Portland, Ore., May 1, 2014 – On June 12, Edible Portland and Ecotrust are holding their 7th annual Local Hero Awards, with a keynote by Nell Newman, to honor outstanding members of our local food community. This year’s celebration will take the event to new heights by bringing in renowned local chefs John Gorham (Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons, Tasty &n Alder), Scott Dolich (Park Kitchen, The Bent Brick), Greg Higgins (Higgins Restaurant), Stacey Givens (Side Yard Farm & Kitchen), Ethan Bisagna (Feastworks), and Jameson Maspaitella (Simpatica) to put their culinary brilliance toward preparing the best barbecue, sourced directly from our region’s most sustainable producers: Carman Ranch, Hawkins’ Sisters Ranch, Goose Point Oysters, Reister Farms, Goat Mountain Pastured Meats, Turtle Island Foods, and Anderson Ranches.
To top it off, we’ll have microbrews from six local breweries and a Hall of Pie featuring six Portland pie masters and nearly bottomless ice cream from local fave, Salt & Straw. All proceeds support Ecotrust’s work to build a resilient regional food system.
Before the feasting begins, social entrepreneur Nell Newman of Newman’s Own Organics will feed your mind with a talk on the power of social enterprise — what it means to run a business that aims for far more than profit. Newman will announce the winners of this year’s Local Hero Awards, voted for by 2,000-plus members of the public in each of six categories: Farm, Restaurant, Food Artisan, Beverage Artisan, Nonprofit/Educator, and Retailer. The nominees represent the people and businesses who are making the greatest strides toward creating a robust regional food system that is environmentally sound and socially just.
“This is not just the summer’s first BBQ, but arguably its best,” says Amanda Oborne, Food & Farms Vice President of Ecotrust. “Not only are the chefs and producers preparing a stunning menu of delicious food, but you can feel good about every single bite. The entire line-up of chefs, producers, and award nominees represents businesses that are changing the face of food: transforming how they source ingredients, care for their animals and land, treat their workers, and engage with their communities. These are the innovators in a new wave of socially responsible food businesses, even though some of them have been doing what they do for a lifetime. I hope you’ll join us in this joyful, raucous, finger-licking celebration of local food heroes.”
“Local Hero Award recipients and nominees are entrepreneurs who have undertaken daunting projects to achieve their goal of elevating our communities,” reflects Damian Magista, founder of Bee Local Honey and the 2013 food artisan winner. “To see the community support for Bee Local was both humbling and inspiring. It meant my mission was not only resoundingly supported but fully understood as well.”
Tickets for the event are on sale now.
THE MENU
Chefs + Ranchers
Greg Higgins of HIGGINS RESTAURANT smokes CARMAN RANCH Spanish Longaniza sausage and HAWKINS’ SISTERS RANCH chicken buttifarra sausage with hazelnut romesco sauce
John Gorham of TORO BRAVO, Tasty n Sons, and Tasty n Alder roasts two (count them two!) goats from ANDERSON RANCHES
Stacey Givens of SIDE YARD FARM & KITCHEN makes TURTLE ISLAND FOOD barbecue tempeh sliders with spicy, farm-fresh slaw
Scott Dolich of THE BENT BRICK barbecues GOOSE POINT OYSTERS on the rooftop terrace
Jameson Maspaitella at SIMPATICA makes meltingly tender REISTER FARMS lamb shoulder
Ethan Bisagna of FEASTWORKS transforms GOAT MOUNTAIN PASTURED MEAT pork bellies and shoulders into lip-smacking links
Fresh bread from GRAND CENTRAL BAKERY
At each station, alongside the barbecue and beer, the producers will share stories of their work, offering attendees the opportunity to get closer to the source of their meat.
Breweries
Breakside ǀ Commons ǀ Double Mountain ǀ Fort George ǀ Gigantic ǀ Migration
Hall of Pie
Grand Central Bakery ǀ Lovejoy Bakery ǀ Lauretta Jean’s ǀ Petunia’s Pies and Pastries ǀ Sweedeedee ǀ Salt & Straw ǀ Organic Valley ǀ Nossa Familia
WHAT ARE THE LOCAL HERO AWARDS?
Every year, Edible Portland magazine asks the community to reflect on the people and businesses who are making the greatest strides toward creating a robust regional food system that is environmentally sound and socially just. We pick the top four nominees in each of the following categories: Farm, Restaurant, Food Artisan, Beverage Artisan, Nonprofit/Educator, and Retailer. Then we open it for a public vote. Voting begins May 9. Meet all of the Local Hero Award nominees and learn about what makes them special at edibleportland.com.
EVENT DETAILS: Edible Portland’s Local Hero Awards at Ecotrust
When: June 12, 5:30 to 10 pm
Nell Newman talks at 6:15 pm
Awards begin at 6:45 pm
Feasting begins at 7:30 pm
Eats Only ticket holders enter at 8 pm
Where:
Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
Tickets:
All proceeds support Ecotrust’s work to build a resilient regional food system. Tickets are limited. Get yours today!
Purchase tickets: ecotrust.ticketleap.com/localhero/
$65: All-inclusive ticket – the price of admission includes the keynote by Nell Newman, the awards ceremony, barbecue, beer, and Hall of Pie
$50: Food and drink only (entry at 8 pm)
Learn more:
About the event: www.ecotrust.org/localhero
About the nominees: edibleportland.com/category/edible-online/local-heroes/
Purchase tickets: ecotrust.ticketleap.com/localhero/
Follow the excitement on Twitter and Instagram: #localfoodhero
THANK YOU, SPONSORS!
Superhero: Organic Valley
Caped Crusaders: New Seasons Market, Nicky USA, One PacificCoast Bank Foundation, Oregon Brewers Guild, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Pacific Natural Foods, Specialty Food Association, Sustainable Business Oregon, Willamette Week
Trusty Sidekicks: Espe Floral, Food Front Cooperative Grocery, Grand Central Bakery, KitchenCru, Metro, Oregon Business Magazine, Oregon Culinary Institute, Oregon Cultural Trust, Pastaworks, Por Que No?, PSU Institute of Sustainable Solutions, Supply Source
# # #
About Edible Portland
Edible Portland is published four times a year by Ecotrust. The free publication, available at local farmers’ markets, grocery stores, restaurants, cooking schools, and other locations throughout the region, addresses food and farming issues and shares untold tales from the local food community. Advertising and subscription information is available at www.edibleportland.com. @edibleportland
About Ecotrust
For more than twenty years, Ecotrust has converted $80 million in grants into more than $800 million in assets for local people, businesses, and organizations from Alaska to California. Ecotrust’s many innovations include co-founding an environ¬mental bank, starting the world’s first ecosystem investment fund, creating a range of programs in fisheries, forestry, food, farms, and social finance, and developing new scientific and information tools to improve social, economic, and environmental decision-making. Ecotrust works locally in ways that promise hope abroad, and it honors and supports the wisdom of Native and First Nation leadership in its work. Learn more at www.ecotrust.org. @ecotrust