Nancy Silverton Takes Home James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef

Nancy Silverton brought LA’s culinary scene some glory this week, taking home a major win at the 2014 James Beard Awards.

The Osteria Mozza chef broke Los Angeles’ Outstanding Chef award’s 12-year losing streak by taking home the accolade at Monday night’s ceremony in New York.

The super chef has been nominated in this category every year since 2002. This time around, she beat out Sean Brock of Husk in Charleston, Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern in New York, and Suzanne Goin of Lucques in L.A.

Silverton trained at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in London, England and at the Ecole Le Notre in Plaiser, France. She is the co-founder and head baker at La Brea Bakery and was the head pastry chef at the now closed Campanile Restaurant, both in Los Angeles. She opened these two businesses with her ex-husband Mark Peel.

Silverton also owns two restaurants on the corner of Highland and Melrose in Los Angeles along with Mario Batali, Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza. Originally opened as a side venture, Pizzeria Mozza has garnered accolades for its artisan-style pizzas.

Other big winners at the 2014 James Beards Awards included:

• Outstanding Restaurant: The Slanted Door, San Francisco
• Outstanding Pastry Chef: Dominique Ansel, Dominique Ansel Bakery, NYC
• Outstanding Restaurateur: Barbara Lynch, Barbara Lynch Gruppo (No. 9 Park, Menton, B&G Oysters, and others), Boston
• Rising Star Chefs: (tie) Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig, Chicago, and Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island, Lummi Island, WA
• Best New Restaurant: Pêche Seafood Grill, New Orleans

Like Haute Living Los Angeles? Join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @HauteLivingMag.