Portland, August 11th, 2013. Oregon’s largest culinary gathering drew over 50,000 foodies. Mike Adams of Adams Rib Smoke House had a chance to show off his hearty grilled items. The Bite of Oregon was presented by Amica Insurance and also included Oregon wine and craft beer offerings at Portland’s Waterfront Park.
Chef Erica from Le Cordon Bleu made lime mouse during a demonstration.
Some food and drink vendors like “Ice” brought in displays and handed out free samples.
Cupcake Vineyards had a wine tasting lounge on wheels.
New aspects included an expanded SYSCO Oregon Chef’s Stage, celebrity chef, Iron Chef Oregon competitions, Gerry Frank’s Oregon Chef’s Table, fully programmed Kids Fair, Oregon Wine Pavilion, and the growing Oregon Craft Beer Garden.
Jeff Wood from Le Cordon Bleu stirred up some fresh Marionberry ice cream.
Gabriel Green from .OC.T. worked alongside Nathan Weaver from the Parkrose Chateau.
Volunteer who helped out Special Olympics with their donated labor manned stations like the beverage huts. They inculded, Genevieve Klein and Isabel Klein from the National Charity League and PJ Hummelt from Jesuit High School.
Combining many of Portland’s most popular restaurants, bands, and comedians with Oregon’s premiere wineries for a few days of fun every August was the brainchild of local festival producer, Clay Fuller. In 1984, armed with a city park permit to “utilize a Portland park for the benefit of raising funds for a recognized non-profit organization”, Fuller teamed with beneficiary, Special Olympics Oregon, to create The Bite.
But like most fledgling enterprises, The Bite did not begin with 50,000 attendees The inaugural festival featured 23 Portland restaurants, 6 Oregon wineries, 1 comedian, and 23 bands.
About Special Olympics Oregon:
This year, Special Olympics Oregon celebrates its 40th anniversary of providing Training for Life to the largest disability population in the state. Special Olympics Oregon is a year-round program offering 14 different Olympics style sports to athletes with intellectual disabilities and related cognitive disabilities. More than 10,000 participants are involved from across Oregon. In Special Olympics programs, people with intellectual disabilities compete as true athletes. They gain self-confidence, social competency and other enhanced skills, both physical and social.
Special Olympics is not only the world’s largest program of year-round sports training and competition for persons with intellectual disabilities, but is the world’s largest amateur sports organization. More than 3.7 million athletes participate in Special Olympics in over 170 countries around the world.
Special Olympics Oregon is a registered 501 c(3), non-profit organization
supported by private donations from individuals, corporations and
organizations throughout the state. Special Olympics is “the most credible
charity in America” according to a survey in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
For More Information
For more information about Special Olympics, please visit www.soor.
