Foodie News
James Beard finalist announcement leaves just one Austin chef in running
Finalists for the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards were released Tuesday morning, leaving just one local chef in the running. Bryce Gilmore, of Barley Swine and the newly opened Odd Duck, is the sole Austin chef remaining in the Best Chef: Southwest category.
Nominated for the casual and playful cuisine at his flagship brick-and-mortar Barley Swine, Gilmore joins the following finalists in the category: Kevin Binkley of Binkley's in Cave Creek, Arizona; Hugo Ortega of Hugo's in Houston; Chris Shepherd of Underbelly in Houston; and Justin Yu of Oxheart in Houston.
In February, Gilmore was announced as a semifinalist along with Chef David Bull of Congress (also nominated for Best Chef: Southwest) and Chef Phillip Speer of Uchi Austin and Houston (in the Outstanding Pastry Chef category).
Gilmore was previously nominated in 2013 for Rising Star Chef of the Year. If he wins the esteemed award, he will join two other revered Austin chefs who hold the title, Paul Qui and Tyson Cole. The James Beard Foundation Awards Gala takes place on May 5 in New York City.