Portland has “the greatest chef culture in the country,” declared hipstery food star Anthony Bourdain* last year, in an interview with Nick Norlen for Philadelphia’s City Paper.
This was sufficient to inspire another City Paper writer, Drew Lazor, to make the trip to Portland. And he blogged his account: Philly kids in PDX: An eater’s guide to Portland, Oregon.
What does he think of Portland’s rank as a great chef’s city?
Is it really the greatest chef’s city in the nation? I’ve never been one for blanket superlatives — but I strongly suggest you book some plane tickets right now.
The recap of the visit covers plenty of brewpubs and good restaurants, and the Great American Distillers Festival. He goes gaga over our street food, and makes the spot-on observation that Stumptown Coffee is “hilariously snotty.” It’s definitely worth a read.
* Here’s a sample from the No Reservations episode wherein Anthony Bourdain visits Portland and checks out some cooks’ tattoos. Alt.portland reviewed the episode here.
Well, hot damn — Portland seems to be the best at everything — food, beer, pedestrian/cycle friendliness, entertainment, etc., etc. It’s really, really cool how proud you are of your hometown and how much you love it. Really.
If it wasn’t for you Dave I would have no idea that people outside of PDX cared about Portland. I love the media attention our city is getting.