Chef Nora Pouillon Receives Coveted Austrian Decoration

On May 14, 2018, Ambassador Waldner presented the "Decoration of Merit in Gold" bestowed by Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen to Nora Pouillon, Austrian organic foods pioneer in the U.S. and one of Washington DC's most celebrated chefs.

"Godmother" of the organic food movement

Nora Pouillon grew up in Vienna and on a farm in the Austrian Alps. After she moved to Washington, DC in the 1960s, she made it her mission to bring organic foods to the American table. Her restaurant Nora, running from 1979 to 2017, became the first certified organic restaurant in the United States.

For nearly 40 years, the recently-retired chef, social entrepreneur and champion of organic cuisine has redefined what food could be, forging close relationships with local producers and launching initiatives (like farmer's markets) to take the organic movement mainstream.

#TasteOfAustria

Read more "Nora Pouillon - Promoting Organic Food and Sustainable Living"

from left: Andreas Stauber (Austrian Trade Commissioner in Washington, DC), Chef Nora Pouillon, Michael Friedl (Austrian Trade Commissioner in New York City), and Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner

from left: Andreas Stauber (Austrian Trade Commissioner in Washington, DC), Chef Nora Pouillon, Michael Friedl (Austrian Trade Commissioner in New York City), and Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner