More than a dozen North Carolina restaurants and chefs earned a spot on the this year, but only one is advancing to the nominee (finalist) category: Ashley Christensen of in Raleigh. Christensen was nominated for Best Chef: Southeast, a position she shares with four other chefs in the region. Here is her reaction on twitter this morning:
Pretty much in tears right now. Wow.
— Ashley Christensen (@A______C______)
The James Beard Awards are considered the highest honors given in the food industry, and Christensen is the fourth chef in the state to ever receive a nomination in the Restaurant and Chef category. The others are Ben and Karen Barker of the late Magnolia Grill and of Lantern. All three previous nominees proceeded to win a James Beard Award.
The James Beard Foundation will announce the winners of its Restaurant and Chef Awards on May 3.
