PORTLAND, Oregon — Naomi Pomeroy, an acclaimed chef and restaurateur whose innovative approach to dining helped establish Portland as one of America’s premier food destinations. Pomeroy, a celebrated chef, television personality, and author, died on July 13, 2024, following a tubing accident on Oregon’s Willamette River near Corvallis. She was 49.
Widely respected for her creativity, leadership, and dedication to craft, Pomeroy left an enduring mark on the American restaurant industry. Her influence extended far beyond the walls of her acclaimed Portland restaurant, Beast, earning recognition from fellow chefs, food critics, and television audiences nationwide.
Born in 1974, Pomeroy followed an unconventional path into the culinary profession. A self-taught chef, she never attended culinary school, instead developing her skills through hands-on experience and an unwavering passion for cooking. While studying history at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, she discovered her love for preparing meals and began exploring food as both an artistic and professional pursuit.
Her early ventures included a series of intimate pop-up dinners hosted with her first husband, Michael Hebb. Those gatherings evolved into successful Portland restaurants, including Gotham Tavern and Clarklewis, helping establish Pomeroy as a rising force in the city’s growing dining scene.
In 2006, Pomeroy launched Beast, a small, French-inspired restaurant that quickly gained national acclaim for its intimate communal dining experience and commitment to responsibly sourced ingredients. Guests dined just steps away from the kitchen, creating a uniquely personal connection between chef and customer. The restaurant became one of Portland’s most sought-after reservations and cemented Pomeroy’s reputation as a culinary innovator.
Her achievements were recognized nationally when Food & Wine named her among America’s Best New Chefs in 2009. She later received the prestigious James Beard Award, one of the highest honors in the culinary profession.
Pomeroy also became a familiar face on television. She competed on Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef, showcasing the techniques and flavors that defined her cooking style. Beyond competition, she served as a guest judge and mentor while sharing her expertise with a broader audience through media appearances and her 2016 cookbook, Taste & Technique: Recipes to Elevate Your Home Cooking.
Reflecting on her passion for food, Pomeroy once said, “Seeing the look on someone’s face when they eat my food… I feel joy in the entire process.”
Tributes poured in following news of her passing. Chef Tom Colicchio wrote, “We lost another great chef,” while the team behind Top Chef described her as “a powerhouse chef who made an indelible mark on the culinary industry.” Fellow chef Mary Sue Milliken remembered Pomeroy’s extraordinary talent and generosity, expressing sympathy for her family and loved ones.
Naomi Pomeroy’s legacy lives on through the restaurants she built, the chefs she inspired, and the countless diners whose lives she enriched through her food. Her career stands as a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and creativity in shaping American cuisine.