9 Austin chefs and restaurants land on James Beard Awards semifinalist list

Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
Barbs B Q in Lockhart serves beef ribs that are the size of your forearm but softer than a romantic's heart.
Barbs B Q in Lockhart serves beef ribs that are the size of your forearm but softer than a romantic's heart.

The James Beard Foundation released its long list of semifinalists Wednesday, and Austin and Central Texas were well represented, with 9 chefs and restaurants earning nominations.

The roster of Best New Restaurants in America includes two restaurants that landed among the American-Statesman's 20 Best New Restaurants of 2023.

Chef Christopher Krinsky’s Ramen del Barrio, which blends Mexican and Japanese flavors and techniques, made the list of Best New Restaurants, as did Barbs B Q in Lockhart.

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Krinsky, who was born in the United States, lived in Mexico from ages 4 to 18, and spent three years working at a trio of Japanese restaurants in Austin. He operates his ramen shop from Hana World Market on Parmer Lane. Barbs B Q owners Chuck Charnichart, Alexis Tovías Morales and Haley Conlin, and the trio’s business partner Joanne Irizarry, successfully burst into the historically male-dominated world of barbecue last summer with their exceptional restaurant on the town square of the Barbecue Capital of Texas.

Chef Christopher Krinsky blends the flavors of his youth in Mexico and his time working in Japanese restaurants in Austin at Ramen del Barrio in Hana World Market's food court.
Chef Christopher Krinsky blends the flavors of his youth in Mexico and his time working in Japanese restaurants in Austin at Ramen del Barrio in Hana World Market's food court.

The Best Chef: Texas category, which has 20 nominees, features another Best New Restaurant, as named by the American-Statesman last year: Geoff Ellis of Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen, whose restaurant is a blend of Central Texas barbecue joint and Jewish deli. Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, chef-owner of Birdie's, also received her first semifinalist nod for her and husband Arjav Ezekiel's counter-service restaurant in East Austin, as did Joseph Gomez of the Con Todo taqueria located at Celis Brewery.

Previous nominees earning semifinalists honors yet again are Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group partner chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, recognized for his work at Canje and Mexican chef Fermín Nuñez of Suerte and Este.

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Mariela Camacho of Comadre Panadería was honored with a semifinalist nod in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category for the second consecutive year, and Neapolitan pizzeria Bufalina was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category.

In other Texas-related news, Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy of Sof Hospitality Group in Houston (Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa, and Bādolina Bakery & Café) made the list for Outstanding Restaurateur.

Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, April 3 and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: James Beard semifinalist list includes 9 Austin chefs and restaurants