Oregon Public Broadcasting

The James Beard foundation has announced semi-finalists for this year’s prestigious awards in the restaurant world. As April Baer reports, Oregon is once again well-represented.

Portland stand-by Higgins is among this year’s nominees for Outstanding Restaurant. The Asian-fusion phenom Ping made the short list for Best New Restaurant.

In addition to toasting the best in the country, the Beard Foundation also salutes top regional spots.

The Northwest list of twenty contenders includes eight Oregon restaurants – including New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro in the Southern Oregon town of Talent. That’s where Charlene Rollins and her husband Vernon make locavore magic.

Charlene Rollins:   “I think the rest of the world is catching up with us. We’ve been in the restaurant business for 30 years now, and have served only organic food from the first day."

Rollins says she’s delighted with the nomination, but that a steady customer base has been more important than awards over the life of her business. Summers are boom times.

Winters, she says, are still very tough.

The Beard awards will be presented in early May.