[Portland] - It's not some food lover’s fantasy. It's really true. The Oregon Restaurant Association (ORA) will be the presenting sponsor of the 2006 Bite of Oregon, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR), August 11, 12 and 13 in Portland's Waterfront Park. The event is the state’s largest showcase of Brand Oregon food and beverage, allowing tens of thousands of visitors to sample from dozens of food, wine, beer and other Oregon-based major attractions specially chosen to represent the best from all six Oregon geographic regions.

Two years ago The Bite underwent a facelift, expanding its focus from just Portland area restaurants to the best food and beverage from Oregon's six regions: the Coast, Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Central Oregon, the Valley, and Portlandia.

"The Bite of Oregon represents the public face of Brand Oregon," s1ys Margaret Hunt, CEO of Special Olympics Oregon. "The event is a gateway for Oregon businesses to showcase their unique Northwest qualities to fellow Oregonians and visitors from around the world."

As the association that represents the largest private sector employer in Oregon, ORA says The Bite is an ideal way to illustrate the impact that restaurants have in communities across the state. “Our members' record of giving back to people who support them is unparalleled,” said Mike McCallum, President/CEO of ORA. “Nine out of ten restaurants are engaged in community charitable activities each year. Our connection with Special Olympics Oregon is another example of that generosity."

Spending at Oregon’s restaurants accounts for nearly a quarter of the state’s $6.3 billion tourism industry—yet 78 percent of these establishments are owner-run small businesses. They are ‘cornerstones of their communities,’ providing jobs for 120,000 Oregonians across the state.

State representative Betsy Johnson, Chairman of the Governor's Brand Oregon Committee, feels that the partnership between the Bite of Oregon and ORA is a model for the kind of synergy that will result in more tourism dollars.

"Along with our reputation for natural beauty, Oregon has a growing reputation as a great place to eat," she says. "We have the good stuff here. When we can coordinate our efforts like teaming ORA and The Bite, it helps more people discover us so they can come here and enjoy it."

The Bite also benefits from culinary tourism becoming a growing trend. Both the “Iron Chef Oregon” and “Junior Iron Chef Oregon” competitions give local culinary stars the opportunity to demonstrate their talents in front of a live audience on the Chef’s Stage. Lucky attendees get to sample the finished dishes.

More details and a complete schedule can be found at www.biteoforegon.com.

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