It’s like a ritual now. Every winter we publish the list of Oregon finalists for the Good Food Awards in San Francisco inspiring our readers to be smitten with something on the list. Careening from yearly repeat winners in the coffee roasting and smoky blue cheese categories to spirited liqueurs and nutty concoctions for snacking and spoon licking, this year the list is flush with small artisanal producers across Oregon. In a year fraught with illness and closures, though, the need to support small local businesses is more urgent than ever. They are our neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
Artisans and their products are subjected to blind tasting and vetted according to strict category criteria for authenticity, sustainability and social responsibility. These Oregon newsworthy items rose to the top. Perhaps there’s a few that appeal to your holiday giving?
Oh, and be sure not to miss the heartfelt video message below from Thomas Christopher O’Leary, owner of Portland’s popular Irish pub, T.C. O’Leary’s. His words are felt by many across the food and beverage industry.
Happy Gifting!
Charcuterie
Olympia Provisions, Summer Sausage
Mt. Tabor Brewing, House Made Bacon
Cheese
Rogue Creamery, Tolman Blue Cheese and Smokey Blue Cheese
Chocolate
Creo Chocolate, The Washu Project, Caramelized White Chocolate and Coffee & Cream White Chocolate
Seahorse Chocolate, Honduras, Wampusirpi 70% and Trinidad, Gewan Gangaram 70%
Cider
Art+Science, Little Apples
Slake Cider, Scrumptown
Coffee
Bend Roasting Company, Layered Fermentation from Abore Washing Station Shatawene Village Sidamo
Noble Coffee Roasting, Ethiopia ‘Benti Nenqa’ and Kenya ‘Muiri Estate’ {Peaberry}
Confections
Batch PDX, Hazelnut Praline
Honey Mama’s, Tahini Tangerine Cocoa Truffle Bar, Oregon Mint Cocoa Truffle Bar and Original Dutch Cocoa Truffle Bar
Bloom Caramel, Sea Salt Coconut Milk Caramel Sauce and Stout Beer Flavored Coconut Milk Caramel Sauce
Only Child Chocolate Co., Best Fronds Forever
Elixirs
Camellia Grove Kombucha Co., Rooibos Kombucha
Rhizome, Honey Lime Tonic
Fish
Oregon’s Choice Gourmet, Smoked Albacore Tuna
Grains
Umi Organic, Organic Ramen Noodles and Organic Noodles with Miso Sesame Sauce
Honey
A Boring Life, Hot Honey with Walnuts and Chilis, Lavender Honey with Almonds and Boring Bees Raw Honey with Fruits and Nuts
Valhalla Organics, Certified Naturally Grown Honey
Pantry
Ground Up PDX, Chunky Almond, Cashew + Coconut Butter and Cinnamon Snickerdoodle Almond, Cashew + Coconut Butter
Sao Noi, Ginger Chili Oil
La Porteña PDX, Spicy Red Chimichurri
Khalsa Salsa, Mango Habanero Indian Fusion Salsa
Pantry
Angel Farms, Bread-N-Butta Zucchini Pickles and Pickled Beets
Preserves
Mt. Hope Farms, Blackberry Aronia Lavender Fruit Spread and Spiced Marionberry Fruit Spread
Snacks
Gluten Free Kingdom, The Cracker King – Cheddar N’ Pepper Gluten Free Crackers
Hummingbird Wholesale, Organic Awakened Pecans
Spirits
Elixir, Ver Liqueur
Stone Barn Brandyworks, Haskap Liqueur, Dark Roast Straight Rye Whiskey and Nocino
Wheyward Spirit, Wheyward Spirit
Featured Image: Marc Fiorito for Good Food Foundation
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