Portland Chefs Unite at What Now Gathering

A Night of Collaboration and Growth in Portland’s Restaurant Scene

Portland’s restaurant community recently came together for a dynamic event called “Accelerate,” hosted by What Now Media Group at Brooklyn Carreta Bar & Carts. The gathering brought together a wide range of restaurateurs, industry professionals, and business leaders to share insights, exchange ideas, and explore strategies for success in a competitive market.

The event took place at Brooklyn Carreta Bar & Carts, an outdoor venue located at 4534 SE McLoughlin Boulevard. It was free to attend and attracted over two dozen representatives from local businesses featured on What Now Portland. Attendees included restaurant owners, managers, and experts from the network of Preferred Partners of What Now Media Group. Guests enjoyed light refreshments while networking before engaging in a focused presentation on growth and success in today’s ever-changing culinary landscape.

The evening was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group. She welcomed a diverse group of notable figures, including Garner Moody and Danielle Moody, partners and development manager at Brooklyn Carreta Bar & Carts, along with Corey Atchley, general manager. Tucker Cary, Chief Operating Officer of Hoplandia, a craft beer establishment known for its community-focused taproom, was also present.

Dan Brownhill, director of restaurants and taprooms at Breakside Brewery, attended with events manager Veronica Gonzales and Connie Kellow, general manager of restaurants. Other attendees included Alexandra Velis Jones, owner of Souvlaki Queen, a Greek restaurant celebrated for its authentic Mediterranean dishes, and Quinn Matthewstearn, co-owner and partner at Nevermind, a well-regarded Portland dining concept.

Itzel Sagastume, co-owner of Adobe Restaurant and Bar/El Ranchero Market, represented her Mexican-inspired eatery. Andres Mundo, owner of Paqui LLC, a growing Mexican restaurant brand, also joined the event. Supalak Phakkanokphan, branch manager and co-owner of Hechalou Tea, known for its specialty teas and community engagement, was there alongside future co-owner Pranee Sinlee and Beaverton store shift leader Riley Reinikka.

Additional participants included Trevor Salas, owner of Hollywood Bar & Carts, a popular spot that combines a bar with multiple food carts. Peter Ng, franchisee of Pepper Lunch, preparing to expand the Japanese fast-casual chain in Oregon City, attended with partner Benthana Ng. Michael Rasko, owner of Sticky Wicket, a neighborhood pub with a loyal following, also joined the conversation.

Representatives from several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners were on hand to offer expert advice and support. Danny Gutierrez and Gavin Courvey-Jacobs of Global Payments POS Solutions provided insights into payment technologies designed to streamline restaurant operations. Sean Tobin from Prudential Overall Supply shared solutions for uniform and linen services tailored for hospitality businesses. From SpotOn, hospitality specialist Jim Seibert discussed integrated point-of-sale systems and customer engagement tools. Payroll advisor Jesse O’Conner from Heartland spoke about simplifying payroll and back-office functions for restaurant owners. Additionally, Bee Talmadge of InKind, a growth capital partner, offered advice on financing options available to restaurant entrepreneurs.

The event fostered a collaborative environment where restaurant owners and industry experts shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice. This led Mariah Medley to carry the conversation even deeper, discussing critical business points such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After sharing tips, knowledge, and concerns, attendees became increasingly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could support one another.

This gathering highlighted the importance of collaboration within the Portland restaurant community. It is clear that local business leaders are eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations to take place.

What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news across 33 cities in North America, offering breaking news and timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform covers thousands of openings annually across all 33 cities.

Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. For more details, visit the Accelerate page. To see a complete list of partners, click here. For information on becoming a preferred partner, click here.