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Orlando Chefs Named James Beard Award Semifinalists in 2016

Discover the Orlando chefs recognized as James Beard Award semifinalists in 2016.

Four local chefs have advanced to the semifinal round of the 2016 James Beard Foundation Restaurant & Chef Awards, underscoring Orlando’s growing influence on the national culinary stage. The nominees are: Scott Hunnel of Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World® Resort, James and Julie Petrakis of The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park, and Kathleen Blake of the former Rusty Spoon in downtown Orlando.

Over the past decade, the James Beard Foundation has spotlighted a select group of Orlando chefs. The program is the most prestigious honor for culinary professionals in the United States, and the 2016 semifinalists were chosen from more than 20,000 online submissions spanning 21 categories across 10 regions nationwide.

Orlando’s James Beard Award Semifinalists for 2016

Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Chef Scott Hunnel
For 16 years, Victoria & Albert’s has earned the AAA Five Diamond Award and a reputation for impeccable service at Walt Disney World® Resort. Hunnel’s six‑course, prix‑fixe menu showcases Modern American cuisine crafted from globally sourced ingredients, with a strong emphasis on Florida’s local markets and seaports.

The Ravenous Pig – James & Julie Petrakis
Graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, the Petrakis couple launched their American gastropub in 2007 and expanded with a sister location in Winter Park in 2012. Their menu blends Southern comfort with contemporary twists, earning frequent acclaim from critics and diners alike.

The Rusty Spoon – Chef Kathleen Blake
Blake’s culinary journey began in her grandmother’s Iowa kitchen and progressed through the Community College of San Francisco’s Apprenticeship Program to a stint as chef de cuisine at Restaurant Nora in Washington, D.C. After leading Primo at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, she opened The Rusty Spoon in 2011, offering a relaxed gastropub experience. (The Rusty Spoon closed in 2019.)

Cover image: James Petrakis of The Ravenous Pig

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