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DEL.ICIO.USAtlanta Takes Beard By Storm
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AT RIGHT: Chef Hugh Acheson is nominated again this year for a James Beard Award, best chef Southeast.
Photo: Louie Favorite/AJC staff
Atlanta may have lost a few of its greatest chefs to the Big Apple recently, but the 2008 James Beard Award nominations are no evidence. Announced earlier today, the awards are considered the “Oscars” of the food world, and a nomination can mean big things for chefs, especially if followed by a win — cook book deals, television shows, endorsements. Courting the idea of the new Southern food movement, the awards have given our area three nominees for best chef Southeast: Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten in Athens (The AJC’s 2007 restaurant of the year), Arnaud Berthelier of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead and Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene. Charleston, South Carolina rounds out the list, with Mike Lata of Fig and Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill boasting nominations as well. It is the first nomination for Hopkins; Acheson and Berthelier repeat their nominations from the same category last year. Acheson and Hopkins both have helped define the Southern food movement in modern-day dining rooms, elevating seasonal ingredients and slow food cooking into a fine dining experience. Berthelier is noted for his technical prowess and exciting flavor profiles. “It’s all good,” said Acheson by phone from Athens, who was just cooking at the Beard House in New York last Saturday night with colleagues Joe Truex and Mihoko Obunai from Atlanta’s Repast restaurant. “It’s always fun to around all these incredible chefs at the awards dinner,” said Acheson, “but at the end of the day, life goes on. I’m just happy to be nominated and happy to see the maturation of the Southern food movement get some recognition.” “It’s awesome,” exclaimed Hopkins. “It’s such an honor to be included. But now I know I’ve got to be even better. Being nominated changes things - it makes me feel such a part of something bigger.” The awards will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on June 8.
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