PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland's Gregory Gourdet, owner and founder of Kann, earned his third James Beard Award Monday night as he won the title of "Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific." Langbaan in Northwest Portland earned "Outstanding Restaurant" in the U.S.
At the 33rd annual James Beard awards in Chicago, the best and brightest in the culinary arts around the country were honored for their achievements. Six Oregon restaurants and chefs were finalists for awards this year. Four of the nominees work and own restaurants around the Portland metro area.
Described as the "Oscars of the food world," the James Beard awards mean much more for local chefs and restaurants than a trophy, it's an acknowledgement of greatness that often comes through endurance.
Below is a look at Oregon's winners and nominees for 2024 awards.
Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific
Winner: Gregory Gourdet, Kann, Portland
Finalist: Josh Dorack, MÄS, Ashland
At the 33rd annual James Beard awards, Gregory Gourdet earned Best Chef for the Northwest and Pacific region. It is his third James Beard Award. His restaurant Kann won Best New Restaurant in 2023 and his cookbook "Everyone's Table" won a James Beard Media Award for Best General Cookbook in 2022.
“In 2008, I moved to Portland, Oregon, from New York," Gourdet said in his acceptance speech. "I left rehab early. I was deep into drug and alcohol addiction. I was overweight. I was broken. I was miserable and over the past 16 to 17 years in the Pacific Northwest, I have been able to find my voice and purpose as a chef."
During his time here, Gourdet said that he has fallen in love with Pacific Northwest's iconic regional foods, like salmon, hazelnuts, marionberries and also food carts.
"Today, I am able to grateful work at a hub for Haitian culture and Haitian story telling and in one of the most random places in the Pacific Northwest, which is extremely difference from anywhere close to Haitian communities," Gourdet said. "It has truly, truly, truly been my honor.”
Gourdet announced recently he was named the Culinary Director of "Printemps," a Parisian department store which is opening a location in New York City.
The other chef nominated in Oregon was Josh Dorack of MÄS in Ashland. He was a finalist for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific last year.
Outstanding Restaurant
Winner: Langbaan, Portland
Langbaan refers to itself on its website as a "Thai-style dining experience inspired by century-old traditions."
Located in Northwest Portland, Langbaan was created by Chef Akkapong "Earl" Ninsom, who captains other Thai restaurants around the city, including Phuket Cafe, Eem, Paadee and Hat Yai.
What differentiates this restaurant experience from most Thai restaurants is the five-course tasting menu, which is offered four days a week, with reservations needed.
"I'm so honored to be nominated in the same category as all the other outstanding restaurants for this award. Truly grateful, we started Langbann 10 years ago, just to show that Thai food has much, much more than what America has seen," Ninsom said in his acceptance speech. "We decided to offer food from underrepresented cultures, communities to other countries from south, north, central, northeastern in a way that's real and authentic. We never aim for perfect, we just aim for you all to open the world to understand that good food exists."
Outstanding Chef
Finalist: Sarah Minnick from Lovely's Fifty Fifty, Portland
Sarah Minnick, who was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, hails as the only nationally nominated Oregon chef, from her restaurant Lovely's Fifty Fifty.
Lovely's Fifty Fifty is a pizzeria and ice cream shop which Minnick opened up in 2010. Minnick and Lovely's Fifty Fifty were featured on an episode of Netflix's Chef's Table: Pizza, partially because of her unorthodox toppings, including Flowers Nettles and Rainbow Chard.
This is Minnick's second James Beard award nomination, as she was a semifinalist for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific in 2020.
Best New Restaurant
Finalist: Hayward, McMinnville
Hayward opened in 2023, providing a new take on Northwest food which heavily leans on sourcing local ingredients. The menu at Hayward, according to its website, is "hyper seasonal," changing with its ingredients throughout the Northwest.
Hayward is "rooted in local farming and purveying; cultivated through fermentation, whole animal butchery, and sourdough; and flavored by the stories of Chef Kari’s life and travels."
Outstanding Bakery
Finalist: JinJu Patisserie, Portland
JinJu Patisserie serves up classic bakery items, with owners Jin Caldwell and Kyurim Lee whipping up tarts, croissants and cakes since 2018.
The owners believe in using natural ingredients and harnessing one's senses saying on their website that "here at JinJu Patisserie, our philosophy is that exceptional pastries should be an experience of all five senses. We believe that all-natural ingredients and unique flavors make for a better dessert, and that the best pastries and chocolates come from a true passion for the craft."