Locals and visitors alike brought their appetites for a week-long celebration of food, flavor, and community during Downtown Medford’s inaugural Forks & Friends Restaurant Week, running Oct. 17–23. The new event, organized by the Downtown Medford Association with support from Travel Medford, highlighted the city’s expanding culinary scene, local farm partnerships, and the bounty of the Rogue Valley harvest. Forks & Friends was a great success, as evidenced by the following comments:
“When Annie Jenkins approached me with the idea of building a restaurant week in Downtown Medford, I was thrilled about the opportunity, though admittedly a bit worried that not enough business owners would be interested in taking part in this new community initiative. Once the vision for Forks & Friends Downtown Medford Restaurant Week was established, I enjoyed every step of the journey: working with a talented graphic designer (Aarzoo) on the event branding, connecting with restaurant owners and encouraging them to craft specials that truly highlighted their unique culinary offerings, collaborating with the Downtown Medford Association and Travel Medford, and publicizing the week-long celebration. The success of this project proves that as a community, we can accomplish bigger and better things TOGETHER! I’m excited for the future and for making this event more impactful year after year.” ~ Karolina Lavagnino, Wild Thyme Productions, Event Planner for Forks & Friends
“Forks & Friends was an incredible opportunity to highlight the range of flavors, talent, and hospitality that make Downtown Medford so special,” said Annie Jenkins, Executive Director of the Downtown Medford Association. “From family-owned favorites to new culinary gems, Restaurant Week invited the community to explore, connect, and rediscover the many dining experiences that make our downtown vibrant and welcoming.” ~ Annie Jenkins, DMA Executive Director
“I applaud the DMA’s efforts to help our downtown community find its cultural identity through projects like this that focus on our local food, art, and music.” ~ Clay Bearnson, Owner Gypsy Blues Bar
“A great opportunity to showcase our relationship with local farm Itty Bitty Acres and share the love of local organic delicious comfort food.” ~ Alicia Dawn, Owner, Luncheonette
“I really liked the Lunch Special Sandwich at Buttercloud Bakery – house-smoked turkey breast with a pear-cranberry chutney, provolone, and arugula on a signature Buttercloud biscuit – their biscuits are always great! On our way out, my wife Sierra (who is a professional food photographer) and I spotted Forks & Friends special pear cream cheese turnovers and bought some to take home. They were delicious!” ~ Brady Inn, restaurant patron
Twenty-one restaurants participated in Forks & Friends, many of them offering special events or items.
