Twenty-two Arizona chefs and restaurants have received nominations for this year’s James Beard Awards, the culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Ten of those were nominated for Best Chef Southwest, a newly reconfigured geographical category that now includes Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Oklahoma.
The 10 nominees:
- Ryan Swanson, Kai (Chandler)
- Stephen Jones, The Larder + The Delta (Phoenix)
- Bernie Kantak, Citizen Public House (Scottsdale)
- Shinji Kurita, ShinBay (Scottsdale)
- Danielle Leoni, The Breadfruit (Phoenix)
- Chrysa Robertson, Rancho Pinot (Scottsdale)
- Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café Gran Reserva (Phoenix)
- Samantha Sanz, Talavera (Scottsdale)
- Jeff Smedstad, Elote Cafe (Sedona)
- Maria Mazon, BOCA Tacos y Tequila (Tucson)
Charleen Badman of FnB in Scottsdale won Best Chef Southwest last year, ending a 12-year drought for Arizona chefs.
Nominees in other categories this year:
- Outstanding Restaurant: Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix)
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Mike and Jeff Mastro of Prime Steak Concepts (Scottsdale)
- Outstanding Chef: Nobuo Fukuda, Nobuo at Teeter House (Phoenix)
- Outstanding Hospitality: Kai (Chandler) and Mi Nidito (Tucson)
- Outstanding Baker: Don Guerra, Barrio Bread (Tucson)
- Outstanding Bar Program: Little Rituals (Phoenix)
- Outstanding Pastry Chef: Country Velador of Super Chunk Sweets & Treats in Scottsdale.
- Outstanding Wine Program: FnB (Scottsdale)
- Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Producer: Stephen Paul, Hamilton Distillers (Tucson)
- Best New Restaurant: Vecina (Phoenix)
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Cassie Shortino, Tratto (Phoenix)
The nominees will be narrowed to five finalists in each category on March 25. Winners will be announced May 4.
