Announcing the 2013 Eater Awards for Portland

It is time now — drumroll, trumpets, gongs — to announce the winners of the 2013 Eater Awards. In over a dozen categories in 27 cities, the winners comprise a diverse group of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters in the continent that have defined this year in dining. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them. So, without further ado — actually, a few quick pre-ambling thoughts...

To recap, Eater's local editors in 27 cities nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, and Stone Cold Stunner. Eater readers then voted to narrow the field to a final three in each category. From that final three, the Eater editorial team chose the winner. Our Eater National brain trust then got together to decide the national winners for those categories. In addition to these main stage winners, said Eater editorial team has named worthy winners in more specialized categories, for myriad notable achievements.

Nominees and winners alike will be feted at a party tonight in Manhattan. Those winners that couldn't make it should watch their mail for packages containing cans of Italian peeled tomatoes. And now, without further ado, the winners in PDX.

Click through for the full rundown of winners across the country on Eater National.

Eater Awards 2013

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Ava Gene's, Levant, Racion, Roe, Tasty N Alder
Finalists: Ava Gene's, Levant, Racion
Winner: Ava Gene's

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Jose Chesa (Ataula), Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene's), Trent Pierce (Roe, Block + Tackle), Will Preisch (Holdfast Dining), Courtney Sproule (din din Supper Club)
Finalists: Jose Chesa (Ataula), Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene's), Will Preisch (Holdfast Dining)
Winner: Jose Chesa

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Ataula, Boxer Ramen, Expatriate, La Taq, Multnomah Whiskey Library
Finalists: Ataula, Expatriate, Multnomah Whiskey Library
Winner: Multnomah Whiskey Library

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: Tommy Klus (Multnomah Whiskey Library), Blair Reynolds (Hale Pele), Chauncey Roach (Racion), Dave Shenaut (Rookery Bar), Kyle Webster (Expatriate)
Finalists: Tommy Klus (Multnomah Whiskey Library), Blair Reynolds (Hale Pele), Chauncey Roach (racion)
Winner: Blair Reynolds

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: Ava Gene's, The Fireside, Multnomah Whiskey Library, Old Salt Marketplace, Tarad
Finalists: Ava Gene's, Multnomah Whiskey Library, Tarad
Winner: Multnomah Whiskey Library

Empire Builder of the Year
Winner: Micah Camden (Boxer Ramen, Blue Star Donuts, Little Big Burger)

· All Coverage of the Eater Awards [-E-]