Beard Predictions Say Things Look Good for Ethan Stowell

Both John Mariani over at Esquire and Andrew Knowlton at Bon Appetit have laid out their predictions on how the James Beard Awards will go down on Monday. Both men think Ethan Stowell will lay claim to the Best Chef: Northwest title. According to Mariani, "Stowell has been surging for the past five years and has broken through on the national radar." Stowell and Matt Dillon are representing Seattle for the title, going up against Portland chefs Andy Ricker of Pok Pok (and Ping and Whiskey Soda Lounge), Christopher Israel of Gruner and Cathy Whims of Nostrana.

Says Knowlton, "Cookbook? Check. New restaurants? Check. Ethan Stowell just might be a Tom Douglas in the making." Gee, wonder if he happened to read last week's cover story in Seattle Weekly? Mariani gives us no love in any of the other categories, but Knowlton is a little kinder to Seattle. He predicts that Canlis will bring it home for Outstanding Service, and that Tom Douglas will win the Outstanding Restaurateur award.
· Handicapping the 2011 James Beard Awards [Esquire]
· The Foodist's 2011 James Beard Award Predictions [Bon Appetit]
· The Weekly Compares & Contrasts Ethan Stowell, Tom Douglas [-ESEA-]