Christensen among NC talent named semi-finalists for national James Beard Award

The awards are often referred to as "The Oscars of Food," and the Triangle has a legacy of taking home honors.

Posted 4:59 p.m. Feb 27, 2019 — Updated 2:08 p.m. Mar 27, 2019

Kathy Hanrahan, Out

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh's own Ashley Christensen is a semi-finalist for a national James Beard Foundation award.

The awards are often referred to as "The Oscars of Food," and the Triangle has a legacy of taking home honors.

Christensen, who owns Poole's, Death and Taxes, Beasley's, and Chucks, is up for the award for best chef in the country. She was a finalist for the honor last year, but lost out to Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune in New York City.

Christensen is a previous James Beard winner, taking home the award for best chef in the southeast in 2014.

The Stanley in Charlotte is also a semi-finalist for best new restaurant in the country, while Ashley Capps of Buxton Hall in Asheville is a semi-finalist for best pastry chef in the country. Durham's own Sean Lilly Wilson of Fullsteam Brewery is a semi-finalist for outstanding wine, spirits or beer producer in the country.

The best chef in the southeast award semi-finalist list includes:

Katie Button of Cúrate in Asheville
Gregory Collier of Loft & Cellar in Charlotte
Steven Devereaux Greene of Herons in Cary
Oscar Diaz of The Cortez in Raleigh
Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani in Asheville
Joe Kindred of Kindred in Davidson
Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh
Dean Neff of PinPoint in Wilmington

North Carolina chefs have a history of winning James Beard Awards. Lantern's Andrea Reusing won best chef in the southeast in 2011. Ben Barker of Magnolia Grill won the same honor in 2000. Karen and Ben Barker of Magnolia Grill won outstanding pastry chef in 2003.

The James Beard Award finalists will be announced March 27. The awards will be presented at a gala on May 6 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

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