Scotch Lodge, Nodoguro win James Beard honors

Portland restaurants and bars had a strong showing at the James Beard Awards in Chicago Monday, bringing home two of the culinary world's most prestigious honors.

Why it matters: Portland has been on a hot streak over the last few years, picking up big wins in heavy-hitter categories and cementing us as an innovative food city.

Driving the news: Scotch Lodge, the Central Eastside whisky-focused cocktail bar, won Outstanding Bar.

Tommy Klus opened Scotch Lodge in 2019 because he wanted top-shelf spirits to sit on the table beside high-quality Pacific Northwest food — like fried Brie sticks, candied duck pappardelle and wagyu tartare.

"There was a little confusion early on about whether we were a restaurant or a bar," Klus told Axios last year. "We didn't feel like we wanted, or needed, to be either-or, but to celebrate both."

What they're saying: "Portland deserves the recognition that it's been getting lately," bartender Nathan Beals told Axios as the team celebrated their win.

"This is an amazing city with amazing food, amazing bars, and people are recognizing that. That's awesome."

Ryan Roadhouse, chef-owner of Nodoguro, shows off his new hardware at the James Beard Awards in Chicago on Monday. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios

Ryan Roadhouse, chef-owner of Japanese fine dining restaurant Nodoguro, also took home an award for Best Chef — Northwest and Pacific.

Roadhouse had been nominated nine times in the category in the past, and finally secured the award just one year after relocating his reservation-only restaurant downtown.

Catch up quick: Nodoguro has been known and celebrated locally for its Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine since it opened in 2014 because of Roadhouse's keen ability to bend the rules.

Roadhouse told Axios last year that he views his 20-plus course tasting menu as theatrical acts — introducing diners to a concept, like landscapes, and then advancing the story through shifting textures, flavors, temperatures and settings as they move through the space.

What he's saying: "I don't think we could have done this sort of restaurant, created this thing, anywhere else but Portland," Roadhouse told Axios after his win.

Fun fact: The James Beard Foundation, which hosts the ceremony, is named in honor of the iconic Portland-born food writer and chef.

Between the lines: Win or not, being named a finalist is an achievement on its own.

Thomas Pisha-Duffly, the Malaysian-born chef-owner of Hollywood's Gado Gado, was also up for Best Chef after being previously nominated three times.

Find a full list of James Beard Award winners here.