The Lardo Chefwich Series is Back!

December 14, 2013 by 1 Comment

So, I covered during most of this year the 6 chefwiches of Lardo. Each month usually around the 15/16th, there would be a new collaboration sandwich on the menu between Rick Gencarelli of Lardo and a guest chef, aka, a chefwich. Each chefwich has been rotating into the Lardo menus (either of the two Lardo locations, Lardo West in SW downtown or in Lardo East in the SE) over the past 6 months. For all the chefwiches a portion of the proceeds benefited a charity of the guest chef’s choice, and each chefwich was a limited time sandwich offer, only available for a month.  Each chefwich could also net you a stamp on the chefwich card, and if you collected them all it offered you VIP access to the Chefwich Party (though you can also purchase a ticket in- and the party brought back all the chefwiches all at one time for an ultimate chefwich faceoff!)! I covered all the previous 6 sandwiches here at this blogpost.

Well, the Lardo Chefwich party has come and gone, but the Chefwich series continues! Starting off with #7 and going to #13 apparently, which means the next chefwich party will be in May?

The chefwich  series continues on by kicking off with The Chris DiMinno, formerly of Clyde Common. This sandwich has apparently been dubbed “Arthur Avenue Called” and is comprised of breaded chicken, marinara, mozzarella, parm sauce, soft hoagie… essentially a chicken parmesan. The charity of Chris’s choice is The Bicycle Transportation Alliance which works to promote bicycle use and improve bicycling conditions to make bicycling safe, convenient and accessible.

Update 12/17 The next chefwich is out: Adam Sappington of Country Cat‘s chefwich of a Cattail Creek Lamb Burger with smoked tomato jam, fennel slaw, and havarti cheese will benefit the Oregon Humane Society. Goddamit, Lardo you are making me a sandwich addict.

But let’s just get to the sandwich photo porn from chefwich #1 shall we?

The next Chefwich, featuring chef Chris DiMinno, formerly of Clyde Common. This sandwich has apparently been dubbed Arthur Avenue Called and is comprised of breaded chicken, marinara, mozzarella, parm sauce, soft hoagie... essentially yes a chicken parmesan sandwich! Lardo's signature Pig Out in holiday colors The next Chefwich, featuring chef Chris DiMinno, formerly of Clyde Common. This sandwich has apparently been dubbed Arthur Avenue Called and is comprised of breaded chicken, marinara, mozzarella, parm sauce, soft hoagie... essentially yes a chicken parmesan sandwich! The next Chefwich, featuring chef Chris DiMinno, formerly of Clyde Common. This sandwich has apparently been dubbed Arthur Avenue Called and is comprised of breaded chicken, marinara, mozzarella, parm sauce, soft hoagie... essentially yes a chicken parmesan sandwich!

Rick Gencarelli hasn’t just been collaborating on sandwiches however. Oven & Shaker is also now doing a chef series, but with pizzas. The first chef pizza at Oven & Shaker was in collaboration with Rick, and turned Lardo’s mortadella sandwich into pizza form with a Mortadella pie. This pizza started with an olive oil, oregano, and garlic base topped with provolone picante, Mama Lil’s peppers, and mortadella, and then was topped after the wood fired oven with shredded lettuce and dressing. Their schedule is different than Lardo’s by doing beginning-end of the month rather than Lardo’s mid-month change-up. Oven & Shaker doesn’t have a punchcard, but they also donate some of the proceeds to the collaborating chef’s charity of choice. Last month, November, it was Ecotrust’s Farm to Schools.

This month, December, the collaboration chef is Greg and Gabrielle Denton of Ox with a Clam Chowder Pie with split bone marrow and jalapeno. Clearly the Oven & Shaker series is going after some signature dishes with the guest chef.  I’m planning to go there next week, so stay tuned!

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The Final Chefwich at Lardo, from Greg Denton of Ox

October 11, 2013 by 7 Comments

So, I’ve finally had them all! Collection complete! As a recap, there have been six sandwiches created which are all collaborations between Rick Gencarelli of Lardo and a guest chef, aka, a chefwich. Each chefwich has been rotating into the Lardo menus (either of the two Lardo locations, Lardo West in SW downtown or in Lardo East in the SE) over the past 6 months. For all the chefwiches a portion of the proceeds benefited a charity of the guest chef’s choice, and each chefwich was a limited time sandwich offer, only available for a month.  Previously, I had…

  1. The Cathy Whims (of Nostrana and Oven & Shaker) and her Straccetti sandwich featuring bavette steak, provolone cheese, roasted asparagus, and horseradish creme fraiche. Beautiful, messy, delicious richness. Her chosen charity was Friends of Family Farmers which promotes responsible farming (covered here in this previous blog post)
  2. The Scott Snyder (of Levant), with Morroccan Lamb Meatball and black olive mayo, harrisa carrot slaw, feta. This chefwich benefits Urban Gleaners, whose mission is to eliminate waste of surplus food by redistributing to the hungry (covered here in this previous blog post)
    Lardo, chefwich, Scott Snyder, Levant, Morroccan Lamb Meatball and black olive mayo, harrisa carrot slaw, feta
  3. The Aaron Barnett (of St. Jack)- #3 in Chefwich Series, a sandwich of Fried Calamari – caper & red onion mayo, marinated tomatoes, lettuce. Mmm, that crispy crispy calamari which was perfectly executed to be crunchy but not overdone or greasy would have been excellent even on its own, but bonus! You get a whole squidwich! Proceeds go to the Special Olympics and their support their mission to provide sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities (covered here in this previous blog post)
    Lardo, chefwich, Aaron Barnett, St Jack, Squidwich sandwich, Fried Calamari - caper & red onion mayo, marinated tomatoes, lettuce
  4. The Anthony Cafiero (of Ración) a Serrano Ham bocadillo, with pepper & onion saor, manchego cheese, smoked paprika aioli. A portion of the proceeds from this Chefwich benefit Portland Food Bank. (covered here in this previous blog post)
    The Anthony Cafiero collaboration sandwich- #4/September sammie in Chefwich Series at Lardo PDX, Serrano Ham bocadillo - pepper & onion saor, manchego cheese, smoked paprika aioli. A portion of the proceeds from this Chefwich benefit Portland Food Bank.
  5. Jenn Louis (of Lincoln Restaurant and Sunshine Tavern), a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. A portion of the proceeds from this Chefwich benefit the Oregon Food Bank. (covered here in this previous blog post)
    From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. The plum conserva comes in a container on the side, so I suppose you could choose to dip it. But, I decided to just spread it like a jam on top.

Finally, the last sandwich comes from Greg Denton of Ox, with an offering of a sandwich called “Blame Canada” because apparently he didn’t want the sandwich to just be called “The Greg Denton”. It has roasted turkey, French fries, cheese curds, and foie gras gravy.

The proceeds of this sandwich go to an animal welfare organization called Guardians of Rescue, and is available now through October 14. Very decadent end!
Lardo chefwich. The last sandwich comes from Greg Denton of Ox, with an offering of a sandwich called Lardo chefwich. The last sandwich comes from Greg Denton of Ox, with an offering of a sandwich called

Although this is the sixth and supposedly last chefwich (based on the stamp card having 6) , I also hope that Lardo will continue to offer a chefwich in the future where they do continue to collaborate with chefs.

Have you had any or all the chefwiches? Which do you think you would call your favorite?

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Lardo Chefwich #5 – only a few days left!

September 12, 2013 by 7 Comments

I previously covered other Lardo chefwich sandwiches 1-3 here, and then chefwich #4 of mid July-mid August here. Now here is chefwich #5, mid August – mid September. So you only have a few days left to catch this chefwich!

From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. Also, Lardo Fries and Lardo's Kentucky Lemonade From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye.

As noted before, the Chefwich Series is part of a series by Lardo of sandwiches where guest chefs of various Portland restaurants collaborate with Lardo (and Grassa) chef Rick Gencarelli. Each month, a new collaboration sandwich will appear just for that month, and the proceeds of the limited time guest chef sandwich going to benefit the guest chef’s charity of choice. The sandwich is available at either of the two Lardo locations, Lardo West in SW downtown or in Lardo East in the SE.

From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. A portion of the proceeds of the sandwich benefits the Oregon Food Bank.

For chefwich #5, the guest chef of the month is Jenn Louis of Lincoln Restaurant and Sunshine Tavern. She also was on Top Chef Masters this season and Food and Wine Best New Chef 2012 for the Northwest region.

From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. A portion of the proceeds of the sandwich benefits the Oregon Food Bank. From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. A portion of the proceeds of the sandwich benefits the Oregon Food Bank.

The sandwich is vegetarian! It is a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. The plum conserva comes in a container on the side, so I suppose you could choose to dip it. But, I decided to just spread it like a jam on top. As you can see, I supplemented my chefwich with the Lardo fries and also a Kentucky Lemonade. A portion of the proceeds from this Chefwich benefit the Oregon Food Bank.

From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. The plum conserva comes in a container on the side, so I suppose you could choose to dip it. But, I decided to just spread it like a jam on top. From Lardo, the Jenn Louis chefwich, a grilled cheese with fontina cheese, plum conserva on Grand Central Bakery sour rye. The plum conserva comes in a container on the side, so I suppose you could choose to dip it. But, I decided to just spread it like a jam on top.

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Counting Down to Feast Portland: Sandwich Invitational

August 12, 2013 by 13 Comments

This post is part of my series “Counting Down to Feast Portland” where I talk about events I plan to attend as part of this 4 day food and drink festival September 19-22, 2013. The goal of Feast Portland is to raise money for two Portland charity partners focused on fighting hunger: Share Our Strength and Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Disclaimer: I was granted a Bloggers Pass for Feast Portland 2013, and asked to help promote Feast but they did not require that I write this post and I am not otherwise being compensated.

Update – After attending the event, you can see my recap here of Day 1 of Feast

Previously: I highlighted the Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting food festival scheduled for Sept 20 and 21.

One of the events I am very much looking forward to is the Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational presented by Lincoln Motor Company. Tickets are $95 and the event takes place as part of Feast Portland on Thursday, Sept 19th 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Director Park.

This event is not covered by my Bloggers Pass, so I bought my ticket to this event with my own funds. I recall this was the first event that I read last year that I had regret that I had not attended, particularly as I had walked by it during that time on the way to something else and been so cruelly teased from the outside. I had rationalized myself out of buying a ticket last year, telling myself it wasn’t worth paying that price for just sandwiches. I kept second guessing myself the entire time.

And then, after the event, I gazed at the photos from last year’s event here from the sandwich porn slideshow from Bon Appetit, a Portland Monthly Magazine Slideshow, an article and Slideshow from Serious Eats, and the Diary coverage from Michael Russel at the Oregonian.

Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Imperial served up some beef belly banh mi, featuring beef knuckle marmalade. Sandwich sample from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 This Cuban fritas from Irving Street Kitchen contained chicken liver, Kobe beef, pork tenderloin, and veal. Sandwich sample from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Staple & Fancy (Seattle) Ethan Stowell showed off his pork belly porchetta sandwich with Bosc pear and onion mostarda from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland
Photo Credit: Feast Portland CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

I gazed hungrily at the photos of the various sandwich samples (ahem… at the time then, and also now as I compose this post!). 15 sandwiches, paired with beer. Sandwiches like shrimp and watercress sandwiches from Ned Ludd? Dungeness crab rolls with tarragon, lemon, fennel and bacon from Jenn Louis of Lincoln? “Egg McDuffin” sandwiches made of serrano ham, bacon, and sausage from Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes and the show Ace of Cakes?

Texas-smoked Carlton Farms pork butt and pickled Dungeness crab with Oregon pear slaw and pig’s ear gravy from Ned and Jodi Elliott from Austin’s Foreign & Domestic? Bunk Sandwich’s Tommy and Nick served up a matahambre (hunger killer), with chuck steak and a slow-cooked egg marinated in chimichurri, along with spinach and carrot escabeche?!

Then there was a collaboration sandwich, a smoked prime rib with jalapeno cheesesteak from Aaron Franklin of Austin’s Franklin Barbecue (one of the top Texas BBQ spots, and possibly of all the USA?) and Rodney Muirhead of Portland’s Podnah’s Pit? And representing Beast,  an offering of maple-glazed pork belly and pickled watermelon slaw on a housemade semolina roll from Naomi Pomeroy (who ultimately won the sandwich invitational)? I would go on but it’s making me really hungry and sad that I missed out.

Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Naomi Pomeroy of Beast's maple-glazed pork belly with pickled watermelon slaw on a housemade semolina roll sandwich sample from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Bunk served up this matahambre (hunger killer), a play on a traditional sandwich from Argentina with chuck steak and a slow-cooked egg marinated in chimichurri, along with spinach and carrot escabeche. Sandwich sample from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland
Photo Credit: Feast Portland CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

Um, so YUM. These are not your normal sandwiches, the combinations are creative, ingredients high end and fresh, and the flavors bold, these are sammies at a level you would never find on a regular menu, even at the home base restaurants of these illustrious chefs. Based on the experienced last year, it turns out that you barely had to wait in line for your taste, with the longest apparently being for the cheesesteak sandwich at 20 minutes. Are you kidding, I’ve waited for an hour or two to eat deliciousness before, and add to that this is being crafted from the very hands of those gifted palates (squeeeee!!!)… so 20 minutes (probably while eating another sandwich) is nothing! And OMG Jeffrey Steingarten was there! I should have bought a ticket ;(

Naomi Pomeroy of Beast and her sandwich samples from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Shrimp and watercress sandwiches from Ned Ludd, sandwich samples from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Jen from Lincoln served up Dungeness crab rolls with tarragon, lemon, fennel and bacon sandwich samples from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland
Photo Credit: Feast Portland CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

Naomi is one of the my dream chefs as I admire her as female chef in a mostly male-dominated industry despite not having formal training, and also as a representative celebrating Northwest cuisine and ingredients nationally, and her perspective of intimate supper club like food service rather than white linens experience… but I am also intimidated of. She is so unapologetically focused and driven, so whip smart and quick to learn and also take risks and pull from an amazing database of flavor possibilities in her mind. So kick ass.

And add to that the sandwich kings of Portland, Rick from Lardo and Tommy and Nick from Bunk, will be there? And the dream team for any meat,  Greg and Gabrielle from Ox? And I loved Stephanie on Top Chef (maybe I was already cheering her because she’s from my hometown Chicago, yes she’s a female chef too, and she is such an approachable genius that seems like you can have beers and laugh with). I could gush more, but suffice it to say it was clear to me I must be there at this Sandwich Invitational! I can’t write anymore, I need to go out and get a sandwich.

Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Kenny and Zuke brought the classic Reubon of course, sandwich samples from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational 2012 Rodney assembling the smoked prime rib with jalapeno cheesesteak collaboration from Aaron Franklin of Austin's Franklin Barbecue and Rodney Muirhead of Portland's Podnah's Pit. Sandwich samples from Feast Portland 2012 event Sandwich Invitational. Copyright All rights reserved by Feast Portland
Photo Credit: Feast Portland CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

Description from the Feast website: What happens when 15 of America’s top chefs convene to harness their culinary ambition between two slices of bread? Enter the Sandwich Invitational, Feast Portland’s killer kick-off party, where wildly imaginative, chef’d-up interpretations redefine everything you thought the lowly sando could be. Enjoy sandwich bliss under the stars at Downtown Portland’s urbane Director Park, an experience paired with craft brews from legendary local Widmer Brothers Brewing plus Northwest wines and cocktails.

The Lineup

And, here’s a video showing last year’s event.

Disclaimer: I was granted a Bloggers Pass for Feast Portland 2013, and asked to help promote Feast but they did not require that I write this post and I am not otherwise being compensated. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own, and I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences regardless of whether they were complimentary or not.

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Lardo Chefwich- 3 down, 3 to go

July 16, 2013 by 10 Comments

Lardo is doing a special Chefwich series in which other guest chefs of various Portland restaurants collaborate with Lardo (and Grassa) chef Rick Gencarelli. Each month, a new collaboration sandwich will appear just for that month, and the proceeds of the limited time guest chef sandwich going to benefit the guest chef’s charity of choice. When you order the sandwich (available at either of the two Lardo locations, Lardo West in SW downtown or in Lardo East in the SE), make sure to ask for your Chefwich Series stamp card, because if you collect all six stamps you can earn VIP admission to the Lardo Fall Party.

I’ve collected 3 so far… and here’s a report out.

The first Chefwich debuted in April to mid May, with Cathy Whims (of Nostrana and Oven & Shaker) and her Straccetti sandwich featuring bavette steak, provolone cheese, roasted asparagus, and horseradish creme fraiche. Beautiful, messy, delicious richness. Her chosen charity was Friends of Family Farmers which promotes responsible farming, and I collected my first chefwich card.
Lardo chefwich, collaboration sandwich, Rick Gencarelli, Cathy Whims, Straccetti sandwich featuring bavette steak, provolone cheese, roasted asparagus, and horseradish creme fraiche

I washed this down with a refreshing Grapefruit Margarita with tequila, house-made sour mix, gran gala, and it is a generous glass.
Lardo, Rick Gencarelli, Grapefruit Margarita with tequila, house-made sour mix, gran gala

Chefwich #2 was courtesy of Scott Snyder (of Levant), with Morroccan Lamb Meatball and black olive mayo, harrisa carrot slaw, feta. This chefwich benefits Urban Gleaners, whose mission is to eliminate waste of surplus food by redistributing to the hungry. I meant to eat half the sandwich and save the other half for dinner. That didn’t happen because I could. not. stop.

Lardo, chefwich, Scott Snyder, Levant, Morroccan Lamb Meatball and black olive mayo, harrisa carrot slaw, feta Lardo, chefwich, Scott Snyder, Levant, Morroccan Lamb Meatball and black olive mayo, harrisa carrot slaw, feta Lardo, chefwich, Scott Snyder, Levant, Morroccan Lamb Meatball and black olive mayo, harrisa carrot slaw, feta

And finally, recently I had Chefwich #3, The Aaron Barnett (of St. Jack)- #3 in Chefwich Series, a sandwich of Fried Calamari – caper & red onion mayo, marinated tomatoes, lettuce. Mmm, that crispy crispy calamari which was perfectly executed to be crunchy but not overdone or greasy would have been excellent even on its own, but bonus! You get a whole squidwich! Proceeds go to the Special Olympics and their support their mission to provide sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Hemingway cocktail that accompanied this sandwich with Bacardi, lime, simple syrup, and soda looked like water in a pint glass but packed a nice punch that made me happy.

Lardo, chefwich, Aaron Barnett, St Jack, Squidwich sandwich, Fried Calamari - caper & red onion mayo, marinated tomatoes, lettuce Lardo, chefwich, Aaron Barnett, St Jack, Squidwich sandwich, Fried Calamari - caper & red onion mayo, marinated tomatoes, lettuce

I wonder what the next chefwich will be? 2 of the 3 were ChefStable partners (of which Rick also is)- I am crossing my fingers for Trent Pierce or Greg Denton or Andy Ricker, but really all of these have been home runs so I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for the next collaboration.

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