#441 Bill Oakley - Bill Oakley Culinary Events
Right At The Fork
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...
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#440 Jason French - Open Kitchen (formerly of Ned Ludd)
Right At The Fork
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...
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#439 Edouardo Jordan - His story of his journey to the apex of the Seattle food world, the fall, and the recovery
Right At The Fork
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,...
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RATF Classic: #399 Sandra Tavares - Portugal's Travel Designer
Right At The Fork
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...
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#438 Dominic Finzo - The Screen Door
Right At The Fork
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...
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#437 Gary Okazaki - Gary the Foodie's 25 Most Significant PDX Restaurants This Century | Part 2
Right At The Fork
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...
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#436 Gary Okazaki - Gary the Foodie's 25 Most Significant PDX Restaurants This Century | Part 1
Right At The Fork
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...
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#435 Keoni Wachsmuth - Dan & Louis Oyster Bar: Part II
Right At The Fork
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...
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#434 Brady Stephens - Fancy Baby
Right At The Fork
Chef Brady Stephens, now Executive Chef at Fancy Baby in Portland, was born and raised in Sioux City, IA. He has spent years refining his craft in various kitchens, including stints at Michelin bib gourmands in Spain, and most recently at Jacqueline, St. Jack, OK Emens and Scotch Lodge in Portland. Chef Brady is drawn to a community-forward style of cooking, highlighting the vibrant flavors of locally farmed, preserved, and fermented foods through a creative elaboration of French, Italian, and Spanish Mediterranean cuisines We talk about his journey and his responsibilities now at Fancy...
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#433 Michelle and Keoni Wachsmuth - Dan and Lous Oyster Bar, Part 1
Right At The Fork
We are thrilled to welcome Keoni and Michelle Wachsmuth, the owners of Portland's legendary Dan and Louis Oyster Bar, for a candid two-part conversation starting this week. The Wachsmuth family has run the seafood landmark since 1907, and in this first segment, Keoni and Michelle open up about the immense challenges of keeping one of the city's oldest restaurants afloat in 2025. They discuss everything from the ongoing difficulties facing the downtown area—which they've referred to as the "downtown depression"—to the financial strains of operating a historic, full-service establishment....
info_outlineIt's summer, and that means it's Hog Dog Season...
So here's a look back to our conversation with Michael Mudd from earlier this year.
We venture out to Manzanita for this podcast, and take the opportunity to chat with Michael Mudd, the proprietor of Manzanita Mudd Dogs. Whether you have been to or plan on visiting Manzanita, the story of how the iconic Manzanita Mudd Dogs started to how Michael and his brother Brad took over the operation of the business from their parents, Jim and Lynn Mudd, is an awesome story.
Michael talks about how and why his parents started serving hot dogs from their driveway in Manzanita, and how that led to the Mudd Nick Foundation, which provides kids with wonderful enriching opportunities to go to camps and travel worldwide through their charitable efforts. It was truly a team effort to find that purpose, and now the foundation and hot dog business is going strong, evolving and thriving.
Hearing Michael's recollection of leaving the corporate world to make authentic Chicago Dogs is something so many of us would envy, and we'll get to hear how that's worked out for Michael.
Manzanita Mudd Dogs serves more Chicago dogs than any other place on the West Coast. They can be found close to the water on Laneda Avenue in Manzanita, or here: https://www.manzanitamudddogs.com/. The Mudd Nick Foundation can be found here: https://muddnickfoundation.com/
Right at the Fork is supported by:
Zupan's Markets: www.Zupans.com
RingSide Steakhouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com
Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com