Two Cleveland chefs compete for James Beard Award

February 23, 1:35 AMCleveland Restaurant ExaminerJoann DiMatteo

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                              TOOLS OF THE TRADE

For culinary professionals, the James Beard Foundation annual awards are akin to the Oscars. In the Great Lakes category for Best Chef are Cleveland's own Michael Symon and Zak Bruell. On March 23rd they and a dozen or so others will wait in hopeful earnest.

Bruell is the chef/owner of Parallax in Tremont and has recently opened L'Albatross in University Circle. Long a culinary notable in the northeastern Ohio area he is no novice in the restaurant business. In the 80's he was a pioneer in nouveau cuisine at his east side, Z. For nearly a decade he was the star in Ken Stewart's Steak House in Akron before returning to town and opening Parallax.

Michael Symon of Iron Chef fame also owns two restaurants. Lola, downtown and Lolita in Tremont. Somewhat of a visionary Michael was one of the first to see the potential of the west side neighborhood and began serving his culinary treats at the hip eatery. Much of Cleveland's current status as a notable place for gourmands can be attributed to his success.

Like the movie world awaits the Oscars, foodies look forward to honoring the nation's
best chefs. On that night we will know who is heir to a metaphoriacal golden whisk.