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Kann

Portland

Innovative west coast Haitian from a decorated chef

One-of-a-kind talent: Gregory Gourdet opened Kann, a cherry on top of an already winning career for the chef, in 2022. His debut restaurant showcases Gourdet's tremendous skill and talent developed rising through the ranks in some of the best kitchens in Portland, including Departures Restaurant and Lounge. Not one to stick to one lane, Gourdet is also a Top Chef finalist and three-time James Beard Award-winner – one of the few of Haitian descent in the world.

On the pass: Warm sweet potato bread arrives with berbere-infused butter; a half-chicken arrives with an emulsion made from epis, a herb and aromatic-laden Haitian green seasoning, cashew-crowned. Battered okra here is a snappy, savoury affair. Unusually for fine dining establishments, the entire Haitian Caribbean-inspired menu is gluten and dairy-free too.

Portland premiere: The local scene is praised year-after-year for housing some of the country's best bakers, bartenders, and restaurants – in 2025, JinJu Patisserie took a step onto the national stage by being awarded the James Beard Outstanding Bakery award. Gourdet even went on to open subterranean cocktail bar Sousòl underneath Kann in 2023, named one of America's best bars by Esquire.

Coast to coast: Gourdet's taken his work outside Portland, too. In 2025 he launched five restaurants inside Printemps, a New York City department store. His allergen-friendly dining collective continues there with a French twist.

Magic beans: Gourdet is a longtime supporter of black-owned artisanal businesses, branching out himself in collaboration with coffee roaster Deadstock to launch his own Haitian coffee, available by the cup or by the bag at Kann.

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