On Saturday, June 14, Portland will be host to the inaugural WasabiFest. In the words of the organizers, this will be the celebration of “the weird, wild, and wonderful world of wasabi.”
What Is Wasabi?
The short answer is that wasabi is Japanese horseradish. It’s in the family of Brassicaceae, or the more colloquial term, “brassicas.” They are also known as cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and the reliable darling of the Portland vegetable scene, kale.
The above vegetables are the leaves and flowers of brassicas; wasabi is grown for the rhizomes, which grow horizontally underground. But you can eat the leaves, too! They can be used raw, pickled, or cooked and are kind of peppery in taste.
But really, how do most of us know wasabi? It’s that spicy green paste that comes with sushi. I have heard that this condiment is not really made from Wasabia japonica but is made from regular old horseradish mixed with mustard and dyed green, either naturally (i.e., spirulina) or artificially (i.e., food coloring). I have a feeling WasabiFest is going to enlighten us beyond that limited perception.
WasabiFest 2025: “A Bold Celebration of Wasabi’s Versatility”
With a target audience of adventurous eaters on the one hand, and straight up food lovers on the other, the aim of WasabiFest’s organizers and participants is to expand our view and understanding of wasabi beyond the abovementioned green paste. In other words, “spotlighting wasabi as a dynamic and versatile ingredient beyond its traditional role in Japanese cuisine.”
You will find both savory and sweet dishes made with wasabi (for instance, the Mango Wasabi ice cream from Kate’s sounds incredible) at the Fest. And you can sample saké from Japan and Oregon while you are at it—after all, SakéOne is one of the brands behind the event.
What To Expect at WasabiFest
Here are some of the things you will encounter at WasabiFest.
- Wasabi-infused culinary creations. Familiar Portland restaurants, shops, and producers will show us how to use wasabi creatively through their work. Businesses include Elephants Deli, Kate’s Ice Cream, Pizza Jerk, Smith Teamaker, Happy Mountain Kombucha, Urban River Spirits, HAB Sauce, Cultured Kindness, Decadent Creations, and more. The full list is here.
- Live demonstrations from Markus Mead of Oregon Coast Wasabi, co-owner of America’s largest wasabi farm; Chef Kate Koo of Zilla Sake; Seisuke Knife Portland; and Aji Fish Butchery.
- Premium saké samplings from a variety of Japanese and Oregon brands.
- Wasabi-eating contest involves wasabi on a rice cracker and contestants will have a limited time to eat the wasabi that’s given to them. (Spicy fact: At a dinner years ago, a friend of mine decided to pop a ball of that green wasabi paste into his mouth. He swallowed it and cried for a while.)
- Live performances by The Shivas and TakoHachi Taiko.
- Wally, the mascot for WasabiFest, will also be there. Yes, it’s Wally Wasabi.
They’ve also put together a Chef’s Dinner, bringing together a number of local celebrated chefs, but that has sold out. I hope to hear how it went and how wasabi was used in the various dishes.
And by the way, did you know that the Pacific Northwest has one of the best climates on Earth, aside from Japan, for growing wasabi?
“The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the few ideal climates for growing wasabi outside of Japan, making it the perfect location to celebrate this vibrant and complex ingredient,” said Markus Mead of Oregon Coast Wasabi.
Wasabi: The Spicy Freshmaker
Kate Koo of Zilla Saké, who is participating in the event, has this to say about wasabi:
“Whether it’s adding a fiery kick to a dish or a delicate, aromatic lift, wasabi has the power to completely transform flavors in unexpected ways.” And she believes WasabiFest will ”challenge everything you thought you knew about this remarkable ingredient.” I hope so.
WasabiFest Ticket Info
There are still tickets available to WasabiFest, as of the writing of this article. There are two levels:
- $49.87 (includes a $4.87 fee). Enjoy wasabi-curated food samples and a wide range of saké samples; you will also receive a WasabiFest ochoko (a small traditional saké cup).
- $81.88 (includes a $6.88 fee). You can arrive one hour earlier than General Admission ticket holders. Enjoy wasabi-curated food samples and a wide range of saké samples; you will receive an exclusive WasabiFest Swag Bag with a multitude of goodies from various vendors, as well as a WasabiFest ochoko.
Buy your tickets here. I hope you can make the upcoming WasabiFest!
WasabiFest
Saturday, June 14, 2025
1pm to 5pm
Redd East Event Space, 831 SE Salmon Street, Portland
WasabiFest website | Instagram
Meg Cotner
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Real wasabi is quite mild, gentler than even creamed horseradish. That’s why most of the stuff you get here has jalopeno in it.
I read that the green paste is often mixed with mustard, too.
Probably.