Negroni Week Kick-Off; Ricker on Parts Unknown

DOWNTOWN— More than 30 Portland bars are participating in next week's Negroni Week — during which every order of the Campari-laced drink will net at $1 donation to charity — and to kick things off, Imbibe and the bar at downtown's Imperial will host a special Negroni Week happy hour next Monday, June 2. From 4-7p.m., a $5 Negroni special and $3 Negroni-flavored Salt & Straw ice cream will raise money for the American Red Cross. More information here. [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN— Out of work early this afternoon? Kick off the weekend properly at Cacao's downtown location today (Friday, May 30) from 3-5p.m. Portland's mecca of drinking chocolate is hosting author and chocolate expert Eagranie Yuh, who will explain how to taste chocolate like a pro with The Chocolate Tasting Kit (Chronicle Books). And yes, there will be samples so you can, ahem, practice. More information here. [EaterWire]

THAILAND— On this week's episode of his CNN travel show Parts Unknown, host Anthony Bourdain enlists Pok Pok's Andy Ricker as tour guide, taking Bourdain on what ended up being a "prolonged bender, an increasingly addled tuk-tuk ride from place to place shoving delicious things into my face." The episode airs this Sunday, June 1, but first, watch a short preview of Ricker and Bourdain in Chiang Mai City, below:

Video: Anthony Bourdain visits Chiang Mai City