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

MATT @ Fenouil (503) 525-2225
900 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97209

Why he’s dreamy:
Halibut with fava bean mousse, shaved asparagus and pea shoot salad, and fingerling potatoes make one sneakily seductive dish, just like the chef who cooks it! Indecently delicious lobster beignets and a variety of reasonably priced wine flights turn our cheeks rosy, or maybe it’s just the kitchen cuties making us blush. And our crush on those pretty profiteroles lingered long after we walked out the door.

GABRIEL @ Le Pigeon (503) 546-8796
738 E Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon, 97214

Why he’s dreamy:
Butter-soft scallops, seared foie gras that melts in your mouth, the tenderest of beef cheek Bourguignon and halibut with fresh peas and asparagus. And who can say no to Oreo-crusted goat cheesecake with strawberry mint compote? Super friendly and happy to chat with our enamored, elated selves, Gabriel made the Crush Girls blush bigtime. Watching him manage eight saute pans at a time only got us hotter! We’re officially intoxicated by his skills and charm. P.S. Did we mention he has a cute behind? (We couldn’t help but peek!)