Shreveport Chef Is Named a James Beard Semifinalist

SHREVEPORT, LA – There is no doubt the food scene in Shreveport is on fire. We have so many different varieties and the quality at most of these spots is exceptional. Now the rest of the country is learning about our cuisine in northwest Louisiana.

What Louisiana Chefs Are Honored by James Beard Foundation?

A Shreveport Chef has been named as one of the best chefs in the south by the James Beard Foundation. We have to say congrats to Hardette Harris from Us Up North for this amazing honor. She joins with five other chefs from New Orleans to be named as a semifinalist for a James Beard award.

Here Are the Other Louisiana Chefs Honored

• Melissa Araujo, Alma Cafe, New Orleans, LA
• Amarys Herndon and Jordan Herndon, Palm&Pine, New Orleans, LA
• Sophina Uong, Mister Mao, New Orleans, LA
• Arvinder Vilkhu, Saffron, New Orleans, LA
• Marlon "Chicken” Williams, Chicken's Kitchen, Gretna, LA

Best Chef of the South includes chefs from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico. You can click here to see the other winners from the south.

Harris posted this message on Facebook:

I'm still in shock. I have worked so hard. The kind of hard no one sees day to day and I'm still at it. Celebrating North Louisiana cuisine is what I do and to be recognized for it means the world to me.

She says to make it on this list is a big deal and she's very proud of herself.  Shreveport and all of north Louisiana is proud of her too.