Ashland Culinary Festival 2015

Disclosure: This is a compensated post in collaboration with the Ashland Chamber’s Visitor & Convention Bureau. As usual all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and people that help support NJB!

Ashland Culinary Festival 2015, a delicious 3 day celebration of bountiful, culinary magic. 

I am happy and humbled to announce that I will be returning to the Ashland Culinary Festival with the Ashland Chamber’s Visitor & Convention Bureau as a judge! How super cool is that?!! I loved being a guest judge last year and am very excited for the opportunity to return this year again for the 9th annual festival. Ashland is such a lovely place, I fell head over heels for it last year. I cannot wait to be going back this year. It’s the perfect time of year to have this festival, the leaves are changing, the air is brisk, and that is simply my favorite part of walking around this picturesque town. Add sweet people that I get to work with and fantastic local fare to be had, how could I not be super happy to be a part of this! SO so happy.

There will be much more to enjoy all weekend long! Friday night there will be a meet and greet, and yes I’ll be there to meet you all and welcome you to this awesome weekend in Ashland! Then Saturday morning I will be teaching a class from 10:30-11:30 using local ingredients in a demo and hands on “Pie in Jars” class at the Food Co-Op on First street! Details and tickets for this will be available here soon, spots are limited so hop on it:). There are tons of other awesome demos that will be going on around town, including chocolate and wine, so be sure to check them out!

Then move over to the main event and Culinary Festival where local chefs will battle to win the title for top chef 2015 and move on to compete at The Bite of Oregon in Portland 2016. Speaking of The Bite of Oregon, I am so happy and excited to announce this! Last years winner of the Ashland Culinary Festival 2014, James Williams of Omar’s Fresh Fish and Steaks, went on to win The Bite of Oregon 2015! Congratulations James, that is super cool! Plus James will be the third judge for the festival this year. It will be a pleasure to judge alongside James, he has a firsthand account of how much love and hard work that goes into this competition and the food chefs prepare for us.

Also, Cory Schreiber, my teacher, friend, and mentor from Culinary School, founder of Wildwood Restaurant in Portland and winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Pacific Northwest, will return as lead Emcee, host, and head judge! I love working with Cory in Portland, and alongside with him again this year.

Bigger things abound the festival this year as well. It’s been moved to a larger venue to accommodate the growth of this awesome event. It will be held at the Ashland Hills, Hotel & Suites. Think good food and fun in the same building, rather than having to go to the event from your hotel. Plus there will be more room for more people, food, vendors, and demos. All good things!

From the press release: Tour Ashland’s wineries, attend a winemaker’s dinner and indulge in Ashland’s culinary scene this November 6th – 8th. The premier ticket for all the fun is $70 and the best value to enjoy the weekend. Lodging packages are available. The event will be held at the Ashland Hills, Hotel & Suites.

Purchase your tickets here!

Let me know if you have any questions, I am happy to help with your trip to Ashland for this adventure!

Here is the line up of the chefs that will be competing in the event! more to come on the competitors in weeks to come! Check out last years posts on the Ashland Culinary Festival.

• Ashland Culinary Festival: Chef Interviews Part I
• Ashland Culinary Festival: Chef Interviews Part II
• Ashland Culinary Festival Winner
• Harlan Brooks: Peerless RestaurantBilly Buscher: Alchemy Restaurant & Bar

  Stefano Cipollone: Belle Fiore Winery

  Skye Elder: Brickroom

  Dustin Farley: Porters – Dining at the Depot

  Dale Fowler: Regency Grill

  Shane Hardin: Sammich

  Justin Haydock: Green Springs Inn & Cabins

  Anna Hogan: Salame Plaza Bistro

  Will Shine: Hearsay Restaurant

  Maggie Trujillo: Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine