More than a dozen North Carolina chefs, restaurants and bars have been long-listed for a James Beard award, one of the most coveted prizes in food.
The James Beard Foundation announced its list of semifinalists Wednesday morning for its annual chef and restaurant awards, often described as the culinary Oscars. In all, 15 North Carolina chefs and restaurants have been named a semifinalist in nine different categories, the most by far for the state’s culinary scene. Three semifinalists were named in Charlotte .
In that list, several are up for top honors. Already a James Beard winner, Ricky Moore of Durham’s Saltbox Seafood Joint is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef , a national honor and arguably the top chef award. Asheville’s William Dissen of Market Place is also an Outstanding Chef semifinalist.
Moore , known for weaving a story of North Carolina’s coastal traditions through delicately fried and flavorful fish, was named Best Chef: Southeast in 2022 , just the fourth chef from the state to earn the honor…