Today we sat down with Chef Gordon Naccarato, a native Tacoma son who found fame in LA and Aspen and then returned to Tacoma to open several successful Tacoma restaurants with partners including Pacific Grill, Smoke + Cedar, and Shake Shake Shake. Gordon is food famous outside of Tacoma- in addition to being noted as one of the “10 best chefs” by Food & Wine Magazine for many years his restaurant, GORDON’S, in Aspen, Colorado, was considered the “Best Place to eat Between the Coasts.” (NY TIMES)
Gordon with Governor Jay Inslee at Smoke + Cedar
Gordon tells us his story of how he went from being a law student to line cook and eventually being a chef to the stars. Gordon shares his insights into the challenges of opening and running a restaurant today- and what it takes to make a restaurant successful in Tacoma and beyond.
Show Notes:
Pacific Grill – Gordon’s first restaurant in Downtown Tacoma
Smoke + Cedar – Gordon’s newest restaurant at Allenmore Golf Course in Central Tacoma
Shake Shake Shake – Gordon’s brother’s restaurant
Gordon’s Awards:
.
Check out other episodes of the Move to Tacoma Podcast:
001 – Commute Hacks with Justin Camarata