Bacanora's Rene Andrade is bringing home a coveted James Beard Award after being crowned Best Chef Southwest in Chicago on Monday night.
Why it matters: The James Beard Foundation's awards are among the highest honors in the culinary arts and have the power to put restaurants on the national map.
Zoom in: Bacanora opened in 2021 on Grand Avenue. Andrade is also a co-owner of Espiritu in Mesa and Huarachis Taqueria in downtown Phoenix.
- Each restaurant is beloved locally for serving traditional Mexican fare with a modern twist.
- Bacanora is most acclaimed for its wood-fired meats — a byproduct of Andrade's grill master skills.
What they're saying: In his acceptance speech, Andrade said he was inspired by his grandmother and by watching the love she put into her food as she cooked for their family.
- "I just want to be like her. She's the representation of magic to me," he said.
What we're watching: Following his win, Andrade told Axios he's in the process of opening yet another restaurant that will pay respect to his Mexican roots.
- He said he couldn't reveal the name just yet, but hinted that it would play on the word "classic."
The intrigue: Andrade also told us Phoenix is his home and he has no plans to leave.
- He said he's part of a cohort of Arizona chefs who have forced a new appreciation of Mexican food. It's not just "cheap" eats, but dishes worthy of respect, he said.
- "Mexican food is on the scale of big, big, big things and we have to keep it there," Andrade said. "We have to keep nurturing it."
Between the lines: Valentine's Crystal Kass was a finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker but lost out to Atsuko Fujimoto of Portland, Maine's Norimoto Bakery.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information and quotes.
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