Thursday, February 4, 2010
Events Portland Street Food Flavors Culinary Conference
Posted by Nicki Wood on Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 10:11 AM
If you are culinary professional -- you do something with food, for money -- you could be in the IACP, the international Association of Culinary Professionals. There are lots of food-oriented professional associations, but the IACP is the awesomest one, if only for its incredible annual conference. Just take a look at the program for this year's conference, April 20-24 in Portland, Oregon.
Night tours take in eateries, watering holes and craft breweries. Offsite programs concentrate on professional skills and local businesses. Big names in the food world attend -- this year's marquee names include Madhur Jaffrey, Ruth Reichl, Michael Ruhlman and Ann Willan. The hardest part is deciding what to attend.
And there's the city itself. Portland's culture of street food is on proud display. Conventioneers get a special hour of their own at a street food cart festival going on during the convention. Check the link above, for some of the amazing street food in Portland, from crepes, risotto balls and Czech goulash, to classic grilled cheese, barbecue, Thai and vegetarian.
If you're a food professional but not in the IACP, you could join and attend the conference, all for one price. The full conference is $830 for non-IACP members, and the special "new members" offer includes a year of IACP dues. There are also day passes, great if you have a friend in Portland you can visit (and stay with) and want to drop in on some sessions. Registration information is here.
I wish we could all go to Portland on a Bites fact-finding trip. But, you know, the recession and all. Wouldn't it be something, though, if the convention were held here? What can we do to get Nashville on the IACP's radar?
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
I get what you are saying about the cool stuff that IACP is doing at their conference in Portland, and more power to them. Just for the record, the largest association in America that represents and educates professional culinarians is the American Culinary Federation. They happen to have a chapter right here in Nashville that is quite active, even hosting the ACF Southeast Regional conference here a couple of years ago. The ACF chefs are involved in fundraising and awairness raising on issues such as childhood obesity and hunger. The ACF is still THE professional gold standard as an accrediting organization and sponsors the American team in the culinary olympics. As the spouce of a local ACF board member I know first hand how much this local chapter does quietly and without the glow of media attention. Portland is a great place - don't get me wrong - and I'm sure IACP will put on an impressive conference. New things are always exciting and big names are a draw but from a professional chef's perspective the American Culinary Federation has been a trusted advocate for over eighty years.
like
dislike
The ACF is a terrific organization! I would love for the local chapter to get involved in the school nutrition discussions underway in Nashville. Think if all that creative firepower went to work on school lunches.
I have been a IACP member for the last 5 years and have had a wonderful experience. Two years ago in New Orleans I was one of dozens of Photographers and Food Stylist and Culinary writers that took part in producing a give back project book. (Room in a Bowl). This book was a fundraiser for both the Culinary Trust a IACP Group and also the Southern Food and Beverage Museum located in New Orleans.
Located in Franklin,TN we have "Relish" one of the largest food magazines in the country, which is circulated in over 500 newspapers across the country. As a commercial food shooter getting to work on Relish has been opportunity of a life time. Relish is always current and up with what is happening in our food community locally and across the country.
We have a fabulous culinary community growing here in Nashville.
Cheers!
