After ‘Top Chef Masters’ Star Naomi Pomeroy Dies In Paddleboarding Accident, Authorities Try To Piece Together What Happened

Acclaimed chef and television personality Naomi Pomeroy, known for her appearances on Top Chef Masters and her innovative Portland restaurant Beast, died last week in a drowning accident at 49, and now fans are paying tribute to her life.

Pomeroy’s body was recovered from the Willamette River near Corvallis on Monday morning, four days after she went missing while tubing with companions. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed her death, noting she was the county’s first drowning fatality of the year.

According to authorities, Pomeroy was part of a group using tubes and a paddleboard on the river when they became entangled in debris about 100 yards upstream from the Mary’s River junction. While her companions were rescued, Pomeroy was unable to free herself due to the paddleboard’s leash and was pulled underwater.

Despite extensive search efforts using sonar, underwater cameras and drones, challenging river conditions hampered recovery attempts. Pomeroy’s body was ultimately spotted by passing canoeists on Monday, who alerted emergency services.

The Oregon-based chef rose to prominence with her Portland restaurant Beast, which opened in 2007. The intimate 24-seat establishment was celebrated for its innovative six-course prix fixe menus and communal dining experience. Beast closed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Pomeroy continued to pursue culinary ventures, including a recently opened frozen custard shop and a dinner party series.

Pomeroy’s talents extended beyond the kitchen. She competed on culinary TV shows such as Iron Chef and Top Chef Masters and served as a guest judge on various cooking competitions. Her contributions to the culinary world were widely recognized, earning her a James Beard Award for Best Chef Northwest in 2014.

Industry publications also took note of Pomeroy’s impact. Food & Wine magazine named her one of America’s top 10 best new chefs, while Marie Claire recognized her as one of the 18 most powerful women in business.