8 North Carolina chefs competing for 'Best Chef' award

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Wednesday, February 17, 2016
James Beard
North Carolina and the Triangle are well represented among nominees for best restaurants.

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- There are eight semifinalists from North Carolina in the "Best Chef- Southeast" category of the 2016 James Beard Awards, which are widely considered the Oscars of the culinary world.

The James Beard Foundation released its list of semifinalists this week. The Awards recognizes restaurants, chefs, restaurant designers, writers, journalists, and cookbook authors.

The North Carolina semifinalists for "Best Chef- Southeast" are listed below:

Nate Allen
Courtesy: Knife & Fork

Chef: Nate Allen

Restaurant: Knife & Fork

Location: Spruce Pine, NC

Brian Canipelli
Courtesy: Pinterest

Chef: Brian Canipelli

Restaurant: Cucina 24

Location: Asheville, NC

Scott Crawford
Courtesy: Standard Foods

Chef: Scott Crawford

Restaurant: Standard Foods

Location: Raleigh, NC

Steven Devereaux Greene
Courtesy: Umstead Hotel

Chef: Steven Devereaux Greene

Restaurant: Herons in the Umstead Hotel

Location: Cary, NC

Vivian Howard
Courtesy: Chef & the Farmer

Chef: Vivian Howard

Restaurant: Chef & the Farmer

Location: Kinston, NC

Matthew Kelly
Courtesy: Beltline Brew Tours

Chef: Matthew Kelly

Restaurant: Mateo

Location: Durham, NC

Joe Kindred
Courtesy: Evensi

Chef: Joe Kindred

Restaurant: Kindred

Location: Davidson, NC

Aaron Vandemark
Courtesy: Panciuto

Chef: Aaron Vandemark

Restaurant: Panciuto

Location: Hillsborough, NC