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I was wonder why this had not happened yet....well its in the works.
Local impresarios Mike Thelin (one of the masterminds behind the 2010 IACP Portland conference and the 2010 Eater Awards) and Carrie Welch (who co-created, among other things, the New York City Wine and Food Festival) are the project's founders. According to Thelin and Welch (codename: Thelch), the festival will "tell the story of Oregon bounty" in a SXSW-like atmosphere that will focus the national culinary spotlight (chefs! media! industry peeps!) in on Portland. Early plans are to bring in national and international culinary talent — from Northern Spain, Copenhagen, Brooklyn, and Austin, among other places — in order to "showcase local talent in their rightful spot alongside their international peers," Thelin says. "We would only bring in chefs that highlight local chefs," Welch adds, "and hopefully create opportunities [for them] to create lasting relationships."
Though most food and wine festivals are luxury-focused, the goal for the PDX-based event — official festival name still pending — is to remain inclusive, embracing all of Oregon's culinary history, from Portland food trucks to James Beard's influence to highlighting winemakers and distilleries across the state. "The program will be tailored to the full range of eaters," Thelin says.
The festival's projected debut is scheduled for the fall of 2012, and in the meantime, Thelin and Welch are forming a local programming committee with both PDX- and nationally based advisers, securing sponsors, and seeking a charitable organization as a beneficiary.