Chef Vitaly Paley

VITALY PALEY

Chef/Restauranteur/Cookbook author/Culinary Ambassador at Blue Ocean Mariculture

Critically acclaimed chef, accomplished restaurateur, and noted cookbook author, Vitaly Paley has cemented himself as both a leader and a trailblazer in the American culinary scene. Through his award-winning food, creativity, and deep-rooted passion, it’s no wonder he is referred to as “The Dean of Chefs,” by the Portland, Oregon food community.

With over 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and 27 years of being a chef proprietor, a 2005 James Beard Award winner for “Best Chef Pacific Northwest and Hawaii,” an April 2011 winning battle on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”, and appearance as guest chef judge on Top Chef season 18 under his belt, the Belarus-born and French-trained chef explores the historical significance of food and his heritage through diligent research.

“We’re always out there, putting our heart and soul on the plate,” said Vitaly on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Think Out Loud. Vitaly has been instrumental in defining regional Northwest cuisine and is well-known for his clean preparations of local, sustainably grown ingredients to produce seasonal, perfectly executed dishes.

Born in the former Soviet Union, food always played a special role in Vitaly’s life. He was raised on meals prepared by his grandmother in and atop of the fireplace, made with fresh, farm grown ingredients – tomatoes and strawberries straight from the garden, milk from the weekly delivery, and handmade cheese. Vitaly and his parents immigrated to the United States at the age of thirteen in the late 1970s for a chance at a better life and more opportunity.

The artist-like touch Vitaly brings to cooking, stems from his extensive training as a concert pianist. After attending The Julliard School, Vitaly decided to shift his focus away from music to food. He landed at World Yacht Cruises where he met French Master Chef Michele Bordeaux who encouraged him to continue his culinary education. Vitaly then earned a Grand Diploma from the French Culinary Institute.

In 1995, after working at a two-star Michelin restaurant in France, Vitaly and his wife Kimberly returned to their home in New York City. Shortly thereafter, the Paley’s moved to Portland, Oregon and opened Paley’s Place Bistro & Bar. The critically acclaimed restaurant was located within Portland’s Northwest district and prided itself on elegant fare that showcased local, sustainably produced food with French influence. Vitaly and Kimberly published a cookbook in 2008, The Paley’s Place Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from the Pacific Northwest (Ten Speed Press). Well-matched wine pairings, evocative photography and features on local farmers round out the book, which has received both national and local media recognition.

In 2012, Vitaly and Kimberly opened Imperial, centered around an impressive wood-fired grill and rotisserie that incorporated use of native hard and fruitwoods. “Day in, day out, Vitaly Paley's restaurant on the bottom floor of downtown's Hotel Lucia is a wood-fired, scratch-made machine that turns out a greater volume of sheer luxury than any other restaurant in Portland,” Willamette Week noted in their 2016 Best Restaurants guide as they named Imperial the restaurant of the year 2016. Imperial was also named Sunset Magazine’s Best Hotel Restaurant in the West in 2016, one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Bars in America 2014, and one of 2013’s Top 11 Barbecue and Grill Restaurants by the Huffington Post’s Steve Raichlen.

Always creating, in 2014 Vitaly returned to his childhood roots and launched his Russian pop-up, DaNet, illustrating pre-Soviet Russian cuisine.

The popular monthly pop-up dinners contributed to Portland Monthly’s Restaurant Critic Karen Brooks naming Russian the “Cuisine of the Year.” And in 2017, Vitaly opened The Crown, a bar serving up New York style pizzas inspired by his adoration for the city. The Crown has been named one of the best downtown restaurants, and restaurant openings of the year by The Oregonian. Vitaly was nominated as a 2012 and 2013 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Outstanding Chef and was named the 2011 StarChefs.com Portland Rising Stars "Chef Mentor of the Year” exemplifying his dedication to giving back to the culinary community.

He was active in industry events including Feast Portland, dinners for the James Beard Foundation, the International Pinot Noir Celebration, and International Association of Culinary Professionals while also devoting time to countless national, regional, and Portland-based charity events. Vitaly Paley and his restaurants have earned recognition over the years in national media including Food & Wine “Empire Builders” in 2012, Saveur Magazine’s “Top 100,” The New York Times, appearing on The Martha Stewart Show, Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, GQ, Oprah Magazine, USA Today and Travel & Leisure as well as local support and accolades from local media outlets such as The Oregonian, Willamette Week, and Portland Monthly’s “Chef of the Year” in 2012.

In October 2016, Vitaly, along with his wife/partner, Kimberly Paley, opened Headwaters inside the historic Heathman Hotel. He was the third James Beard winning chef to take the helm of the property. The menu is a showcase of ingredients from Oregon’s diverse bounty. Vitaly paid homage to the rich history of the location by reviving the iconic tea court, adding a Russian flare that speaks to his own heritage. Digging deep into the past to develop the Russian tea menu, “what better way to remember your past than through food...the flashbacks keep rolling in, it’s like I’m standing next to my grandmother in the kitchen making a dish after dish,” Vitaly noted on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Think Out Loud. One of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the year, Headwaters has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Sunset Magazine, Bon Appetit Magazine, The Oregonian, and Portland Monthly Magazine.

In November of 2018 Vitaly and Kimberly opened their last restaurant, Rosa Rosa at The Hotel Dossier to critical acclaim. It was named after Vitaly’s grandmother and explored cuisines of Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

In early 2020, as the Paleys celebrated 25th anniversary of Paley’s Place, global pandemic changed their world. Through many adaptations, the Paleys decided to close their downtown restaurants and focus entirely on Paley’s Place. After a whirlwind year, offering rotating menus of seasonal fair for dine-in and takeaway to their steadfast community of supporters and friends, Vitaly and Kimberly decided to close Paley’s Place in November of 2021, ending things on a high note. Paley’s Place championed local purveyors, fostered culinary talent and offered warm hospitality for 27 years. It will be missed.

Vitaly Paley bridges the gap between culinary generations, providing one-on-one mentorship for many of the country’s rising star chefs. He continues to redefine regional and international cuisine, cultivate talent and push boundaries.

Vitaly and Kimberly have relocated to the Big Island of Hawaii and have embraced their new life on this magical island.

Follow Vitaly Paley on Facebook, Instagram @vit0bike and Twitter @ChefVitalyPaley

Links to most notable articles and videos.

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2021/11/paleys-place-last-days-closed-portland

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2015/07/vitaly-paley-ressurects-the-cuisine-of-old-russia-at-danet

https://www.mashed.com/452739/the-untold-truth-of-vitaly-paley/

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2021/11/paleys-place-last-days-closed-portland

https://www.eater.com/2018/10/18/17979514/weed-fed-pigs-pork-moto-perpetuo-farm-oregon

https://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/garces-vs-paley-0165319

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iM6cyWg0ZE positively ground fish

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xgen7cbpes6ikph/Vitaly%20Paley%20-%20Video.mp4?dl=0 IPNC cedar planked salmon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDJP6XoN8pU&t=125s Vitaly Paley top chef guest chef

Cooking Rabbit Chew Portland video

Chefs A’ Field Blueberry Muffin TV clip

Resolution-Conscious Dishes TV clip

Coast to Coast Seafood Dinner TV clip

Russian Tea TV clip

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAOpPMMhUkz/

Vitaly Paley on Google

https://info.bofish.com/chefpaley