Episodes

  • #441 Bill Oakley - Bill Oakley Culinary Events

    #441 Bill Oakley - Bill Oakley Culinary Events
    Jan 30 2026

    Here we are again with the awesome and fun Bill Oakley. Chris and Bill discuss the evolution of The Simpsons and the rise of adult animation, reflecting on how perceptions of cartoons have changed over the years. They delve into Bill's culinary events, emphasizing the importance of audience engagement and the unique opportunity to explore regional dishes without traveling. The discussion shifts to the future of airline food events, highlighting Bill's upcoming event at Loyal Legion at PDX, an innovative approach to recreating iconic airline meals. Sponsorships and collaborations are also explored, particularly with Alaska Airlines, as they discuss the potential for expanding these culinary experiences to other cities.

    The conversation wraps up with a look at the Portland Steamies and the local food scene, as well as the impact of social media on culinary experiences, emphasizing the shift towards real-life engagement over online interactions.

    Right at the Fork is made possible by:

    Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
    RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
    Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • #440 Jason French - Open Kitchen (formerly of Ned Ludd)

    #440 Jason French - Open Kitchen (formerly of Ned Ludd)
    Jan 23 2026

    In this conversation, Jason French shares his journey of navigating the culinary landscape post-pandemic, reflecting on his experiences in Lake Oswego and the evolution of his career. He discusses the challenges of sustaining a business in the food industry, particularly the shift towards digital platforms and the need for chefs to adapt to changing consumer expectations. Jason emphasizes the importance of purpose in his life and work, revealing how he has been weaving together various income streams while pursuing his passion for cooking and writing. We touch on the changing dynamics of the Portland food scene, the impact of social media on dining choices, and the complexities of running a restaurant in today's economy.

    In this episode, Jason French shares his journey through the challenges of the pandemic and how it reshaped his culinary philosophy. He reflects on the closure of his restaurant, Ned Ludd, emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's vision in the face of adversity. Jason discusses his transition to Open Kitchen, a venture focused on teaching home cooking and healthy eating, inspired by his wife's dietary needs and his own experiences as a chef and coach. He advocates for a return to simple, nourishing cooking that prioritizes quality ingredients and the joy of sharing meals with loved ones.

    Throughout the conversation, Jason critiques the modern food landscape, highlighting the overwhelming noise around diets and cooking trends. He encourages listeners to embrace intuitive cooking, emphasizing that food should be about nourishment and enjoyment rather than strict rules. The episode culminates in Jason's insights on how to create a welcoming kitchen environment and the importance of understanding ingredients, ultimately aiming to demystify home cooking and make it accessible to everyone.

    Right at the Fork is made possible by:

    Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
    RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
    Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • #439 Edouardo Jordan - His story of his journey to the apex of the Seattle food world, the fall, and the recovery

    #439 Edouardo Jordan - His story of his journey to the apex of the Seattle food world, the fall, and the recovery
    Jan 16 2026
    Edouardo Jordan's ascent to the top of the Seattle culinary world was a long journey that started in his childhood St. Petersburg kitchen helping his mother, when given the choice of that or cleaning his room. Edouardo takes us through his high school, college and post college pursuits, one of which was working with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to becoming a food blogger, He then decided he could do better than many of the restaurants he reviewed, and he pursued his interest in cooking at the Le Cordon Bleu (Orlando Culinary Academy) and got his first kitchen job in Tampa, Florida. He worked his way from server to the line, working for Thomas Keller at The French Laundry and Per Se, then to Sitka & Sprice in Seattle. With all of that under his belt, he had the chops to open his own restaurant, Salare, in Seattle at the age of 35. That platform, showcasing his talent to the world, led to Food and Wine choosing him as Best New Chef in 2016. Shortly thereafter, Jordan opened JuneBaby, his widely acclaimed ode to Southern cooking. He generated so much attention that the following year he sounded a louder gong by bringing home TWO James Beard Foundation Awards to Seattle. One for Best Chef Northwest, and the other for Best New Restaurant nationwide. He was the first African-American ever to win that award. Edouardo was the baby of the Seattle culinary scene and beyond. In 2019, Time Magazine named him one of the USA's 100 Most Influential People. Then, as Edouardo tells it, all of that was erased in one day. In June of 2021, The Seattle Times published a story featuring multiple accusations of sexual abuse in the workplace by Jordan. As Jordan points out in his recent YouTube Series chronicling his side this story, The newspaper gave him very little time to respond before it was published, and what happened from then on was something unimaginable -- a long, incredibly hard and frustrating time for Chef Jordan. He found roadblocks everywhere, especially in the media, where he couldn't tell his side of the story. Over four years later, Jordan is clawing his way back into the kitchen with the business he started years ago, thefoodwithroots.com. Edouardo joins us on the podcast to talk about his career's rise, its crash, and how he's been emotionally and socially picking up the pieces in recent years, to what he's doing now in work and life, and how he's found balance and answers since the upheaval.

    Right at the Fork is made possible by:

    Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com
    RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
    Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com

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    1 hr and 49 mins
  • 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

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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • #436 Gary Okazaki - Gary the Foodie's 25 Most Significant PDX Restaurants This Century | Part 1

    #436 Gary Okazaki - Gary the Foodie's 25 Most Significant PDX Restaurants This Century | Part 1
    Dec 19 2025
    In Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Gary Okazaki - aka @GarytheFoodie, Chris and Gary start with 15+2 of Gary's list of the 25 most important/defining restaurants of the first quarter century in Portland. (The top 10 are next week). 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

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    1 hr and 42 mins
  • #435 Keoni Wachsmuth - Dan & Louis Oyster Bar: Part II

    #435 Keoni Wachsmuth - Dan & Louis Oyster Bar: Part II
    Dec 12 2025
    In this conversation, Keoni Wachsmuth, 4th generation owner of Portland's iconic oyster bar, discusses the current success of his oyster bar, the challenges faced by the restaurant industry, and the impact of technology on dining experiences. He reflects on the importance of preserving culinary history and the economic pressures affecting both restaurant owners and employees. The discussion also touches on the historical context of the oyster bar and the changing landscape of Portland's dining scene. In this engaging conversation, Keoni Wachsmuth discusses the intricacies of running Dan and Louis Oyster Bar, touching on the challenges of restaurant management, the importance of community support, and the legacy of his family in the oyster business. The dialogue explores future opportunities, the dynamics of nightlife in Portland, and the significance of creative outlets in personal fulfillment. Keoni emphasizes the need for resilience and adaptability in the face of industry challenges, while also sharing insights on local recommendations for a vibrant night out in Portland. Keoni's overview of the chronology of events at the Oyster Bar can be found at 1:35:00.

    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 52 mins