Texas Pit Master Aaron Franklin Won’t Be at Feast Portland 2017

One of the regular culinary stars at Feast Portland won’t make the event this year. According to PoMo, Aaron Franklin is busy rebuilding his Austin-based restaurant, Franklin Barbecue, which experienced a devastating fire on August 26. The two Feast Portland events featuring Franklin — Quatro Hombres: Adventures in Tex Mex and the Franklin Barbecue and Family — are cancelled, and the event is giving full refunds to ticket holders.

Franklin’s powerful barbecue was a regular feature at other Feast Portland events, too, like the the Night Market. The lines for his cooking were often the longest.

Franklin Barbecue is closed indefinitely but is aiming to open in about a month, Eater Austin reports. The fire broke out at 5:27 a.m., on Saturday, and was started by a stray ember from the barbecue pit. Structural damages are estimated at $200,000, with content damage at $150,000.

• Feast Portland [Official]
• Franklin Barbecue [Official]
• Feast Portland Loses Texas Barbecue Star Aaron Franklin after Restaurant Fire [PoMo]
• Franklin Barbecue Plans to Reopen in About a Month After Fire [Eater Austin]