Four Locals Nominated For Food & Wine's Best New Chef

Food & Wine magazine announced today that four DC chefs have been nominated for its new The People's Best New Chef award, in which readers will vote online for the winner. There are 10 nominees in each region, and Washington tied Philadelphia in the Mid-Atlantic region for most slots snagged. (The other two chefs hail from Pittsburgh.) DC's nominees are Nicholas Stefanelli of Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley, Bayou Bakery's David Guas and Daniel Giusti of 1789.

Voting starts today at Eatocracy and continues until March 1. Regional winners and one overall winner will be announced the next day. There's already plenty of buzz that these nominees are essentially a shortlist for F&W's annual Best New Chef award.

· Food and Wine's The People's Best New Chef 2011 [Eatocracy]