Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)— Three chefs with Filipino roots are in the running for major culinary honors in the United States after scoring nominations at the prestigious James Beard Awards.
Vince Bugtong of Abacá, a San Francisco-based contemporary Filipino restaurant, was named as a finalist for the category of “Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.”Also nominated for the same award is Margarita Manzke of Los Angeles-based République.Manzke is also one of the founders of the famous Wildflour Café + Bakery in Manila. Meanwhile, Aaron Verzosa of Archipelago, a Filipino restaurant in Seattle, Washington, will compete for the title of “Best Chef in the Northwest and the Pacific.”Considered as a top industry prize in the United States, the James Beard Awards aim to recognize “exceptional talent and achievement” in the culinary arts, including in the sectors of food media, hospitality, and sustainability.
