Some notable chefs and shellfish on the cuisine scene are heading to the small recreation town of Bend, Oregon this summer for a prestigious culinary event. In the shadow of the dramatic Cascade Mountains, the Sagebrush Classic Feast draws chefs from around the world to raise money for children in need. These chefs, with the help of local volunteers, serve distinctive small plates that are paired with Deschutes Brewery craft beer and regional wines.

With help from local volunteer entourages (including the high school football team), 18 chefs from Portland to Paris prepare unique dishes in individual food stations for more than 1,000 guests in Broken Top Meadow, in sight of the jutting mountain from which it took its name. While it’s often quite difficult to get a reservation at many of these chefs’ acclaimed restaurants, at the Sagebrush Classic Feast guests can meet the chefs in person, chat about their restaurants and recipes, and maybe even take a turn with them on the dance floor.

Terry Sawyer, co-owner of San Francisco-based Hog Island Oysters, for example, returns to the Feast for the 11th year, serving his own creations as well as providing shellfish to other chefs. “As in past years, we’ll be serving a raw bar; this year with sweet water oysters, Kumomoto oysters and our sauce we call Hog Wash,” says Sawyer. This minuette (oyster sauce) is a combination of seasoned and unseasoned rice vinegars with a limejuice base, jalepenos, cilantro and chopped shallots. Says Sawyer, “It’s so wildly popular it would be crazy to serve anything else.”

While the celebrity chefs are busy strutting their culinary stuff, area golfers are teaming up for the best ball competition that kicks off the weekend. Cash, trophies and bragging rights are the prizes at stake for up to 52 teams competing in this fierce but friendly golf tournament at one of the top golf courses in Bend, Oregon. Golf course and scenery compete for your attention, as the immaculate Weiskopf-Morrish course has gorgeous views and a wide variety of holes. All groups of players will tee off simultaneously from different holes in two shotgun starts. Golf includes cart, golf balls, tee gifts, select golf clothing, breakfast and/or lunch, beverages, team photo, and tickets to Saturday’s Classic Feast.
What started two decades ago as a showcase of craft beer and world-class food pairings has evolved into one of the most prestigious “parties” in the Northwest. Golf tickets cost $650 or $850, with one or two Classic Feast tickets included, respectively. Individual tickets to the Feast cost $195 per person. Table patrons and golf sponsorships are also available. Link here for more details.