James Beard Foundation Names Several Valley Chefs & Restaurants to its Semifinalists List

Several Valley chefs and restaurants were named by the James Beard Foundation as 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists, announced this morning.

Those who made the list—and the categories for which they are nominated—are:

Outstanding Restaurateur: A restaurateur who uses their establishment(s) as a vehicle for building community, demonstrates creativity in entrepreneurship and integrity in restaurant operations, and is making efforts to create a sustainable work culture while contributing positively to their broader community. 

• Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, Cocina Chiwas and Tacos Chiwas, Tempe and Phoenix, AZ

Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Mineral Water: A chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come while contributing positively to their broader community. 

• Roberto Centeno, Espiritu, Mesa, AZ

Best New Restaurant: A restaurant opened between Oct.1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023 that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, while contributing positively to its broader community. Establishments that have opened after Sept. 30, 2023 can be considered for the 2025 Awards.* 

• Ava Bakery, Phoenix, AZ

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: A pastry chef or baker who makes desserts, pastries, or breads. Candidate demonstrates exceptional skills and can be affiliated with any food business and does not need a brick-and-mortar presence. Candidate contributes positively to their broader community. 

• Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, AZ 

Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines: A restaurant, bar, or other food and drinking establishment that fosters a sense of hospitality among its customers and staff that serves as a beacon for the community and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, while contributing positively to its broader community. 

• Andreoli Italian Grocer, Scottsdale, AZ

Outstanding Bar: A wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary offering is beverage and that demonstrates consistent excellence in curating a selection or in the preparation of drinks, along with outstanding atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, and contributing positively to its broader community. 

• Little Rituals, Phoenix, AZ  

Best Chefs presented by Capital One (by region): Chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions, while contributing positively to their broader community. ​For Best Chef: Southwest, the semifinalists are:

• Rene Andrade, Bacanora, Phoenix, AZ
• Pornsupak “Cat” Bunnag, Glai Baan, Phoenix, AZ
• Claudio Urciuoli, Source, Gilbert, AZ

Wendy Garcia with Tumerico, and Flavia Briones with Barista Del Barrio, both in Tucson, also got nods for Best Chef: Southwest, as did Sam Greenhalgh with Forêt in Flagstaff.

The award ceremonies will be held in June in Chicago. The James Beard Awards is a program of the James Beard Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture and champions a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.