Gregory Gourdet facts for kids

Gregory Gourdet (born (1975-07-25)July 25, 1975) is a well-known American chef, writer, and restaurant owner. He became famous after appearing on the TV show Top Chef in its twelfth and seventeenth seasons. Gregory Gourdet has Haitian family roots. He owns a restaurant called Kann and used to be the main chef at Departure Restaurant and Lounge in Portland, Oregon. His cookbook, Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health, is a national bestseller.

Early Life and Learning

Gregory Gourdet was born in New York City on (1975-07-25)July 25, 1975. His parents were immigrants from Haiti. He grew up in Queens and went to high school at St. Andrew's.

He first studied pre-med at NYU for a year. Then, he went to the University of Montana (UM) to study wildlife biology, but he ended up getting a degree in French.

While at the University of Montana, Gregory found his love for cooking. This led him to enroll in The Culinary Institute of America, a famous cooking school. After that, he got an internship with chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who became his mentor for almost seven years.

Chef's Journey

Exterior of Kann, 2022

After finishing his studies at The Culinary Institute of America in 2000, Gregory Gourdet started working full-time for chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. He improved his cooking skills at three of Vongerichten's restaurants. He worked his way up to become one of the main chefs.

In 2010, Gregory became the Executive Chef at Departure Restaurant and Lounge in Portland, Oregon. There, he created modern Asian dishes. He mixed local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest with flavors from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea. In 2016, he became the Culinary Director when the restaurant opened another location in Denver, Colorado.

In 2019, Gregory left Departure after 10 years. He wanted to open his own restaurant, Kann. Kann focuses on wood-fired cooking and aims to bring the flavors of his Haitian heritage and Caribbean food to America. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant's opening was delayed. So, Gregory started a Kann pop-up in Portland. Kann officially opened in Portland in August 2022. There is also a cocktail bar called Sousòl located below Kann.

Cookbook Success

In 2021, Gregory Gourdet released his first cookbook, Everyone's Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health. This book helps people cook healthy, globally inspired meals that are free of gluten, dairy, soy, legumes, and grains. He wrote the book with J.J. Goode, and it was published on May 11, 2021. The book became a national bestseller, making healthy eating easier for many. On June 11, 2022, Everyone's Table won a special James Beard Award for Best Cookbook.

TV Appearances

Gregory Gourdet first became famous on TV in 2015. He competed on Bravo's Top Chef Season 12 and finished as the runner-up. He later appeared on many other TV shows. He competed again on Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. and was a finalist once more.

TV Shows and Roles

Awards and Honors

Gregory Gourdet has received many awards for his cooking skills:

• In 2012, Eater Portland named him "Hottest Chef."
• In 2013, the Oregon Department of Agriculture named him "Chef of the Year." Eater Portland gave him the same honor in 2014.
• In 2016, he received the CODA's 2016 Advocacy Award.
• He has been a semifinalist for the James Beard Award three times. In 2020, he was nominated as a finalist for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific.
• In 2022, his cookbook Everyone's Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health won a James Beard Media Award for Best General Cookbook.
• In 2023, his restaurant Kann won the James Beard Award for "Best New Restaurant."
• In 2024, he won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (which includes Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington).

About His Life

Gregory Gourdet enjoys long-distance running. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

See also

• List of LGBT people from Portland, Oregon