GRAND DINNER CHEF

Naomi Pomeroy, Chef
Beast

Naomi Pomeroy was born and raised in Oregon. She spent her childhood hanging around the stove and in backyard gardens with her Mother (who spent her early years in Rouen) and with Grandmother Vivian who hailed from New Orleans. Before opening Beast, Naomi and Michael Hebb started up ripe catering in 1999 and soon thereafter launched an underground supper club in their Northeast Portland bungalow called "family supper." In rapid succession they opened the Gotham Coffee Shop, clarklewis restaurant, and the Gotham Tavern. In the summer of 2007, after the Gotham Coffee Shop and Tavern had closed and clarklewis had been sold, Naomi started to cook small family-style suppers again. The intimacy of these suppers is preserved at Beast, which she opened in September of 2007. Beast is gutsy, pretty and playful, staking its reputation on a fixed-price French bistro menu boldly punctuated by meat with no choices or substitutions in the multicourse meal.

Since it’s opening. accolades and awards have followed for Naomi. She’s been featured in Gourmet and Elle Magazine; Bon Appètit named her as one of the top 6 of a new generation of female chefs in September 2008; Food and Wine Magazine has recognized her as one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America for 2009. Locally, Naomi was voted Chef of the Year for 2008 by Portland Monthly, Beast was honored as Restaurant of the Year for 2008 by the Oregonian, and chosen as best Brunch by the Willamette Weekly. Naomi has also been nominated as a semi-finalist for a James Beard Award for Best Chef- Pacific Northwest.

Best New Chefs 2009: Naomi Pomeroy

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