Several Triangle chefs and restaurants landed semifinalist nominations today for the annual James Beard Foundation Awards, which recognize America’s top culinary talent.
Figulina, a handmade pasta venture in Raleigh’s Warehouse District, scored a Best New Restaurant nomination. The recognition comes less than a year after chef-owner David Ellis, who previously served as chef de cuisine at Poole’s Diner, opened the restaurant’s doors in the space that housed Humble Pie for decades.
“It’s been a crazy morning,” Ellis tells the INDY. “Just to be a semifinalist is huge. It feels like it puts the restaurant on the map a little bit more.”
Thanks to the overnight snowfall, Ellis and his team have an unexpected opportunity to celebrate tonight: They’d already decided to close the restaurant due to inclement weather.
The Bar Beej, a Bollywood-themed speakeasy tucked inside Cheeni Durham, earned a Best New Bar nod. The establishment is helmed by beverage manager Amy Waas, daughter of Cheeni owner Preeti Waas, who has previously received two Best Chef: Southeast semifinalist nominations.
“The Bar Beej is born from the imagination of my daughter,” Preeti Waas wrote in a text. “Her outrageous creativity and impeccably finessed execution have made this nomination possible. I’m so proud.”
Durham’s Saltbox Seafood Joint owner Ricky Moore, who took home the Best Chef: Southeast title in 2022, is now up for Outstanding Chef—one of the foundation’s most prestigious national awards. Moore is one of 20 chefs nationwide competing for the honor, which recognizes “a chef who sets high culinary standards and has served as a positive example for other food professionals.”
In Raleigh, Tamasha Modern Indian’s Bhavin Chhatwani landed an Emerging Chef nomination. The upscale Indian restaurant, which opened in 2023, has garnered praise for elevating traditional Indian cuisine with contemporary flair.
In an email, Tamasha Modern Indian owners Mike Kathrani and Tina Vora wrote that they are “absolutely thrilled” by Chhatwani’s recognition.
“His ability to push boundaries while staying true to the essence of Indian flavors has brought our dream to life and elevated Tamasha to new heights,” the pair wrote.
Rounding out the Triangle’s nominations is Scott Crawford, whose Crawford Hospitality group is up for Outstanding Restaurateur. Crawford’s empire includes Crawford and Son, Jolie, and Brodeto in Raleigh, as well as the recently opened Crawford Brothers Steakhouse in Cary and Crawford’s Genuine at RDU.
In a text, Crawford described the semifinalist nomination as “a huge honor that speaks to the talent and dedication of the Crawford Hospitality Team.”
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“Without them,” Crawford wrote, “I would not have had the courage or ability to expand our restaurant group the way we have.”
Crawford has racked up multiple James Beard nods over the years, including five Best Chef: Southeast semifinalist nominations and a finalist spot in last year’s Outstanding Hospitality category.
Chefs and establishments in North Carolina received a total of 15 semifinalist nominations this year, with nominees spanning from Asheville to Wilmington.
The James Beard Foundation will announce finalists in April, with winners to be revealed at the annual awards ceremony in June.
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