This is how it works: Two chefs from past seasons show up, demo a dish and then let you ask them ANY questions you want. The set up is small (no more than 60 people) and everyone gets to try the food. I grabbed a front row seat and really enjoyed watching them cook and talking about the show. They also sell tons of merchandise, have some games, and silly cut ups of Padma & Colicchio you can take pictures with.
The two chefs that came to PDX where from season 3: Brian Malarkey and Chris "CJ" Jacobsen. They where super nice and laid back. CJ was the one that cooked, his dish had a LOT of components but it was all really good:
_Slow cooked Lamb
_Apricots with a bacon, sugar and sheri marinade
_Salad of radishes, parsley, lemon and olive oil
_Sauteed garlic spears
_Wilted lettuce
Want to know some of the show inside scoop?
_They are totally sequestered throughout the show, no TV, no music, no books, no magazines... NO phone calls home! After they get kicked off they move to another house and its pretty much the same until they're done filming.
_The challenges are pretty much back to back, they don't get ANY days off (my question).
_The's a lot of "hurry up and wait". After they're given a challenge, they might wait up to 2 hrs in the van while the camera crew sets up at the Whole Foods before they can go in and buy t. They said it messes up with them because they have way too much time to over think their dishes.
_Food gets cold by the time whey present to the judges and they just have to deal with it.
_The judges deliberate for hours... at least 4-5. They are stuck in that room with tons of alcohol and nothing to do... how boring is that?
_They said they where going to try and check out Pok Pok and Le Pigeon while they where in town.
That's pretty much it! It was super fun and I can't wait for next season... starts next week!
Thanks to my girl Amanda from meals apart for getting us tickets :)
