Feast Portland: Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitation
On the first night of Feast Portland, 14 chefs competed to create the best sandwich known to mankind, and we, the attendees, were the judges.
Our first task was to taste all 14 sandwiches that were spread out over Downtown Portland's Director Park. Hungry food fans milled about or stood in line for a taste of the best that Portland, and the rest of the country's top restaurateurs, put forth for all of us to sample. Culinary heavyweights such as Chris Cosentino of Cockscomb in San Francisco, Matt McCallister of FT33 in Dallas, and Paul Kahan of Avec in Chicago all came to battle local stars Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood of BUNK Sandwiches, Tyler Malek of Salt & Straw, and Stephanie Pearl Kimmel of Marché in Eugene, Ore. to determine who makes the best sandwich.
The People's Choice was Salt and Straw's peanut butter and jelly ice cream sandwich, a decedent ice cream treat version of our childhood favorite. The Judges selected Bonnie Morales from Kachka in Portland as the winner, who served a sandwich of smoked sprats, and egg between smetana butter fried toast.
Sarah Cohen is the Portland City Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @scretshopper and check out her blog It Only Comes Toasted.