Gabriel Rucker
Sobriety Date: 10/31/13
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 much 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 became an overnight success, going on to win The Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year. He soon after teamed up with partner Andy Fortgang, a wine pro who grew up in some of New York’s top restaurants including Gramercy Tavern and Craft. In 2018, Rucker and Fortgang opened Canard next door to Le Pigeon, serving up unique wines and wild French bar food. Canard quickly became one of the most buzzed about openings nationwide, going on to win The Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year, Portland Monthly’s Restaurant of the Year.
Rucker released his first cookbook, Le Pigeon: Cooking at the Dirty Bird (Ten Speed Press), in September 2013. With a forward by chef Tom Colicchio, the cookbook is a collection of 150 recipes celebrating Rucker's high-low extremes in cooking, combining wild and refined all on the same plate. Rucker is one of Portland’s most respected and decorated chefs. He has earned two James Beard Awards for Rising Star Chef in 2011 and Best Chef Northwest in 2013, as well as nominations for Outstanding Chef from 2016-2020. He has been named a Food & Wine Best New Chef and a recipient of StarChefs Mentor Award.
Beyond the kitchen, Rucker and his wife, artist Hana Rucker, have three young kids and an urban farm in Portland, Oregon. Over the past 7 years, he has become a leading advocate within the restaurant industry for recovery, health and fitness. In 2019, Rucker, along with fellow Portland chef Gregory Gourdet, helped to open the Portland chapter of Ben’s Friends, a restaurant industry recovery group. Follow Rucker on Instagram @ruckergabriel and @fitchefpdx.