Every year, Nicky USA, the meat concierge providing quality meat product to the best food creators in the Northwest, throws the meatiest celebration called Wild About Game. I was able to attend again this year, and here’s my recap and review of Wild About Game 2019. Next year will be their 20th anniversary of this event, so it’s sure to be special- be on the lookout for when they announce tickets are on sale.
Usually held at the beautiful background of Mount Hood Resort (previously known as Resort on the Mountain), the party includes the San Pelligrino Artisan Marketplace for you to taste lots of local products. Yes there’s meat from local ranches, but also seafood and other deliciousness with preparations dished up often from well known chefs. There is also a throwdown between Portland and Seattle, with a representative chef from each city competing using a chosen game meat in four different face-offs, and then a people’s choice and judge’s choice winner from all eight dishes is announced. 
That’s right – as a guest with your entry, it’s all you can eat and drink from among various sponsors (many who have well known chefs helping to showcase their product), AND you can sample all of the competition entries. Plus, there is a cocktail competition too – and this year there was also some tequila tasting classes. There’s also a raffle so you could win and go home with some cool prizes!
The way it is organized was really smart this year in that all the competition dishes and drinks, which usually are what have lines since the competing chef or mixologist is only there for an hour, were all placed outside. That left more space without the logistics of people lining up or trying to go between the two sampling stations inside the building, so it felt much less crowded. There are also plenty of places to sit, be it at set tables and chairs outside to perching on sidewalk planters or sitting on the grass with a view of the mountains and the landscaped golf course below. Items being grilled were grouped together on one side, and there was also an area that was more focused on seafood. 
The Competition Dishes, The Competition Cocktails, and a Sample of other Samples are the three sections I will give you a visual peak of from my experience at Wild About Game 2019.
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