Gossip should have no friends

[April 23rd, 2008]

• DOUBLE DUTY: Chef Ned Elliott , formerly of Genoa, told WW last Monday he’s accepted a position as executive chef for both restaurants at the Nines , the swanky hotel currently under construction atop Macy’s in downtown Portland. Sage Hospitality Resources of Denver will open the 90-seat Urban Farmer Portland’s Steakhouse , Elliott says, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service for the hotel. The natural meats and farm-sourced veggies focused eatery will open in early fall. The second restaurant he’ll oversee on the property will be Departure , a rooftop eatery designed by Jeff Kovel. Actually, Sage has got a triple threat going: The restaurant group’s spokesperson also confirmed plans to open another restaurant in Portland in 2009 called The Original . It’ll be in another new hotel also developed by the group, located at 300 SW 6th Ave . Busy, busy.

• SECOND TIME’S THE CHARM: Naomi Pomeroy , chef-owner of Beast restaurant, says she’s been chosen by Bon Appetit magazine as one of the top six female chefs in the country under 35 . The issue is slated to go to print in September. Pomeroy also announced last Friday that her other restaurant, D.O.C. , also owned by Micah Camden and Dayna McErlean, will start serving family-style Italian dinners at 5419 NE 30th Ave. on June 1. Greg Perrault , a PDX newcomer via Napa Valley, will be at the helm as chef. Pomeroy says that a familiar face from her Ripe days will run the dining room, which will be entered by walking through the kitchen.

• BOW WOW: That’s weird: Portland Center Stage just announced that the Sunday, April 27, final dress rehearsal for The Little Dog Laughed will be a fundraiser for Basic Rights Oregon—$50 buys you a ticket plus a chance to meet BRO’s new executive director, Jeana Frazzini, at a pre-performance reception. While it’s odd enough to turn a rehearsal into a fundraiser, the show, about an up-and-coming Hollywood star whose agent struggles to keep him in the closet, isn’t your usual banquet fare—think nude dude makeout sessions, in the round. Tickets can be purchased at the PCS box office. Can’t make it Sunday? Ten percent of ticket sales in May go to the Q Center.

• WHEELIE GOOD: It was cold. It was wet. It was hard to find. But still, more than 800 hungry Portlanders made it to WW’s first Eat Mobile event. The party celebrated 11 of P-town’s best food carts at the On Air warehouse under the east end of the Fremont Bridge last Saturday, April 19. The event, backed by sponsors New Seasons and BridgePort Brewing, raised $3,989 for local nonprofit Mercy Corps and Hacienda Community Development Corporation. Ravenous diners stuffed their faces until the food nearly ran out by 7:30 pm (thanks for not rioting). No prob; the lines just got longer for the carts that still had vittles, with diners dancing in line to Jackstraw’s bluegrass pickin’ as they waited for an Altengartz bratwurst or a scoop of smoked-salmon ice cream from Junior Ambassadors. Don’t worry, we’ll order more food for Eat Mobile 2009.