Juneau chef a semifinalist for prestigious national award

Beau Schooler makes ricotta gnocchi in the kitchen of Panhandle Provisions. (Photo by Lisa Phu/KTOO)
Beau Schooler makes ricotta gnocchi in the kitchen of Panhandle Provisions. (Photo by Lisa Phu/KTOO)

A Juneau chef has once again been nominated for one of the food world’s highest honors.

Beau Schooler, chef at the Rookery Café in downtown Juneau, is one of 30 named by the James Beard Foundation as a semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

Schooler was nominated for the same honor last year, which is given annually by the foundation to young chefs who display “impressive talent” and who are likely to make “a significant impact on the industry.”

Schooler and business partner Travis Smith also operate The Taqueria and will soon open a newItalian restaurant in the old Silverbow Bakery space downtown.

The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit culinary arts organization. The group will release a final list of nominees March 15.

Jennifer Canfield is a reporter at KTOO in Juneau.

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