Charleen Badman from FnB in Scottsdale has been named one of five finalists for Best Chef Southwest in this year’s prestigious James Beard Awards, the culinary world’s version of the Oscars.
Badman was one of four Valley chefs among the category’s 20 semifinalists, along with Kevin Binkley (Binkley’s), Silvana Salcido Esparza (Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva), and Nadia Holguin (recently closed Roland’s Café Market Bar).
It’s the first time that Badman, a five-time semifinalist, has made the finals. Binkley had made the finals in five of the past six years. Esparza and Holguin have never made the finals.
The other four Southwest chefs to make this year’s finals are from Texas.
No Arizona chef has won Best Chef Southwest since Nobuo Fukuda in 2007. Winners will be announced May 6.
Six other Arizona semifinalists in other categories failed to make this year’s finals:
- El Charro Café in Tucson for Outstanding Restaurant;
- Chrysa Robertson from Scottsdale’s Rancho Pinot for Outstanding Chef;
- Samantha Sanz from Scottsdale’s Talavera and Cassie Shortino from Phoenix’s Tratto for Rising Star Chef;
- Chandler’s Kai for Outstanding Service;
- Don Guerra from Tucson’s Barrio Bread for Outstanding Baker.
