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Naomi Pomeroy, star of “Top Chef Masters” and award-winning chef, dies in river tubing accident in Oregon

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Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who helped put Portland on the map as a culinary destination and starred on “Top Chef Masters,” has drowned in an inner tubing accident, authorities said. She was 49 years old.

Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening in the Willamette River near Corvallis after the group she was tubing with got caught on an exposed snag in the water, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Pomeroy was pulled under the water and trapped by a paddle board leash attached to her, Captain Chris Duffitt said. The group had tied their inner tubes and paddle board together.

Authorities said they safely recovered the other two people on the shore and transported them to a boat launch.

The sheriff’s office said it is still working to recover Pomeroy’s body. It searched the area using sonar, underwater cameras and drones but was unable to find it due to heavy debris.

Top Chef Masters
Contestant Naomi Pomeroy appears in “Top Chef Masters” in Episode 309: “A Soldier’s Story”

Nicole Wilder/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images


“I am dedicated to locating Naomi to bring her home to her family and loved ones”, Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall said in a statement. “I want to thank all involved in the search and recovery mission and support during this difficult time.”

The sheriff’s office warned people not to attach themselves to a paddle board unless it has a quick release leash, and advised against tying two or more inner tubes together, as doing so means each person should have a life jacket.

The Oregon State Marine Board noted there has been an “emerging trend” in recent years of people dying due to the leash on their stand up paddle board, or SUP, getting tangled in brush or other debris in rivers.

“Most ankle leashes used by SUP users are not designed for quick release,” Brian Paulsen, the agency’s boating safety program manager, said in a statement Tuesday. He said quick release leashes, designed for moving water, are worn around the waist.

Pomeroy rose to prominence in the Portland food scene after opening the restaurant Beast in 2007. There, diners could enjoy a six-course prix fixe dinner served at communal tables and built around Pomeroy’s penchant for butchering whole animals.

The restaurant paved the way for Pomeroy to win a coveted James Beard award for best chef in the Northwest in 2014, around the same time Portland was soaring in popularity as a travel destination for its food scene, natural beauty and quirky reputation. The restaurant closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but Pomeroy had just recently opened a new frozen custard shop.

Pomeroy was also known for her appearance on cooking shows, including “Top Chef Masters,” and owned the Portland cocktail bar Expatriate with her husband. The bar was closed Monday, CBS affiliate KOIN-TV reported, as mourners left flowers and remembrances stacked outside the business.

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Contestant Naomi Pomeroy appears in Episode 301 of “Top Chef Masters.”

Nicole Wilder/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images


Heather Wallberg, who owns a restaurant across from Expatriate and has worked in the industry for over a decade, told KOIN-TV that Pomeroy “made the Portland food scene what it is today.” She said she reached out to Expatriate to offer any help they need.

Pomeroy’s sudden passing “reminds you of the fragility of life,” she said.

“She was a rock star chef,” Portland food blogger Gary Okazaki told the station. “When they write the history of the Portland culinary scene, she’s going to have her own chapter.”

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon issued a statement describing Pomeroy’s death as a tragic loss.

“Naomi was not just a fabulous chef and entrepreneur, but an amazing human being,” Blumenauer said. “Her impact went far beyond Portland, helping establish our leadership and reputation for food excellence. She will be greatly missed.”



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Trump makes more Cabinet picks but some top economic posts remain unfilled

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Trump makes more Cabinet picks but some top economic posts remain unfilled – CBS News


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President-elect Donald Trump announced more Cabinet picks this weekend, while CBS News polling shows that some of his highest-profile picks have more support among Americans than opposition. Nikole Killion reports.

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Open: This is “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 24, 2024

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Open: This is “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 24, 2024 – CBS News


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This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Sens. Rand Paul and Tammy Duckworth discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks after a busy week on Capitol Hill. Plus, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, joins.

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Popular gluten free tortilla strips recalled over possible contamination with wheat

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A food company known for popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is meant to be gluten-free.

Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation focused mainly on various toppings, artificial sweeteners and snacks, issued the recall for the “Santa Fe Style” version of tortilla strips sold by the brand Fresh Gourmet. 

“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” said Sugar Foods in an announcement posted by the FDA. 

Packages of these tortilla strips with an expiration date as late as June 20, 2025, could contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. The Fresh Gourmet product is marketed as gluten-free.

Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that packages of the tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product normally sold in a similar container. The brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and that allergen is noted on the label.

fresh-gourmet-tortilla-strips-santa-fe-style-front.jpg
These tortilla strips have been recalled over a potential wheat contamination issue.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration


No illnesses tied to the packaging mistake have been reported, according to the announcement from Sugar Foods. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

Sugar Foods has advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer care department by email or phone.

CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate reply.

This is the latest in a series of food product recalls affected because of contamination issues, although the others involved harmful bacteria. Some recent, high-profile incidents include an E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and a listeria outbreak that left an infant dead in California and nine people hospitalized across four different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak is linked to multiple different food brands while the listeria outbreak stemmed from a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.



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