907 Chefs: Alaskan chefs nominated for prestigious James Beard Award

Two Alaskan chefs are duking it out for the title Best Chef of the Northwest.

Laura Cole, owner and executive chef at 229 Parks Restaurant and Tavern in Denali, and Beau Schooler, who owns and operates several eateries in Juneau, are James Beard semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northwest category, along with 18 other chefs from the region.

Schooler is an up-and-coming chef from Anchorage while Cole is nationally recognized after appearing on “Top Chef” in 2017. Currently, she is bringing her fresh and finest dishes to the Anchorage Museum.

The winners will be named on May 6.

– Mary Simton, The Alaska 100