Four Durham Restaurants & Chefs Recognized as Semifinalists for James Beard Award

More great things are happening on the Durham food scene! More because Durham is already in the running to be named the Tastiest Town in the South by Southern Living magazine.  Read about that here, and read on for some great reasons why, precisely, Durham is on that list to begin with.

Durham-admirers will be pleased to discover that the Oscars of the food world, The James Beard Awards, have recognized five Durham chefs and restaurants as part of its 2013 semifinalists list.

The honorees for the James Beard Foundation's 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists are:

1. Mateo bar de Tapas in the category of Best New Restaurant
2. Pheobe Lawless of Scratch Bakery in the category of Outstanding Pastry Chef
3. Sean Lilly Wilson of Fullsteam Brewery in the category of Outstanding Wine, Spirits, Beer Professional
4. Scott Howell of Nana's in the category of  Best Chef in the Southeast

To learn more about great things happening in Durham, click here.  For more about the food scene in Durham, click here.

Durham Chefs on Beard Foundation Short List

Accolades for Durham, NC's culinary culture show no signs of slowing. Consistently featured as a top place in the US to eat, visit, relocate, and retire, Durhamites already know what all the fuss is about. For those still learning about this great place known for its diversity, openness and creativity, here’s yet another reason to take note.

The James Beard Foundation Awards announced the 2012 semifinalists and Durham's nationally acclaimed local chef culture is represented well. Scott Howell of Nana’s (a semifinalist last year as well) is a semifinalist in the Best Chef in the Southeast category, Sean Lily Wilson of Fullsteam Brewery is up for Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional and Magnolia Grill looks to bring home Outstanding Restaurant honors.

Considered the Oscars of the food world, The James Beard Foundation Awards honor excellence in restaurants, chefs, wine service professionals, cookbook authors and food journalism each year. Without a doubt, Durham has found its place on the James Beard Foundation map.

From mobile food to some of the nation's most celebrated fine dining, Durham is a place where people turn for variety and quality.  Learn more Durham related food awards by searching the keyword "food" on the Durham Accolades website.

Durham Looks Good with a Beard

It is very difficult to look at national media outlets without seeing Durham, NC featured as a top place in the US to eat, visit, relocate, and retire. Those already living in Durham know what all the fuss is about, but for those still learning about this great place known for its diversity, openness and creativity, here’s one more reason to stop into the place where great things happen.

The James Bread Foundation Awards announced the 2011 semifinalists and Durham's nationally acclaimed local chef culture is represented well. Scott Howell of Nana’s (who has been a semifinalist before) and Shane Ingram of Four Square are semifinalists in the Best Chef in the Southeast category and Magnolia Grill looks to bring home Outstanding Restaurant in the Southeast honors.

Considered the Oscars of the food world, The James Beard Foundation Awards honor excellence in restaurants, chefs, wine service professionals, cookbook authors and food journalism each year...and this year they're paying a lot of attention to Durham!