May 2, 2021
'Top Chef' Alum Gregory Gourdet to Release New Cookbook
Matthew Wexler READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Gregory Gourdet, currently appearing as a part of a scaled-up panel of judges on this season's "Top Chef Portland," has something else cooking. The out and sober chef's first book, "Everyone's Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health," releases May 11 and features 200 recipes focused on what the author calls "superfoods."
Gourdet was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens. He has drawn upon multicultural influences throughout his career, including his Haitian roots, culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America, and mentorship from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, under whom he trained for almost seven years.
In Portland, Gourdet helmed the Pan-Asian restaurant Departures for nearly a decade, earning a James Beard Award nominee, followed by two "Top Chef" appearances as a competitor. Gourdet is returning to his roots to open the wood-fired Haitian restaurant Kann in 2022.
The restaurant, initially planned to open pre-pandemic, was put on hold, during which time Gourdet faced accusations of employee inequities and harassment at his restaurants, reports The New York Times. He denies those allegations but recognizes the need for system change within the industry, telling the Times, "The pandemic has really ravaged us as a community, and the reckoning has really ravaged us. I'm here to see it get rebuilt."
Gourdet's love for Portland is evident on "Top Chef," as he and other of the show's chef alumni have been contributing their culinary thoughts to the judges' panel, including "Top Chef All Stars: LA" winner Melissa King, who also uses her platform to advocate for LGBTQ visibility.
Matthew Wexler is EDGE's Senior Editor, Features & Branded Content. More of his writing can be found at www.wexlerwrites.com. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @wexlerwrites.
