Scott Hunnel, executive chef at Victoria & Albert’s, has once again made it to the list of semifinalists for Best Chef: South award from the James Beard Foundation. And for the second year in a row, Rvenous Pig chefs/owners James and Julie Petrakis also were named.

New to the list this year is Henry Salgado of Spanish River Grill in New Smyrna Beach. In all, 10 Florida chefs (with the Petrakis’s counting as one) are competing for the five finalist slots from among a list of 21. You can see the entire list of semifinalists here.

Richard Gonzmart is in the running for Outstanding Restaurateur, and Virginia Philip of Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy in West Palm Beach is in the running for Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional. Otherwise, Florida is unrepresented in the other categories.

The list of semifinalists will be whittled down by the panel of judges. A final ballot will be submitted and the winners will be announced in a black-tie ceremony in New York in May.

{fblike}