thrillist

Despite all the open kitchens, it can be difficult to really develop a connection with local chefs, unless you're talking with them about Iowa pork, in which case they'll connect with a mean right hook. Introducing you to your neighborhood chef sans brawl: Dishcrawl.

Launched a year ago in SF and finally finding its way to the Rose City, Dishcrawl connects food lovers with each other while intro-ing them to area chefs during crawls that get deep into a series of neighborhood restos over the course of a single evening, making crawlers feel like Anthony Bourdain, but actually with no reservations…or cocaine. How it works: crawlers reserve their spot for a ‘hood-specific, four-restaurant jaunt (the itinerary’s secret until 48hrs before kickoff), which’ll find them strolling no more than 10mins between each spot, where, after a brief resto intro, they'll spend a half hour sampling specialties while conversing with the chef, and after Raekwon, with the guy who cooks all the food. Refusing to hit just the trendy joints, Crawl will also unearth variety in overlooked gems, like an Alberta jaunt featuring the Swiss-ness of Cafe Hibiscus’s traditional bratwurst and wiener schnitzel, and the cart goodness of Yugio including savory stuffed Korean pancakes and seasoned rice wrapped in seaweed, unless that’s all been consumed by puffer fish.

Along with their regular progressive events, Crawl also reps special themed VIP dinners at joints they've crawled before, giving diners more time to take in all the chef has to offer, proving those with mohawks aren't the only ones who can deliver a hit.

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Their first Alberta crawl sold out almost immediately, so jump on the second with four new restos right now at Dishcrawl.com