savory team

Michael Adams

Managing Director

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA
College: Orange Coast College
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to Describe You: Loyal
Favorite Cuisine: Mexican
Favorite Restaurant: Dick's Drive In (Washington)
Favorite Book: Grapes of Wrath
Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams

Emma Adams

Managing Editor

Hometown: Portland, OR
College: Portland State University
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to Describe You: Kind
Favorite Cuisine: Thai
Favorite Restaurant:
Farmhouse Thai Kitchen (Portland, OR)
Favorite Podcast: Crime Junkie
Favorite Movie: Booksmart

Jim Juliano

Editor

Hometown: San Jose, California
College: San Jose State University and University of Vermont
Day Job: At Home Parent/Substitute teacher
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Kind
Favorite Cuisine: Italian
Favorite Restaurant: Nuestra Cocina in Portland, OR.
Favorite Podcast: Strong Songs by Kirk Hamilton, Portland, OR.
Favorite T.V. Show: The Wire

Cole Petters

Content Creator

Hometown: Saratoga, CA
College: Lewis & Clark College
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to Describe You: Social
Favorite Cuisine: Italian
Favorite Restaurant: El Sancho (Bend, OR)
Favorite Podcast: SmartLess
Favorite TV Show: The Office

Elizabeth Aikens

Web Designer

Hometown: West Chiltington, UK
College: Everest
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to Describe You: reliable
Favorite Cuisine: Indian
Favorite Restaurant: Canteen (portland)
Favorite book: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Favorite Movie: Interstellar

savory pack

Timber

head of puplick relations

Hometown: Damascus, OR
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Sweet
Favorite cuisine: Apples
Favorite restaurant: Fills Coffee
Favorite book:
And On the 8th Day
God Created Golden Retrievers
Favorite movie: Air Bud

Willow

furnancial advisor

Hometown: Ontario, OR
Savory or Sweet: No preference
Word to describe you: Hyper
Favorite cuisine:
Anything I can get my paws on!
Favorite restaurant: Mudbay
Favorite podcast: No Bad Dogs
Favorite movie: Best In Show

Piper

Barketing Manager

Hometown: Fresno, CA
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Introvert
Favorite cuisine: Whipped cream
Favorite restaurant:
Anywhere pup cups are served
Favorite book: Skippy Jon Jones
Favorite movie: Beverly Hills Chihuahua

savory wine experts

Kassandra Briggs

Hometown: Southern California
Education: Cal Poly Pomona, Hospitability Management (2012)
Wine-specific certifications: Court of Masters, Level 1
Current job: General Manager at Restaurants Current wine obsession: Weird wines people don’t want to try – give me the odd blend you have never heard of, I want it!

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Tanis Farlow

Hometown: Portland, OR
Education: Linfield College, B.S. in Physical Education (2019)
Wine-specific certifications: Napa Valley Wine Academy WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 2
Current job: Client Relations and Project Manager at Winery
Current wine obsession: The Corvain! Being the only wine-drinker in my house, I want to savor the special bottles I have collected. When I am not sharing a bottle with friends or family, I like to break out my Corvain to enjoy my favorite wines and help preserve them for a longer period.

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Fi Gratteau

Hometown: Sunnyslope Region, ID
Education: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2001); Oregon State University, B.S. in Viticulture and Enology, Minor in Chemistry (Present)
Wine-specific certifications: Currently certifying with the Court of Master Sommeliers
Previous job: Bartender and Bar Manager at various French fine dining restaurants in Vail, CO and Sun Valley, ID
Current wine obsession: My favorite wine gadget is the handheld decanter from Traveling Vineyards. I love that it is small enough to easily fit inside your purse. The design is quite clever and trendy as well. Oh, and I will never say no to a bottle of sparkling rosé.

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Katie Herbel

Hometown: Salem, OR
Education: Linfield College, Wine Studies (Present)
Current job: Wine Club Coordinator at Hawks View Winery
Current wine obsession: My wine interests are ever-changing and open-minded, though if given the opportunity I will always choose to sample some dry sparkling wine, or Gamay.

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Claire Kottenstette

Hometown: Solon, IA
Education: Oregon State University, B.S. in Food Science and Technology with a concentration in Fermentation, minor in Chemistry (2021)
Current job: Packaging Coordinator for a top Oregon winery
Current wine obsession: My decanter for aged reds and complex whites! I believe in allowing the wine to sit for 30 minutes to an hour before taking a sip helps the wine develop and bloom in glass. This is a fancy way of saying that the wine is waking up and getting ready to be the star of the show by releasing more phenolics and aromas onto the palate and nose.

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Tracy Onufer

Hometown: Lansing, MI
Education: University of Michigan, B.S. in Chemical Engineering (1995); Troy University, M.S. in Management (2006); Naval Postgraduate School, M.S. in Defense Analysis (2009); Oregon State University, B.S. in Food Science and Technology (Present)
Wine-specific certifications: WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 1 + Level 2
Previous job: U.S. Air Force Colonel (retired after 25 years of service)
Current wine obsession:I am currently obsessed with everything wine, hence my return to the world of undergraduate education with students who could literally be my children. However, I am especially enamored with the idea of being a part of the process of creating wine!

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savory writers

Ashley
Albritton

Hometown: Deerfield, IL
College: Bradley University
Day Job: 4th-grade teacher
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Favorite Cuisine: Japanese
Favorite restaurant: Kai Zan (Chicago, IL)
Favorite podcast: Up and Vanished
Favorite tv show: Schitts Creek

chicago

Larissa Banitt

HOMETOWN: Portland, OR
COLLEGE: St. Olaf College
SAVORY OR SWEET: Savory
WORD TO DESCRIBE YOU: Creative
FAVORITE CUISINE: Mexican
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Casa del Matador
FAVORITE BOOK: Kings Rising
FAVORITE MOVIE: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

portland,or

Clarice Beasley

Hometown: Portland, OR
College: University of Oregon
Day Job: Sales Consultant
Savory or Sweet: Both!
Word to Describe You: Passionate
Favorite Cuisine: Thai
Favorite Restaurant: Sushi San (Chicago, IL)
Favorite Podcast: SmartLess
Favorite TV Show: Arrested Development

chicago

Christen Bevis

Hometown: Houston, TX
College: The New School
Day job: Content Writer
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Considerate
Favorite cuisine: Japanese
Favorite restaurant: Oh! Taisho
Favorite book: Slouching Towards Bethlehem
Favorite tv show: Schitt’s Creek

Houston

Shelby Burns

Hometown: Winter Garden, FL
College: University of Florida
Day job: Digital Marketing at a Nonprofit
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Positive
Favorite cuisine: Mexican
Favorite restaurant: The Dabney
Favorite book: Where the Crawdads Sing
Favorite tv show: The Office

washington dc

Michael Cannon

Hometown: Houston, TX.
College: University of Houston
Day Job: Restaurant Server
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word To Describe Me: Passionate
Favorite Cuisine: Indian and Italian
Favorite Restaurant: Pappas Bros Steakhouse
Favorite Book: Julius Caesar
Favorite TV Show: Married With Children.

Houston

JR Denson

Hometown: Washington, DC
College: University of Florida
Day job: Health Policy Advisor
(and part-time EMT)
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Random
Favorite cuisine: Anything with rice
Favorite restaurant:
It's impossible to pick just one
Favorite podcast: Revisionist History
Favorite movie: Clue

washington dc

Beth Erickson

Hometown: Portland, OR
College: Portland Community College
Day Job: Oregon Employment Department Business and Employment Specialist
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Passionate
Favorite cuisine: Pastries
Favorite restaurant: Toki
Favorite book: Atomic Habits
Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice

portland, or

Hannah
Gershowitz

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
College: Full Sail University
Day job: Freelance Writer
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Vibrant
Favorite cuisine: Seafood
Favorite restaurant: Ruby’s
Favorite book: The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra
Favorite TV show: Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce

New York

Anu Hara

Hometown: Vancouver, BC, Canada
College: Thompson Rivers University
Day job: Project Manager
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Adventurous
Favorite cuisine: Indian
Favorite restaurant: Miku
Favorite podcast: This American Life
Favorite tv show: Breaking Bad

Vancouver, BC

Dajha Judge

Hometown: Hempstead, NY
College: St. John's University & LIU- Post
Day job: Jewelry Manufacturer Account Exec.
Savory or Sweet: Savory with a hint of sweet!
Word to describe you: Real
Favorite cuisine: Seafood & Soul Food
Favorite restaurant: Mastro's Steakhouse
Favorite book: The Family Fang
Favorite tv show: Supernatural

New York

Jessica Kim

Hometown: Fullerton, CA
College: UC Davis
Day job: UI/UX designer
Savory or sweet: Both!
Word to describe you: Creative
Favorite cuisine: Korean
Favorite restaurant: Yoko
Favorite podcast: Crime Junkie
Favorite tv show: You

san francisco

Sydney Louie

Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Day job: Student
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Motivated
Favorite cuisine: Japanese
Favorite restaurant: Café Flora
Favorite book: Paper Palace
Favorite tv show: Friends

Seattle

Lauren Mack

Hometown: Miami, FL
College: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Day job: freelance journalist
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: wanderlusting
Favorite cuisine: Taiwanese
Favorite restaurant: Eleven Madison Park (NYC)
Favorite book: A Light in the Attic
Favorite tv show: Seinfeld

New york

Mellissa
Meisels

Hometown: Portland, OR
College: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Day job: Ph.D student
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Focused
Favorite cuisine: Italian
Favorite restaurant: Forma (LA
) Favorite book: The Bell Jar
Favorite tv show: Veep

nashville

Kathleen
Messmer

Hometown: Tacoma, WA
College: San Francisco State (B.A.)
& Academy of Art University (MFA)
Day Job: Journalist, Photographer
Savory or Sweet: Both
Word to describe you: Honest
Favorite cuisine: German
Favorite restaurant: Antiquity
Favorite book: 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life
Favorite movie: Love Actually

Santa Fe

Mandi Mikasa

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
College: University of Southern California (USC)
Day job: Food blogging
Savory or sweet: Savory
Word to describe me: Adventurous
Favorite cuisine: Japanese
Favorite restaurant: Benihana
Favorite book: The Nancy Drew series
Favorite tv show: Gossip Girl

los angeles

Melanie
Ochoa

Hometown: Miami, FL
College: Florida International University
Day job: Senior Communications and Marketing Coordinator at the Humane Society of Greater Miami
Savory or Sweet: Half and half. Always.
Word to describe you: Indecisive
Favorite cuisine: American
Favorite restaurant: Etch in Nashville, TN
Favorite book: Count of Monte Cristo
Favorite tv show: Law and Order: Organized Crime

miami

Cathy
O'Sullivan

Hometown: Miami, FL
College: University of Florida
Day Job: Happily Retired
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Wayfarer
Favorite cuisine: Mediterranean
Favorite restaurant: I can’t commit to just one
Favorite Movie: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Favorite TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy

miami

Julia Park

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
College: University of California, Davis
Savory or Sweet: Sweet
Word to describe you: Kind-hearted
Favorite cuisine: Italian
Favorite restaurant: Sotto Mare
Favorite book: “The Great Gatsby”
Favorite tv show: Friends

san francisco

Katie Sy

Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
College: UCLA (Go Bruins!)
Day job: MFT graduate student
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Motivated
Favorite cuisine: Japanese
Favorite restaurant: Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles
Favorite book: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Favorite tv show: New Girl

Los Angeles

Sheena Tait

Hometown: Nashville, TN
College: Middle TN State University
Day Job: Business Professional
Savory or Sweet: Savory
One Word to Describe You: Intuitive
Favorite Cuisine: Mexican, Indian, Thai
Favorite Restaurant: Superica, The Continental
Favorite Book: Mexican Gothic
Favorite TV Show: Arrested Development

nashville

Mira Temkin

Hometown: Munster, IN
College: Michigan State University
Day job: Travel writer/theatre reviewer
Savory or Sweet: SWEET!
Word to describe you: Fun
Favorite cuisine: All-American, followed by Chinese Food
Favorite restaurant: Wildfire
Favorite book: The World According to Garp
Favorite tv show: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

chicago

Lana Van Cleave

Hometown: Ponca City, OK
College: Oklahoma State University
Day Job: Yay! Retired CPA!!
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Traveler
Favorite cuisine: Italian
Favorite Restaurant: Ristorante il Refettorio
Favorite Book: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Favorite Movie: Under the Tuscan Sun

oklahoma city

Kristine Wong

Hometown: Irvine, CA
College: UC San Diego
Day job: Dietetic Student
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Joyful
Favorite Cuisine: Taiwanese
Favorite Restaurant: Joy on York in LA
Favorite book: Intuitive Eating
Favorite movie: Encanto

San Diego

Alyssa
Yaguda

Hometown: Kings Park, NY
College: Adelphi University
Day job: Travel Consultant
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Loyal
Favorite cuisine: Seafood
Favorite restaurant: Old Ebbitt
Favorite book: The Great Gatsby
Favorite movie: Jaws

washington dc

Arista Zhu

Hometown: Fremont, CA
College: TBD
Day job: Marketing Intern
Savory or Sweet: Savory
Word to describe you: Creative
Favorite cuisine: Spanish
Favorite restaurant: Republique
Favorite podcast: Sunstorm
Favorite tv show: Top Boy

san francisco

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