Kevin Binkley makes James Beard Awards finals for the 4th year in a row

Maybe the third fourth time will be the charm?

For the fourth straight year, Kevin Binkley (pictured) from Binkley’s is one of six finalists for the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest.

He’s the only Arizonan to make this year’s finalists, announced today:

• Charleen Badman from FnB also was on the list of 20 semifinalists for Best Chef Southwest.
• Pizzeria Bianco was a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant.
• Sam Fox from Fox Restaurant Concepts was a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant.

The James Beard Awards are the culinary world’s equivalent of the Academy Awards. Winners will be announced May 4.

Arizona has had more Best Chef Southwest winners (nine) than any other state, but hasn’t had a winner since Nobuo Fukuda in 2007.

See the full list of finalists in every category here.

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