Gregory Gourdet knows how to make your taste buds sing. You don’t get three James Beard awards — think the Academy Awards for culinary arts — without having some serious culinary chops. Born in New York City to Haitian immigrants, Gourdet found his passion for cooking in college at University of Montana. After graduation, he enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America. A fateful mentorship under chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten led him to an executive chef position and a culinary director role at Departure Restaurant and Lounge in Portland in 2009. Gourdet’s talents helped him secure a spot on Bravo’s Top Chef season 12 in 2015 and Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. in 2020 — he was a finalist both times. In between the two Top Chef shows, Gourdet decided to take a chance on himself, shifting his focus to releasing his national bestseller, Everyone's Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health in 2019. In 2022, he opened his own restaurant Kann in Portland to critical acclaim, with a menu that is inspired by his Haitian heritage. Kann has earned him a James Beard Award in 2022, 2023, and most recently in 2025. This year Gourdet took on the role of culinary director at Printemps — the French department store which opened in his hometown of New York City — bringing his culinary journey full circle as he continues to innovate in the restaurant industry.