Producer
Karen Brooks

Karen Brooks holds one of the most prestigious titles in the food world: winner of the James Beard Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award for 2017. This was her second time as a national finalist. After this, it’s all gravy.
Brooks eats, drinks and thinks about food for Portland Monthly, where she continues her journey as Portland’s opinionated, trend-spotting food critic. She pens monthly restaurant reviews, writes and photographs the print magazine’s Word of Mouth column (aka: what I’m obsessing over now), drives the annual Best Restaurants issue, contributes to various food-cover packages, and breaks news for the magazine’s food blog, Eat Beat.
Karen began her journalism career at alt-weekly Willamette Week, doubling as food critic and Arts & Culture editor. Then she jumped ship to The Oregonian, doing double-duty again as Arts czarina and Food Critic while creating two of the daily’s most enduring sections: the weekly A&E and the annual Diner guide. At Portland Monthly since 2010, she’s continued her mission of ferreting out new restaurant models and maverick thinkers defining Portland’s food voice.
In her spare time, Karen is rabid NBA baller and film/TV junkie and author. She’s penned nine books to date, most recently a deep dive into Portland’s punk-rock food scene, The Mighty Gastropolis: A Journey Through America’s New Food Culture.

Entertaining Guide
17 Bars and Restaurants That Will Host Your Next Bash

Breaking News
Standout Coffee and Chocolate Bar Cloudforest is Closing

Word of Mouth
JinJu Is Your Neighborhood Master Patisserie

Restaurant Review
The Next Whiskey Bar

Cowabunga 2019
Cowabunga Q&A: Kim Jong Grillin’s Han Ly Hwang

Word of Mouth
Marshall’s Haute Sauce Bottles the Farmers Market

Sweet Spot
Don’t Have a Cow, Man

Breaking News
Iconic Northwest Grocer City Market to Close August 18

EAT WITH YOUR EYES
First Look: Modernist Berlu Opens June 13

Word of Mouth
Chef José Chesa’s Ataula Is Making a Quiet Comeback

Breaking News
Departure Chef Gregory Gourdet Inks Major Cookbook Deal

The Oregon Woman 2019
Meet the Portland Woman Penning the Words for Nike’s LeBron James Commercials

Best Breakfasts 2019: Legends
5 All-Time Portland Breakfast Greats

Best Breakfasts 2019