Vitaly Paley

Portland Chef and Restaurateur Vitaly Paley is both a leader and a trailblazer in the American culinary scene. With a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Pacific Northwest and a win on Food Network’s Iron Chef America under his belt, the Russian-born, New York City-raised and French-trained chef has been instrumental in defining regional Northwest cuisine. He has worked in the kitchens of fine New York City restaurants, including Union Square Café and Chanterelle. Vitaly and his wife and partner Kimberly Paley set their sights on Portland and left New York City in 1994. Shortly thereafter, Vitaly and Kimberly opened Paley’s Place, where they became known for their perfectly-executed dishes highlighting local farmers. In 2012, Vitaly opened Imperial in downtown Portland, where he also launched his popular Russian pop-up dinner series DaNet, celebrating the cuisine of his childhood. In October 2016, Vitaly and Kimberly opened Headwaters inside the historic Heathman Hotel, a restaurant focused on sustainable seafood and revived the iconic tea court, where they host a weekly Russian Tea experience. In 2017, Vitaly opened The Crown, a bar serving New York-style pizzas inspired by his adoration for the city. Most recently, Chef Paley opened Rosa Rosa, his fifth restaurant, located in Downtown Portland on the ground floor of the Dossier. Rosa Rosa, named after Paley’s grandmother Rosa and as an ode to the City of Roses, takes inspiration from the rich culinary traditions born across the Caucasus Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea.