SCOTTSDALE, AZ — An Arizona chef has been named a finalist for a coveted James Beard Award.
Charleen Badman, co-owner and chef at FnB Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale, was a named a finalist on Wednesday morning in the "Best Chef: Southwest" category. She has been named a semifinalist in the same category every year since 2014. (In 2017, she was also named a semifinalist in the "Outstanding Wine Program" category.)
The winners will be announced in May.
Ten Arizona chefs and restaurants were named as semifinalists in February in six categories, including outstanding baker, outstanding chef, outstanding restaurant, outstanding service, and rising star chef of the year. At that point, a panel of 600 judges votes to reduce the list to a handful of finalists.
FnB opened in 2009 in Craftsman Court, 7125 E. 5th Ave. Suite 31, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
