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Interview – Erica Landon, Sommellier Ten 01

Not only is Erica Landon, Ten 01′s award winning sommelier, extremely well educated about the wines she recommends, but she continues to make the restaurant’s wine program one of the best in the state. She’s also quite nice. In a male dominated field with a reputation for snobbery, Landon gracefully keeps her own council. “When I went to take my quarter master sommelier exam I was one of two women in the room out of forty people,” she says. Landon says she was intimidated “sometimes,” but goes on to explain, “I have an idea about how I feel about wine and I want to make it as accessible and as friendly…

Food Dude Hosts Wild Miracle Fruit Party!

I don’t have parties very often; it takes a major event in my life before I throw open the doors to more than a few people. That’s why a group of my foodie friends were surprised to get an invitation to a last minute gathering at my house a few weeks ago. Even more surprising, was what a strange party it became. I always try to be a good host with lots of things to nibble on to counteract the alcohol, but this time was different. We ate whole grapefruits, lemons and limes, poured Tabasco sauce and grapefruit bitters into each other’s mouths – and that was just the start.

Pix Patisserie For Sale

After 7 years working to build an established, recognized, and successful business, Cheryl is moving ahead to take on new adventures and challenges. In order to do that, she has chosen to sell Pix Patisserie. It is her hope to find an individual that is passionate about food, business savvy, and creative in that “Portland” way to take the reins.
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How do you get a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence?

What would happen if someone created a fake restaurant website, with a fake menu, populated the wine list with less than stellar choices, and submitted everything (along with a $250 entry fee), for a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence? This is exactly what Robin Goldstein, author of The Wine Trials did. For his trouble, the fake restaurant won an Award of Excellence.

Mr. Goldstein presented the result at the meeting of the American Association of Wine Economists, which was held in Portland last week.

O Post About Hired Help Potluck Stirs Up Firestorm

I have never received quite so many irate emails about an Oregonian article before. It seems the following post has offended many, many people: http://www.oregonlive.com/foodday The story is also burning up the blogs. Here are a few examples: Matt Davis says, Just when I begin to forget why I hate you so damned much, The Oregonian’s food writers run a
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Local Figs: A Love Letter to a Short Sweet Season

Portland has been raining figs. There are big brown, black and green blobs on the sidewalks, on top of cars, and backyards have been turned into slippery landmine fields. It won’t last long though, because we are reaching the end of the local fig season.

Fresh figs remind me, somewhat sadly, that summer has now peaked and I need to savor every last bite of it, for there are only a couple of the good weather months

Chris Israel Out at 23Hoyt

According to the Oregonian, “On Aug. 23, Christopher Israel will spend his last day as executive chef at 23Hoyt, which hit its peak this year, and Saucebox, where he has increasingly played a minor role.” I liked 23Hoyt when Chris was at the helm, but haven been impressed lately by Saucebox. Chris will be replaced by chef Aaron Barnett from
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