The Oregonian reports that Ten 01 has hired Benjamin Parks as its executive chef after the recent departure of Chef Jack Yoss. Chef Yoss was notable for turning Ten 01's initially panned menu into what is generally considered one of the best in town. It's hoped that Parks, who's highly acclaimed for his cooking in San Francisco, will continue the restaurant's current trend of high-quality farm-to-table seasonal cuisine.

Friday, March 20, marks the beginning of the Great American Meatout, encouraging people to switch to a meat-free diet. Several vegetarian groups in Portland plan to celebrate the day through leafleting, lunches, and protests. Participants will include the Radical Cheerleaders, Friends of Vegans, and others. Information on local Meatout events can be found at meatout.org.