The next stop on the Food Swap book tour is the Pacific Northwest! I am incredibly excited to return to Seattle, one of my favorite cities, and visit Portland, Oregon for the first time. I know: can you believe I’ve never been to Portland? Such an amazing food town, right? I honestly can’t wait.

I’m especially looking forward to the Pacific Northwest leg of the tour because my family is coming with me. No more solo dinners and spending my downtime working in hotel rooms. We are building a family vacation around my book events. My darling children have never seen this part of the country and I can’t wait to show them Pike Place Market — to eat Elleno’s Greek Yogurt and piroshkies, of course — the Space Needle and Puget Sound.

While in Seattle, I will be doing a talk and book signing at Book Larder, Seattle’s community cookbook store, on August 18 at 6:30 pm. So many authors I admire have appeared at Book Larder. I am honored to be included in their ranks! And I may just be sampling something from the book. So please, come out and see me there.

Also, in Seattle, or at least nearby, I will be helping organize a food swap with my friend, food photographer Leigh Olson, at her Epicurean Creative event space. That will take place on Saturday August 20 at 10 am. As of now, there is no Seattle food swap, which is strange considering how many wonderful food bloggers and cooks I know in that city, so Leigh and I are hoping to inspire attendees to get a Seattle food swap off the ground with this event. Its free to come, so just bring something to swap!

Following the Epicurean Creative Food Swap on August 20, we will head to Portland. As I mentioned, this will be my first time visiting the City of Roses and I am planning to eat all the things. We definitely have to sample some of Portland’s famous food trucks. I am also excited to dine at Lincoln, award-winning chef Jenn Louis’s restaurant, and Departure Restaurant and Lounge helmed by Top Chef runner-up Gregory Gourdet. Top Chef super-fan Zuzu is really hoping Chef Gregory will be there so she can meet him!

I am very excited to be appearing at Portland Homestead Supply on August 21 at 11:30 am for a demonstration of some of the recipes from Food Swap and to sign copies of the book. I’ve heard from friends who have appeared at Portland Homestead Supply (ahem, Marisa McClellan, ahem) what a charming store it is. I know I’m going to want to buy one of everything there.

The next day, August 22, I will be appearing on “AM Northwest” on Portland’s KATU, which airs at 9 am, Pacific time. For those of you not in Portland, of course, I will be posting the link. As soon as I am done with my segment, my family are heading out for a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge. We can’t wait!

For those of you in Seattle and Portland, I hope to see you at one of these events.