We sent a survey to every chef who received a 2011 James Beard Award nomination. It was your standard "20 Questions" kind of thing, addressing kitchen screw-ups, post-shift tipples, and favorite albums to cook to, among other topics. We also asked the chefs to send in self portraits. This was a crazy request, but many of them pulled through, handing in works that ranged from classic iPhone pics to ink-to-paper art. In the run-up to the Beard awards ceremony on Monday, we'll present the chefs' most interesting answers here, category by category.
So far, we've posted the top Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Great Lakes, Southeast, Midwest, South, Northwest, Southwest chefs, the Rising Stars nominees, and we shared the Foodist's predicted winner for each category. Now we give you best chef nominees from the Pacific. Let us know who you think deserves to win in the comments section.
Best Chef, Pacific
The Foodist predicts: Daniel Patterson, COI, San Francisco
Last year's winner: David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
The nominees:
If you could eat at any restaurant in the world tonight, where would it be?
Mugaritz. I've never eaten there.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A good father
What's the one "foodie" ingredient that you don't really like?
I don't know what a "foodie" ingredient is. The only ingredients I don't like are poor-quality ones.
One fruit or vegetable that you wish were in season all year long?
None. If it were always available it would cease to be special.
What are you drinking after a 12 hour shift?
Water. At the 12-hour mark, I'm still in service.
Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, CA
If you could eat at any restaurant in the world tonight, where would it be?
Le Brulot in Antibes, France
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A shepherd
What are you drinking after a 12 hour shift?
Talisker 10-year Scotch
Most underrated Food City?
Stockholm
Best music to cook to?
Tribe Called Quest
Photo courtesy of Christopher Kostow
Photograph courtesy of Michael Cimarusti
What's your least favorite thing to cook?
Fish, Duh!
What would you want to be your last meal?
My grandmother's Manhattan Clam Chowder and Clamcakes
Top Chef or Iron Chef?
Top Chef Made of Iron
Best/Worst dressed chef?
Ask Tim Gunn.
Best album to cook to?
Currently, Levon Helm Electric Dirt####
The other nominees, Richard Reddington of Redd in Yountville, CA and #### Michael Tusk of Quince in San Francisco did not return our survey.