Few helped define the Portland food scene that would fuel the city’s glowing reputation for innovation and creativity the last two decades than Naomi Pomeroy, the celebrated chef, cookbook author and James Beard Award winner.

Pomeroy died July 13 in a tragic accident while floating on the Willamette River near her hometown of Corvallis. She was just 49.

On the latest Beat Check, Oregonian/OregonLive food critic Michael Russell and I talk about Pomery’s indelible impact on Portland and beyond.

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