Best New Chefs 2012: 'Food & Wine' Announces Top Young Toques

Food & Wine has announced the Best New Chefs (BNC) of 2012. The chefs were celebrated at a fete on Tuesday with food from former BNC winners: Daniel Boulud of Daniel ('88); Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern ('02); Shea Gallante of Ciano ('05); Gavin Kaysen of Café Boulud ('07); Matthew Lightner of Atera ('10); George Mendes of Aldea ('11); as well as Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars winner Richard Blais.

A press release emailed to The Huffington Post explains how the chefs are selected:

Best New Chefs are chosen after a months-long selection process. The magazine works with restaurant critics, food writers and other trusted experts around the country to identify outstanding chefs who have been in charge of a kitchen for five years or fewer. Then the editors travel incognito to taste the food themselves.

Check out the winners below:

Comments

[suemj]

05:12 PM on 04/05/2012

Nothing appetizing about the foaming soap-substance, stingy amount and I'm sure well overpriced.

[bluereality909]

12:55 PM on 04/04/2012

I look at this plate and it reminds of going fishing.....green stink cheese and fish eggs.

[Paintio]

09:16 PM on 04/04/2012

Mmmm, stink cheese.

[YankeeCanuck]

12:32 PM on 04/04/2012

THat plate of frog spawn looked yummy!

[Paintio]

09:16 PM on 04/04/2012

Don't knock frog spawn.

[Sgt Heart]

12:16 PM on 04/04/2012

To put fome on anything is so so over. let it go as did the pet rock. Chefs are just showing off, oh by the way what does that fome cost?, and it called a side?

[Rubyfoo]

12:15 PM on 04/04/2012

I don't know if I'd want to eat that foamy stuff, but it might look good hung on the wall.

[guriboy]

12:10 PM on 04/04/2012

If someone ever tries to serve me food that looks like they scooped soap bubbles out of the sink where they're washing dishes, the chef is going to be on the receiving end of The People's Elbow.

[emlr]

11:39 AM on 04/04/2012

No spit and phlegm for me, thank you.

[odra]

11:37 AM on 04/04/2012

I hate when food has that foamy stuff, it looks like some kind of animal puked on it.

[lolarites]

11:36 AM on 04/04/2012

Say no to the foam. It reminds me of the pea pods in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

[allyson notally]

11:28 AM on 04/04/2012

Glad to see Nashville represented on the list! (BTW, never heard of that restaurant!)

[iRock]

11:25 AM on 04/04/2012

It's like someone took the remaining contents of a kitchen sink and put it on a plate.

[peegan]

11:25 AM on 04/04/2012

I was always turned off by what I call "architecture food," food where construction seems to have taken a priority over all else. Design me a building, but leave my food alone. But that is starting to look like comfort food compared to the new "chemistry food." Bubbles? Seriously? If I found that in my frig I would put on rubber gloves, get a spatula, and scrape it down the disposal as fast as I could. I may be sounding a bit provincial here, but come on.

[blizzard2588]

11:30 AM on 04/04/2012

I agree. In my opinion food should look like food and not a dirty sponge served with dishsoap suds. I'm all for trying new things but I don't know if I could try that and I especially wouldn't pay to try it.

[Cacey]

11:48 AM on 04/04/2012

I love abstract art but when it comes to food, I'll take the classic French style where there were layers and piles of food arainged in some form of order.

[steelol]

11:21 AM on 04/04/2012

Mmmmmmmm... Everyone knows I love MY Benu peach, matcha, and elderflower topped off with foamy cat-barf.

[lolarites]

11:37 AM on 04/04/2012

Cat barf is definitely an acquired taste. They used to serve it every Thursday at the cafeteria at college.

[humpfree]

11:19 AM on 04/04/2012

The benu peach, matcha, elderflower may taste delicious but the presentation just stinks. He's not even trying to sell you on the dish soap on the pudding square thing. It just looks like a bad accident.

[MzTexas]

11:09 AM on 04/04/2012

The plate with the foam looks completely unappetizing and rather nasty. Ugh.

[emlr]

11:41 AM on 04/04/2012

And I wonder how much that little gem costs? Yuck! I'd have to be on Fear Factor to even try it.