More than a dozen North Carolina chefs, restaurants and bars have been long-listed for a James Beard award, one of the most coveted prizes in food.
The James Beard Foundation announced its list of semifinalists Wednesday morning for its annual chef and restaurant awards, often described as the culinary Oscars. In all, 15 North Carolina chefs and restaurants have been named a semifinalist in nine different categories, the most by far for the state’s culinary scene. Three semifinalists were named in Charlotte.
In that list, several are up for top honors. Already a James Beard winner, Ricky Moore of Durham’s Saltbox Seafood Joint is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef, a national honor and arguably the top chef award. Asheville’s William Dissen of Market Place is also an Outstanding Chef semifinalist.
Moore, known for weaving a story of North Carolina’s coastal traditions through delicately fried and flavorful fish, was named Best Chef: Southeast in 2022, just the fourth chef from the state to earn the honor.
Other Triangle chefs vying for national awards include Scott Crawford for Outstanding Restaurateur in the country. Last year, Crawford opened four different projects, including his two largest and most ambitious restaurants, Brodeto in Raleigh and Crawford Brothers Steakhouse in Cary.
Last year Crawford was also a finalist for a national honor, with his flagship restaurant Crawford & Son up for Outstanding Hospitality, the top James Beard service award.
“When I was a young cook struggling with addiction, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that this could be possible,” Crawford said in a released statement. “Today’s recognition as Outstanding Restaurateur speaks to the power of Sobriety and Perseverance. A heartfelt thank you to James Beard Foundation for recognizing me and the entire team at Crawford Hospitality.”
Two exciting Triangle spots landed Best New Restaurant and Best New Bar semifinalist honors.
Figulina in Raleigh, an Italian restaurant specializing in handmade pastas, is up for Best New Restaurant in the country, the only North Carolina spot on the list. British ex-pat and Poole’s Diner alum David Ellis took over the former Humble Pie space in Raleigh and has already started turning heads.
In Durham, the acclaimed Indian restaurant and former James Beard nominee Cheeni unveiled The Bar Beej in spring 2024 as a Bollywood-themed cocktail bar. Owned by chef Preeti Waas, The Bar Beej is a semifinalist for Best New Bar in the country, also the only North Carolina bar to earn the honor.
Bhavin Chhatwani of Tamasha Modern Indian in North Hills has been named an Emerging Chef semifinalist. The award honors an up and coming chef on the national stage.
The Triangle’s culinary scene has a notable history with the James Beard Awards. Past winners include Magnolia Grill’s Ben and Karen Barker for Best Chef: Southeast and Outstanding Pastry Chef, Andrea Reusing of Lantern in Chapel Hill, two for Ashley Christensen of Poole’s Diner, Best Chef: Southeast and Outstanding Chef, and most recently Moore for Best Chef: Southeast.
Over the years, most of North Carolina’s semifinalists have been in the Best Chef: Southeast category, a regional chef honor.
This year’s Best Chef: Southeast semifinalists include two Triangle chefs. Chris Prieto of Prime Barbecue is a semifinalist for his gleaming barbecue palace in Knightdale.
“I’m humbled and overjoyed to be recognized by the James Beard Foundation in the Best Chef Southeast category,” Prieto said in a released statement. “I’ve dedicated my life to the craft of barbecue, and through it, have found so many meaningful ways to serve my Knightdale community and tell my story through this cuisine. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our work here at Prime Barbecue – and the craft of barbecue -- appreciated by our peers.”
This is Prieto’s first semifinalist nod and the second time a North Carolina pitmaster has earned James Beard attention, following Sam Jones’ semifinalist mention in 2018.
Raleigh chef Sunny Gerhart of St. Roch and Lauren Krall Ivey, a Death & Taxes alum, are co-semifinalists for their Wilmington Italian restaurant Olivero.
“I am deeply honored to be nominated alongside Sunny and so many talented names in the hospitality industry,” Krall Ivey said in a released statement. “Working with my longtime friend as partners in the restaurant has been both creatively rewarding and incredibly fun. I am proud not only of the dishes we’ve developed at Olivero, but the culture in our kitchen, the passion of our staff, and the support from the Wilmington community.”
Outstanding Chef
Outstanding Restaurateur
Best New Restaurant
Emerging Chef
Oustanding Pastry Chef
Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages Program
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Best New Bar
Best Chef Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM.