Inisha
Day 1: 5-Course Retracing Indigenous Roots Tasting Series
This exceptional year-old eatery in the Culley neighborhood, the tasting menu oriented offshoot of Javelina’s (which landed on Esquire’s list of “Best New Restaurants in America”) is focused on Native American culinary traditions. Inɨ́sha means “My Daughter” in the Yakama Tribal Language and Co-Chef/Owner Alexa Numkena-Anderson, who grew up on the Yakima reservation, offers modern takes on traditional Tribal recipes. Here, the menu is dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and cane sugar-free with proteins native to this continent, meaning no pork, chicken, or beef. Instead, Chef Numkena-Anderson relies on wild boar, bison, duck, goose, rabbit, and Tribally-caught fish. Diners then might find dishes like bison meatballs in a savory-sweet huckleberry BBQ sauce or blue corn tostadas with heirloom bean puree and shredded rabbit. Or perhaps fry bread elk tacos or fry bread ice cream sandwiches? Esquire lauds Chef Numkena-Anderson’s dishes, which, it says, “educates and enthralls in equal measure.” It will surely be fascinating to talk food ideas with her, so we hope you’ll be able to join us!
About the Host:
Alexa Numkena-Anderson
Co-Chef/Owner
Chef Alexa Numkena-Anderson weaves together her Yakama, Hopi, and Mexican Indigenous roots to impart a culinary experience rooted in tradition, storytelling, and community. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School, her experience has taken her through several acclaimed Portland restaurants. including The Waiting Room, Headwaters, Imperial, Domaine Serene and Bullard. In September 2023, just six weeks after giving birth to her first child, she started Javelina: Indigenous Dining, which became a brick and mortar location in May of 2025.
The Lineup
All courses will be individually plated. This menu will be Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Peanut & Tree Nut Free. For the list of restrictions Chef is accommodating, scroll to the bottom of this page.
-
Nisqually Oysters
hopi watermelon granita, pickled watermelon rind, puffed amaranth
-
Bison Carpaccio
sikal pak "mayan pumpkin seed dip", makah ozette potato chips, jalapeno, arugula, pickled blueberry
-
Three Sisters Stew
three sisters nixtamal blue & white hominy, sotoi farms delicata squash, white tepary beans, makah ozette potato
-
Osoberry Glazed Duck Leg
sunchoke apple puree, caramelized spruce chanterelle, roasted apple & rainbow chard
-
Elderberry & Huckleberry "Cobbler"
maple blue corn cake
Inisha
4636 NE 42nd Ave
Portland, OR 97218
Event FAQs
- Do guests need to be of a certain age to attend this event?
- Yes. All attendees must be 21+ to gain entry.
- Does this restaurant allow BYOB?
- No. This restaurant is a non-BYO establishment. Outside alcohol will not be permitted at this event.
- Will this event be handicap acccessible?
- According to the restaurant, this event is handicap accessible. If applicable however, please email support@tastingcollective.com with your needs to ensure proper accommodations.
- What is the event ticket cancellation/refund policy?
- Restaurants purchase the food for our events 14 days before the event date, at which point we are on the hook for the cost of your ticket. As such, we are not able to offer refunds (or credits towards future events) for any cancellation requests submitted within 14 days of the event date. We will, however, issue full refunds for all cancellation requests submitted at least 14 days before the event date. All cancellation requests must be submitted via email to support@tastingcollective.com.
- What dietary restrictions/food allergies can be accommodated at this event?
- Due to the large-format nature of our events, restaurants are not able to accommodate all dietary restrictions/food allergies or make any menu adjustments based on food preferences (e.g distaste for specific ingredients/flavor profiles). This menu will be Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Peanut & Tree Nut Free and the restaurant will be offering substitutions exclusively for the following restrictions/allergies: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Mushroom, Shellfish, Raw Garlic, Raw Onion, Leek, Scallion. They are NOT accommodating restrictions related to the following ingredients: Chive, Cooked Garlic, Cooked Onion. If you have any of these restrictions/allergies, please make sure to note this in your profile (in the “Event Preferences” section) either before or right after purchasing your tickets so Chef can prepare accordingly.
