Portland Food Scene Finally Acknowledged by Rising Star Awards

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You may have never heard of the Rising Star Awards, because they have not honored any of Portland’s culinary talents until now. Sponsored by StarChefs.com “the magazine for culinary insiders”, the awards are nominated by their own advisory board, previous winners, local food media and a nomination form on the StarChefs website.

For 2011, awards are being given to a whole lot of folks:

Chefs:

• Aaron Barnett, St. Jack
• Greg Perrault, June
• Sara Pliner, Kat Whitehead, and Jasper Shen, Aviary
• Naomi Pomeroy, Beast
• William Preisch, The Bent Brick
• Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon

Hotel Chef:

• Andy Arndt, Aquariva at Avalon Hotel and Spa

Sustainability Chef:

• Sunny Jin, Jory

Community Chef:

• Jenn Louis, Lincoln

Concept Chef:

• Salumist Elias Cairo, Olympic Provisions

Pastry Chef:

• Kir Jensen, The Sugar Cube (cart)

Pastry Chef:

• Kristen D. Murray, Paley’s Place

Bakery:

• Tim Healea, Little T American Baker

Sommelier:

• Jack Hott, Castagna

Restaurateur:

• Kurt Huffman, Chefstable (Gruner, Ping, St. Jack, Kask, Foster Burger

Bartender:

• Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Clyde common

You can read the entire list along with a description of what factors and particular dishes put each chef in the winners category here.