Five Questions with Nora Pouillon of Restaurant Nora

Nora Pouillon

Nora Pouillon is a pioneer and champion of organic, environmentally conscious cuisine. Born in Vienna, Austria, Nora came to Washington, D.C., in the late 1960s. She was shocked to discover the processed, chemical-laden foods Americans were eating, which she realized contributed to their health problems. That’s when she embarked on her crusade to promote a healthier lifestyle. When she opened Restaurant Nora in 1979, she worked with farmers to supply the restaurant with seasonal organic produce while introducing other D.C. chefs to the farmers as well. In 1999, Restaurant Nora became the first certified organic restaurant in the United States, a feat accomplished by few since. Nora tirelessly advocates her commitment to nutritionally wholesome food and a sustainable, health-focused lifestyle based on the premise that you are what you eat, drink, and breathe. This philosophy not only extends to her restaurant, but also to her outreach work. Each year, Nora hosts five Women Chefs & Restaurateurs interns at the restaurant, and she sits on the board of directors of seven food and environmental organizations. Nora is the author of Cooking with Nora, a seasonal menu cookbook that was a finalist for the Julia Child Cookbook Award, and she is currently working on her memoirs, My Organic Life, due out April 21, 2015.