Zagat Names Raleigh Among Most Exciting Food Cities in America

"This southern capital city has often been overshadowed by hipper-seeming neighbors like Asheville, Charleston, and Durham. But no more. 2017 finally saw local restaurant legend Ashley Christensen, who owns six spots in the city, as a much-deserved James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Chef (she’s a past winner for Best Chef: Southeast). And, her Poole’s Downtown Diner was named by Eater as one of America’s Essential Restaurants for the second year in a row. Steven Devereaux Greene of Herons and Cheetie Kumar of Garland each garnered first-time nominations for Best Chef: Southeast and bread wizard Lionel Vatinet of La Farm Bakery was nominated for the third time for Outstanding Baker. Other recognition for the city came in the form of new spot Brewery Bhavana, from the owners of beloved Laotian restaurant Bida Manda, nabbing spot number 10 on Bon Appetit's Best New Restaurants for 2017. Other exciting openings include seafood spots Cortez Seafood and Cocktail and St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar (from an Ashley Christensen protégé), and French-American bistro Royale cementing Raleigh's place in the South as a food city on par with its flashier neighbors..."

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