Arizona-based Chef Chris Bianco and Baker Don Guerra have both won coveted James Beard Awards.
Bianco, who headlines Tratto, Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, accepted this year’s award for “Outstanding Restaurateur.” This marks Bianco’s second James Beard accolade after winning “Best Chef — Southwest” in 2003. Guerra won “Outstanding Baker” this year for his Tucson bakery, Barrio Bread.
Considered the “Oscar’s of the Food World,” the annual James Beard awards recognizes some of the very best culinary talent across the country. Established over 30 years ago, the James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to celebrate, support and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity and sustainability.
This year’s awards featured 15 semifinalists nominations and four finalists from Arizona, including: Bacanora, Phoenix for “Best New Restaurant”; Don Guerra of Tucson’s Barrio Bread for “Outstanding Baker”; Chris Bianco of Phoenix’s Tratto, Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco for “Outstanding Restaurateur”; and Giovanni Scorzo of Scottsdale’s Andreoli Italian Grocer for “Best Chef — Southwest.”
See the full list of 2022 James Beard award winners here.
