For all of the incredible food in the Pacific Northwest, you won’t find a single Michelin star restaurant — at least not on our side of the border. While Vancouver, BC has a dozen honorees, Seattle isn’t even listed on the famed French dining guide (which actually follows a pay-to-play model).
Portland isn’t included either, but it is home to one restaurant where over the next several months, you can enjoy a meal prepared by more than a few kitchen masters with the radiant distinction already pinned to their white jackets.
Cafe Rowan Presents: A Culinary Harmony is a dinner series that will bring renowned chefs from across the country — 14 of whom have earned a Michelin star — from November to May, to collaborate with their host, Chef Spencer Ivankoe.
At his contemporary Northwest eatery, Ivankoe leans into hyperlocal ingredients, delicious coffee, and fresh seafood to craft an elevated brunch menu; everything is artfully prepared, from the succulent Maine lobster benedict to the avocado toast. When his special guests come to town, you can expect one-of-a-kind dishes that blend their unique backgrounds.
Chef Spencer Ivankoe (center) poses with Flor Wines’ Sergio Licea (left) and Chef Matt Lightner.
“A Culinary Harmony is about more than just food — it’s about connection,” says Ivankoe. “We’re uniting voices from kitchens across the country at one table in Portland, offering our guests the chance to experience flavors, techniques, and perspectives that might otherwise be out of reach.”
Kicking off the two-night residencies will be Chef Chris Cipollone (Nov. 7-8), who earned his star at Francie in New York City, known for astounding Mediterranean-style plates. On Dec. 6-7, Chef Matt Lightner, formerly of ōkta in McMinnville and Atera in NYC, will make his appearance, and Feb. 28-March 1, Chef Andrew Zimmerman, the driving force behind Chicago’s Sepia and Proxi restaurants, will take the spotlight. Chef Brandon Rice, a rising star on San Francisco’s scene with Ernest, will close out the line-up May 8-9.
Pricing for all 15 of the two-night events will vary by seating: $125/person for dining room seats, $145/person for chef counter seats, and $115/person if you purchase a seat at all dinners in the series. Guests will have the option to add on wine pairings for $65 and non-alcoholic pairings for $35. Reservations are now open.
Restaurants aren’t the only listings in the Michelin guide, which was started by the tire company to encourage people to take road trips. Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana earned Three Michelin Keys for the second year, an honor bestowed upon the most outstanding hotels in the world.