Remembering Naomi Pomeroy: How the Chef Defined Portland’s Restaurant Scene | Eater Portland

"Debuting in 2007 to near-instant acclaim, Pomeroy’s restaurant Beast embodied her bold, exacting point of view: one prix-fixe menu served in two seatings with communal tables where everyone ate the same five or six courses while Pomeroy and her team cooked and plated from a central kitchen island with nowhere to hide. The dishes ranged from a silky velouté to a meaty lamb chop with a surprising accompaniment and a delicate charcuterie plate that reached icon status; there were famously no substitutions and diners were asked to embrace the pig and trust her vision. Beast earned national recognition (Food & Wine Best New Chef, 2009; James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest, 2014) and became emblematic of Portland’s culinary ethos before closing in October 2020." - Erin DeJesus