Colin Bedford, executive chef of the Fearrington House Inn and Restaurant, has been named a Grand Chef.

International luxury hotel and restaurant association Relais and Chateaux bestowed the honor on the Pittsboro chef earlier this month. 

Bedford now joins 160 chefs from five continents who are "monopolizing the awards, acting as the foodie stars in their respective countries,
but always the first to report for work in their own kitchen," according to the association. 

Among the other Grand Chefs is Food Network Iron Chef Mario Batali. 

Bedford has been executive chef at Fearrington House for four years.

Fearrington House was also recently honored as one of the top 50 hotels in the South. Conde Nast Traveler's annual Reader's Choice Awards ranked it No. 2.