Speakers & Guests
Jason Stoller Smith
Jason Stoller Smith
Timberline Lodge, Executive Chef
Timberline Lodge Executive Chef Jason Stoller Smith is a self-made professional. Rather than attend European styled cooking schools, he pulled himself up by the proverbial bootstraps, starting his cooking career at the young age of 16, and immersing himself in commercial kitchens, primarily in the Ashland Oregon area. With his traditional work ethic and newly acquired culinary skills he moved to Olympia, Washington where he took his first executive chef position at the Budd Bay café, a popular seafood restaurant. Next he moved to Oregon’s National Historic Landmark Timberline Lodge where he saw an opportunity to pursue his passion for true seasonal food preparation and cooking. Within his first year, he rose to the rank of Executive Sous Chef.
After 4 years under the tutelage of Timberline’s then chef, Leif Eric Benson, Jason left to become a partner in Dundee Bistro where he ran the kitchen and directed the culinary program of what became Oregon’s premier wine country restaurant. While there, he earned a reputation as one of the premier Northwest chefs. In 2004 Jason was invited to present at the James Beard Centennial Dinner in New York City. In 2005 the Oregon Restaurant Association awarded him a scholarship to study food and wine pairing at the famous Greystone in California’s Napa Valley. He went on to represent the State of Oregon for numerous culinary tours in Napa, and was appointed as board member at the International Pinot Noir Celebration. He continues to be a featured chef at this world class wine and culinary event where he is known for his traditional Native American style open pit fire salmon bake. Perhaps the ultimate compliment to his talents and hard work came in the summer of 2010 when he was invited to the White House to represent the cuisine of the Pacific Northwest for a Congressional Picnic personally hosted by President and Mrs. Barack Obama for 2000 guests and members of the United States Congress.
Jason’s career came full circle in 2010 when he returned to Timberline Lodge as Executive Chef upon the retirement of Chef Benson. Today Jason oversees all the culinary efforts at Timberline’s various food outlets as well as the conference center and the Lodge’s famous Cascade Dining Room. At Timberline’s high quality, high volume setting, Chef Jason Stoller Smith has hit his stride and stepped it up even a notch further. His close ties and support of Oregon farmers, ranchers, vintners, and fishermen continues to nurture his reputation for utilizing locally grown sustainable food products, as well as propel Timberline’s popularity and the northwest’s growing national notoriety for fresh, farm-to-table cuisine.