Three Atlanta chefs/restaurants have made the cut to become finalists for the 26th annual James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef awards, the foodie industry’s own version of March Madness.
Gunshow‘s Kevin Gillespie and Miller Union‘s Steven Satterfield are nominees for best chef/Southeast. Chef Ryan Smith’s Staplehouse, in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, is a best new restaurant nominee.
A long list of semifinalists — which included 14 chefs/restaurants from Atlanta and one from Athens — was winnowed to a smaller pool of finalists. Winners will be named at the 2016 James Beard Awards Gala on May 2 in Chicago.
Gunshow, in Atlanta’s Glenwood Park neighborhood, combines the serving styles of Brazilian churrascaria and Chinese dim sum, and changes its menu weekly. Miller Union in West Midtown describes it food as “simple, sustainable Southern fare with a modern approach to cooking.” Staplehouse considers itself a casual neighborhood restaurant with a seasonal a la carte menu or five-course tasting menu.
Gillespie and Satterfield are competing with Edward Lee (610 Magnolia in Louisville, Ky.); Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman (Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis); and Tandy Wilson (City House in Nashville, Tenn.).
Staplehouse’s competition for best new restaurant is Death & Taxes in Raleigh, N.C.; Launderette in Austin, Texas; Liholiho Yacht Club in San Francisco; Shaya in New Orleans; and Wildair in New York City.
This is Satterfield’s fourth consecutive nomination for best chef/Southeast. Last year he lost to Jason Stanhope of Fig in Charleston. Satterfield is also nominated in the cookbook photography category with his Root to Leaf.
James Andrew Beard (1903-1985), the awards’ namesake, was an American cookbook author, teacher, syndicated columnist and TV personality who championed American cuisine and mentored generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. The awards are presented each year near his birthday.
