Kevin Binkley from Phoenix’s Binkley’s, Charleen Badman from Scottsdale’s FnB, and Silvana Salcido Esparza from Phoenix’s Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva once again are semifinalists for Best Chef Southwest in the James Beard Awards.
A fourth Valley chef – Nadia Holguin from the just-closed Roland’s Café Market Bar – made the list of 20 regional semifinalists for the first time in the culinary world’s version of the Oscars.
Binkley (pictured) is looking to become one of the category’s five finalists for the fifth time in the past six years. Badman and Esparza have never made the finalists list, which will be announced March 27.
No Arizona chef has won Best Chef Southwest since Nobuo Fukuda in 2007. Winners will be announced May 6.
This year’s Beard semifinalists from Arizona in other categories:
- 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.
