2015 James Beard Award Mid Atlantic Best Chefs

Mimi asked me if I would  write about my experiences with the 2015 James Beard  Mid Atlantic Best Chef  semifinalists. The short answer is yes. The longer answer is when I looked at the list of semi finalists:

• Scott Anderson, Elements, Princeton, NJ
• Joey Baldino, Zeppoli, Collingswood, NJ
• Pierre Calmels, Bibou, Philadelphia
• Hari Cameron, A(MUSE.), Rehoboth Beach, DE
• Peter Chang, Peter Chang China Café, Glen Allen, VA
• Anthony Chittum, Iron Gate, Washington, D.C.
• Lee Chizmar, Bolete, Bethlehem, PA
• Joe Cicala, Le Virtù, Philadelphia
• Nicholas Elmi, Laurel, Philadelphia
• Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore
• Lee Gregory, The Roosevelt, Richmond, VA
• Tarver King, The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm, Lovettsville, VA
• Rich Landau, Vedge, Philadelphia
• Cedric Maupillier, Mintwood Place, Washington, D.C.
• Konstantinos Pitsillides, Kanella, Philadelphia
• Dale Reitzer, Acacia, Richmond, VA
• Justin Severino, Cure, Pittsburgh
• Angelo Vangelopoulos, The Ivy Inn, Charlottesville, VA
• Greg Vernick, Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia
• Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

I realized I had visited all the restaurants in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC area in 2014.  Of that list, two do not accept reservations for a party of one and the remaining would require at least a day trip to explore. I opted to wait until the finalist list was available:

• Joe Cicala, Le Virtù, Philadelphia
• Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore
• Rich Landau, Vedge, Philadelphia
• Greg Vernick, Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia
• Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

You can see my posts about Woodberry Kitchen and Charleston, It looks like I'll be heading to Philadelphia.

Are you ready for a road trip? Let's go!


Be well,

Technicolor girl

image created by Ink+ LLC

2014 James Beard Award Finalists - the final round

A month ago I wrote about the restaurants that advanced to the finalist round for Best Mid Atlantic chef.

There were three restaurants on the finalist list that I had not visited before :
Amis in Philadelphia, Pa
Charleston in Baltimore, Md
Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore, Md

I debated whether or not to venture out and visit the nominated finalists. I finally succumbed to personal curiosity and a bit of wanderlust. I invite you to follow me as I seek the remaining restaurants on the list 2014 James Beard Award Finalist list for Best Mid Atlantic Chef.

Be well, 

Technicolor girl