Naomi Pomeroy, certainly one of America’s most revered cooks and a veteran of actuality tv, died final weekend after an internal tube accident in Oregon’s Willamette River.
She is 49 years outdated.
Authorities are nonetheless looking for Pomeroy’s physique, in keeping with a information launch from the Benton County Sheriff’s Workplace.
The deadly incident occurred on July 13 round 8:25 p.m. when Pomeroy was strapped to a paddleboard whereas her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, and a 3rd People are on tubes which might be mounted collectively.
The official doc states that when the group encountered difficult water close to the 132-mile stretch of river in Corvallis, Oregon, Pomeroy “was dragged underwater and was unable to flee because of the leash of the paddle board.”
The Corvallis Hearth Division arrived on scene to seek out Webster and a 3rd particular person safely on shore. However that was not the case with Pomeroy.
Pomeroy appeared on Iron Chef and High Chef Masters Season 3, the place he completed fourth. She subsequently served as a visitor choose on seasons 10, 15 and 18 of High Chef.
“The Bravo and High Chef households ship their heartfelt condolences to the household and pals of chef Naomi Pomeroy,” the community introduced in a message shared on Twitter.
“Naomi is a powerful chef who has left an indelible mark on the culinary world.”
“I’m dedicated to discovering Naomi and bringing her house to her household and family members,” Sheriff Van Arsdall mentioned Tuesday night time.
The Bravo and High Chef households prolong our honest condolences to the household and pals of Chef Naomi Pomeroy. Naomi is a robust chef who has left an indelible mark on the culinary world.
— Bravo High Chef (@BravoTopChef) July 16, 2024
Officers confirmed this week that rescuers have to date searched elements of the 187-mile-long river utilizing sonar, underwater cameras and drones, however giant quantities of particles have made the search tough.
Earlier than his tragic dying, Pomeroy opened his first restaurant, Beast, in Portland in 2007 and have become a widely known determine within the Oregon culinary scene.
Two years later, she was named certainly one of Meals & Wine’s Finest New Cooks.
The Bravo alum opened a cocktail bar known as Expatriate in Portland together with her husband in 2013, and the subsequent 12 months she gained a James Beard Award for Finest Chef within the Northwest and Pacific Area.
The Beast closed in 2020 and Pomeroy transformed the area right into a market and bistro known as Ripe Cooperative, which closed in 2022.
She opened Cornet Custard, an ice cream store, in Could and plans to open a French restaurant subsequent door.
High Chef Masters contestant and writer Mary Sue Milliken shared a touching social publish after studying of Pomeroy’s sudden passing, writing on-line:
“We’re devastated to be taught that we now have tragically misplaced the extremely gifted chef Naomi Pomeroy. She and I bonded over the cooking challenges of Season 3 of High Chef Masters…
“My coronary heart goes out to Kyle, August and all her expensive pals.”