Photo by Danny Fulgencio
José chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman made the James Beard semifinalist list in the Best Chefs category.
This marks her third appearance on the annual list, the first being in 2022. She was also an honoree at the James Beard Foundation’s Iconoclast Dinner on June 10, 2022, where she showcased a specialty menu. In 2022, José was a semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality.
“We’re such a close knit team, that this means just as much to them as it does to me,” Quiñones-Pittman said.
The Texas category features 17 other chefs. It’s also important to note Texas is the only state with its own category and rightfully so.
Other Dallas chefs recognized in the category include Misti Norris of Petra & the Beast and Regino Rojas of Purépecha.
José, a Guadalajaran-inspired restaurant near Lovers Lane and Inwood Road, focuses on Jalisco-style dishes from Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. It opened in 2017 and Quiñones-Pittman has been the chef at José since 2018.
Photography by Kathy Tran.
The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards annually celebrate various culinary experiences and talents, recognizing everything from fine-dining establishments to emerging and established luminaries.
The Best Chef awards by region consider chefs who set “high standards in culinary skills and leadership, contributing to a sustainable work culture and positively impacting their broader community.”
Nominees from the semifinalist list will be announced on Wednesday, April 3, with winners revealed on Monday, June 10, at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony in Chicago.
