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The finalists for the so-called “Oscars of Food” – the prestigious James Beard Awards – were announced Tuesday, but none of the area’s semifinalists made the cut.
This year, Indiana produced four James Beard semifinalists: from Bloomington, Daniel Orr of FARM Bloomington and David Tallent of Restaurant Tallent and out of Indianapolis, Micah Frank of Black Market and Greg Hardesty of Recess. But when the finalists were announced Tuesday, none of their names were listed.
It’s not the first time, either. Indiana has never produced a James Beard award-winning chef. Liz Biro, a food writer at the Indianapolis Star, says what people eat here just doesn’t line up with the kind of food that nabs the big awards.
“People still love their comfort food, their down-home food," Biro said. "Restaurants have to be realistic and give people what they want.”
Biro also says the state’s chefs are frequently overshadowed by their counterparts in Chicago, who compete within the same region for the James Beard Awards.
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