Bonnie Morales is the Chef / Co-owner of Kachka, Kachka Lavka, and Kachinka all in Portland, Oregon. She reflects deeply on the namesake of her restaurant, her grandmother whose unbelievable story laid the groundwork for “Kachka”. She took a circuitous route from family restaurant in her youth, to thinking she wanted out completely of a toxic industry, to finding immense pride in here Soviet heritage and cuisine. We discuss being at the family table and those quintessential recipes and the uncanny ability of mothers to outcook their ‘chef’ children. It was her life and business partner Israel Morales that first gave her the validation that her “weird” Russian food was amazing and needed to be brought to the people. He also reminds her how well her mother cooks said foods, keeping her motivated and humbled. We get a chance to talk service and hospitality with Israel, who is just one of many #UnsungHospitalityHeroes we hear about from Bonnie.

Website - kachkapdx.com

Facebook - /kachkapdx

Instagram - @kachkapdx @zaichik13

Where were you born / raised?

North suburbs of Chicago

First job in the industry?

Prep cook, server and barista at my parent's restaurant in Chicago. It was called Still Life Cafe. I was 14.

Proudest moment(s) of your career?

Being featured in the New York Times food section last year.

Something most people don't know about you?

I used to fence

Food and/or drinks staples in your house?

BBQ chips. Peppermint Ice Cream. Every form of dairy, especially cheese. Banyuls vinegar. Sunflower oil.

Words to live by?

Always think about the bigger picture.

The first-generation American daughter of Belarusian immigrants, chef Bonnie Morales grew up in Chicago in a large family that brought with them the distinctive culture of food and drink of the former Soviet Union. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and top kitchens in New York and Chicago. Kachka opened in Portland in 2014, inspired by the food of the former Soviet republics. Kachka’s received myriad accolades, including Eater’s Best Restaurants in America from 2015-2018. Morales was named Rising Star Chef by StarChefs, and was a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest. Morales’ first cookbook, Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking, was released in 2017.