East Valley chefs Kevin Binkley and Jack Strong, along with Scottsdale restaurateur Sam Fox, have made the “long list” for this year’s James Beard awards, the restaurant world’s version of the Oscars.

This week, a preliminary ballot featuring 20 nominees in each category was sent to voters, who will trim the field to five in each category. Those finalists will be announced March 24, with winners announced June 8.

Binkley, owner and chef of Binkley’s in Carefree, and Strong, chef at Kai at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Chandler, both made the ballot in the category of Best Chef: Southwest, which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

Nobuo Fukuda, chef at Seasaw in Scottsdale, won last year’s award for Best Chef: Southwest. Arizona has had nine winning chefs, more than any other state in the region.

Fox, founder of Scottsdale-based Fox Restaurant Concepts, is competing for Outstanding Restaurateur, a national category that includes Wolfgang Puck and Laurent Tourondel, who’s opening a BLT Steak in Scottsdale later this year. Fox restaurants include The Green House, Olive & Ivy, Bloom, Sauce, North, Wildflower and Blanco.

Scottsdale’s Kazimierz World Wine Bar made the list for Outstanding Wine Service, which recognizes “excellence in wine service through a well-presented wine list, knowledgable staff and efforts to educate customers about wine.”

Vincent Guerithault, of Phoenix’s Vincent on Camelback, is up for Outstanding Chef, another national category where the nominees also include Michael Mina, who just opened one of his Bourbon Steak restaurants in Scottsdale.

See the full ballot here.

Posted in: Cave Creek • Chandler • Phoenix • Scottsdale |

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