(FOX 5/KUSI) — For the third year in a row, a San Diego chef has landed on the list of semifinalists for a prestigious James Beard Award alongside other big names in the industry.
The list of James Beard semifinalists was released on Wednesday with various categories ranging from “Outstanding Restaurateur” to the top chefs in each region of the country.
Tara Monsod, executive chef of Animae and Le Coq, has once again been named among the top 20 in the “Best Chef: California” category. Both Animae and Le Coq are owned by the Puffer Malarkey Collective.
Michelin Guide-recognized restaurants in and near San Diego
Monsod is widely known in the food scene for infusing components of her Filipino heritage into the cuisine at Animae.
In 2024, Monsod made history when she became the first chef from San Diego County in over 30 years to make it to the final round of the James Beard Awards…