The James Beard Foundation revealed the semifinalist nominees for the 2022 James Beard Awards. Indian Americans are in the category for best chefs

FREMONT CA: One of the most coveted awards in the restaurant industry is recognition by the James Beard Foundation. Every year, around James Beard's birthday on May 5, the awards honor chefs, restaurateurs, authors, and journalists. The James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists list for 2022 indicates Indian Americans' coming of age in the food business. A large number of Indian Americans were cut. Two Indian Americans are competing in the Best Restaurateur category.

In the Best Restaurateur category are two Indian Americans.

Ashok Bajaj, honored “for the contemporary dining experience that his ten elegant restaurants provide in various locations throughout Washington, DC.” The Bombay Club" was his first restaurant. Bajaj is premium on service, value, atmosphere, and hospitality. He is the co-author of the cookbook "Rasika: Flavors of India" and has won numerous awards. Ravi DeRossi of Overthrow Hospitality in New York began investing and now has 15 bars and restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn and is continually expanding. In each of his restaurants, he introduces vegan meals.

Chai Pani in Asheville, NC, won the Outstanding Restaurant award. It's famous for its street cuisine, which includes a variety of crunchy, spicy, sweet, tangy, and brilliantly flavored treats. Along with this, Meherwan and Molly Irani own the other four restaurants. Irani has previously been nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southeast four times. He's recognized for having the décor, food, and colors match the location he's representing.

In the Best New Restaurant category, "Dhamaka," which debuted in New York in 2021, cuts. Chef and partner Chintan Pandya and restaurateur Roni Mazumdar are the owners. The food it serves has consistently received positive feedback.

Four Indian Americans are competing in the category of top chefs.

Chef Srijith Gopinathan of Ettan, a California-Indian cuisine restaurant in Palo Alto, has been nominated for a James Beard Award. In Southern India, he grew up cooking with his mother and grandmother and quickly began experimenting with European influences in his cookery. Gopinathan studied at the Hyde Park, New York-based Culinary Institute of America.

Heena Patel of the San Francisco restaurant Besharam is also nominated for Best Chef-CA. Her first restaurant delivers Gujarati-inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, with bistro-style seating on a heated terrace.

Chef and rock guitarist Cheetie Kumar's Raleigh, NC-based Garland restaurant is a labor of love. The seasonally inspired menu has a Southern flair influenced by Indian and Asian flavors. Cheetie, like her husband and business partner Paul Siler, is a self-taught cook. Her name appears on the list of the Best Chefs in the Southeast.

Niven Patel, Best Chef-South, has worked in restaurants in Italy and Florida and has cooking and product knowledge from his culinary school. He got a Rising Star Award from Star Chefs in 2016. He then decided to create his restaurant, "Ghee Indian Kitchen," in 2017, where he combines fresh and contemporary concepts with traditional Indian recipes.