John Besh
Encyclopedia
John Besh is the owner and executive chef at restaurant August in New Orleans, Louisiana
(twice on Gourmet Magazine’s list of Best Restaurants), and owns six other restaurants: La Provence, The American Sector, Lüke (New Orleans and San Antonio), Besh Steak (located in Harrah's
New Orleans Casino
), and Domenica in the Roosevelt Hotel. Besh's first solo-authored cookbook, My New Orleans: The Cookbook: 200 of My Favorite Recipes & Stories from My Hometown was published in 2009.
, and raised in south Louisiana. He loved to hunt and also fish. In 1986, John graduated from St. Stanislaus College High School (Bay St Louis, MS)
, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
as a reservist
. He also attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America
, graduating in 1992. Called to active duty for 10 months in 1990 to serve in the Middle East, he was a non-commissioned officer
during Operation Desert Storm, and participated in the capture of Kuwait International Airport
. He studied in Germany with Karl Josef Fuchs at the Michelin-starred
Romantik Hotel Spielweg. Besh has also studied in the south of France with Alain Assaud.
As the father of four sons—Brendan, Jack, Luke, and Andrew—Besh takes breaks from some of New Orleans' most popular restaurants to continue a longstanding family tradition: fishing. In an interview, Besh says he wants his sons to understand the origin of local foods and the knowledge of food at its source. "My sons think I'm crazy," he says, laughing, "because I want them to learn how to make a roux and a gumbo."
in 1999. In 2006, he won the James Beard Foundation Award
for Best Chef in the Southeast. He worked closely with local food producers, such as Chicory Farm, which led to his relationship with the future proprietors of Nova Scotia's Trout Point Lodge. He opened Restaurant August in 2001 in Central Business District, New Orleans. Since then he has opened two more restaurants: Lüke and Besh Steak. When his mentor, Chris Kerageorgiou, died in 2006, Besh took over La Provence, the restaurant Kerageorgiou had founded. In September 2009, Besh opened Domenica in the recently renovated Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel serving Italian dishes. Besh competed against seven other renowned chefs in the first season of the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, surviving throughout the competition to battle Michael Symon for the title. Though Symon was selected as the Iron Chef, Besh's work was highly praised by the judges and the Iron Chefs alike.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
(twice on Gourmet Magazine’s list of Best Restaurants), and owns six other restaurants: La Provence, The American Sector, Lüke (New Orleans and San Antonio), Besh Steak (located in Harrah's
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
New Orleans Casino
Harrah's New Orleans
Harrah's New Orleans is a casino located in New Orleans, Louisiana near the foot of Canal Street a block away from the Mississippi River. It is a casino with approximately 2,100 slot machines, over 90 table games and a poker room. There are several places to eat ranging from buffet style to fine...
), and Domenica in the Roosevelt Hotel. Besh's first solo-authored cookbook, My New Orleans: The Cookbook: 200 of My Favorite Recipes & Stories from My Hometown was published in 2009.
Biography
Besh was born in Meridian, MississippiMeridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, and raised in south Louisiana. He loved to hunt and also fish. In 1986, John graduated from St. Stanislaus College High School (Bay St Louis, MS)
St. Stanislaus College
St. Stanislaus College is in Georgetown, Guyana, with a student population of over five hundred and a teaching staff of about forty.The College motto is ‘Aeterna Non Caduca’ .The school was opened in May 1866. It was an all boys' school.In the early years, the school was known as St...
, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
as a reservist
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
. He also attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
fraternity. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
, graduating in 1992. Called to active duty for 10 months in 1990 to serve in the Middle East, he was a non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
during Operation Desert Storm, and participated in the capture of Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait International Airport is located in Farwaniyah, Kuwait, south of Kuwait City. It serves as hub for Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways. A portion of the airport complex is designated as Al Mubarak Air Base, which contains the headquarters of the Kuwait Air Force, as well as the Kuwait Air...
. He studied in Germany with Karl Josef Fuchs at the Michelin-starred
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
Romantik Hotel Spielweg. Besh has also studied in the south of France with Alain Assaud.
As the father of four sons—Brendan, Jack, Luke, and Andrew—Besh takes breaks from some of New Orleans' most popular restaurants to continue a longstanding family tradition: fishing. In an interview, Besh says he wants his sons to understand the origin of local foods and the knowledge of food at its source. "My sons think I'm crazy," he says, laughing, "because I want them to learn how to make a roux and a gumbo."
Career
Besh was named one of the Ten Best New Chefs in America by Food & WineFood & Wine
Food & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...
in 1999. In 2006, he won the James Beard Foundation Award
James Beard Foundation Award
The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and are often called "The Oscars of Food." Held on the first weekend in May, the Awards honor the finest chefs, restaurants, wine professionals, journalists, cookbook authors, restaurant designers, and other food professionals in the...
for Best Chef in the Southeast. He worked closely with local food producers, such as Chicory Farm, which led to his relationship with the future proprietors of Nova Scotia's Trout Point Lodge. He opened Restaurant August in 2001 in Central Business District, New Orleans. Since then he has opened two more restaurants: Lüke and Besh Steak. When his mentor, Chris Kerageorgiou, died in 2006, Besh took over La Provence, the restaurant Kerageorgiou had founded. In September 2009, Besh opened Domenica in the recently renovated Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel serving Italian dishes. Besh competed against seven other renowned chefs in the first season of the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, surviving throughout the competition to battle Michael Symon for the title. Though Symon was selected as the Iron Chef, Besh's work was highly praised by the judges and the Iron Chefs alike.
Television appearances
- Chefs A' FieldChefs A' FieldChefs A’ Field is an American documentary cooking series broadcast on PBS that focuses on the personal stories of farmers, fishermen, foragers and chefs, offering viewers a new way of looking at their food, environment, and community .Each episode of Chefs A’ Field starts with a well-known...
- IconoclastsIconoclasts (Sundance Channel)Iconoclasts is a Sundance Channel show. Each episode pairs two "creative visionaries" who discuss their lives, influences, and art, most of whom are longtime friends with the other person featured in the episode. The series premiered on November 17, 2005, and has had five six-episode...
- Episode 17, aired November 22, 2007 - Food Network ChallengeFood Network ChallengeFood Network Challenge is a competitive cooking television series that currently airs on the Food Network. Each episode, professional chefs compete in a timed competition in their professional specialty. The winner receives a check for $10,000 and a gold medal.-Format:The competitions are judged...
- Judge - Iron Chef AmericaIron Chef AmericaIron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
- The Next Iron ChefThe Next Iron ChefThe Next Iron Chef, is a limited-run series on the Food Network now in its fourth season. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program Iron Chef America....
- Runner-Up, Season 1 - Top ChefTop ChefTop Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
- New Orleans guest, season finale, Season 5 - Top Chef MastersTop Chef MastersTop Chef Masters is an American reality competition show currently broadcast on the cable television network Bravo. It is a spinoff of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the series, 24 world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges...
- Contestant - Treme (TV series)Treme (TV series)Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
- self, Season 1, Episode 7 "Smoke My Peace Pipe" - Inedible To IncredibleInedible To IncredibleInedible to Incredible is an American reality television series which follows chef John Besh as he travels around the country to help improve horrible homemade meals. The series premiered on TLC on June 21, 2010 and was directed by Ian Stevenson....
- Host
Contributions
Chef Besh has contributed recipes or been featured in the following books:- The Heirloom Tomato Cookbook by Mimi Luebbermann, Robert Holmes, and Dan Mills, 2006, ISBN 978-0-8118-5355-2.
- The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine by John D. Folse, 2004, p. 786, ISBN 978-0-9704457-1-1.
- The Pleasure of Your Company: Entertaining in High Style by Kimberly Schlegel, 2004, p. 122, ISBN 978-1-58685-314-3.
External links
- Restaurant August - official site