Chef Crush

PATRICK, JACKSON, & CHRIS @ Olea (503) 274-0800
1338 NW Hoyt, Portland, Oregon, 97209

Why they’re dreamy:
Uber cutie Jackson has been on our radar for a while now, but all three of these crush-worthy cooks won our hearts recently with a meal left to their whims. The celeriac soup with fresh crab salad on a parmesan cheese crisp made us swoon, while the chicken tagine, not something we would normally ever order for ourselves, surprised with new flavor combinations in every bite- juicy, crispy-skinned chicken, sweet raisins, crunchy almonds, tangy capers…Topped off with a not-too-sweet date coffee cake with almond mascarpone, praline pecans, and caramel sauce, the meal was like the perfect prom date- comfortingly familiar but never boring, with more than a few tasty surprises tucked up its tux sleeves, errr, chef’s whites.

BEN & JASON @ Ned Ludd (503 288-6900
3925 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 97212

Why they’re dreamy:
We fall hard for their tasty charcuterie and cheese plates, and don’t get us started on the black radish with butter and sea salt starter. The fromage blanc toast is a surprisingly sassy addition to the onion soup, and the sole with buttery leeks, escarole, and capers made us positively blush. What’s not to like about a place with adorable cooks feeding us such tantalizing tidbits?

BELTAINE, JB, and CULLEN @ Cava (503) 206-8615
5339 SE Foster Road, Portland, Oregon, 97206

Why they’re dreamy:
Semolina gnocchi with tomato sauce and red pepper Pecorino gives us the warm fuzzies, like the Italian nonna we never had. And of course we always swoon for the tasty steak frites. A sexy drink menu and the inviting, cozy interior make this a perfect destination for dates. That is, if you can tear your eyes off the cuties in the kitchen…

MARTHA @ Roux (503) 285-1200
1700 N. Killingsworth Street, Portland, Oregon, 97217

Why she’s dreamy:
Tasty, rib-sticking Sunday brunches with a Southern flair that you can actually eat without having to stand in line for an hour. She had us at “beignets” but the $25 four-course breakfast is a feast if your appetite allows. And of course there are the delicous dinners we’ve already crushed on. A talented woman in charge of the kitchen? Yummy.

ERIC @ The Victory (503) 236-8755
3652 SE Division Street, Portland, Oregon, 97202

Why he’s dreamy:
Yummy hushpuppies are enough to win this cutie a place in our hearts, but we can’t leave out the rest of this fancy bar food. From baked spaetzle with gruyere and crispy shallots, to Belgian-style mussels with fennel, citrus and ale, the small but expertly executed menu is the perfect companion to the rosy-cheek-making drinks. The Victory is a comfy, cozy place to while away a winter’s evening, especially with eye candy this tasty!

NICK @ Bunk Sandwiches
621 SE Morrison Street, Portland, Oregon, 97214

Why he’s dreamy:
Sandwiches featuring melt-in-your-mouth pork belly, roast beef with carmelized sweet onions and horseradish, or classic grilled cheese. Plus unexpected sides like red beans and rice or roasted brussel sprouts. Get there before the lunch rush or be prepared to stand in a line out the door. With cutie chefboys like Nick making tasty bread-bookended morsels like these, it’s worth the wait.

JAMES @ Venue (303) 477-0477
3609 W. 32nd Avenue, Denver, Colorado, 80211

Why he’s dreamy:
Well, we can’t say exactly since we’ve never eaten his food, but James was nominated by an intrepid ChefCrusher out there, and we think he’s pretty darn cute. We’ll let his menu speak for him…

Mixed Greens
walnuts, apples, goat cheese, cider vinaigrette

Beet Salad
greens, goat cheese, pistachio, honey vinaigrette

Squash Soup
candied pepitas, brown sugar, clove

Pork Stew
pork shoulder, potato, bacon, thyme

Cheese
St. Kilian’s cheeses, spiced pecans, marmalade

Mussels
caramelized fennel, tomato, tarragon

Charcuterie
weekly variation, accompaniments

Pasta Agnolotti
brie, roast tomato, mushroom, leeks, white bean puree

Scallop
buttered leek risotto, frisee, honey vinaigrette

Barramundi
white beans, tomato, olive, smoked paprika

Chicken
squash, potato, celery root, pearl onion, thyme

Flat Iron
potato confit, mushroom, green bean, celery root

Pork Belly
hash, squash, cardamom apples, maple pork jus

Hello ChefCrushers! We’re long overdue for a little update and some holiday cheer, aren’t we? Forgive us for being AWOL for so long, but your Crush Girls actually do have day jobs. And of course we just had the mother of all eating holidays. Speaking of, here’s hoping you enjoyed your turkey and may your Christmas ham be plump and juicy. Both of us have been too busy to eat out as often as we’d like, but rest assured we do have a few cuties on the way, so keep your eyes peeled. As always, if you know of a dreamy chef whose food makes you swoon, please let us know!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

~The Crush Girls

LARRY @ Nostrana (503) 234-2427
1401 SE Morrison, Portland, Oregon, 97214

Why he’s dreamy:
Rustic and simple yet never boring Italian comfort food like Sunday roast lamb with mashed potatoes Bolognese and brussels sprouts with butter and bread crumbs, or pappardelle with chicken ragu and Castelveltrano olives. And let’s not forget those drippingly luscious pizzas from the wood-fired oven, crispy, thin-crusted treats that are totally worth crushing any day of the week!

ELI @ @ Castagna (503) 231-9959
1758 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, Oregon, 97214

Why he’s dreamy:
We’re partial to the coquettish corn soup garnished with chanterelle mushrooms and creme fraiche as a starter, but you basically can’t go wrong with anything on this menu, especially the highbrow steak bordelaise with shoestring potatoes. What is it with tattooed, shaved-head studlies being such fantastic chefs? Plus, that fiscally fabulous three course meal for $30 makes us swoon every time.