3rd Annual Brewery Chefs Challenge @ Deschutes Brewery Public House

May the best pairing win! In a breathlessly close competition for the best food and beer pairing in the Rose City, seven of Portland’s finest chefs will be pitted against each other in the 3^rd Annual Deschutes Brewery Chefs Challenge. The event will be held on December 12, 6 p.m. at the Deschutes Brewery Public House on NW 11^th and NW Davis in Portland’s Pearl District.

This Iron Chef-style evening involves audience members as they meet the chefs, learn about the beers and huddle with other diners to determine the very best pairing of the evening. Will the People’s Choice award match up with the top pairing as determined by the panel of celebrity and expert judges? It’s been different every year! Last year, the judges selected Scott Shampine’s (Davis Street Tavern) three day ox tail Spuckie with duck fat baguette and Calabrian chili paired with Black Butte XXII as the evening’s champion.

These talented culinary experts compete to prepare the best dish and beer pairing of the evening:

• Chef Jason French from Ned Ludd
• Chef Katy Millard from Davis Street Tavern
• Chef Sarah Schafer from Irving Street Kitchen
• Chef Paul Bachand from Recipe
• Chef John Eisenhart from Pazzo Ristorante
• Chefs Jeff Usinowicz & Jill Ramseier from Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House

A panel of celebrity judges will decide which combination is the tastiest and most artfully prepared:

• Tracy Howard, associate editor of Imbibe Magazine
• Christian DeBenedetti, author of The Great American Ale Trail
• Steve Body, author of Seattle P.I.’s beer blog, The Pour Fool
• Sal Zizzo, local soccer star and owner of Zizzo’s Food Cart
• Caprial, Caprial + John The Kitchen
• Gary Fish, owner of Deschutes Brewery

The event is a benefit for Morrison Child and Family Services, which provides a comprehensive range of services for abused and at-risk youth in the Portland area. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased at http://chefschallenge2012-pr.eventbrite.com. For more information, call Deschutes Brewery at 503-296-4906.

About Morrison Child & Family Services

Morrison Child and Family Services is the leading provider of children’s mental health services in Multnomah County.  A private, non-profit organization headquartered in Portland since 1947, Morrison employs proven, evidence-based practices to support children who have suffered from family abuse, substance abuse, neglect, and other traumas, resulting in mental and emotional issues.  For more information about Morrison Child and Family Services, call 503-258-4200 or visit www.morrisonkids.org

About Deschutes Brewery

Located in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Deschutes Brewery is in the business of daring people to expect more from their beer. That’s why we started off in 1988, on the banks of the Deschutes River here in Bend, Oregon, by selling Black Butte Porter at a time when others were sure a dark beer would never catch on. Our brewers love to push the envelope, especially if it makes someone nervous.  But for us, the highest praise is a raised glass and a toast of “Bravely Done!”  For more information about Deschutes Brewery and its courageously crafted beers, please visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com or facebook.com/deschutes.brewery.