Beaker & Flask's Ben Bettinger Wins Portland Chef Face-Off

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Photography by Allison Jones

Talk about swanktastic. Last night's 10-10-10 Portland Chef Face-Off brought out a parade of local VIPs, tuxes, and little black dresses to the Pearl, as 10 local chefs — David Anderson (Genoa), Sarah Schafer (Irving Street Kitchen), Andrew Garrett (Cafe Nell), Chris Carriker (Gilt Club), Greg Gourdet (Departure), Ben Bettinger (Beaker & Flask), Leather Storrs (Noble Rot), Cameron Addy (Belly), Lacey-Jane Miller (Eleni’s Philoxenia), and Rick Widmayer (Screen Door) — each presented bites in their quest to take home the the Face-Off's (Tiffany's!) crystal cup of love.
For some reason, the organizers-that-be let Eater through the door, where we hit the open bar then helped crown the Judge's Choice winner: Ben Bettinger of Beaker & Flask, who served up pork belly with squash and slaw (David Anderson's duck confit pasta came in a very close second). The public vote (and a second crystal cup) went to Rick Widmeyer's spicy meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Then a bunch of rich people bid on a ton of auction items (raising a truly amazing $20k for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.) Then Vanessa Carlton performed. It was that kinda night.
· 10-10-10 Portland Chef Face-Off [Official site]