Chef Gregory Gourdet
Chef Gregory Gourdet is the culinary mastermind from Portland, OR, who is currently opening his first restaurant, Kann. The project is inspired by his Haitian heritage and will bring the cuisine into the American spotlight at this wood fired concept, opening in early 2022. The restaurant aims to be a safe, diverse and equitable workplace for all.
Gourdet spent 10 years as Executive Chef and Culinary Director for Departure Restaurant + Lounge, where he paired local ingredients with the bold flavors of Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea to create modern Asian fare. A native New Yorker, Gourdet honed his culinary skills within celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant empire.
In 2013, he was named Chef of the Year by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and was Eater Portland’s Chef of the Year in 2014. In 2015, he earned runner up in Bravo’s Top Chef Season 12. He was thrice named a semifinalist by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Northwest and was a finalist for the award in 2020. He was a finalist on Top Chef: All Stars Season 17 and was a judge on 2021’s Top Chef: Portland.
His first cookbook, Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health, was released in May 2021 and is the ultimate guide to cooking globally inspired dishes free of gluten, dairy, soy, legumes, and grains. The book is a national bestseller.
