Oregon is a hub of collaboration, creativity and craftsmanship. We’re inspired every day by the amazing makers in this region who are dedicated to sharing their passion through their craft.
This year for Father’s Day, STEELPORT Knife Co. is once again teaming up with a handful of our favorite fellow Oregon handcrafted brands who are all using traditional methods and materials, with a spark of modern innovation, to create exceptional products for the discerning culinary customer.
Read on to learn more about each company, and if these brands inspire you, sign upat the bottom of this page to enter to win our Oregon Makers Father’s Day Sweepstakes, featuring a premium handcrafted product from each of them (a $1,300+ value)
STEELPORT Knife Co. is reintroducing American heirloom forged carbon steel cutlery. We deliver trusted performance, exceptional design and handcrafted individuality through rigorous attention to detail. STEELPORT is a small team dedicated to producing the finest trusted kitchen knives available. Their work combines premium materials, traditional forging technique, and American heirloom craftsmanship. We manufacture and sharpen each knife by hand in Portland, Oregon. STEELPORT was founded in the midst of the economic and social uncertainties of 2020 by Bladesmith Eytan Zias and a highly specialized group of individuals passionate about bringing modern American innovation to traditional forging methods and materials. STEELPORT believes in craftsmanship without compromise. Each knife we produce has a beautiful individuality only found in handcrafted products that use natural materials. No two wooden handles or blades can have identical grain patterns, and each knife will patina a little differently over time, telling a story of all the meals it has helped prepare.
FINEX is a small Portland team creating cast iron cookware for those that believe details make the difference. Their work is inspired by the hardworking history of American cast iron and grounded in our belief that cooking should be genuine—an experience you value and share with others. It’s these simple ideals that guide us as we reinvent cast iron cookware with modern design to enhance the life of every cook. Their journey began with the search for healthier cooking. They wanted a pan that would provide a soulful cooking experience and look good while doing it. Through trial and error, they found that the quality of current cast iron cookware didn’t measure up. They became obsessed with the intentional design, quality and craftsmanship of antique cast iron cookware—and decided they would stop at nothing to build it on American soil. They wanted to build functional, durable cookware that’s better than anything on the market today: it stands up to an open flame while elevating the meal at the dining room table.
Founded in 2011, Jacobsen Salt Co. is the first company to harvest salt in the Pacific Northwest since the 1800s. Harvested from the cold, pristine waters of Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast, our pure flake and kosher sea salts are a reflection of this place and an attentive, 2.5 week-long salt making process. We take great pride in bringing our customers a product that is truly exceptional – salt that is bright and briny, with a delicate crunch and no bitter aftertaste; a crystallization of craft and care that will bring out the best in every meal.
Salumist Elias Cairo, grew up first generation Greek-American with a father who made charcuterie at home. Doing things the old-fashioned way was commonplace. Elias later journeyed to Europe to apprentice in the kitchens of masters. It was there that he rediscovered the art of curing meat and found inspiration in the markets and mountain towns of the old world. The experience affirmed what he’d been taught all along: handmade is better. Back in beautiful Portland, Oregon, Elias set out to approach the craft of charcuterie with purity and patience, recreating a nearly extinct traditional technique that is seldom seen in America. The result is Olympia Provisions, Oregon’s first USDA-approved salumeria, established in 2009, deeply rooted in the past. Everything they make is handcrafted naturally with the ultimate goal of quality. In order to achieve a finished product that tastes as good as it possibly can, they pay fastidious attention to the details. Ingredients are the inspiration and they seek out the best and freshest.
Founded in 2008 by celebrated biodynamic winegrowers of Soter Vineyards, Planet Oregon Wines is a responsibly delicious choice. We farm our grapes sustainably, protecting streams and rivers from run-off that can harm fish and other wildlife. We monitor carbon emissions, energy use, and waste production to ensure the only mark we leave on this Planet is a wine stain or two. A portion of our profits from the sale of Planet Oregon wines are donated to the Oregon Environmental Council. Their work ensures Oregonians live healthier lives because our air, water and land are cleaner; our food is sustainably produced; and the products, energy and transportation we rely on are safer for our environment.
Coava noun \ kovuh \ a: unroasted, or “green” coffee; b: northwest coffee roaster notoriously fueled by good folks and Led Zeppelin. Coava began in Matt Higgins North Portland garage in 2008. The veteran barista and roaster bootstrapped the company by repairing motorcycles. Having spent years in specialty coffee, Matt dreamed of starting his own company where he could roast and prepare coffees that would be exciting for professional baristas and inviting to everyday drinkers. Matt knew that in order to accomplish this goal, sourcing exceptional “coava” would have to be the bedrock upon which his entire company was built. So he studied agriculture, farm practices, and sustainable business. He sought farmers who were committed to producing quality crops, and focused his attention on under-sourced regions. His hard work and willingness to go above and beyond eventually earned him a reputation among coffee producers as a respectful, diligent, and honest person. Those early years were difficult, but exciting, and laid the foundation for many of the longstanding partnerships Coava has with farmers to this day.
