Episode description
Episode description
Gabriel + Cliff:
Gabriel Rucker, Executive Chef and Co-Owner, Le Pigeon and Canard
Two-time James Beard Award winning Chef Gabriel Rucker is Executive Chef and Co-owner of
Le Pigeon and Canard in Portland, Oregon. Over the years, his highly original, off the cuff
creativity and recipe-free approach to cooking has gained him national acclaim. A native of
Napa, California, when school no longer piqued his interest, Rucker moved to the kitchen. In
2003 he moved to Portland and landed a coveted job at Chef Vitaly Paley’s home to Northwest cooking, Paley’s Place. In June of 2006, Rucker opened Le Pigeon, which quickly went on to win The Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year.
One of Portland’s most respected and decorated chefs, Rucker has earned two James Beard
awards for Rising Star Chef in 2011 and Best Chef Northwest in 2013. He has been named a
Food & Wine Best New Chef and a recipient of StarChefs Mentor Award.
Beyond the kitchen, Rucker has become a leading advocate within the restaurant industry for
recovery, health and fitness. In 2019 he helped to open the Portland chapter of Ben’s Friends, a restaurant industry recovery group. He also leads a weekly running and walking club
@birddogrunclub. Follow Rucker on Instagram @ruckergabriel.
Meet Worry Not!’s creator, Cliffton. Cliff’s intentional mission in the development and implementation of Worry Not! is to craft menus that are far more inclusive, giving the option for everyone to enjoy the communal drinking & dining experience.
Before moving to Portland in 2017 Cliff managed the Los Angeles mainstay, Wurstkuche. From there, he served as the General Manager at the iconic Baco Mercat under the guidance of James Beard nominated & Michelin Star awarded chef, Josef Cenento. He began his Portland industry journey as the General Manager of the legendary Pok Pok, and has proudly run the bar programs at both Jacqueline & Coopers Hall. He currently spends his working hours “putting things into cups” at Canard while heading the NA program at Le Pigeon.
Cliff’s alcohol-free journey began April 1st, 2023, initially as a “Sober April” to re-evaluate his relationship with alcohol. It quickly became clear that alcohol was no longer part of his life plan – the benefits of living alcohol free far outweighed the indulgence of imbibing. With products such as Wilderon, All the Bitters, and Joyus emerging in the market, Cliff envisions a future where ordering a NA modern classic will be commonplace.
Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to yellowbirdfs.com to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.
Founded in 2016, the mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.