News Best New Chefs 2012: Their Simplest Recipes They spent their early years washing dishes, chopping cases of parsley or working on disastrous charcuterie experiments. Now our 2012 Best New Chefs are in charge of outstanding kitchens across America. How do we find these talented people? F&W editors solicit nominations from hundreds of experts around the country. Then we travel to eat at the source, on the lookout for cooks who are serving creative and sensational food and who have been in charge of a professional kitchen for a maximum of five years. By Kate Krader Kate Krader Kate Krader was Food & Wine's restaurant editor for over two decades. She oversaw news, restaurant, and chef coverage. Kate also headed Food & Wine's annual iconic Best New Chefs series. She is currently a food editor at Bloomberg. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 31, 2015 Share Tweet Pin Email 2012 Best New Chefs Danny Grant Blaine Wetzel Cormac Mahoney Corey Lee Bryant Ng Jenn Louis Rich Torrisi & Mario Carbone Karen Nicolas Erik Anderson & Josh Habiger Dan Kluger Video: Past Years' Best New Chefs Danny Grant Ria; Chicago Why He Won: Because his Chicago hotel restaurant is an epicenter for luxurious Midwestern dining. He loves highlighting simple ingredients to create complexly flavored dishes. Biography Recipe: Grilled Halibut with Herb Pistou and Walnut Butter Blaine Wetzel Willows Inn; Lummi Island, WA Why He Won: Because, on a remote island off the Washington state coast, Wetzel gets the majority of the ingredients for his extraordinary menu from two fishing boats, his own garden and the beaches around the island. Biography Recipe: Grilled Oysters with Spiced Tequila Butter Cormac Mahoney Madison Park Conservatory; Seattle Why He Won: Because he's turned a sleepy corner of Seattle into a food destination, using Pacific Northwest ingredients to elevate simple dishes—stuffing eggs with Dungeness crab, topping nettle soup with fried oysters. Biography Recipe: Stuffed Veal Breast with Gigante Beans Corey Lee Benu; San Francisco Why He Won: Because his daring menu epitomizes the Bay Area's young, innovative spirit. "People think Benu is a modern Asian restaurant, but we're a modern American restaurant," says Lee. "For every Asian ingredient on my menu, there are 50 American ones." Biography Recipe: Rice and Sweet Corn Porridge with Dried Scallops Bryant Ng The Spice Table; Los Angeles Why He Won: Because he uses his custom-made sate grill, the focal point of his restaurant, to cook outstanding dishes that focus on his Singaporean heritage. Biography Recipe: Southeast Asian Rib Eye Steaks Jenn Louis Lincoln Restaurant/Sunshine Tavern; Portland, OR Why She Won: Because she obsesses over every ingredient on her menus, from the house-made ricotta in the sage fritters at her flagship, Lincoln, to the olive oil and chocolate topping for the soft-serve honey ice cream at Sunshine Tavern. Biography Recipe: Melon, Berry and Feta Salad Rich Torrisi & Mario Carbone Torrisi Italian Specialties; New York City Why They Won: Because at their flagship, they make Italian-American cuisine remarkable in both affordable seven-course menus and astonishing 20-course menus that celebrate New York City. Biography Recipe: Gnocchi with Pastrami Ragù Karen Nicolas Equinox; Washington, DC Why She Won: Because she has transformed the menu at an established DC restaurant by putting a modern spin on classic American dishes. "I like to see how far I can take different flavors," she says. Biography Recipe: Escarole Salad with Clams and Grilled Corn Erik Anderson & Josh Habiger The Catbird Seat; Nashville Why They Won: Because at their wonderful counter restaurant, the duo combine the playfulness of avant-garde cooking with classic technique: They flavor yogurt with smoked sweet hay to serve with oven-roasted pigeon. Biography Recipe: Grilled Mackerel with Lardo, Avocado and Jalapeño on Toast Dan Kluger ABC Kitchen; New York City Why He Won: Because Kluger uses prime farmers' market produce to make some of Manhattan's best and most beautiful New American dishes. Biography Recipe: Spaghettini with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Chile Crumbs Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit