Four finalists from Houston have been named in nationwide categories for the James Beard Awards, along with two Houston finalists nominated for Best Chef in Texas.
Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Grouphis culinary journey in Houston.In the Best Chef in Texas category, two Houston nominees have been named as finalists. Here are all of the nominees in the category:Scott Girling, Osteria Il Muro, DentonThe James Beard Foundation, which runs the prestigious culinary achievement awards, also presents the Impact Awards, which recognizes "changemakers actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.
" One of the Impact Award honorees this year is the Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation, which provides access to no-cost mental health services through its program, Behind You, as well as emergency relief funding to food and beverage workers across the country. The Souther Smoke Foundation was founded in 2017 by executive director Lindsey Brown and chef Chris Shepherd, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2014.provided more than $400,000 to unemployed hospitality workersAccording to the James Beard Foundation, Souther Smoke Foundation has, to date, granted more than $16 million to food and beverage workers nationwide and provided access to more than 10,000 no-cost counseling sessions in 12 states and Washington, D.C. The winners in the competitive categories will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 15.
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