Every industry has its own prestigious award. Film has the Academy Awards. Television has the Emmys. Journalism: the Pulitzer Prize. For the culinary industry, it's the James Beard Award: the ultimate nod to the diligent work of chefs.
Today, the list of semifinalists were announced for 2013; finalists will be declared March 18. And only one chef in all of Broward and Palm Beach counties has made the prestigious list: Clay Conley of Būccan.
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For the second year in a row, Conley has made the semifinalist list for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. Out of the entire region ranging from Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana all the way to Puerto Rico, the foundation picked out a total of 20 chefs.
As per usual, Conley responded modestly to the announcement. "There are a lot of chefs in the area doing some really cool things," he said. "And I am once again honored and humbled to be included."
While Conley was the only nominee in Broward and Palm Beach, a few Miami chefs and establishments also received nods from the foundation. Also up for Best Chef: South is Jeff McInnis of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar and Jose Mendin of Pubbelly, both of which are located in Miami Beach.
For the record: We are wishing all of the nominees good luck. But we're still hoping Conley takes this for the Broward-Palm Beach home team.
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