Scottsdale chef wins prestigious James Beard Award

PHOENIX — Charleen Badman of Scottsdale took home a prestigious James Beard Award honoring her as the best chef in the Southwest on Monday.

The co-owner of FnB Restaurant has been a finalist every year since 2014 in the category, which honors chefs from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

The ceremony in Chicago bestowed awards to members of the food industry in categories including best restaurant design, best new restaurant, outstanding bar program and outstanding pastry chef.

FnB Restaurant was nominated for the “outstanding wine program” James Beard Award in 2017.

In an Instagram post, FnB said the award was dedicated to to “our staff, mentors, Arizona farmers, winemakers, artisans … and to all of our guests that continue to support what we do!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Blessed and honored! Thank you @beardfoundation and to everyone who casted their vote for @veggiebadman! This award is dedicated to our staff, mentors, Arizona farmers, winemakers, artisans…and to all of our guests that continue to support what we do! #jbfa #jamesbeardawards2019

A post shared by local and seasonal love (@fnbrestaurant) on May 6, 2019 at 6:54pm PDT

FnB was named “best new restaurant” by several local outlets in 2010. The same year, Food and Wine magazine named Badman’s braised leeks topped with mozzarella, mustard, breadcrumbs and a sunny-side up egg as a “top ten dish.”

Badman and FnB co-owner Pavle Milic were inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall Fame as “best restaurateurs” in 2013.

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