado Daiquiri California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Lucy Brennan's Avocado Daiquiri
  • Hors D’Oeuvres of Avocado, Pink Grapefruit and Dungeness Crab Cocktail and also Guacamole-filled Cherry Tomatoes!
    California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Guacamole-filled Cherry Tomatoes California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Guacamole-filled Cherry Tomatoes
    For the recipe for the Pink Grapefruit Avocado Crab cocktail, check Je Mange Le Ville’s avocado post from this event. Also for tips on using avocados check out the blog of Urban Bliss Life for her avocado dinner coverage which includes a video of Lisa demonstrating how to cut avocados!
    California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Avocado, Pink Grapefruit and Dungeness Crab Cocktail California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Avocado, Pink Grapefruit and Dungeness Crab Cocktail California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with  a demo of cutting avocados and making the Avocado, Pink Grapefruit and Dungeness Crab Cocktail
  • Butter Lettuce, Avocado and Green Onion Salad with lemon vinaigrette
  • Entree of Grilled Chicken Breast with sauteed onions and peppers topped with avocado and salsa, served with a Macaroni and Cheese with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and topped with cotija cheese and green onions
    California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Butter Lettuce, Avocado and Green Onion Salad with lemon vinaigrette California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with an Entree of Grilled Chicken Breast with sauteed onions and peppers topped with avocado and salsa, served with a Macaroni and Cheese with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and topped with cotija cheese and green onions California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with an Entree of Grilled Chicken Breast with sauteed onions and peppers topped with avocado and salsa, served with a Macaroni and Cheese with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and topped with cotija cheese and green onions
  • Dessert of Avocado Lime Pie in a graham cracker crust topped with fresh Oregon strawberries and whipped cream
    California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Dessert of Avocado Lime Pie in a graham cracker crust topped with fresh Oregon strawberries and whipped cream California Avocado Commission and Chef Lisa Schroeder of Mother's Bistro & Bar celebrate June California Avocado Month with Dessert of Avocado Lime Pie in a graham cracker crust topped with fresh Oregon strawberries and whipped cream

Clearly I have been enjoying avocados for a while, though I don’t think it was until I went to college that I first tried them. I remember when I first moved out on my own after college, I even bought a special avocado slicer (though that has since been lost among many moves. My relationship with avocado has prospered without it.)

Some people say that it is a texture thing with the avocados, which is why they don’t like them… but maybe I partially don’t believe that this can’t be conquered. I have rallied to have people try tofu or blue cheese before in recipes successfully, and I think I can do the same with avocados.

One clever way might be this Avocado Pesto recipe I threw together with one of the avocados generously gifted to me by the California Avocado Commission. One of the bunch of avocados was already ripe, and this is a 1 avocado recipe so you don’t have to shell out a lot to try this out. And, it whips up together in minutes with a food processor making the sauce so that by the time the pasta is cooked, you are ready to eat!

In this pesto pasta recipe, the avocado feels creamy, almost like a light alfredo sauce or cheese sauce, but MUCH MUCH HEALTHIER. After all, an avocado contributes nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients while being sodium and cholesterol free and a source of the good, monounsaturated fat that helps lower your LDL cholesterol levels.

Avocado Pesto Recipe

Avocado Pesto, vegetarian and easy to make, has a feel sort of like an alfredo or mac and cheese sauce but much healthier! Avocado Pesto, vegetarian and easy to make, has a feel sort of like an alfredo or mac and cheese sauce but much healthier!

Ingredients:

  • 1 box of pasta (about 14 ounces). I picked vegetable macaroni pasta here, but you can use spaghetti or any kind you’d like
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 3 small garlic cloves
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon, about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1/4 cup of freshly cut basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper or to taste
  • 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated, plus optionally more for serving
  • 1/4 cup of milk
  • 1 pinch – 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • A few pinches of cheddar cheese for topping/serving (optional)

Directions:

  1. Boil water and cook your pasta until al dente as you normally would. This usually means for me boiling a pot of water with a pinch of salt, and then once it is boiling I add the pasta and a quick drizzle of olive oil. This cools the water and I wait for it to come to boiling again and once it does so, after a few minutes I check to see whether it is al dente.
  2. While the water is coming to a boil/the pasta is cooking, in a food processor mix in the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the garlic. Process these together first until the garlic is basically chopped.
  3. Now, add in the lemon juice, spoon in the avocado (leaving out the skin and pit), the 2 tablespoons of basil, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.  Process everything until smooth.
  4. Finally, add the milk and process again until fully mixed. Depending on the size of your avocado or your taste, you may want to adjust the salt or pepper or Parmesan until the flavor is to your liking. I know my avocado was large, and I added more Parmesan.
  5. When the pasta is ready, drain the water from the pasta and then mix in this avocado pesto sauce and optionally the red pepper flakes until everything is well combined. Top optionally with cheese of your choice and enjoy!

I added 1 teaspoon of red pepper to my pasta so I could enjoy a little heat, but you can feel free to add just a pinch instead, or ignore all together. Optionally, you can also top with freshly ground pepper and a few pinches of cheddar to reinforce the “cheesiness” of this creamy pasta dish/trick someone into eating avocado. You can also get inspired like the Mac and Cheese of the Avocado Dinner and add textural and flavorful fun with bacon!
Avocado Pesto, vegetarian and easy to make, has a feel sort of like an alfredo or mac and cheese sauce but much healthier!

When you go out to purchase Avocados, look for the sticker and that the word “California” is on the label that proves the avocado is from California rather than from overseas. A few interesting facts:

  • Did you know that California produces approximately 90% of the nation’s avocado crop?
  • California avocados are hand-grown on approximately 5000 small family farms throughout central and southern California
  • There are 7 varieties of avocados in California, with Hass accounting for 95%: the rest of the avocado varieties are named Bacon, Fuerte, Gwen, Lamb Hass, Pinkerton, Reed, and Zutano.
  • The Hass tree was actually patented (the first patent on a tree) but the patent had run out by the time Hass avocados started to become popular.
  • All the Haas avocados are descended from one original Hass Mother Tree from the 1920s. Check here for the story of the Hass Mother Tree!

California Avocado Commission and the sticker for California Avocados California Avocado Commission and their website with recipes, californiavocados.com

For more on avocados, check out the California Avocado social media channels on Facebook California Avocados, Pinterest CA_Avocados Boards that are chock full of recipes, Instagram @CA_Avocados, Twitter handle @CA_Avocados, or the Youtube channel California Avocados.

Disclosure: I attended a complimentary dinner and demonstration promoting California Avocados by the California Avocado Commission and Mother’s Bistro. They did not require I write this post and I have been loving avocados way before this dinner. I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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Meals with Visiting Friends

The past few weeks I've had the good fortune to have been able to enjoy three meals with out of town visitors. One meal, at Horsebrass Pub, was the Plougman's Platter covered in the drinking and eating post, because that particular friend got to enjoy some eating, more drinking, and then intoxicated Fred Meyer shopping, unsafe driving with too much in a car, and carrying a super heavy furniture box up the stairs to the house in the dark. Yay. Thanks Jim!

Fortunately, the other two visitors got a much more normal visit. One was a brunch at Mother's Bistro, where the brunch, as I have always found it, feels trendy and elegant and homey at the same time, thanks to waiting for a table outside (inevitably there is a wait for brunch at popular Mother's- which isn't too big a burden if you are chatting away so that the time flies quickly. Hi Rav!), the sparkly chandeliers reflecting sunshine as you sit on booths that have pillows like you were in a window seat nook, and mugs that remind us to call our mother as we eat food apparently some mothers make. It's not an Asian breakfast so it's nothing my mom will make, and what moms cook with this much butter? The food here is so rich! Must be a southern mama…

My staples here are to get the special smoothie of the day and french press coffee, and then the benedict here which is only available on weekends. This dish is so rich, it would be better halved so two can enjoy their creamy version of Hollandaise sauce, which is the standout of this dish and you hope to smear the sauce and egg yolk from the poached egg onto the just-ok roasted potatoes.

Mother's Bistro Tofu Scramble with onions, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms & potatoes is a somewhat healthy veg option.

A lunch meeting with another old friend brought me to Mingo West for its convenience to Hillsboro and Beaverton, our work locations. Lunch included pasta that was fresh and risotto that wasn't anything to write about. I thought we had great desserts at least in this otherwise unremarkable to me suburban dining outpost of a supposedly well loved Mingo in Northwest Portland. The chocolate ganache was huge and rich, and the ricotta cake  offered a fresh light take on the usual heavy cheesecake. And, at least we got to enjoy almost al fresco dining- we sat by where they had opened up the doors to look outside at Round Fountain Plaza while staying out of the sun the actual outside diners had to contend with. I'll try to find something more interesting next time Heather.

Who wants to visit next?

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