Another Taste of the Nation event has come and gone, and we Crush Girls couldn’t be more enamored of our local cookin’ cuties. Aren’t we the luckiest diners? Here are some of our favorites from this year…

Gabriel @ Davis Street Tavern

duck breast with apricot chutney on brioche

Patricia @ La Calaca Comelona (A fave from last year!)

beef quesadillas

Ben @ Celilo

pork rillettes

Matthew and Eric @ Firehouse

rosemary lamb sausage

Dustin @ Wildwood

chilled asparagus soup with creme fraiche

John @ Pazzo (Who’s the cutie on the left?)

fig bellinis & smoked marlin-wrapped asparagus

Ian @ Fenouil

salmon tartare

Laurel @ Alberta Street Oyster Bar and Grill

tuna tartare

Jose Luis @ Andina

purple potatoes with shredded chicken and aji amarillo

And last, but certainly not least, our award for Taste of the Nation: Portland Chef Crush 2009 goes to…

Ray @ Nuestra Cocina

chicharron con salsa verde