The James Beard Foundation on Monday announced its finalists for its highly coveted culinary awards, and included in the category for Best Chef in the Southwest was Bruno Davaillon of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.
Originally from Loire Valley in France, Davaillon joined the Mansion in 2009 after a globetrotting career collecting Michelin stars and accolades along the way. As a finalist, he'll jaunt up to NYC on May 7 to attend the black-tie gala event at the Lincoln Center, where the winner will be announced.
We caught up with Chef Davaillon to see how he celebrated the news and his plans for his trip up to NYC.
How does it feel to be a finalist? It's always an honor to be recognized for your craft -- and my craft is also my passion.
How did you celebrate the news? I had a bottle of Champagne with my wife and son the day the finalists were announced, and now it will just be an ongoing celebration with friends through the awards, regardless of whether or not I win.
Any thoughts on where you'll dine in New York? Probably Bar Boulud or Boulud Sud, The Dutch and Eleven Madison Park. I have at least 10 more I would like to go to, so I have to make a few tough selections.
Are there any other chefs you would like to see nominated or think should have been? There are a lot of very talented chefs that were not nominated -- and probably never will be, so I'm pretty humbled by the whole thing.
