James Beard 2009 Long List: Congrats Dave Tallent

Last Friday marked the arrival of the 2009 James Beard Award semi-finalists, known as the "long list". The short list hits in late March. For the 2nd year running, Bloomington chef David Tallent of Restaurant Tallent makes the list in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category. (Absent is perennial Indianapolis nominee Chef Steven Oakley.)

The 20-chef Great Lakes category will be narrowed to 5 chefs for the finals. Judges must vote on restaurants where they've actually dined. (He faces tough competition from Cincinnati's Jean-Robert de Cavel, Koren Grieveson of Chicago's Avec, and even Cleveland's Michael Symon. In Indiana, it's truly an honor to be nominated. Congratulations, Dave!