Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards nationally recognize exceptional talent in the culinary industry. This year, the awards honor a diverse lineup of dining experiences and chefs, with 12 semifinalists based in Houston.
Out of the 12, three are found within a few blocks of each other in West University Place and fall under the Local Foods Group umbrella.
The local impact
Local Foods Group, a Houston hospitality service, represents one-fourth of the semifinalists based in Houston, including Milton’s, where Kent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner were named semifinalists in the Best Chefs category.
Sigel-Gardner also serves as the creative and culinary director for Local Foods Group. He told Community Impact he believes Houston has one of the best food scenes in the country and that people are noticing it.
“I don’t think we’ve ever been not looked at, but I do think people are understanding that there’s a tremendous amount of talent here,” he said. “[Houston has] a really interesting diversity as well, so it’s not just one type of cuisine or a certain chef that’s kind of dominating.”
Additional Houston semifinalists include Lee’s for the Best New Bar category and Adrian Torres from Maximo, a West University Place Mexican restaurant, for the Emerging Chef category.
Kent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner are pictured at Lee’s, Milton’s sister bar. (Courtesy Carla Gomez)
Something to note
The accolades also serve as a guide for fellow foodies and restaurateurs of places to try when traveling, as the foundation highlights “the people, cuisines and stories that define our nation’s culinary landscape.”
“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s semifinalists as we mark another major milestone—40 years of the James Beard Foundation,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, in a Jan. 21 news release. “For four decades, the Foundation has recognized culinary excellence while championing the independent chefs and restaurants that are vital to our communities, economy and culture.”
The full list of semifinalists can be found on the foundation’s website. The Restaurant and Chef Awards will be announced June 15.