On April 8th, 2019, Food for Lane County hosted their 29th annual Chefs’ Night Out fundraiser at the Hult Center in Eugene, Oregon. Chefs’ Night Out gives adventurous Eugene foodies a chance to connect with 60 plus local food vendors, restaurants, breweries, and wineries. As self-proclaimed Eugene foodies, we knew we had to check it out. Lining up at the door we were hungry, eager, and curious, and little did we know we were in for quite a treat.
Whether you were there to taste wines or sample flavor-packed dishes, there was something for everyone. Billy Mac’s Bar & Grill was serving fried oysters, which was something new for us and was absolutely delicious. The owners were passionate and proud to show their work which made the experience even better. Some of our favorite desserts were King Estate’s Almond Raspberry Tarts and Elegant Elephant’s vegan brownies with raspberries that we kept going back for.
The vendors not only gave us samples with rich flavors, but also some of the greatest presentations. For example, Bates Steak House roasted an entire pig, and Marché was serving an array of their dishes all presented in a way that made all the dishes, like their pea salad, look even more yummy.
One of the most interesting trends we found throughout a couple of vendors at the event was their unique culinary innovations, repurposing, and reimagining foods in ways we had never seen before. We talked to one the chefs at Hop Valley Brewing who had prepared a berry pannacotta with a beer reduction sauce served with a sweet cracker made from the leftover grain from the beer. We were so impressed with this creative interpretation. Rather than just serve beer, they created a dish that highlighted the taste of the beer while simultaneously showcasing their culinary talents. Taking a risk definitely paid off for them and they stood out among the rest of the vendors. Another beverage vendor that incorporated a sweet element into their presentation was Plank Town Brewing Co., who made mouthwatering stout brownies with hazelnuts and Makers Mark caramel sauce. There is nothing like a new interpretation of classic dishes to grab attention and excite your audience.
Overall, we had a blast going through the five floors packed with people eager to try all the different vendors. Events like this show us that food connects people in such a unique way. No matter where you went, people were excited to share their own opinions on the last dish they tried. We were standing at a bar table tasting these phenomenal crab sandwiches Hotel Eugene was serving and gushing over how great they were, and a lovely couple came up to us to tell us how much they loved it too. Food has the power to connect and build relationships with people and we love that about it. Eugene has some incredible food and even more incredible people making the food! We love sharing our thoughts on the delicious foods we try, and if you want to check them out follow our Instagram @spoon_uoregon!