On Wednesday, Matthew McClure of The Hive in Bentonville and Rafael Rios of Yeyo’s in Bentonville were named semifinalists for the James Beard Award for “Best Chef: South.” The category includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico.

 

“I am completely shocked and humbled,” McClure says in a Facebook post. “This recognition is the direct results to the effort of the amazing team we have.”

 

Of the 20 semifinalists, the two were the only chefs from Arkansas to make the cut. This is McClure’s seventh time on the shortlist for the award.

 

The full list of semifinalists for the Best Chef: South James Beard Award are listed below:

 

Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith, Saint-Germain, New Orleans

Michael Beltran, Ariete, Coconut Grove, FL

Valerie, Nando, and Fernando Chang, Itamae, Miami

Clay Conley, Buccan, Palm Beach, FL

Adam Evans, Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Birmingham, AL

Jeremy Ford, Stubborn Seed, Miami

Hao Gong, LUVI Restaurant, New Orleans

Francis Guzmán, Vianda, San Juan, PR

Timothy Hontzas, Johnny’s Restaurant, Homewood, AL

Melissa M. Martin, Mosquito Supper Club, New Orleans

Matthew McClure, The Hive, Bentonville, AR

Abel Mendoza, Estela, Rincón, PR

Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, Orlando, FL

Michael Nelson, GW Fins, New Orleans

Niven Patel, Ghee Indian Kitchen, Kendall, FL

Alex Perry, Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS

Michael Pirolo, Macchialina, Miami

Allison Richard, High Hat Cafe, New Orleans

Rafael Rios, Yeyo’s, Bentonville, AR

Isaac Toups, Toups’ Meatery, New Orleans

 

 

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