David, 32, came to Portland from Ketchikan, Alaska in 2000 and worked his way up through some of this city’s finest kitchens – including Café Azul, Southpark, Lauro and Vindalho. From the beginning, he has been recognized as one of Portland’s best young chefs, with Willamette Week honoring his work as Chef de Cuisine at Lauro Kitchen by naming it “Restaurant of the Year” in 2004. Moving on to Vindalho in 2005 he was featured in Gourmet Magazine, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. His commitment to the culinary arts also garnered accolades from the Oregonian’s Diner Issue in 2007, where he was called out as one of Portland’s “Rising Stars”. In 2008, David was crowned as the champion of “Iron Chef Portland”.
David’s second decade in Portland promises to be just as exciting. In addition to the reinvention of Genoa, one of Portland’s most significant culinary icons, this new role has given him the opportunity to highlight and assist the work of the non-profit organizations about whom he feels most passionate. David credits his first Share Our Strength’s “Taste of the Nation” nine years ago, for introducing him to the power of food-related philanthropic events to raise not just funds, but awareness and grass roots support.
Under his stewardship, Genoa and Accanto have become involved in 18 charity events in its first year, raising money and awareness for local and national organizations addressing issues such as hunger, healthcare, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and education for our community’s disenfranchised youth. Over the last year, there’s a good chance that if you’ve dined at either Genoa or Accanto, a percentage of your dining-dollars may have gone directly to those in our community in need.
Some of the organizations that Genoa has supported are the Cascade AIDS Project, Virginia Garcia Foundation, Portland Farmers Market SNAP Program, Oregon Food Bank, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Sisters of the Road Inc., Impact NW, Urban Opportunities, p;ear foundation, Stand For Children, the Michelle Obama “Chefs Moves to Schools” program, Our House, Growing Gardens, 10/10/10 Chef Face-Off for Leukemia & Lymphoma, and the Classic Wines Auction’s involvement with New Avenues for Youth, Metro Family Services, Friends of Children, Trillium Family Services and the YWCA of Clark County.
Join us as we thank our tireless leader David Anderson!!!
