James Beard finalists announced

Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen kept it from being an N.C. shutout when the finalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards were announced Monday morning in Charleston. Charlotte's Eric Solomon was in consideration for Wine & Spirits Professional but didn't make the final cut.

Among the book nominations, though, Southern books dominated the American category, with nominations for "Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking," by Charleston's Nathalie Dupree and co-author Cynthia Graubart of Atlanta, along with "Fire in My Belly" by Atlanta's Kevin Gillespie and David Joachim, and "Southern Comfort: A New Take on the Recipe We Grew Up With," by Allison Vines-Rushing and Slade Rushing.

The full list for Best Chef Southeast (the Carolinas' category): Christensen, Poole's Diner, Raleigh; Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville; Soseph Lenn, The Inn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tenn.; Steven Satterfield, Miller Union, Atlanta; Tandy Wilson, City House, Nashville. In other categories, Sean Brock of Husk and McCrady's in Charleston was a nominee for Outstanding Chef.

The complete list of nominations, including Books, Journalism and Broadcast, are available here:  JBF Nominees. The awards will be given out May 3 and May 6 at ceremonies in New York.