Local Chef On Beard Awards Short List
February 21st, 2008 by Brian Ries in Chefs, Gossip, Media, Restaurants
This flew under the radar last week, but Dave at Eating Tampa snagged it.
The James Beard Foundation sent out ballots for its annual chef and restaurant awards to the judging committee, and New York Magazine leaked the list. Here’s the shocker: Tampa has a couple of names on the list. And they’re related. Guess who?
Jeannie Pierola is up for Best Chef in the South Region, with a lot of stiff competition from the Miami area and someone, egads!, from Punta Gorda. Bern’s is up for the national Outstanding Restaurant award, a category filled with restaurants just as staid and tired as our local favorite. I wonder if Jeannie’s departure from the old brothel will help or hurt either of their chances? It’s probably bad news for Bern’s, and good news for Jeannie.
Let’s place bets: I’ll give Bern’s 2000 to 1 against and Jeannie 70 to 1 against victory.
Here are my predictions: Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine takes the South chef award and Magnolia Grill in NC takes Outstanding Restaurant. New Yorkers love that Southern food.
Winners will be announced in June.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
“…and someone, egads!, from Punta Gorda.”
maybe it’s the lady at the gas station Subway (exit 164 off of I-75, east of the interstate) that i ate at last week… they offer $5 foot-long subs all day ,every day. can’t beat that deal with a stick! i’d like to see Jeannie go up that sandwich artist any day of the week. that battle would put iron chef to shame!
February 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Thanks, but actually it was a team effort. I caught the .pdf of the nominations, but Mal Carne caught the presence of Jeannie Pierola.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:34 am
“… egads!, from Punta Gorda.”
Don’t be such a snob. Just because a chef chooses to work in a small town does not mean he or she lacks culinary chops.
How about going down there for dinner sometime?
February 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
thanks for representin the 813 Jeannie. i look forward to your next project.