Curse of the Haunted Curds 2016 at Portland Brewing

Two years ago I attended the first Curse of the Haunted Curds event at Deschutes. Although I missed it last year being out of town, this year I’ll be attending again and I’m super excited about it! The Curse of the Haunted Curds 2016 will be taking place at Portland Brewing Company Tap Room at 2730 NW 31st Ave. From 11 AM at lunch to the 8 PM evening on October 27, guests can choose to sample a flight of 5 poutines (fries, gravy, and cheese curds), each created from 5 competing chefs for just $10. You can optionally enjoy the poutines with beer pairings for an additional $6.

The Curse of the Haunted Curds at Portland Brewing 2016, 5 poutines from competing chefs of 5 breweries using beer in their gravy and Face Rock Creamery Vampire Slayer cheese

As before, Curse of the Haunted Curds continues to be for a good cause. 50% of all poutine and beer pairing proceeds go towards Friendly House, a non-profit neighborhood center and social service agency. Founded in 1930, Friendly House provides programs and services at no charge or on a sliding fee scale to ensure access to all members of the community of all ages and backgrounds in three program areas: Children’s Programs, Community Recreation and Education, and Community Services.

You’ll be sampling the 5 poutines from competing chefs from

Then cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award for Curse of the Haunted Curds 2016. The winner of the live judging as well as People’s Choice will be announced at 7:30 PM. Each of the poutine recipes must use one of the breweries’ beers from the competing brewery in the gravy.

Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation featured 5 poutines from 5 chefs for $10 at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House
My flight of 5 poutines from 5 chefs from 2014 Curse of the Haunted Curds

Teaming up with them is also local (Bandon Oregon) Face Rock Creamery with their Vampire Slayer cheese curds, which took 1st place at the American Cheese Society’s 2013 Competition. Face Rock sources grass-fed cow’s milk from Oregon dairy families, and they make cheese the same day the cows are milked. Face Rock cheese, including these curds, are available at their creamery, in more than 3,000 stores, and online at their website.

At $10, there’s a huge value with the amount of poutine you get, definitely enough for 2 to share. They are also doing a costume contest!

If you haven’t been to the Portland Brewing Tasting Room before, parking is easy in this industrial area and they offer not only their own brewed beers but also beers from their sister brewery the Pyramid Brewing Co. Their Thursday daily special is “Throwback Thursdays” with $2 pints from 6 PM to close – they have one daily special every day, ranging from Kids 12 and under eat free for each adult Sunday to matching a purchased flight or pint or growler with a free one on other days and “hoppy hour” every day 3 – 6 PM and 9 PM – close.

This entire month of July 2014, Portland Brewing is donating a portion from every case or growler of ZigZag River Lager (growlers must be purchased at the Portland Brewing Co Taproom, cases must be purchased in the state of Oregon) sold back to our Northwest waters via Sandy River Basin Watershed Council.

Have you been to Portland Brewing? What do you think about this upcoming Curse of the Haunted Curds 2016 at Portland Brewing event?

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Poutine for the People

Poutine is three things: French Fries. Cheese curds. Gravy.

But for 5 days in April, this very week and only until Friday or the 25 (not sure…), that poutine is a foundation for so much more. For April 20 – 25, 7 participating restaurants have created inventive poutines across town with proceeds from each dish going directly to Providence Cancer Center, where local immunotherapy researchers are teaching our own immune systems to target and destroy cancer cells. So come help eat for a cause, or encourage others who are making after work plans to visit these restaurants who took the time and effort to support this.
Poutine for the People 2015

The seven Poutine for the People Partners include<

The Original Dinerant

French fries, curds, red wine-braised short rib, brown gravy
Poutine for the People eating fundraiser for cancer research where proceeds go to the Providence Cancer Center. 7 restaurants participated, here is The Original Dinerant's version with french fries, curds, red wine-braised short rib, brown gravy

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Powell Location Only)

Wedge-cut fries, cheese curds and vegan brown gravy (shredded pork’s extra)

Tried going grocery shopping this afternoon, but it didn’t quite work out…I had Lola with me and she was out in front of @newseasonsmarket in their dog waiting area (because that’s a thing in Portland) and before I could buy anything, over the loudspeaker they start paging “the owner of the adorable black and white dog who is currently showing signs of distress” to come and get their dog The dog waiting area is shaded, fenced, has water, and I’ve put Lola in there dozens of times while grocery shopping in the past and never had an issue, but today she just was not having it So home I went, sans groceries…the upside? We went to have poutine on the patio at @hopworksbeer for dinner instead on this gorgeous evening! ☀️ Also, this week proceeds from poutines sold at various Portland restaurants goes to Providence Cancer Center! #PoutineForThePeople #pdxeats #pdxnow #80degreesinapril #lovemycity

A photo posted by Jane Graybeal (@inthepinkandgreen) on

Laurelhurst Market

French fries, mozzarella, peas, crispy pork shoulder, gravy

Potato Champion

French fries, curds, gravy (beef or meatless)

My favorite poutine. #poutineforthepeople #portland #pdxstagram #instapdx #foodporn
A photo posted by Samantha O’Reilly (@sicklittlejag) on

Radio Room

French fries, mozzarella, roasted green chiles, crispy pig ear, soft-poached egg, sausage gravy
Poutine for the People eating fundraiser for cancer research where proceeds go to the Providence Cancer Center. 7 restaurants participated, here is Radio Room with French fries, mozzarella, roasted green chiles, crispy pig ear, soft-poached egg, sausage gravy Poutine for the People eating fundraiser for cancer research where proceeds go to the Providence Cancer Center. 7 restaurants participated, here is Radio Room with French fries, mozzarella, roasted green chiles, crispy pig ear, soft-poached egg, sausage gravy

Smokehouse Tavern

French fries, curds, pulled pork, smoked brown gravy

Tabor Tavern

French fries, curds, onion gravy (pulled pork’s extra)

#PoutineForThePeople starts today all around PDX!! Come in for this mouthwatering combination of fries, cheese curds and…

Posted by Tabor Tavern on Monday, April 20, 2015

Check the hashtag on Twitter or Instagram for #PoutineforthePeople for more!

I only have the fortitude to visit maybe 3 – which ones interest you? I’ve already visited Radio Room and The Original, what should be my third?

By the way, if you go for any poutine yourself, I strongly recommend you share, because the two I’ve had are big enough for 2 as their main meal, or easily 4 as a starter, I mean look at the scale of these…
Poutine for the People eating fundraiser for cancer research where proceeds go to the Providence Cancer Center. 7 restaurants participated, here is The Original Dinerant's version with french fries, curds, red wine-braised short rib, brown gravy Poutine for the People eating fundraiser for cancer research where proceeds go to the Providence Cancer Center. 7 restaurants participated, here is Radio Room with French fries, mozzarella, roasted green chiles, crispy pig ear, soft-poached egg, sausage gravy

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Curse of the Haunted Curds and upcoming Abyss 2014 Release

Recently, there was a very special pop-up poutine event at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House. Occurring the same week as Halloween, it was dubbed “Curse of the Haunted Curds”. From lunch to that evening, guests could choose to sample a flight of 5 poutines created from 5 competing chefs for $10.
Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation featured 5 poutines from 5 chefs for $10 at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation featured 5 poutines from 5 chefs for $10 at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House

Then, that evening from 6-8pm a few Trailblazers and guest judges (Portland Trailblazers Dorell Wright, Wesley Matthews, Thomas Robinson, C.J. McCollum, Meyers Leonard and Will Barton, The Oregonian’s Samantha Bakall and Thrillist’s Andy Kryza) voted as well, and the People’s Choice votes from all the guests were also tallied!
Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation featured 5 poutines from 5 chefs for $10 at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House judged by Portland Trailblazers Dorell Wright, Wesley Matthews, Thomas Robinson, C.J. McCollum, Meyers Leonard and Will Barton, The Oregonian’s Samantha Bakall and Thrillist’s Andy Kryza

Proceeds of the poutine pop-up would benefit the D Wright Way Foundation, a great charity that is dedicated to health, education, and social well being of children in urban and ethnically diverse communities.

Poutine and for charity? Count me in!
Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation featured 5 poutines from 5 chefs for $10 at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House

Every poutine (fries, gravy, and cheese curds, featuring Face Rock Creamery‘s Vampire Slayer Curds, which are garlic cheese curds) was a winner in its own way of course.

Here’s a look at the 5 contenders:

  • Zomboni by Chef Aaron Barnett of St Jack with a poutine combo of fried chicken, bacon, cole slaw and Vampire Slayer Curds
    Zomboni by Chef Aaron Barnett of St Jack with a poutine combo of fried chicken, bacon, cole slaw and Vampire Slayer Curds for Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation
  • Poutino by Chef Rick Gencarelli of Lardo with herbs, parmesan, Italian Sausage gravy, Mama Lil’s peppers and fried Vampire Slayer Curds
    Poutino by Chef Rick Gencarelli of Lardo with herbs, parmesan, Italian Sausage gravy, Mama Lil's peppers and fried Vampire Slayer Curds, for Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation
  • Halloween Hangover Cure by Chef Ben Grossmann of Dig a Pony with sausage country gravy, fried shallot strings, six minute egg and Vampire Slayer Curds
    Halloween Hangover Cure by Chef Ben Grossmann of Dig a Pony with sausage country gravy, fried shallot strings, six minute egg and Vampire Slayer Curds,  for Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation
  • Ghost of Poutine by Chef Jill Ramseier of Deschutes with ghost pepper gravy, maple porter gastrique and Vampire Slayer Curds
    Ghost of Poutine by Chef Jill Ramseier of Deschutes with ghost pepper gravy, maple porter gastrique and Vampire Slayer Curds for Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation
  • Rage Against the Poutine by Chef Kevin Atchley of Pine State Biscuits with cajun spiced beef sirloin, country gravy, and Vampire Slayer Curds
    Rage Against the Poutine by Chef Kevin Atchley of Pine State Biscuits with cajun spiced beef sirloin, country gravy, and Vampire Slayer Curds for Curse of the Haunted Curds, a Poutine Pop-up with proceeds to the D Wright Way Foundation

Thank you for all the chefs that participated. Sorry I focused on the food and didn’t take any photos of the Trailblazers (you can see some at Oregon Live or by looking at the hashtag #VampireSlayerCurds on Twitter and Instagram). I was an animal and destroyed my poutine flight.

In the end, the judges awarded their vote to Zomboni by Chef Aaron Barnett of St Jack with a poutine combo of fried chicken, bacon, cole slaw and Vampire Slayer Curds. Meanwhile the People’s Choice went to Poutino by Chef Rick Gencarelli of Lardo with herbs, parmesan, Italian Sausage gravy, Mama Lil’s peppers and fried Vampire Slayer Curds.

There is another big event occurring at Deschutes coming up- on Thursday, Nov 13, 11 AM is the release of The Abyss, a dark Imperial Stout. This video explains more why The Abyss that uses Italian brewer’s licorice, black strap molasses, vanilla bean, cherry bark and more then aged in oak barrels previously touched by bourbon or pinot… all to put together the deliciousness.

Each year the Abyss tastes a little different, and is good enough to age. For the Nov 13 at the Portland pub, they will offer a 6 year vertical flightsto compare the various Abyss beers from the past to this year, a special opportunity only available on release day (and last time, when I arrived after work, they were already out of some of the year’s, so come as early as you can!). There is a 6 bottle limit for purchasing bottles of Abyss.

Which poutine would you think you have voted for? Have you ever had aged beers like the Abyss?

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Sideshow Eatery

This food cart, Sideshow Eatery, started out with mainly side dishes 6 weeks ago, but recently added sandwiches, and a photo from Food Cart Portland of their pork belly sandwich successfully tempted me to try it for lunch after a dentist visit downtown. They are open until 11-6pm so if you hurry you could grab this after work as well- these hours are good M-Sat, they are open 11-4 on Sun so their sign says (so they are open on the weekends!). Besides the pork belly sandwich, they also offer a Caprice vegetarian sandwich of mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes and basil mayo, and a PBJ sandiwch which uses peach jam and homemade peanut butter.
Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland

Pork belly sandwich is a quickly seared pork belly nestled atop arugula for a bit of bite, sriracha mayo (spicy and creamy, but more towards the kick end of the spectrum), and pickled red plums for a bit of sourness, all in a toasted Pearl Bakery baguette.

Pork belly sandwich, Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland Pork belly sandwich, Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland

Poutine was the side I chose, though you can also get regular pommes frites (twice fried yukon gold potatoes… yes, fries.) and then enjoy them with your choice of handcrafted sauces varying from curry ketchup to garlic mayo and sriracha mayo or Japanese mayo. My poutine was plain, but you can also add extra cheese and gravy, chopped onion, or bacon. If your arteries are still flowing, consider that Sideshow also offers fluffy sugar coated beignets, those New Orleans style powdered square doughnut covered in powdered sugar, and you can even order chicory coffee to go with.
Poutine, Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland Poutine, Sideshow Eatery, food cart, Portland

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