Six Female Chefs From Phoenix Area Nominated for 2019 James Beard Awards

Here's who made this year's long list...

February 27, 2019

Image: Charleen Badman is a vegetable whisperer ... and James Beard Award semifinalist.

Charleen Badman is a vegetable whisperer ... and James Beard Award semifinalist. Chris Malloy

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Six female chefs from the Phoenix area have been named semifinalists for the 2019 James Beard Awards, presented by the James Beard Foundation. These awards are considered the Super Bowl of food awards for chefs. This is just the first round. Overall, the Valley has eight semifinalists.

First, Chrysa Robertson of the Scottsdale staple Rancho Pinot (number one on our 2018 list of Phoenix essentials) has been nominated for outstanding chef, a category that, like the next two, is not restricted by region.

Kai Restaurant in Chandler was nominated for outstanding service.

Samantha Sanz (Talavera at the Four Seasons) and Cassie Shortino (Tratto) each received a nod for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

And in the category of Best Chef Southwest, Nadia Holguin (of the now-closed Roland's Market Cafe Bar), Silvana Esparza (of Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva), Kevin Binkley (of Binkley's Restaurant), and Charleen Badman (of FnB) were nominated.

The finalists will be announced on March 27 and the winners on May 6.

We'll keep you updated as these awards progress to future rounds.

Chris Malloy, former food editor and food critic at Phoenix New Times, has written for various local and national outlets. He has scrubbed pots in a restaurant kitchen, earned graduate credit for a class about cheese, harvested garlic in Le Marche, and rolled pastas like cappellacci stuffed with chicken liver. He writes stories on the food world's margins.

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