Chef Cathy Whims is an icon in the Portland food scene. She studied with Marcella Hazan and the very founder of Slow Food, Carlo Petrini, was present at the inauguration of one of her restaurants, Nostrana.

She is a six-time James Beard “Best Chef: Pacific Northwest” finalist and winner of the coveted 2011 “Leccio d’Oro Osteria Prize” instituted by the Brunello Consortium of Montalcino. Additionally, she is one of two Oregon chefs who are part of the White House Diplomatic Corps of Chefs and an activist in the GMO labeling campaign.