Angus Barn, Saltbox Seafood and other NC restaurants make James Beard semifinalist list
A seafood shack, the Angus Barn and one of the South’s most innovative kitchens are among the Triangle restaurants in the running for this year’s James Beard Awards.
The James Beard Foundation announced its long list Wednesday morning, naming semifinalists in its chef and restaurant categories. The organization’s awards, considered the top prizes in the restaurant world, are often compared to the film industry’s Oscars.
This year, several local restaurants and chefs are up for national awards. Krystle Swenson of Crawford & Son is in the running for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the country. Ashley Christensen’s wood-fired fine dining restaurant Death & Taxes is up for Outstanding Wine Program, under beverage director Cappie Peete. And the Angus Barn, the venerable Raleigh steakhouse, is being considered for Outstanding Hospitality.
A trio of Triangle chefs are semifinalists for the regional Best Chef: Southeast award. Steven Devereaux Greene of the fine dining Herons at the Umstead in Cary; Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh; and Ricky Moore of Durham’s Saltbox Seafood Joint are up for the award.
This is Moore’s first semifinalist mention, and the fourth for Kumar and Greene.
Other North Carolina semifinalists include Katie Button of Curate in Asheville, Gregory Collier of Uptown Yolk in Charlotte, Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani in Asheville and Joe Kindred of Kindred in Davidson, all up for Best Chef: Southeast.
Asheville restaurant Cultura is a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the Country. Asheville chef John Fleer of Rhubarb is being considered for Outstanding Chef in the country, and Ashleigh Shanti of Asheville’s Benne on Eagle is in the running for Rising Star Chef of the Year.
Ashley Christensen’s James Beard win
Last year was a landmark moment for the food scene in the Triangle and North Carolina, as Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen took home the James Beard award for Outstanding Chef in the country.
Previous North Carolina James Beard winners include three Best Chef: Southeast awards: Christensen in 2014, Andrea Reusing of Lantern in 2011 and Ben Barker of the former Magnolia Grill in 2000. Karen Barker, Ben Barker’s wife, won Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2003 at Magnolia Grill, which is given each year to the country’s top dessert maker.
This long list of semifinalists will be whittled down, and the nominations will be announced on March 25. The awards gala, where winners are announced, will be Monday, May 4, in Chicago.
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Angus Barn, Saltbox Seafood and other NC restaurants make James Beard semifinalist list."
