On the Ground @ James Beard Awards

Image of Le Bernadin courtesy Gandhu & Sarah via Flickr

In addition to live-Tweeting the James Beard Awards (omg, they're being handed out in New York right now), Eater's intrepid Christian DeBenedetti caught up with some of Portland's chefs right before they hit the red carpet.

Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon:
"[I'm feeling] good. Nervous. Its my third time. It's a tough competition, being up against the whole country." [BREAKING... Rucker has unfortch lost out on the Rising Star Chef award, to Timothy Hollingsworth.]

But Rucker, in NYC since Sunday, reports "having a good time," including a stop at "Colicchio's for some sushi." How does Portland's food scene compare with New York's? "Different. Both equally great but different." DeBenedetti pushes: But Portland's got to have an edge somewhere, right? "Yeah," Rucker says. "It's a little dirtier."

Naomi Pomeroy, Beast:
"Going in I feel so great. I feel honored to to be here. It's not about winning or losing. Being invited is a win." And how did she and her entourage prepare for the big evening? "We had a hungover brunch at Prune, drank some good rose, and got dressed at Phillip Glass's apartment."

Cathy Whims, Nostrana:
"I thought about the possibility that I might win and what I would say. I worked on that. And I had an amazing lunch at Le Bernardin. It was incredibly relaxing. And I got dressed in the apartment of one of the best friends of my parents on Central Park South, and she helped style me." On PDX's chances to represent, Whims, as always, plays it graciously. "I think its fantastic there's so many of us!"
· All previous James Beard coverage [Eater PDX]