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Right At The Fork

Right At The Fork

Written by: RATF
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About this listen

 Portland Food Adventures founder Chris Angelus and long time radio host Cort Johnson invite the region's most prominent tastemakers to discuss how they got from there to here (including their "Right at the Fork" moments"). Long-form interviews with the unique people who converged in Portland to make it a great place to eat and drink, along with soundbites and restaurant reports make this the podcast to listen to if you're into one of the most happening food scenes in the world.2024 RightAtTheFork Art Cooking Economics Food & Wine
Episodes
  • RATF Classic: #399 Sandra Tavares - Portugal's Travel Designer

    RATF Classic: #399 Sandra Tavares - Portugal's Travel Designer
    Jan 9 2026

    We're looking back to November 2024 and our conversation with Sandra Tavares...

    ORIGINAL POST:

    Sandra Tavares knows the people, places and things that make up a wonderful culinary and wine journey throughout Portugal. Sandra started her career as a journalist and found herself covering a burgeoning food scene, to the point where she realized she would enjoy developing tours and experiences for people, and taking them to the best Portugal has to offer, rather than just writing about them. Eventually she met her husband Vitor, and as things happened, eventually they landed in a beautiful vineyard and winery owned by Portugal's benchmark Kopke wines, where Vitor developed a restaurant to serve the local bounty that complemented the wine. And his deep contacts in the industry in turn, became Sandra's as well.

    Sandra is uniquely positioned to be the foremost authority on food and wine in Portugal. To that end, she designed a wonderful itinerary that our podcast host Chris Angelus' Portland Food Adventures is offering in May of 2025, on which food and wine loving folks can travel with St. Jack chef Aaron Barnett to Porto, the beautiful Douro River Valley and Lisbon to take bites and sips of the varied histories and customs of the beautiful country. The trip features two hotels and inns from the folks at Kopke as well as dining with solid Michelin-star chefs throughout the region, as well as some pub food curated by expat Don Bourassa, former Portland Yelp Community Director.

    This podcast is a fun journey outside of our area, but with Portland connections to keep us grounded!

    The Portland Food Adventures Portugal trip is here: https://www.portlandfoodadventures.com/portugal-with-kopke

    Sandra is here on Instagram: @simply_b_sandra

    Podcast with Don here, where he talks about moving to Portugal:
    https://rightatthefork.com/shows/2024/1/5/374-don-bourassa-international-adulting-and-inaugural-ratf-guest
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • #438 Dominic Finzo - The Screen Door

    #438 Dominic Finzo - The Screen Door
    Jan 2 2026
    Dominic Finzo from The Screen Door restaurant in Portland joins us to talk about the iconic restaurant's 20th anniversary, which they will commemorate in 2026. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Dominic's earliest memories are steeped in the comforting rhythm of Southern life—where supper was always on the table, and love was served warm by the hands of his grandparents who raised him. It was in their kitchen that Dominic first felt the magic of food—the way a meal could bring people together and make them feel cared for. That connection lit a fire in him, and from a young age, he knew that cooking was more than just a skill—it was a calling. Dominic sought out mentors and chefs who would help shape his path. His journey took him from Tennessee to Montreal, across Germany, Denmark, and France, then to Maui, and finally to Portland, Oregon. Along the way, he honed his craft in some of the most respected kitchens, mastering techniques and immersing himself in diverse culinary traditions.

    Yet, no matter how far he traveled or how many flavors he explored, Dominic's heart remained tethered to the soulful food of his Southern roots. When he joined the Screen Door team, it felt like a homecoming—a full-circle moment where he could merge the rich traditions of his upbringing with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.

    www.screendoorrestaurant.com

    @screendoorrestaurant

    Right at the Fork is made possible by:

    DU/ER: www.shopduer.com/fork
    Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
    RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
    Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • #437 Gary Okazaki - Gary the Foodie's 25 Most Significant PDX Restaurants This Century | Part 2

    #437 Gary Okazaki - Gary the Foodie's 25 Most Significant PDX Restaurants This Century | Part 2
    Dec 26 2025
    We're back with Part 2 of our conversation with Gary Okazaki - aka @GarytheFoodie. Gary gives us his top 10 (out of the 25) - highlighting the most important/defining restaurants of the first quarter century in Portland. Chris throws in the restaurants he thinks should have been on the list. Check out episode #436 to hear 25-11. They touch on the rise of pop-up restaurants and reflect on the future of Portland's food scene, concluding with thoughts on the lasting impact of these establishments. In this engaging conversation, we explore the evolution of Portland's food scene, highlighting influential restaurants, chefs, and the unique culinary ethos that defines the city. Part of the discussion is the impact of food carts, brunch culture, and the criteria for ranking the century's 25 most influential restaurants.

    Right at the Fork is made possible by:

    DU/ER: www.shopduer.com/fork
    Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
    RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
    Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 22 mins
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