Top Chef Masters contestant, Naomi Pomeroy, drowned in an inner tubing accident. She was with her husband and a third person late Saturday, 7/13/2024, and was the only fatality.
Tragic accident:
Chef Pomeroy’s family confirmed her death to Portland Monthly. KEZI reported the accident occurred after inner tubes, which were tied together, snagged while floating down the Willamette River on the evening of July 13.”
Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall told Eater, “Efforts by the Benton County Oregon Sheriff’s Office to recover Pomeroy’s body are ongoing. Both yesterday and today, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office had staff … both Marine Patrol Deputies and Search and Rescue personnel, on the water, continuing the effort to recover the victim. Debris in river, currents, and ragged rocks, make it unsafe for divers to conduct any exploratory search under water. We will continue our efforts to recover the victim, to bring [closure] to the family and the community.”
Chef Naomi Pomeroy’s legacy:
Well-known for Top Chef Masters, Chef Naomi competed on Iron Chef America against Latin fusion “master” Jose Garces in late 2010. While Chef Jose Andres Garces won “by a spaghetti strand,” she bested him in the “taste” score.
Naomi Pomeroy was widely recognized as a new chef to watch by Food & Wine and Oprah. Nominated twice before, she was the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific Northwest in 2014. Chef Pomeroy rose to acclaim in Portland for her now-closed restaurants, Beast and Ripe Cooperative. She operated the frozen custard shop Cornet Custard with pastry chef Mika Paredes at the time of her untimely death.
Chef Pomeroy was slated to host a dinner series called Garden Party with restaurateur Luke Dirks on July 18th, 19th, 25th, and 26th.
