6 Questions with Matt Lightner What inspires you to create? The seasons. What's really interesting about our location here in Oregon is that we have so many different types of microclimates and so many different types of micro-seasons. And, really, what inspires me to create is that soulful moment. I try to capture those moments and express them in food. How has Japanese cuisine impacted your career? In Japan, centuries…

6 Reasons to Travel with Chef Mary Attea What does travel mean to you? It's something that I've always loved because it's so eye-opening. The world is immense, filled with countless people, diverse cultures, and a variety of rich cuisines. I've been incredibly fortunate to get to travel a lot in the past 10 years. And how has travel impacted your life and your work? I've been able to gather…

6 Questions with Amanda Cohen What does travel mean to you? I traveled a lot as a kid with my family. I come from a big family, so it was one of the few times we were all together. Travel is that connection with people to me, no matter where we are… Whether it’s Florida or France. After I left college, I lived in Hong Kong for two years and…

6 Questions with Gregory Gourdet What has your time cooking in Portland taught you the most? I’ve learned a lot. Perseverance and dedication is something that’s really important in this career. Having worked in a restaurant that is inspired by other culinary cultures, I started a lifelong journey of wanting to connect with people and their cultures through food. There are so many things to be inspired by these days.…

6 Questions with Becca Millstein What does travel mean to you? Travel exposes you to things that are very different from your quotidian life. It's easy to get caught up in the rut of your own small universe and, you know, think things are that way universally. Every time I travel, I have the same experience of recognizing that there are so many different ways to live life. My travels…

Nyesha Arrington Chef & Food Consultant Nyesha Arrington is on a never-ending quest for that perfect bite, one that hugs the soul and stays with you long after it leaves the plate. This journey has taken her from her classic French training at the Art Institute of California in Los Angeles, to the iconic restaurants of Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, to the sets of Top Chef, Knife Fight and Iron Chef America. She’s…

6 Questions with PJ Calapa Where are you from? I grew up on the border of Mexico and South Texas. A city called Brownsville, Texas. So, I have a deep connection to Mexico, but I moved to New York for cooking school. I then started working in Manhattan and never looked back. I've been in New York now for 20 years… Well, now I live in the suburbs in New…

Jorge Guzmán Chef One of the Twin Cities’ most exciting chefs, Jorge lives up to his James Beard nomination for Best Chef with his expertly crafted food—which earned his Brewer’s Table at Surly Brewing a Food & Wine nod as one of the top 10 restaurants of the year. After its closure, Jorge lived through what he acknowledges was one of the toughest periods of his life, living paycheck to paycheck to…