Davidson Chef Joe Kindred Named James Beard Award Finalist

DAVIDSON, NC — The James Beard Foundation has released its list of semifinalists, including one Davidson-based chef, for its 30th annual culinary awards competition.

Chef Joe Kindred, who leads his namesake Davidson restaurant Kindred, was named a semifinalist in the category of Best Chef in the Southeast.

All total, semifinalists announced Wednesday by the James Beard Foundation include 13 restaurants and chefs in North Carolina. The awards, now in their 30th year, are regarded as the Oscar Awards of the culinary industry.

The semifinalists are in 11 categories: best new restaurant; outstanding restaurant; outstanding baker; outstanding pastry chef; outstanding chef; rising chef stars age 30 or younger; outstanding bar program; outstanding wine program; outstanding wine, beer or spirits producer; outstanding restaurateur; and outstanding hospitality.

In North Carolina, the semifinalists are:

• Cultura, Asheville — Best New Restaurant
• John Fleer, Rhubarb, Asheville — Outstanding Chef
• Angus Barn Steakhouse, Raleigh — Outstanding Hospitality
• Krystle Swenson, Crawford and Son, Raleigh — Outstanding Pastry Chef
• Death & Taxes, Raleigh — Outstanding Wine Program
• Ashleigh Shanti, Benne on Eagle, Asheville — Rising Star Chef of the Year

Seven North Carolina chefs were named semifinalists for best chef in the southeast, which includes Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and the Carolinas. Those semifinalists are:

• Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville
• Gregory Collier, Uptown Yolk, Charlotte
• Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary
• Meherwan Irani, Chai Pani, Asheville
• Joe Kindred, Kindred, Davidson
• Cheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh
• Ricky Moore, Saltbox Seafood Joint, Durham

James Beard Foundation Semifinalists: The Full List

Finalists in all categories will be announced at a news conference at 9 a.m. EDT on March 25 in Philadelphia.

The list of semifinalists was voted on by more than 600 judges from across the country. The same group of judges — who include leading regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary instructors and past James Beard winners — vote to determine the finalists. The votes are tabulated by independent auditors from EisnerAmper.

The winners will be announced in May.