The culinary scene in Washington state is firing on all cylinders, and the latest James Beard Award nominations are proof in the pudding. Among the trailblazers, Seattle's very own Quynh-Vy and Yenvy Pham have secured their spot in the limelight. The Pham sisters are once again in the running for the prestigious "Outstanding Restaurateur" category – marking the second consecutive year they've been nominated. A nod from the James Beard Foundation is like a pat on the back from one of the food world's heaviest hitters, suggesting Phở Bắc, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat aren't just riding a fad, they're setting the pace.
Phở Bắc has been slinging bowls of its steamy, aromatic Vietnamese soup since 1982, when, it was a humble deli known as Cat's Submarines, according to KING5. The Pham's, sensing the desire of Vietnamese locals for a taste of home, introduced pho to the menu. The dish became a hit, and the rest was history. Now, the business has expanded to three locations, along with their other ventures: a cocktail bar named Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat, a Vietnamese fried chicken joint.
Not to be left out, the state boasts a total of eight establishments that have James Beard nods this year, from the up-and-comer in Walla Walla's Bar Bacetto, specializing in handcrafted cocktails and pastas, which punched its ticket to the big time with a "Best New Restaurant" nomination, to Seattle's Pancita, with chef Janet Becerra at the helm, getting a nod in the "Emerging Chef" category for her take on tacos and tostadas. According to The Spokesman-Review, these restaurants, along with others in the "Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific" category, are emblematic of the state's thriving dining culture.
Among the list of chefs who have caught the James Beard spotlight, Seattle's Melissa Miranda for her Filipino spot, Musang, and Kristi Brown of Communion with its soul food offerings, have both been cast into the illustrious "Best Chef" galaxy. Orcas Island's Avery Adams is also joining the ranks with his farm-to-table establishment, Matia. While the winners won't be announced until June 10, just to make it this far is to rub shoulders with the culinary elite – and that's a meal worth celebrating.
