Body of award-winning chef is recovered after she tragically drowned in Oregon river

The assemblage of award-winning cook Naomi Pomeroy has been recovered aft she drowned successful an Oregon river pursuing an mishap astatine nan weekend. 

Pomeroy, 49, died connected Saturday evening aft nan group she was soul tubing pinch sewage caught connected a branch successful nan water, nan sheriff's agency said. 

Pomeroy, who had not been wearing a life overgarment astatine nan time, was pulled nether nan h2o and trapped by a paddle committee leash attached to her, Captain Chris Duffitt said.

Their trio had been riding connected 2 soul tubes and a paddle committee that they had tied together erstwhile it abruptly deed a nan partially submerged branch. 

All 3 were thrown into nan fast-flowing h2o pinch Pomeroy pulled nether by nan current.

Her hubby Kyle Linden Webster and nan friend resurfaced and were capable to aquatics to shore, but Pomeroy was obscurity to beryllium seen. 

On Wednesday morning, nan Benton County Sheriff's Office said it located her body  successful nan Willamette River betwixt Corvallis and Albany aft canoers saw it and called 911.

BCSO marine deputies recovered her assemblage a shallow conception of bedrock adjacent nan mediate of nan stream successful astir 1 to 2 feet of water. 

Authorities said they notified her family and released her assemblage to a ceremonial home.

Although rescue teams recovered her assemblage connected Saturday, they were incapable to retrieve her astatine nan clip because of nan beardown currents.

'Naomi was beautiful precocious successful her knowing of this cool thrust we're on,' hubby Webster told the New York Times. 'She was much astatine bid successful nan past six months than she ever was before. She said she had done everything she was put present to do.' 

Pomeroy, who is nan mother to a 23-year-old daughter, roseate to prominence successful nan Portland nutrient segment aft opening nan edifice Beast successful 2007. 

The edifice paved nan measurement for her to triumph a coveted James Beard grant for champion cook successful nan Northwest successful 2014.

The edifice closed during nan coronavirus pandemic, but Pomeroy had conscionable precocious opened a caller stiff custard shop, Cornet Custard, and was astir to unfastened up a caller bistro adjacent door. 

She was besides known for her quality connected cooking shows, including Top Chef Masters, and owned nan Portland cocktail barroom Expatriate pinch her husband.

Since Pomeroy's death, tributes person poured successful from chefs and awesome Oregon figures, including U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, whose territory includes overmuch of Portland.

'Naomi was not conscionable a fabulous cook and entrepreneur, but an astonishing quality being,' Blumenauer said successful a statement.

'Her effect went acold beyond Portland, helping found our activity and estimation for nutrient excellence. She will beryllium greatly missed.'

Blumenauer worked pinch Pomeroy to support restaurants during nan coronavirus pandemic.

Gary Okazaki, a instrumentality of Pomeroy's communal edifice called Beast which offered unrecorded viewings of her performing magic tricks successful nan unfastened kitchen, remembered her arsenic 'a stone prima chef'.

'When they constitute nan history of nan Portland culinary scene, she's going to person her ain chapter,' he told KOIN6. 

'It was it was her personality, nan cult of characteristic of Naomi. Just nan magnetism. When she was around, you could consciousness it,' Okazaki added. 

'Diners flocked to Beast, and astatine 1 constituent it was considered possibly nan champion edifice successful Portland.' 

Pomeroy had nary general culinary aliases business training. She developed her skills by watching different chefs connected television, and created her first look aged conscionable four. 

After launching her first restaurant, Beast, successful Portland, she launched Gotham Tavern and Gotham Coffee shop pinch Michael Hebb. 

Pomeroy starred connected Top Chef Masters successful 2011, and won nan James Beard Award for Best Chef successful nan Pacific Northwest successful 2014. 

Two weeks earlier nan tragedy, Pomeroy together pinch restaurateur Luke Dirks launched a eating bid called Garden Party.

The renowned cook posted a photograph to Instagram showing guests gathered astir nan eating array astatine nan concealed plot successful Portland announcing they are accepting reservations connected July 1.

'See you each again truthful soon! I can't hold to navigator pinch you again,' Pomeroy said successful a June 26 post.

Many of nan items connected nan paper came caller from - aliases were inspired by - what was increasing successful Pomeroy's garden.

The garden just down nan first Stumptown Coffee storefront successful Southeast Portland hosts up to 36 people.

For $95 per person, not including drinks and gratuity, diners could bask a vegetarian friends paper focused connected seasonal ingredients.