Lompoc's Chowder Challenge; Mercado Needs Vendors

N. WILLIAMS— Lompoc Brewing's eighth-annual chowder celebration is set for this Saturday, February 22, at the brewpub's Fifth Quadrant outpost. A dozen restaurants and brewpubs around town will take up the "Chowder Challenge," cooking up batches of New England-style chowder that are served to tasters in two-ounce "blind" cups. Attendees get to vote on the favorites; Lompoc Brewing's own recipe is a recurring winner. Tickets are $10, with proceeds benefiting Community Transitional School. More information here. [EaterWire]

FOSTER/POWELL— The Portland Mercado — the much-touted Latino public market in Foster-Powell — is currently seeking vendors and food carts for the project. As previously reported, the Mercado plans a farmer's market-style layout, with a community kitchen, food cart space, and stand-alone retail. According to the Oregonian, the market has 12 tenants already on board and is seeking six more. Additional information here. [OregonLive]

NORTHEAST— In an email announcement, Podnah's pitboss Rodney Muirhead announces he'll swap his beef purveyor to the much-lauded Creekstone Farms, so get excited for prime rib. As Muirhead writes: "We did a test run with Creekstone last week and it was the finest prime rib I have ever tried." [EaterWire]

Photo of Lompoc's Fifth Quadrant courtesy Foursquare