Yelp Elites Tie The Knot At Yelp’s Big Fat Italian Wedding!

Portland's Yelp Elite said "I do!" and "What you gonna do 'bout it?" to Yelp's Big Fat Italian Wedding at Amalfi's! On Monday, 6/6 at 6pm, over 200 Yelpers tied the knot with an incredible buffet of down-home Italian food, frosty Oregon beer, fantastic Oregon wine, and a live band. With spring in full swing and love in the air, Portland's finest got decked out in their classiest (or "kla$$iest") Italian/Jersey wear for Yelp's Big Fat Italian Wedding at Amalfi's! This family-owned (3rd generation) spot sitting up in Beaumont really knows how to throw a party!

Upon entering Yelpers were greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere and a live, 3-piece band! The bar (stocked with plenty of bartenders) offered up ice cold Spring Reign from Ninkasi (in 12 oz bottles!) as well as three fantastic wines from A to Z Wineworks (by Rex HIll): The 2008 Chardonnay, the 2009 Pinot Noir, and the 2009 Riesling (in a silkscreened bottle!). With wine and beer in hand, the fast-growing crowd mixed and mingled to the tunes of the band.

Then came the food. And boy did it come. A full family-style Italian buffet featuring caramelized pear, candied walnut & gorgonzola salad; a classic Caesar; antipasti platter with bleu cheese and meats; house-made zesty meatballs; lasagna classico; creamy pesto penne (a hit of the night); cabernet marinara with penne; fettuccine alfredo; a classic spaghetti with meat sauce; and of course a huge basket full of focaccia. And the food kept on coming – dish after dish. It was incredible. The only thing wider than the plates were the eyes of the elites!

Yelpers loaded their plates from the buffet and fanned out across the restaurant, finding spots to sit and chat at booths and tables, as the incredibly attentive wait-staff came around refilling wine, clearing tables, and generally treating everyone not only like honored guests, but like family. Needless to say, the Yelp Elites were more than impressed.

After a couple of hours of mingling it was time to say goodbye – but not before scoring a 2011 Elite Gift – the Time to Yelp watch, as well as a copy of the most recent Chinook Book and… get this – take-home food! Yes, there was so much food that Amalfi's passed out to-go containers for Yelpers to take home some food. This has to be a first for a Yelp Elite Event. And the Yelp Elite loved every second of it.

A huge thanks go out to the folks without whom this would not have been possible: Kiauna Floyd and Jennica from Amalfi's, for throwing an incredible shindig; the Amalfi's staff for bringing your A-game; Ninkasi Brewing and Morgan Miller for the always delicious Spring Reign; Mike and Deb from A to Z Wineworks and Rex Hill for the fantastic Oregon wines; the band; and Matt D and Hilary B for all of the help during the event. Oh, and who can forget the Yelp Elites – without you, this wouldn't be possible.

But don't just take my word for it, check out the reviews and the photos!

Until next time,
SYOY!
—The Donfather