Vitaly Paley

Chef Vitaly Paley is a leader and trailblazer in the American culinary scene. With a James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific Northwest, a win on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” and a celebrated cookbook, The Paley’s Place Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from the Pacific Northwest, the Russian-born, New York City-raised and French-trained chef has been instrumental in defining regional Northwest cuisine. In 1995, Vitaly and his partner Kimberly opened Paley’s Place, a Northwest bistro housed in a restored Victorian in Portland’s tree-lined Alphabet District. The success of Paley’s Place inspired Vitaly and Kimberly to expand their vision, and their family of restaurants grew to include Imperial, Headwaters, The Crown and Rosa Rosa. In early 2020, as the Paleys celebrated the 25th anniversary of Paley’s Place, a global pandemic changed their world. Through many adaptations, they made the difficult decision to close their downtown restaurants and focus entirely on Paley’s Place. After a whirlwind year, offering rotating menus of seasonal fare for dine-in and takeaway to their steadfast community of supporters and friends, Vitaly and Kimberly made the decision to close October 2021, ending things on a high note to pursue other life interests. Paley’s Place championed local purveyors, fostered culinary talent and offered warm hospitality for 26 years.