Inside Roux Week 2025: Portland’s Most Delicious Week

A week of flavor, creativity, and connection celebrating women shaping food culture.

That’s a Wrap! Roux Week 2025 is in the books.

Thanks to everyone who came out for Portland’s Most Delicious Week of the Year.

Xcelerate Women was thrilled to once again be the nonprofit partner and beneficiary of Roux Week, Portland’s Most Delicious Week of the Year. More than 1,500 attendees showed up for a week of pop-up parties, chefs dinners, panel conversations, and hands-on events all celebrating women in food + beverage culture.

Some of our very favorite things from this year’s Roux Week:

The new printed Roux Week Citywide Map featuring women-owned bars, restaurants, and cafes presented by If I May Hospitality.

Kickoff block party at L’Echelle + Euzemeh with a special Cornet Custard + Fly by Jing chili crisp sundae collab for the walk home.

Dueling culinary trivia nights hosted by Untapped Trivia at the Sports Bra and Dear Sandy (bonus points for Dear Sandy’s glow in the dark Halloween cocktails!)

Enjoying Roux Week + Tito’s Handmade Vodka Speciality Cocktails to support Xcelerate Women at Gado Gado, Oma’s Hideaway, Nostrana, Fireside, Matta Caffé & Bar, and Hibisbloom.

But First, Dessert (so many desserts!) FREE event at Better Days Cafe in partnership Pop-Ups Please.

Gabriella Martinez (Libre) shared the real meaning behind her legendary “No Me Conoces” dessert, part of a live recording of Chef Preeti Mistry’s Loading Dock Talks podcast in partnership with Copper & Heat.

Squeezing undercover and experiencing next level hospitality from Chefs Adriana Urbina, Megan Sanchez and the Farag’s at Güero team when the rain started coming down in sheets at the Last Night in Paradise takeover.

Sampling coffee from Cafe Mestiza, vegan pastries from La Casa de Mama, and chicken soup flavored bagels from Notorious B.A.G.E.L before settling in with Samantha Bakall and Soleil Ho for their Saturday morning conversation on food media and independent publishing.

Taste Test Challenge hilarity with Chefs Adriana Urbina, Fatou Ouattara (AKADI), and Gabriella Martinez (Libre) and local judges Melissa McMillan (Sammich), Kimiko Matsuda, and the winner of the crown, Em Daugherty (Foodie Snitch).

Inspiring stories of home and resilience with Chefs Heena Patel (Besharam), Adriana Urbina, and Ifrah Ahmed at a packed Powerhouse Panel moderated by OPB’s Jenn Chávez.

Lessons in scaling with authenticity from Junea Rocha (Brazi Bites), Christy Goldsby (Honey Mamas), Nikki Guerrero (Hot Mama Salsa), Lee Hedgmon (The Barreled Bee), and Hannah Kullberg (PNW Food & Bev Google Group) at Xcelerate and Prosper Portland’s Secret Sauce Panel. With thanks to Nostrana for the truly gorgeous spread.

Pre and post Roux press coverage from Portland Business Journal, AM Extra (KOIN-TV), Hello Rose City (KGW), Imbibe Magazine, and Coyote Media Collective.

We can’t wait for Roux Week 2026! Thank you House of Commons, Alaska Airlines, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Prosper Portland, and Market of Choice for your generous support and to all the Roux Week 2025 partners for showing up for women in food/beverage. Thank you to our incredible Xcelerate volunteers and to everyone who purchased an event and/or raffle ticket. Together, we raised $6,500 to fuel Xcelerate’s programs that help women-owned businesses grow and thrive.

Thank you for being part of our transformative community - see you next year!

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