JOHN BESH

Acclaimed chef John Besh grew up in Southern Louisiana, learning at an early age the essentials of Louisiana’s rich culinary traditions. Besh has set the benchmark for fine dining in New Orleans—with four successful restaurants—Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Lüke and La Provence. He won the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Southeast in 2006. Besh’s appreciation for local ingredients and local cuisine has only increased since Hurricane Katrina as he considers these essential to the survival of the people and cultural heritage of New Orleans. Showing the spirit of New Orleans in the wake of a disaster, Restaurant August was one of the first restaurants to reopen. Besh has been actively involved in efforts locally and national to raise funds for hurricane victims.