 If there's one thing our friends at Food & Wine do even better than throwing fabulous festivals all around the country, developing stellar recipes and generally making our lives more appetizing - it's identifying up and coming talent from around the country. In each of the ten designated regions of the country, you - yes, YOU - may vote for the chef whose restaurant has most significantly stirred your soul and your palate. The winner of the The People's Best New Chef 2011 will be the subject of a profile in the July issue of Food & Wine and will no doubt hold you in tremendous gratitude and esteem until the end of time. We and the editors of Food & Wine would greatly prefer that you only vote for chefs whose restaurants you've actually visited, so the "chef" part of The People's Best New Chef 2011 really holds true. See more details at foodandwine.com and let the clicking commence! Midwest | Pacific | Southwest | Northwest | New England
James Lewis On getting diners to leave their comfort zones: “I am not going to sell myself out to please every single person—you just can’t. I do things simply, and I use ingredients that people like, and then I get them to try new things.”
Joe Wolfson Extreme locavorism: Ham and High is located in a planned community that has individual farming plots for residences, as well as one for the restaurant.
Jeff McInnis Best perk of running his own kitchen: “I [can] play loud country music, rock or gangster rap during the middle of service if I feel the urge.”
Timon Balloo Why he’s amazing: Because he juxtaposes unlikely ingredients in interesting ways, such as a scallop crudo with apple, truffle and jalapeño.
Marco Ferraro Powerful food memory: “Every January, my family killed the pigs they raised all year to make sausages, salami, prosciutto, soppressata, pancetta and, of course, freshly cooked pork.”
James Petrakis Must-try dish: Beer-steamed mussels with truffle fries.
Aaron Burgau Best known for: Putting ink where his mouth is: A die-hard New Orleans Saints fan, Burgau has their motto “Who Dat!” tattooed on the inside of his lip.
Joshua Smith Favorite cooking technique: “Not cooking at all. I like curing meat and the sorts of preservation methods that have been around forever. That is what I think is cool.”
Michael Stoltzfus How he got into cooking: “I was getting ready to go to college, and two weeks before, my mom opened a bakery. She said, ‘Come work for me, make a little extra money.’ I started there doing breakfast—simple egg sandwiches, simple omelets. And I never went to college.”
Vishwesh Bhatt Why he’s amazing: Because he returned to his hometown to cook French-influenced Southern food and make his own charcuterie for what he calls his “Bubba Brasserie.” Midwest | Pacific | Southwest | Northwest | New England Voting starts on 2/15/11 and ends 3/1/11 at www.foodandwine.com/peoples-bnc. One vote per computer per region. Votes from any automated means or intended to disrupt the voting process (in American Express Publishing Corporation’s sole discretion) will be void. Chefs with the highest eligible votes per region will become finalists (10 total). The People's Best New Chef title will be determined based on highest number of eligible votes received during the voting period. All votes subject to verification. © 2011 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. 
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All these chefs food makes me blow mud.
Bettola has the best italian food in the South East!!! James Lewis you have my vote!!!
Simply......... Bettola is exquisite.... :D
Love agnello, love lombatello, love the wines, love quattro pasta, love margherita pizza, love all the food from bettola!!! Good Luck James
James Lewis
Bettola´s restaurant is the best, the food is spectacular, the flavors are amazing, and the service is personalized. Great job James Lewis
...
We had dinner at Bettola tonite and every bite was delicious. The flavors of each choice was to perfection. The bread, sausages, pastas and anti pasta selections were divine. can't wait to return!!!! Hope James wins...he deserves it.
I hope polldaddy is able to weed out the cheaters (Birmingham) at the final tally. So sad... Impossible to jump 15% in a day
Bettola is a tiny gem of a restaurant that Birmingham is lucky to have.
one word Torta Chocolata......Bettola is theplace to eat
love the pizza
Nothing compares to The Ravenous Pig – what they do to food is simply magic.
The oven at Bettola is really cool. My kids love to watch their pizzas being prepared, baked and served by Bettolas friendly staff. Good Luck Jim.
I love Bettola. Cant wait to eat at Chef Lewis' new restaurant
not only is the food at Bettola amazing Angel, the bartender mixes some tasty cocktails. Looking forward to spring for a honeysuckle martini. Best of luck Bettola.
I dream of the Bettola's Gnocchi with with fava beans and wild mushrooms.
Even the staff eats at Bettola on their nights off.
We ever we come to Birmingham we look forward to eating at Bettola. Birmingham is quickly emerging as a great restaurant city.
James Petrakis at The Ravenous Pig is my vote. It's the way eating was meant to be: beautiful to look at, delicious to taste served in stylish surroundings by friendly people. This is civilization.
Bettola is amazing. Chef Jim Lewis has created a masterpiece.
My vote for Best Chef goes to James Lewis, owner of Bettola in Birmingham, Al....
The first time I went there, I awoke the next morning still thinking about that
wonderful dinner!!
I have eaten in some of the best restaurants in the country and have always lamented the lack of truly innovative restaurant in this Walt Disney town (Orlando). Ever since James Petrakis opened The Ravenous Pig here, we have finally got our exceptional restaurant! It is always my first choice for dinner–if I can get a reservation. :)
If you have not eaten at the Ravenous Pig in Orlando, then you do not know what you are missing. The food is incredible, the service is awesome and the atmosphere is wonderful.
Does anyone else find it odd that the chef from Bettola jumped more than 15% in the past few days to 1st place out of nowhere? Seems unlikely in such a short period of time and at the end of the voting period at that. Oh well. Here's to one final day of voting!
he jumped up 15% because of a massive email launch throughout Birmingham to get everyone to vote for him....and it worked!! Go James!!
Shennanigans! There's no way people were voting from midnight Monday to 7am tuesday. They jumped 2% overnight. Absolute shenanigans.
Last day to vote for Vish! Does anyone else find it odd that the chef from Bettola jumped more than 15% in the past few days to 1st place out of nowhere? Seems unlikely in such a short period of time and at the end of the voting period at that. Oh well. Here's to one final day of voting!
Best chef!
James Petrakis and the Ravenous Pig – Innovative, inspiring, elegant yet simple. A culinary tour de force!!!
JAMES PETRAKIS
Avon's got your back James Petrakis!
Bettola rocks!!!!!
The Ravenous Pig has convinced us that Central Florida really does have an emerging food scene- one that is worth sticking around for. Nothing else in Orlando compares to what Petrakis is doing here.
James is the best chef i've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and his food is only better
James is the best chef i have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and his cuisine is only better
I took my wife to Bettola for her birthday and i could not have asked for a better time. The only thing better then the food was the service.
Great job Chef James Lewis! Amazing neapolitan pizzas you have brought a piece of Italy to Birmingham!
The Ravenous Pig is an incredibly exciting dining experience. I was fortunate enough to attend a beer dinner and it was an awesome community event where I got to meet the brewers from Gainesville Florida's Swamphead Brewery and talk to the chef about the dishes. Fantastic grub every time!
The Ravenous Pig brings Big Apple sophistication to Florida fare. Always the freshest gulf seafood, accoutrements and precise service. The Mahi sandwich to die for!
Coquette...... congratulations!!!!
Michael's food presentation is uniquely stunning & a royal treat to the taste buds!! The scallops are awesome!
James Lewis at Bettola has taken dishes as common as pizza and created amazing dishes you just MUST have again! G
James Lewis at Bettola. New, local, affordable and most of all really good.
Ravenous Pig is so money. Fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes. One of my new favorites nestled in Orlando.
The Ravenous Pig all the way!!! Love the shrimp and grits, biscuits and salads. all the fun inventive flavors, local ingredients and great drink drink list. plus the unpretensious bar dining option is lots of fun.
The Ravenous Pig is hands down the best restaurant in our area (Winter Park/Orlando, Florida). James and Julie Petrakis are both amazing chefs and the food at the Pig is creative, delicious, always changing, made with as many local ingredients as possible, and everything that can possibly be made in house IS...it is seriously fantastic. My husband is a Research and Development Chef for a very major restaurant company and we spend all of our birthdays, anniversaries, and really any occasions at the Ravenous Pig. Vote for James...and go eat at the Pig!!
Ham and High is outstanding! We visit every week to see what's new – Chef Joe Wolfson keeps it fresh, exciting and always delicious. The pork and fish dishes are to die for – everyone needs to drop by to visit Joe!
I've been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Vishwesh, you are great. Keep up the good work
Bhuvana
Great article! jfgoiprjg
Gibby you sound hot!
Um, why are Florida restaurant chefs from the Orlando and Miami areas in the running for Gulf Coast chef? Makes no sense.
I voted for Aaron Burgau at Patois New Orleans. Between the Who Dat? ink and the Sunday brunch, I'm not sure what's more impressive.
I've been going to Ravenous since they first opened and have never been disappointed. The pub burger is the best and the truffle fries to die for, not to mention shrimp and grits, the biscuits, all the salads....I could go on and on but you get the idea...everything is out of this world. It's always my first choice.
Since when did Miami become part of the Gulf Coast?!?! Last time I checked, it was on the Atlantic Ocean and a whole state away!!!!!! They may want to claim us but we sure as hell do not claim them!!!!!!
um...last time I checked the majority of the west coast of Florida is considered gulf coast. Perhaps Miami is Atlantic but by saying it is a whole state away makes it sound like you are implying Florida is not apart of the "Gulf Coast".
Since when did Birmingham become part of the Gulf Coast? However, it is at least only 4 hours away, but Miami?!?! The last time I checked a map, it was on the Atlantic Coast and a whole state away!!!!
These are Gulf Coast states, thus, cities in Alabama are part of this region just as the other cities are in states that are in the region. Nothing claimed the cities were on the water.
I vote for Vish. He is the greatest !
Vote James Petrakis! Hankering for the charcuterie and truffle fries right now! Not to mention the ridiculous gruyere biscuits!
Vote for Vish! The man is an inspired chef.
Josh Smith is wonderful!! I just last week I had lunch at Amano- his Gorgonzola cheese and Cauliflower soup was to die for! It was so good, I took home two bowls! I also love, love, love the meats they cure and make there- too many favorites to mention. It's really a terffic spot!
James Petrakis deserves as much as we can give him. He is very thoughtful about the food his uses and his overwall presentation is winning. All the best to James Petrakis. You must go and eat at the Ravenous Pig and enjoy Julie Petrakis' incredible desserts. Ravenous – a real class act. Thank you.
I have been lucky enough to know Aaron Burgau for many years and the man can cook. Utilizing his talents and the food/culture of NOLA, I don't know if there is better food than at Patois. Vote for Aaron Burgau now! Who Dat?!
We all are constantly voting in my home. All of my family goes to the Snackbar often and they say it is fantastic because of the great chef hired by John. So good luck and I will vote for each member of my family, including the 1 year old..
For the last year my wife and I never miss a chance when visiting Oxford to visit the Snackbar. Chef Vish is great. Best of luck. You have our votes ! ! !
The Ravenous Pig is such a delight! The lobster tacos are truly the most amazing thing I've ever tasted. I don't know how he does it, but Chef Petrakis blends ingredients together that at first make you go HMMMMMMMMMMM? to MMMMMMMMMMM!!!! Hands down the best chef and restaurant in this country :)
My best is timo Balloo
Ate at Snackbar last eveing. Amazing food! Vote for Chef Viswesh Bhatt.
Vote for Vish, he is a great cook. BTW does anyone know why the votes go down?
Rushir,
The votes go down because the number is not a count it is a %age. Each time one nominee gets a vote the %age of rest of the other nominees reduces a little.
Veena
Chef Jim Petrakis and his wife Julie have a wonderful restaurant, Ravenous Pig. The menu is always so creative. Also great people. Good luck to you, Jim
We love Ravenous pig's food. Chef Petrakis is awesome, we love the lobster tacos and the pub burger. Good luck Chef, we are proud to have you in Winter Park, Fl
Timon is the BEST CHEF in Miami. His food is cutting edge and is the tastiest I have eaten in Years. He is extremely ereative in his Menu.
Vish was the chef at a Restaurant that we owned a few years ago. I have been all over the world and I love good food, but I have truly never, never tasted anyone's food that can rival his. He is amazing. I am only sorry that I live a long way away from him now. He is magic.
It doesn't get more fresh and flavorful than Chef Joe Wolfson's dishes! GO JOE!
Actually the previous chef of that restaurant wrote that book and laid the foundation. He was truly the better one. But chef Vishmesh from Oxford gets my vote.
Chef Baloo is by far the best there is. He is so talented at creating flavors that have a lasting impression.
best of luck. Rushir is very excited about your nomination.
It's a cryin' shame that women no longer know how to cook.
The best Chef ever !!!! Excellent food!!!
great food by a great chef... amazing touch....
Vishwesh that is...
patois is excellent. made their shrimp gumbo when they published it and couldn't wait to go there. eat there everytime i'm in the city.
Wishing best of luck!
Joshua Smith, my goodness, those lips.
Joe Wolfson is an awesome chef, so creative with his menu, everything is organic and grown on the grounds of Ham and High. Please drop by for a fine dining experience, you will not regret it. Oh yes and vote for Joe!
The photos on these pages need some whitespace or something to better indicate which block of text they go with.
Also you should have a caption for who the subject is and who the photographer is and indicate accordingly.
Vote for James Petrakis! His food is always inventive & delicious! He cares about the community & the farm to table movement! Even my 2 year old loves The Pig!
I agree – w the Pig!!! BEST dining in a very long time. Never knew just how good shrimp and grits could be.
sorry We had dinner at the Ravenous Pig Wednesday. It was horrible. The red snapper was tastless the Charcuterie and cheese was absimal, gamey and without imagination. The best part was the beer and coffee. The steak was only mediocre with a sauce that tasted like vinagar and completely ruined any flavor it touched. The restuarent was noisey the kitchen noise was so bad I could not talk with my guest.
What I find amusing about a bad review in a sea of good reaviews...Is the bad review does not mean the restaurant is bad. Just because you didn't like the way it tasted doesn't mean someone else won't. I guess that is why I don't pay attention to reviews. I would rather try it myself and form my own opinion.
We LOVE the Pig!!!!!! Not only does the food require too many adjectives to describe how good it is, but the staff is always excellent as well. We now have a hard time eating anywhere else in Central Florida! Go Chef James!!!!!!
Fine ennui always, prepared as if for a king
Joe Wolfson is a truly inspired chef.. Keep the amazing food coming!
Vote for Vish!!!
Amazing touch!!!
Stuck around to hold it down in Montgomery. Thanks Joe!
Go Coquette!
BEST RESTAURANT IN MIAMI !. CHEF BALLOO IS OUTSTANDING
Food with integrity, deliciously prepared. Joe Wolfson is the best!
joe wolfson @ ham and high, montgomery alabama is outstanding
Great chef, love his food!. His lamb kidneys to die for! Been in sugarcane 15 times!! My Favorite restaurant in Miami