If you don’t know what the James Beard Awards are let me tackle that first. In each industry like the films, music, Broadway shows there are awards. There are the Oscars for the movies, the Grammys for music, Tony’s for Broadway and then there is the James Beard Awards for the restaurant industry. At this time of the year the James Beard Foundation issues its list of semi-finalist for the top restaurateur, top restaurant, top chef, regional chefs, best service, best beverage etc. It is then narrowed down to finalist with the awards taking place in New York City on May 2nd.
The only nominee from Baltimore in any of the categories is Chef Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen for best Mid-Atlantic Chef. Woodberry Kitchen was recently recognized by Bon Appetit Magazine as one of the top 10 new restaurants in the country.
Woodberry Kitchen a destination restaurant
Diners are the benefactors of Chef Gjerde’s vision of buy local, buy fresh. As in the film Field of Dreams Spike believed if you build it they will come and his dream is a reality, on any given night of the week reservations are a necessity.Spike’s conviction to farm-to-table is not new; it has been his mindset for a long while. Both he and Chef John Shields have led the way on sustainable, buy local in Baltimore.
Chef Gjerde has had his Don Quixote moments, tilting at windmills or let’s say other restaurants that for one reason or another had to close but not for the lack of great food. This is Spike’s time and hopefully Woodberry Kitchen makes it to the James Beard finalist list and it is no longer Spike's impossible dream. In the end, anyone who dines at Woodberry Kitchen and embraces its philosophy of local food from the Chesapeake region wins with a great meal, atmosphere and service.
Check out Chef Gjerde’s recently posted video on Woodberry Kitchen and his commitment to farm-to-table.
Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Road
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 464-8000
www.woodberrykitchen.com
twitter: @WKRestaurant
Subscribe to my local posts as Baltimore's Dining Examiner as well as Examiner.com's NEW national Food Examiner Follow me on Twitter @diningdish or e-mail me at examiner@diningdish.otherinbox.com. Photo by Dara Bunjon© of downtown Farmers Market.
Comments
Great blog, Dara. Great find, great video. This is just the kind of thing I hope to find when I read your blogs! Can't wait to go!
Well written and well researched, I look forward to dining out on your recommendation.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!