Revisiting Slavic Roots Tasting Event
Kachka in Portland
In our internal brainstorming sessions about potential hosts for our first-ever Portland event, Kachka was always top of the list given the plethora of incredible accolades that have gone to both the restaurant (Eater "Best Restaurants in America"; GQ "25 Best Restaurants in US"; James Beard "Best New Restaurant" Semi-Finalist) and Chef/Owner Bonnie Morales (StarChefs "Rising Star" Winner; James Beard "Best Chef: NW" Semi-Finalist). It also didn't hurt that, prior to striking out on her own, Chef Morales cut her teeth at a bunch of Michelin-Starred eateries in NYC and CHI. Needless to say, we knew this PDX kick-off event was going to be a smashing success, and, wow, was it ever! Chef Morales and her incredible crew were in true tour de force mode all evening, serving up a truly spectacular 5-Course meal that celebrated her Slavic roots (scroll on down to drool over the photos and you'll see just what we mean!). And, for the cherry on top, turns out she's incredible on the mic, as she came out of the kitchen throughout the evening to share heartfelt stories. A huge thank you to Chef Morales and her team for delivering such an unforgettable first event! Oh, as always, below for the top three courses, as rated by guests on their feedback cards:
1st Place: 'Thanksgiving Leftover’ Pelmeni, AKA barley stuffing and turkey gravy-filled dumplings with confit turkey, cranberry relish, sage breadcrumbs, and celery leaves
2nd Place: Mushroom Salat with cured matsutake and chanterelles, pickled shiitakes, smoked hon-shimejis, and beet & hazelnut puree
3rd Place: Bakhsh Plov, a Bukharian-Jewish rice dish with Uzbek tandoor-style lamb ribs, marinated cabbage salad, lamb liver, and cilantro