‘Next Level Chef’ contestant credits Portland for help with a kombucha cooking challenge

Portland’s image in the national media may have taken a hit in recent years, but apparently, the Rose City’s reputation for healthy foodie culture is still alive and well. Consider a moment from Thursday’s episode of “Next Level Chef,” which saw a contestant mentioning Portland as the place that introduced her to a key ingredient featured in the cooking challenge. That ingredient? Was it a microbrew? Organic coffee? Farm-to-table whatever? Nope, it was kombucha, a fermented beverage that has supposed health benefits, and which turns up a lot in Oregon,...