Two Portland chefs have been nominated for the James Beard Foundation Awards, which were announced last week. Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon was nominated for Rising Star Chef of the Year, awarded to a young chef who "displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come."

Cathy Whims of Nostrana garnered a nomination for Best Chef in the Northwest. She is the only Portland contender in a field dominated by Seattle chefs.

"It's a little strange," Whims tells the Mercury, "because it seems like we have quite a happening food town here."

Does she think she'll bring the award home to Portland? "I don't know," she laughs, mentioning fellow nominee Joseba Jiménez de Jiménez of Seattle's the Harvest Vine. "He's cooked for the King of Spain."