Eric Degerman of WinePress NorthWest reports that “Acclaimed chef Mike Davis, whose 26 Brix was among several in Walla Walla restaurants to close this winter, has been hired by the Seattle-base Heavy Restaurant Group.

Davis will head up the culinary program at three restaurants scheduled to open later this year in the Bellevue Towers — Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, Barrio, and Bliss.” more

Chris Ainsworth, owner/chef of Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen has been listed as a semifinalist in the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards, Restaurant & Chef Award for Best Chef: Northwest. Chef Ainsworth is in excellent company on a short list that includes Seattle chefs,  Jason Wilson of Crush,  Ethan Stowell of Union and Scott Staples of Restaurant Zoë.  Portland notables include Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon, Andy Ricker of Pok Pok and Whiskey Soda Lounge and Daniel Mondok of Sel Gris.

According to the rules on the JBF website, open submissions are taken for the 20 slots in each category.  In the next stage, 400 nationwide industry judges will select five nominees per category and announce the short list on March 23.  Winners will be honored at an Awards Ceremony in New York on May 4.

Deemed “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine, The James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors working on food; and restaurant architects and designers.

Congratulations Chef Ainsworth!