Two area restaurants, PinPoint and manna, are participating in upcoming James Beard Foundation (JBF) programs.
 
A cookbook author and teacher, James Beard was anointed the “Dean of American cookery” by the New York Times in 1954. He helped to lay the groundwork for culinary education and food programing, as we know it today. The foundation’s mission is to celebrate, nurture and honor America's diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire.
 
Five chefs from across the state of North Carolina will come together Dec. 8 to prepare a meal at the famed James Beard House in New York City. Chefs include Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton from PinPoint Restaurant in Wilmington; John Fleer from Rhubarb in Asheville; Joe Kindred from Kindred in Davidson; and Justin Burdett from Local Provisions in Asheville.
 
Showcasing ingredients and regionally inspired dishes that span from the state’s diversity, the menu features items such as Carolina bison, Masonboro reserve oysters and North Carolina black grouper.
 
Neff, who has cooked at the James Beard House three times previously under the tutelage of chef Hugh Acheson, said that the dinner came about as the group of chefs sought to collaborate on a meal that would bring food from across the Tar Heel state to the James Beard House.
 
When asked about his experience cooking at the Beard House, Neff said that one of the things he enjoys most is the fact that all of the guests have the chance to pass through the kitchen and talk with the chefs on their way to the dining room.
 
In other JBF news, manna has been recommended in two categories for the 2017 James Beard Awards: Jameson Chavez for Best Chef Southeast and Rebeca Alvarado-Paredes for Outstanding Pastry Chef. 


 
“The James Beard Foundation awards are the OSCARS for the restaurant industry,” said manna proprietor William Mellon in a recent statement. “And I am beside myself with this recommendation.”
 
Mellon said for the recommendation to move forward, the restaurant must get a few "seconds" from patrons. If enough secondary recommendations are submitted to the foundation via email, JBF representatives will anonymously inspect the restaurant and the recommendations may then become nominations for semifinalists.
 
The 20 semifinalists in each category will be announced Feb. 15, 2017. 

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