Alabama culinary scene continues rise with multiple semifinalists in the ‘Oscars of food’

Four Alabama chefs and one Alabama restaurant have been named semifinalists for the 2016 James Beard Awards, the country’s most prestigious culinary awards foundation. The semifinalists were announced last week, and this list will be further narrowed down to the finalists on March 16th. The winners will be revealed on May 2nd in Chicago.

The James Beard Awards are often referred to as the “Oscars of food.”

“Covering all aspects of the industry — from chefs and restaurateurs to cookbook authors and food journalists to restaurant designers and architects and more — the Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America,” the James Beard Foundation explains on their website.

Alabama has been well represented in the James Beard Awards in the past, and this year continues the state’s streak.

Highlands Bar & Grill, in Birmingham, has been named a semifinalist for Most Outstanding Restaurant. Highlands has been a semifinalist and finalist for this award every year since 2009, but has yet to taken home the grand prize. Highlands has a long history in Birmingham since it opened in 1982.

One of Highlands’ employees has been singled out as another semifinalist: Dolester Miles is a semifinalist for Most Outstanding Pastry Chef. She was a semifinalist in 2014 and 2015 as well.

The other three Alabama semifinalists are all up for the Best Chef in the South award.

Rob McDaniel is the chef of SpringHouse in Alexander City. SpringHouse boasts a restaurant “that respect[s] the land and a menu that feature[s] excellent, local products.” This is McDaniel’s fourth year as a semifinalist for Best Chef in the South.

David Bancroft runs the new restaurant Acre in Auburn. Bancroft focuses on Alabama-grown food, and “the kitchen sources from on-site gardens and orchards, local farms, and the bounty provided by the Blackbelt Region, reinterpreting the rich heritage of Alabama cuisine.” Bancroft has never been a semifinalist for this award.

Bill Briand is another first-time semifinalist for Best Chef in the South. He runs Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina in Orange Beach. Fisher’s offers two waterfront dining experiences, and the website states that “in addition to its breathtaking design and culinary excellence from seafood to steak, Fisher’s Upstairs offers craft cocktails, as well as a carefully curated wine list.”