Culinary excellence | 2 Louisville chefs named semi-finalists for prestigious James Beard awards | Business

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two Louisville chefs are semi-finalists for prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards.

Dallas McGarity, the chef and owner of The Fat Lamb on Grinstead Drive, is a semi-finalists for Best Chef in the Southeast, which highlights regional chefs nominated from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The regional categories recognize "Chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture."

McGarity honed his culinary skills at Johnson & Wales University and working in Charleston, South Carolina, before moving to Louisville in 2004. He and his wife, Laura, opened The Fat Lamb in 2015. McGarity has been invited multiple times to the James Beard House Dinner and he won $10,000 on the Food Network's "Chopped" chicken challenge episode in 2019.

Lawrence Weeks from North of Bourbon in Germantown is a semi-finalist for Emerging Chef. He is up against chefs from across the nation in a category that spotlights "chefs with exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come while contributing positively to their broader community."

Weeks has made a name for himself blending bourbon, Louisville and a hint of New Orleans into a southern inspired menu at North of Bourbon. According to the restaurant website, he grew up in central Kentucky in a Creole/Cajun household. Weeks also worked as executive chef at Lexington's well-respected Honeywood restaurant, which is owned by Beard nominee Ouita Michel.

The 2024 Restaurant and Chef semifinalists are recognized across 22 categories including restauranteurs, chefs, pastry chefs, bars, bakeries and hospitality workers. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on Monday, June 10, 2024.

Kentucky chefs have been recognized by the James Beard Foundation in the past. Among those honored with nominations include celebrity chef Edward Lee, who owns 610 Magnolia and Nami Steakhouse in Louisville.

Chef Anthony Lamas from Seviche has been nominated multiple times. Executive chef Allison Settle at Barn8 at Hermitage Farm in Oldham County has also been nominated.

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