Naomi Pomeroy is a native Oregonian who started cooking on a step stool. She got an early start studying the culinary handiwork of her mother, who had lived in Rouen, France, and of her grandmother, Vivian, who hailed from New Orleans. The first thing she learned to make was a cheese soufflé with a green salad from the garden, dressed simply in olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon. Her early childhood cooking experiences taught her that sometimes simple is best. Naomi’s restaurant Beast is a refined version of the food of her childhood.
Naomi was featured in Gourmet and Elle Magazine; Bon Appètit named her one of the top six of a new generation of female chefs in September 2008; and Food & Wine Magazine recognized her as one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America for 2009. In 2010, Oprah magazine named her one of the "Top 10 Women to Watch in the Next Decade," and Marie Claire named her one of the "Top 16 Women in Business". She has given several lectures on creativity, including a TedX Talk in 2013. Naomi appeared as a contestant on Top Chef Masters in 2011 and also appears as a recurring judge on Knife Fight on the Esquire Network.
In 2010, 2012, and 2013, she was selected as a finalist for the James Beard Awards in the category Best Chef Pacific Northwest. In 2014, she was selected as the recipient for this prestigious award.
Naomi's Restaurant:
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