Feast On Scrumptious Oregon Haitian Food That Has Won Several Awards
By Will Suphan|Published September 01, 2023
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Will Suphan
Author
Will has been living in Arizona off and on for 30+ years in the Phoenix Metro and Tucson areas. He has traveled all over the state as well as having lived all over the Southwest. He's been writing for OnlyInYourState for one year and has previously written for Digital Journal. Will has a passion for travel and writing and combining the two is what he loves most. He loves solo international travel and has been to Thailand, France, Japan, and Cambodia.
Oregon has long been a mecca for aspiring and expert chefs, culinary creativity, leanings toward fresh, quality ingredients, and a deep love of the art of cooking. We even have gourmet donuts! In 2023, the city of Portland had more restaurants winning James Beard Awards than any other city in the country. Let’s take a look at the winner of the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant — Kann in Portland, Oregon.
Hiding in a nondescript brick building in downtown Portland is an exquisite award-winning restaurant that is the Best New Restaurant in the nation. It all began when Chef Gregory Gourdet started a pop-up restaurant in 2018 that won the Restaurant Wars challenge on the show "Top Chef All-Stars."
After a couple more pop-up events, Kann opened in 2022 and right away was awarded Best New Restaurant by Eater, and The New York Times and Esquire called it the #1 Best New Restaurant in America. The Oregonian and Portland Monthly gave it accolades as the restaurant of the year. Then, it won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant.
Each dish is a display of simplicity, elegance, style, and color, with rich Haitian flavors bursting on the tongue. Complex spices dance with the natural flavors of each ingredient and create a full sensory experience.
This side dish of Haitian black mushroom rice and lima beans, called Diri Ak Djon Djons, looks simple and rustic, yet brings the rich flavors of Haiti into the heart of Portland. It is as satisfying as any main dish.
Crispy Rockfish, with creamy pikliz remoulade and enhanced with fresh cilantro and edible flower petals, is a work of art and has a perfect balance of crispy textures on the outside while the interior melts in your mouth.
Enjoy the earthy and vibrant flavors of Peanut Creamed Greens with collards, spiced tomato, peanuts, and coconut cream, a Glazed Duck breast and leg with cane syrup, pineapple, and tamarind, and Octopus with crunchy nut and spiced chili oil.
The desserts are every bit as flavorful and tantalizing as the rest of the menu. This Kafe Chokola is a glazed chocolate mousse with hazelnut brittle and Haitian coffee ice cream. Is your mouth watering yet? Time to book a reservation, I think!
Have you ever had the pleasure of eating at Kann in Portland, Oregon? Tell us all about your experience in the comments. I’d say it’s time to book a stay at any of these unique accommodations in Portland.
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