PNW Gathering?

Man it all sounds so amazing, but I have to be back in portland by 5pm so I'm sadly bowing out. Please take tons of photos!

 

wake up !!!! it's time to cut some sh$^$`ùt !!!!



have fun, eat well, and take pics !!

 

Mareko was just telling me before he went to sleep that they had to cancel the nude clowns, so hopefully nobody is too upset by the change of schedule.

 

How would they know they were clowns if they weren't wearing their clown suits?

 

Big feet??

 

i reeally wanted to ha ve a knife for you guys to test out but im jsut trinig to get orders caught up and a few retail blades out the door. have a blast and get lots sof pics (if i coudl get a good group shot of taros harner single bevel set all together that woudl be great as i dont thing a good group shot has been done yet

 

I'm curious for some pics and stories. And maybe some about how that cutting business was

 

Me too.

*shudders*

 

Ok who's ready for some follow up on the PNW Gathering!?

First off let's start with some results for the friendly cutting comp.



Here are some snap shots of the competing knives that were pulled off of Instagram via Don Nguyen @donnguyenknives and Steve Hughes @kiawoodforknives.

I'm workin on getting some more detailed pics of the comp knives put together.

For forum bragging rights and a big pat on the back, the results are as follow:

1. Bryan Raquine @cassca
2. Robin Dalman @Robin
3. Mareko Maumasi @Mareko Maumasi
4. Dan Prendergast @Dan P.
5. Ian Rogers @Haburn
6. Don Nguyen

All the knives cut like friggin crazy, so the things that made the difference were in the super minute details like, weight, steerage, cutting profile.

I wanna thank both Chef Derek Bugge and Chef Taro Kobayashi for lending their vast experience and expertise to the judging of this competition.

Thank you to the competitors for helping to add a little pizzazz to this fledgling gathering. I certainly look forward to doing again next year. Thank you for your hard work and your willingness to put your work out there in such a competitive way.

I also want to thank the many people that came out to take part in, and contributing great conversation and delicious foods to the gathering. @Lucretia brought her smoked pork loin that almost literally melted my fricken mind. To quote myself, I think I said, "What the f#*k!" About a half dozen times in a row. It was so delicious!!! Sorry for the piss poor language Lucretia.

There is a lot more to come, so please stay tuned.

Thank you,
Mareko


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Here are a couple quick shots of the knife I built for the comp.

The blade was forged from Cru Forge-V high carbon steel. It's a 210mm Gyuto, 48mm at the heel, with a forced patina. The blade features a compound or "S" grind and a black aged handle.





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Here some shots that I was able to snap between running around talkin to peeps and baking off pizzas. The display tables were set up in the grand-room at the Albee's. A there a few familiar faces in there. Just to name a couple from left to right we have, Andy gladish by the door, Bob Kramer and David Lisch chatting as Dave's wife Andrea approaches, at the other end of that table we have Ian Rogers Chatting with Mike Tan in the blue hat, and one of our judges Derek Bugge hangin on the right edge of the photo.

Here you get a feel for Chef Taro's infectious energy. Even Ian is crackin a little grin.

Everyone's over the photo, but Taro is still goin. Love this guy!

Another of the layout of the room as well as the crowd.

Don Nguyen sharing some conversation with makers Tom Buckner and Bob Kramer.

Chef's Derek and Taro meticulously cutting away.

Andy Gladish looks on as Chef Derek flutes a cremini mushroom.




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Well done everybody, it looks like it was a great time- and it's nice to put some faces to names. A big thanks to the organizers, and congratulations to Brian, leader of the pack!

 

Wow, looks likes like a great time. Thank you for taking the time to let those of us who missed learn vicariously. Looking forward to more.

 

I had way too much fun there. I'm not on the forums much anymore but if there are other gatherings taking place, I hope somebody bugs me about it again

 

2017 ECG in DC area, likely in mid-May...

 

Ugh! I wish it was happening the second weekend of June or even late May. Would love to be there on either side of Blade show (June 2-4).


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Nothing is set in stone yet, so late May may well be an option.

 

Sure would be cool to meet you east coasters!


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A big thank you to Mareko and all you guys who helped put this together. It was a lot of fun. It was neat to have a room of unfamiliar faces, then see some knives on the table and be able to figure out which forum member was there based on the knives. The makers did a great job with the contest knives. There wasn't a bad knife among them. I'd be happy using any of them. Other thoughts--

-Bob Kramer is a really nice guy.
-Taro is a pistol!
-Ian's knives are even more beautiful in person, and his handles are really comfortable, too.
-Don's contest knife may have come in last when judged for working 8 hour shift, but both judges said that it was the knife they'd like to take with them to use at home.
-Dave Lisch's wife Andrea is making some good looking knives. Watch out, Dave!
-The facility was really great for the event. And none off the chopped food was wasted--what didn't get eaten became chicken chow.

Lots of fun!

 

I didn't realize it was Cru Forge-V. I have a knife from that steel and it takes and holds a killer edge. I wanted to take this one home with me.