The Eastburn’s 2nd Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational 2015

September 7, 2015 by 4 Comments

Last week, I attended The Eastburn‘s Grilled Cheese Invitational 2015. The 2nd Annual event capped off a great fundraising effort as Eastburn was offering $5 grilled cheese all August, with proceeds donated to the Portland Women’s Crisis Line. The Grilled Cheese Invitational, with it’s $20 for multiple grilled cheese samples as multiple establishments threw down for the people to judge, also had all proceeds go towards the worthy cause.

The Eastburn's Grilled Cheese Invitational 2015

I wanted to recap and highlight all the wonderful grilled cheeses I was able to enjoy from the restaurants participating as I feel they deserve some extra recognition, even if they didn’t win. Everyone brought a very special grilled cheese they invented just for the event. Thank you for manning the grill for those hours and helping this great cause! And, of course thank you for the delicious combination of grilled cheese.

The Eastburn’s Grilled Cheese Invitational course was set up like golf, with various stations where you would drop a token to receive your grilled cheese. You would rank the grilled cheeses by Taste, Originality, Presentation for a total, and at the end the results would be for Best In Taste, Best In Originality, Best Presentation, and Best Overall.
The people got to vote for The Eastburn's 2nd Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational where the results would be for Best In Taste, Best In Originality, Best Presentation, and Best Overall Map of the stations for The Eastburn's 2nd Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational 2015

Big Ass Sandwiches

Big Ass Sandwiches impressed with their special one off grilled cheese take that had Panko crusted brioche, pancetta, cambozola cheese and raspberry compote. This former food cart now has a brick and mortar in NE 55 and Glisan which has allowed them to offer even more sandwiches and Brian’s Meaty Balls. You should investigate this stop yourself. Meanwhile, I’m going to remember that clever use of panko for a future grilled cheese of my own.
Big Ass Sandwiches impressed with their grilled cheese take that had Panko crusted brioche, pancetta, cambozola cheese and raspberry compote Big Ass Sandwiches impressed with their grilled cheese take that had Panko crusted brioche, pancetta, cambozola cheese and raspberry compote Big Ass Sandwiches impressed with their grilled cheese take that had Panko crusted brioche, pancetta, cambozola cheese and raspberry compote Big Ass Sandwiches impressed with their grilled cheese take that had Panko crusted brioche, pancetta, cambozola cheese and raspberry compote

Zeek’s Cheese Grill

Also formerly a food cart in Cartlandia but now located in Hillsdale Food Park and as a micro restaurant in Bethany Village, Zeek’s Cheese Grill concocted his own version of a Cubano. The Cubano grilled cheese sandwich take was served with tomato basil cream soup and included Slow Roasted Pork and Bacon, Dill Havarti cheese with Housemade Pickles and Banana Pepper Mustard Relish. Both of these are available on their regular menu.
The Zeek's Cheese Grill cubano grilled cheese sandwich take was served with tomato basil cream soup and included Slow Roasted Pork and Bacon, Dill Havarti cheese with Housemade Pickles and Banana Pepper Mustard Relish The Zeek's Cheese Grill cubano grilled cheese sandwich take was served with tomato basil cream soup and included Slow Roasted Pork and Bacon, Dill Havarti cheese with Housemade Pickles and Banana Pepper Mustard Relish The Zeek's Cheese Grill cubano grilled cheese sandwich take was served with tomato basil cream soup and included Slow Roasted Pork and Bacon, Dill Havarti cheese with Housemade Pickles and Banana Pepper Mustard Relish

Blue Plate Diner

There was quite the line for the Blue Plate Diner’s version of grilled cheese of Texas toast with Jack Cheese plus Rogue Creamery bleu cheese and house braised pot roast with beef jus dipping broth

Brunch Box

Brunch Box brought the heat in a good way with their Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with Habanero Pepperjack, Jalapeno Cream Cheese, and French’s Fried Onions on Texas Toast
Brunch Box brought the heat in a good way with their Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with Habanero Pepperjack, Jalapeno Cream Cheese, and French's Fried Onions on Texas Toast Brunch Box brought the heat in a good way with their Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with Habanero Pepperjack, Jalapeno Cream Cheese, and French's Fried Onions on Texas Toast Brunch Box brought the heat in a good way with their Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with Habanero Pepperjack, Jalapeno Cream Cheese, and French's Fried Onions on Texas Toast

Gigi’s Cafe (formerly Gaufre Gourmet)

Gaufre Gourmet food cart recently closed so they could focus on the brick and mortar of Gigi’s Cafe. They swept the categories, winning the people’s vote for Best In Taste, Best In Originality, Best Presentation, and Best Overall! They offered up The Spicy Goat, their own country white bread waffle with a mixture of mozzarella, extra sharp white cheddar, and chevre paired with pistachios, arugula, peppered salami and local habanero jelly.
Gigi's Cafe The Spicy Goat, their own country white bread waffle with a mixture of mozzarella, extra sharp white cheddar, and chevre paired with pistachios, arugula, peppered salami and local habanero jelly Gigi's Cafe The Spicy Goat, their own country white bread waffle with a mixture of mozzarella, extra sharp white cheddar, and chevre paired with pistachios, arugula, peppered salami and local habanero jelly Gigi's Cafe The Spicy Goat, their own country white bread waffle with a mixture of mozzarella, extra sharp white cheddar, and chevre paired with pistachios, arugula, peppered salami and local habanero jelly

Gil’s Speakeasy Tavern

Tillamook cheddar, tomato, house smoked bacon and béchamel cheese spread on Portland City sourdough from Gil’s Speakeasy Tavern who have the tag line “The Nicest Assholes in Town” and are describe themselves as “a bitchin’ neighborhood dive underneath an apartment building. We have no sign other than the neons in the windows, so you may not know you are here until you ask”.
Tillamook cheddar, tomato, house smoked bacon and béchamel cheese spread on Portland City sourdough from Gil's Speakeasy Tillamook cheddar, tomato, house smoked bacon and béchamel cheese spread on Portland City sourdough from Gil's Speakeasy Tillamook cheddar, tomato, house smoked bacon and béchamel cheese spread on Portland City sourdough from Gil's Speakeasy

Meat Cheese Bread Portland

Next was Pimento cheese, pulled pork and pickled collards grilled cheese from Meat Cheese Bread Portland
Pimento cheese, pulled pork and pickled collards grilled cheese from Meat Cheese Bread Portland Pimento cheese, pulled pork and pickled collards grilled cheese from Meat Cheese Bread Portland

Bazi Bierbrasserie

Bazi Brasserie offered a grilled cheese using Pullman loaf, spinach dip, manchego cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese, bacon and Delirium Tremens red pepper coulis that was quite photogenic. Although it sounds simple, the pleasure of that combination was quite a wow.
Bazi Brasserie offered a grilled cheese using Pullman loaf, spinach dip, manchego cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese, bacon and Delirium Tremens red pepper coulis Bazi Brasserie offered a grilled cheese using Pullman loaf, spinach dip, manchego cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese, bacon and Delirium Tremens red pepper coulis Bazi Brasserie offered a grilled cheese using Pullman loaf, spinach dip, manchego cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese, bacon and Delirium Tremens red pepper coulis Bazi Brasserie offered a grilled cheese using Pullman loaf, spinach dip, manchego cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese, bacon and Delirium Tremens red pepper coulis Bazi Brasserie offered a grilled cheese using Pullman loaf, spinach dip, manchego cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese, bacon and Delirium Tremens red pepper coulis

If eating a progressive dinner of multiple sandwiches sounds awesome to you, you can wait until next year for the 3rd Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational (stay informed by following The Eastburn as they offer a lot of events on their calendar by liking their Facebook the EastBurn or Instagram @theeastburn)

For something sooner, next week Thursday will be The Feast 2015 Sandwich Invitational where I got all this practice for eating multiple sandwiches and documenting sandwiches with my cameraphone. The Sandwich Invitational boasts FIFTEEN sandwiches from chefs in Portland as well as around the US such as Alvin Cailan of Eggslut in LA and Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ in Austin and more. The ticket price there also goes towards a great cause, as net proceeds are towards ending childhood hunger in Oregon and around the country through Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. Unlike the $20 at the Grilled Cheese Invitational, the Sandwich Invitational entrance is all inclusive of all drinks which includes several wineries, breweries and distillery.

For a recap of previous Sandwich Invitationals, see my recap of 2014 and my recap of 2013. I won’t be attending this year, but I definitely plan to be following the hashtags to live vicariously through other’s social media.

Which of the grilled cheeses would you have voted for Most Original or Best In Presentation, or sounds like would be Best In Taste for you?

Signature

Filed Under: Festival Event, Food and Drink Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eat for a Cause August 29 and Help Women!

August 28, 2015 by 7 Comments

On Saturday, August 29, there are two opportunities where you can Eat For a Cause and help women at the same time! Don’t let the weather predictions for some rain and wind deter you.

Ruby Jewel Hawthorne, benefiting Raphael House

First, there is the Grand Opening of the new location of Ruby Jewel Ice Cream at SE Hawthorne, in the Mount Tabor neighborhood. The 4707 SE Hawthorne location is right between Por Que No and Apizza Scholls, both famous restaurants that will be open for lunch (as well as dinner). So then come on over for dessert because as part of their Grand Opening, a percentage of the proceeds goes towards Raphael House, a Domestic Violence agency.

Founded in 1977, Raphael House of Portland is dedicated to fighting the causes and effects of domestic violence. They offer emergency shelter in a confidential location, a 24-hour in-house crisis line, transitional housing and advocacy programs, non-residential advocacy in partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, and also work to bring an end to violence through community outreach and education. Raphael House is the largest domestic violence shelter in Multnomah County. Annually, Raphael House provides 10,000 safe nights for women and children in their emergency shelter and support as many as 5,000 callers on their 24/7 crisis line.

Ruby Jewel Hawthorne will be open noon – 11 PM, so you have plenty of time during the day to make your way here. As part of the celebration, they will have live music by Mo Phillips from 2-4 PM and also a special Mt Tabor Volcano Sundae which you can see previewed by Drew Karney of KGW here and you can see posed here… The Mt Tabor Volcano Sundae is a 2 scoops of ice cream (your choice) with an upside down “volcano” cone, hardening chocolate sauce, double chocolate cookies, and fresh strawberry sauce and whipped cream.

Special flavors above and beyond their regular flavors include
Ruby Jewel Ice Cream flavors for September 2015

September Seasonal Ice Cream

  • Chocolate Chip Squared– Singing Dog Vanilla ice cream with mini dark chocolate chips and chunks of housemade chocolate chip cookies.
  • Double Chocolate Toffee Crunch– Ruby Jewel’s classic Double Chocolate ice cream studded with house-made, chocolate-topped toffee.
  • Coconut Cream Pie– toasted coconut based ice cream filled with swirls of marshmallow fluff, candied coconut and vanilla wafer cookie crumbs.
  • Hazelnut Latte– Nossa Familia’s Full Cycle Blend coffee is paired with Oregon hazelnuts for a smooth coffee treat.
  • Honey Pistachio– Bee Local’s Oregon High Desert honey and pistachio ice cream with roasted pistachios.
  • PB & J Sandwich– Peanut butter ice cream with housemade Concord grape jelly and challah bread croutons.

Dairy Free

  • Portland Soda Works Root Beer Ice– Indian sarsaparilla and warming spices of Portland Soda Works root beer syrups used for sodas, cocktails and now a refreshing, nostalgic ice!
  • Reverend Nat’s Revival Cider Ice– Bold, crisp and full of apple flavor.

Samples of sundes in mini size at Ruby Jewel: Chocolate Chip Squared Ice Cream with Caramel Sauce and Pralined Pecans with Whipped Cream Ruby Jewel's Ice Cream cocktails with Portland Soda Works Root Beer Ice with rum, root beer syrup and orange liquor and Reverend Nat's Revival Cider Ice combined with Prosecco

Potential Ice Cream Sundae Combos

At a media preview, I also got to try some great sundae combinations if you are looking for some ideas. For instance a Chocolate Chip Squared Ice Cream with Caramel Sauce and Praline Pecans with Whipped Cream and an Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream topped with Housemade Marshmallow Fluff and Crisp Chunks (these are mini sample sundaes, the ones you get will be much bigger ;D ). I didn’t try this myself, but there is also for your consideration the combo of Hazelnut Latte ice cream with chocolate dip, whipped cream, and espresso caramel sauce…
Ruby Jewel sundae combo of Chocolate Chip Squared Ice Cream with Caramel Sauce and Pralined Pecans with Whipped Cream Ruby Jewel mini sundae sample of Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream topped with Housemade Marshmallow Fluff and Crisp

Winning Cookie Sandwich!

They also debuted the winning social media contest winner of the #betweentwocookies suggestions from the public: the winner is chocolate chip fudge chunk cookies with fluffernutter ice cream submitted by Chris Zales.
Ruby Jewel #betweentwocookies winner, the chocolate chip fudge chunk cookies with fluffernutter ice cream submitted by Chris Zales

Dairy Free Ice Cream Floats

They also had two wonderful ice cocktails (aka the dairy free ice creams float): Reverend Nat’s Revival Cider Ice combined with Prosecco (YUM) and the Portland Soda Works Root Beer Ice with rum, root beer syrup and orange liquor (quite a bit stronger than prosecco).
Ruby Jewel's Ice Cream cocktails with Portland Soda Works Root Beer Ice with rum, root beer syrup and orange liquor and Reverend Nat's Revival Cider Ice combined with Prosecco   Ruby Jewel's Ice Cream cocktail of Reverend Nat's Revival Cider Ice combined with Prosecco Ruby Jewel's Ice Cream cocktail with Portland Soda Works Root Beer Ice with rum, root beer syrup and orange liquor

EastBurn, benefiting Portland Women’s Crisis Line

Next, hop on over to Eastburn at 1800 East Burnside Street for their 2nd Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational! 9 establishments throw down at EastBurn to see who has the best grilled cheese.
Eastburn Grilled Cheese Invitational 2015

Participants include so far

  • Meat Cheese Bread
  • Bazi Bier Brasserie
  • Brunch Box
  • Big Ass Sandwiches
  • Gaufre Gourmet
  • Zeek’s Cheese Grill
  • The Blue Plate
  • Gil’s Speakeasy

It’s 5-11 PM and all ages. A $20 ticket gets you a scorecard, where you will then go to each competitor’s hole (apparently it’s set up like a golf course, thus the golf club with a grilled cheese in the poster) to try each grilled cheese. Then, you rate their grilled cheese based on taste, originality, presentation and best overall.

All proceeds go to the Portland Women’s Crisis Line. The Portland Women’s Crisis Line (PWCL) was one of the first five sexual violence crisis lines in the United States. PWCL provides services to the Tri-County area made up of Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties, and its toll-free number can be called from anywhere in the state. PWCL provides social services such as crisis intervention, in person response for survivors of sexual violence, emergency housing resources, danger to safety transportation assistance, safety planning, advocacy and support, and agency and community support groups, as well as being a social change organize to not only empower those who experience violence, but also to end the oppression and violence which causes them to seek out our services.

If you can’t make the invitational, at least stop by during the month of August (I know, only a few days left) because every $5 Grilled Cheese at Eastburn this month also has the proceeds go towards PWCL.

One of my favorite things about Eastburn are their swing seats, which you can find by the front windows when you first walk in and also in their back patio!
Eastburn Exterior Eastburn Exterior EastBurn bar
EastBurn front window tables with its swings for seats at the tables! EastBurn back patio with its swings for seats at the tables!

I hope you can join me in eating for a cause in supporting both of these very important and worthy non profits and help them continue to make a difference every day.

Disclosure: I was invited to a media event for Ruby Jewel Hawthorne’s Grand Opening to preview the September flavors and menu offerings, but I was not asked to write this post, and I threw in EastBurn as well because I think both are amazing events that you might consider for Saturday. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

Signature

Filed Under: Festival Event, Food and Drink, Sponsored Post Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,