BEN @ Beaker and Flask (503) 235-8180
720 SE Sandy Boulevard, Portland, Oregon, 97214
Why he’s dreamy:
Fried razor clams put a satisfied smile on my face, while the tender pork cheeks with pickled octopus made me positively giddy. And you have to love a guy who can make simple, lightly-herbed fresh soft pretzels and mustard with a beer back seem like the sexiest snack in a place full of tasty treats.
ALLEN, CHRIS, DICK, & VINCE @ Blue Plate Diner (780) 429-0740
10145 – 104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 0Z9
Why they’re dreamy:
Three meals a day with vegetarian (and vegan!) options and a locally-sourced bent (not so easy to find across Canada, as I discovered during her summer tour) is enough to make this quartet swoon-worthy. A juicy pork chop special paired with the succulent, pan-fried prawns appetizer makes for an indulgent dinner date, especially with the interesting art on the walls and low lighting as a romantic backdrop. And while “fresh fruit and our incredible maple-glazed cornbread” appears on the perfectly-sized (not too big but with enough variety) brunch menu, it flirted with me like a scandalous dessert.
WILL @ Biwa (503) 239-8830
215 SE 9th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97214
Why he’s dreamy:
Because most things are better (if not healthier) when they are decadently deep-fried, and kimchi is no exception. Those miso scallop skewers are addictive, and the melt-in-your-mouth maguro poke actually made me shiver with delight. This cutie’s creations are always dependable, never boring. And I am totally digging the new late-night hours!
P.S. All you Biwa crushers out there can relax, I finally got him for you. 
CAT @ Diner Deluxe (403) 276-5499
804 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 3J6
Why she’s dreamy:
I had trouble finding organic and locally-sourced restaurant meals in Canada, but this comely cook came through with all sorts of eggstastic goodness, a variety of Benedicts, maple fried oatmeal, and chocolate french toast with grilled bananas. Yum! Hands down, the best breakfast to be had in Calgary.
KENT and GABRIEL @ Davis Street Tavern (503) 505-5050
500 NW Davis Street, Portland, Oregon, 97209
Why they’re dreamy:
Classic comfort food with a tasteful twist. Oh who am I kidding? They make the grade for graciously serving me a juicy steak frites off-menu at lunchtime. I was really craving it, and I know they have one on the dinner menu sometimes, so I dared to ask. They kindly obliged, and for that alone they win my adoration. But don’t let my obvious bias sway you…Try the fancier-than-grandma-ever-made tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich the next time you’re feeling nostalgiac but can’t stomach the thought of Campbell’s. It’s just the right food at the right time.
BRETT @ Caffe Mingo (503) 226-4646
807 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97209
Why he’s dreamy:
Impeccable Italian fare. I never tire of singing this cutie’s praises- the place is comfy yet elegant, the service smooth and knowledgable, the food simply divine…You cannot go wrong with the house special penne with Chianti- and espresso-braised beef, or any of the pasta dishes really, but I go positively weak in the knees for the semolina gnocchi with salsa rosso. Save room for dessert- the chocolate budino (a kind of baked pudding) will send you stumbling into the street sublimely satisfied.
JASON @ Firehouse
Why he’s dreamy:
From the savory house-made lamb sausage and rotisserie chicken to crushably chewy-crusted Neapolitan pizzas, the boys at Firehouse really know how to make a girl swoon, and at scandalously reasonable prices. Plus, nearly every seat in the house has a view of at least one kitchen cutie…
~swoon~
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
I simply couldn’t stand it any longer. I’ve had the HUGEST chef crush on this culinary creatrix for ages now, but she’s a little camera shy. So finally I decided to just post a photo of her fantastic food and be done with it…
JANIS @ Tanuki (503) 241-7667
413 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97209
Why she’s dreamy:
Addictive Japanese “bar food” at startlingly reasonable prices. Fish so fresh, you expect it to flop over on your plate. Just look at this hamachi sashimi with true wasabi that she slyly presented in the shape of a lobster tail! I love a clever cook who can make us drool and smile. A recent uni onigiri blew my mind, and soup specials are not to be missed. The menu changes daily, so I recommend you decide on a dollar amount per person, sit back, and let her send out whatever the heck she feels like. Fair warning: this is food that begs for one sake after another, after another, after another…
ALEX @ Besaw’s (503) 228-2619
2301 NW Savier Street, Portland, Oregon, 97210
Why he’s dreamy:
The plate of bite-sized scones that appears on the breakfast table with coffee before I’ve even ordered is enough to make me adore this chipper chef crush. The scrambled eggs with brie, tomato, and scallions is a perfect savory start to the day, and you can’t go wrong with any of the sweet delights off the griddle. His morning morsels are so tasty, I can’t seem to make lunch or dinner, but I’m willing to bet the evening crew is just as crushable…