Foodie’s Favorite Finds: Chef Kasey Mills of Mediterranean Exploration Company

Monday, September 21, 2015

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Features Editor

Filled with people from all over the world, Portland's restaurant scene is a literal melting pot. This week's spotlight is on Executive Chef, Kasey Mills, and his Mediterranean cuisine.

Kasey Mills is executive chef and co-owner of Mediterranean Exploration Company (M.E.C.), a Portland based restaurant serving innovative cuisine from the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. Mills opened M.E.C. in July 2014 with mentor and Portland restaurateur John Gorham, owner of Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons, Tasty n Alder and the super right-now Plaza del Toro. Mills and Gorham have worked closely together at Toro Bravo for the past seven years. Inspired by the way a region’s cuisine tells a story of its peoples’ interactions and exchanges over time, Mills aims to bring the rich cultural history of the eastern Mediterranean to the Pacific Northwest. His menu of diverse yet cohesive dishes pays tribute to the exploration of people across the Mediterranean throughout history.

Mills didn’t have a passion for cooking or any experience in restaurants until he was 20 years old. Working as a ski lift operator at that time, he received sage advise from his father to find a job that he could take pride in.

One night, craving manicotti, Mills decided to try his hand at a recipe on the back of a box and took such pride in his efforts and creating something, decided he wanted to be a cook. As luck would have it, his neighbor was a local chef and invited Mills to work for him. Mills moved to Portland, Oregon from South Dakota in 2001 to attend culinary school and immediately began working six days a week while taking classes, working his way up the ranks at well regarded restaurants in the area including the original McCormick and Schmick’s, Oba, Fratelli, and Fenouil. When he heard John Gorham was planning to open a new Spanish restaurant, he introduced himself and was offered the job of sous chef of Toro Bravo. He worked directly under Gorham for three years before being promoted chef de cuisine.

Mills and Gorham have become like brothers due to their time in the kitchen trenches and their travels to Israel and the surrounding area for menu research. Mills finds inspiration in his world travels as much as his explorations in his own garden and through the pages of cookbooks. In his free time, he also enjoys camping and spending time with his wife, Dori Prange, the bar manager of Gorham’s Tasty n Sons. When asked about his favorite places to get food, Mills responded:

"One of my favorite 'getaway' spots in town is the James John Cafe in St Johns. My wife and I love to go to St Johns on our weekends because it feels like a quick escape from the rest of Portland. On one of our excursions, we came across James John Cafe and decided to give it a try. It’s now a go-to spot for us for both breakfast and lunch. The Cafe is a counter service spot with a chalk board menu that seems to change quite often, but they always have a vegetarian and a meat hash that are to die for. The biscuits and gravy are not to be missed and their house-made bacon is some of the best I've had in the city. The house Bloody Mary is made from scratch to order and juices are fresh squeezed. They also have a nice selection of mid-day snacks like sandwiches and soups. This is definitely a quality over quantity kinda place. The owners are also chefs and every time I have gone I have seen them working in the kitchen, which is a great sign. I hate to give this secret up but they also have a great Sunday Brunch with not that long of a wait usually. They are not open Monday or Tuesday."

Locations:

James Johns Cafe, 8527 N Lombard St, Portland. (503) 285-4930

Mediterranean Exploration Company, 333 NW 13th Ave, Portland. 503) 222-0906