Around the World in 82 Dishes Starts October 21

The premiere event from the 82nd Avenue Business Association is, arguably, their Around the World in 82 Dishes food week. With the mission of promoting the variety of food cultures represented on and around 82nd Avenue, it has become over the years a meaningful Portland food event. There are changes to the program this year, which I’ll outline below (read our coverage in 2019, 2021, and 2022, for reference).

Timing Details and Passport Info

First, the event goes from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, November 5—so, for two weeks. They’ve launched their updated 82nd Avenue Passport Program this year, which is something they plan to grow as a program, over time. The Passport also costs you $5 this year, which is a major difference from years past when it was free.

To purchase the passport, you must buy it in person (there is not yet an online purchase option) at these locations that include, among others, The People’s Courts in NE Portland (2700 NE 82nd Avenue), The Yard in Montavilla (8220 NE Davis Street), Fubonn in the Jade District (2850 SE 82nd Avenue), CORE in the SE Powell area (3612 SE 82nd Avenue), and Springwater Cart Park in SE Portland near the city limits (8225 SE 82nd Avenue). The proceeds from the sales of this passport go to the businesses on 82nd Avenue.

What To Do

Basically, you want to eat at participating restaurants/bars/carts and get a stamp in your passport for whichever places you patronize. In the words of the organizers: “During the Around the World in 82 Dishes event, participants will attempt to get as many stamps on their food passports as possible to earn prizes and discounts at the diverse food and beverage establishments along and around 82nd!”

An interesting detail this year is that if you do not get all your stamps by November 5, the passport program continues into 2024 as they strategize on how to use this passport for other promotional cases.

Participating Locations

You can head to the Locations page for more information on who is participating. Certain locations are offering up the aforementioned prizes—the more stamps you have on your passport, the better chance you have to win:

Springwater Cart Park: Get a free pint or soda at TBB’s Tap House.
CORE + Eastport: Get 1 free doughnut and 1 Drip Coffee at HeyDay.
Fubonn: Get a $10 Fubonn gift card.
Jade District: A Jade District Tote Bag.
Montavilla area: $10 Mía And More voucher or $10 Redwood gift card + camper mug.
The Yard at Montavilla: 25% off every 4 pack (or more) to-go purchase for 60 days from StormBreaker.
The People’s Courts: A TPC water bottle ($21 value).

Special Events During Around the World in 82 Dishes

Aside from the passport and the eating and the enjoying 82nd Avenue, there are some specific events to look out for on Saturdays, with “exclusive stamp opportunities and special prizes”:

October 21: Kickoff Event 5K Fun Run

This is the kickoff event, and it is sponsored by Oregon Walks. The fun run is along the Springwater Trail, stopping and starting at Springwater Cart Park. Admission is $5, which will also get you a dining passport; for an extra $5, participants can also get tickets for discounted food and drinks at the Springwater Cart Park. Check-in starts at 10am, the run starts at 11am, party/music ad noon, and the event goes until 2pm. As of the writing of this article you can still register for the fun run.

October 28 and 29: Stamp The Yard

The Stamp The Yard event is sponsored by StormBreaker Brewing at—where else?—The Yard at Montavilla. Purchase a passport at the event and get food/drink tokens for The Yard at Montavilla. From 2pm to 5pm there will be music, drinks, exclusive passport stamps, and more. To get a reminder about this event, sign up on this Google form.

November 4: The People’s Party

The final big event for this year’s Around the World in 82 Dishes event is a pickleball party at newcomer The People’s Courts. As the organizers say: “Pints, Prizes, Pinball, Pickleball, Passports, and Pizza—need we say more?” To get a reminder about this event, sign up on this Google form.

So there you have it. I’m glad to see this event leveling up in offerings, organization, and digital presence. I suspect this will be their best Around the World in 82 Dishes yet.

Around the World in 82 Dishes
Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, November 5, 2023
Various locations on and around 82nd Avenue
82dishes.com