The Taste of Portland...

Last Monday, April 27, RSQ was honored to again participate in Taste of the Nation - a fantastic event to benefit Share Our Strength; an organization that strives to end childhood hunger. Each month, more than 200,000 people from our local communities in Oregon and Clark County, Washington, eat meals from an emergency food box. If you attended Taste of the Nation you helped raise money for organizations that feed hungry children and work to solve the causes of childhood hunger. Thank you! Change begins in our communities!

RSQ always tries to do something unique and this year, Chef Santucci's brilliant idea? Frito™ Pie Shooters! First, who doesn't love Frito™ Pie? Frito's™, Chili Con Carne, cheese and onions? Yep, it's just as good as it sounds. Second, everyone loves something small and cute!

Of course we offered Baby Back Pork Ribs because we didn't want to have angry patrons! Also, what's BBQ without a rib or two?

Mark, our Prep Kitchen Manager, had to grill outside this year. Lucky for him the temperature dropped about 10 degrees and the sky opened up and water came out! It began pouring and did so for the rest of the evening! Thanks, Mark - you're a real trooper!

Jana and Sharon feed the masses. We always had a great crowd because we were surrounded by beer and wine! Right across from us was Stella Artois and directly next to us was Sierra Nevada! On the other side were more than 5 wine purveyors! [I never made it that way!]

Chef Diane Santucci and our newest "member of the tribe," Jana, clown around. [Maybe they spent too much time around the beer and wine...] If you all thought Mark was a trooper standing outside in the rain and cold grilling ribs, Diane was hobbling around on a severely sprained ankle. We are glad she is back on the mend. A tip from your blogger, walking forward is always the best course of action... In typical Que fashion, we were out of food by 7:30! I love seeing what some of Portland's best chef's are doing. From Oswaldo Bibiano's Mole Guerrerense to Delilah's Catering's Deviled Crab Salad in Endive Leaf Boats to The Country Cat's Pulled Smoked Duck Legs on Mushroom Crackers with Mascarpone Cream Fava Beans and Nuestra Cocina's Chicharron con Salsa Verde - fried pork rinds with a jalapeno salsa (yeah, you heard me!) I ate some amazing food.

Thanks to all who told me how much they love Russell Street BBQ. It never gets old and it means the world to us to know that all of our hard work is paying off.

Thank you for making us a success!

RSQ will again be participating in Portland's Pride Parade. Come out and help us support equality for all! Here's the fun we had last year!