John
Besh
John
Besh's passion for cooking began in southern Louisiana , where his knowledge
of food and dining blossomed at an early age. As a graduate of the Culinary
Institute of America and a seasoned professional chef, Besh has experienced
years of intense training around the globe. He has worked at prestigious
establishments such as Maxim's in New York , The Windsor Court's Grill Room
in New Orleans and the Cinnamon Tree in Baltimore .
His love of classical
cooking led him to a small town bordering Germany , France and Switzerland ,
where he spent an apprenticeship at the Michelin-starred Romantik Hotel
Spielweg under the direction of famed German chef Karl-Josef Fuchs. After
returning to the United States , Besh opened Graham's as Kevin Graham's Chef
de Cuisine and later held the same title at the renowned La Provençe
Restaurant. These restaurants collected accolades under his direction,
including a four star rating by The Mobil Restaurant Guide, four diamonds by
The American Automobile Association and Five Beans by Gregory Roberts of the
Times Picayune.
Back in his home state, as executive chef
for Artesia in Abita Springs, Louisiana, he was named one of
Food and Wine
magazine's Top 10 Best New Chefs
of 2000 and by
New Orleans magazine as
Best New Chef of 1998. The restaurant has been ranked among the Top
Restaurants of America by
Gourmet
magazine. The James Beard Foundation declared Besh “a rising star of
American Cuisine” and
Zagat's 2000 dining guide rated
Artesia as having the “highest score for food in New Orleans and being the
best French restaurant in the city.”
In 2001, Restaurant
August burst onto the New Orleans culinary scene with acclaimed chef and
native son, Besh, at the helm. The sleek restaurant offers a menu of
trend-conscious Euro with Creole touches, making Besh the chef with the
buzz. His inspirations for Restaurant August's innovative menu are the
classical techniques he learned through school; the demanding apprenticeship
in Germany ; several sojourns in France ; all paired with the Creole
influences that come naturally to one “born on the bayou.”
In 2003, Besh is joined
forces with Harrah's Casino in New Orleans to open a The Besh Steakhouse at
Harrah's – not a typical steakhouse by any accounts. The offerings reflect
the locale, rich in seafood and New Orleans flavors. Besh relishes the
opportunity to explore his creativity within the traditional definition of
the all-American steakhouse. The food is good serious meat and potatoes, but
infused with the whimsy and humor for which Besh has become known.
In his first restaurant
venture outside of Louisiana, John Besh has lent his creative passion for
cooking to N'awlins Restaurant at Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Tunica,
Mississippi. N'awlins is nestled in the corner of the casino, though you
would be hard pressed to believe you were not in the heart of the French
Quarter. With classy, sleek, modern décor, the restaurant invokes a relaxed
atmosphere perfect for sampling the extraordinary menu accompanied by
selections from one of the most extensive wine cellars in the country.
Selections are flavored with a definite New Orleans blend of spices which
awaken the palette and make you anxious for a second bite. Chef Besh's
passion for his cooking is infused in each menu offering
Besh's passion extends
far beyond the kitchen, however. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina Besh could be found in a rowboat, looking for staff members in the
flooded streets of New Orleans . With his wife and four young sons evacuated
safely to North Carolina , he remained focused on his other family – his
restaurant team.
Within days, Besh was
serving red beans and rice to relief workers. He flew to Washington , DC to
participate in “Po'Boy Power!” – an event organized by fellow chefs that
raised over $27,000 in just one two-hour stretch, one po'boy at a time. Back
in New Orleans , he got Restaurant August cleaned up to the stringent
standards of the Health Department, determined to re-open as soon as
possible for his staff, his loyal clientele – and his own sanity. They're
now open for dinner, albeit with a limited menu, but doing fine under the
circumstances.
In addition to the fine
dining, Besh has been cooking for the masses – 600 breakfasts and 600
lunches a day, to be exact – under a FEMA contract through which he serves
the civil servants, policemen, firemen, even the D.A., living in trailers in
Chalmette in St. Bernard's Parish.
As further recognition
for his extraordinary efforts, Besh continues to be featured in national the
media. Chef John Besh's efforts (and recipes) will be featured in The Wall
Street Journal in December; as well as in the February issues of both
Gourmet Magazine and Oprah's O Magazine. On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday,
November 24, Besh was featured on The Today Show, cooking a Thanksgiving
breakfast for the residents of Chalmette . Later that day, back at
Restaurant August, Chef Besh was featured on CNN, cooking Thanksgiving
dinner for his family, his staff, and their families.
Chef Besh was named one
of Food and Wine magazine's Top 10 Best New Chefs of 2000 and Best New Chef
of 1998 by New Orleans magazine. The James Beard Foundation also declared
Besh "a rising star of American Cuisine."
In his first restaurant
venture outside of Louisiana, John Besh has lent his creative passion for
cooking to N'awlins Restaurant at Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Tunica,
Mississippi. With classy, sleek, modern décor, the restaurant invokes a
relaxed atmosphere perfect for sampling the extraordinary menu accompanied
by selections from one of the most extensive wine cellars in the country.
Selections are flavored with a definite New Orleans blend of spices which
awaken the palette and make you anxious for a second bite. Chef Besh's
passion for his cooking is infused in each menu offering.
So keep an eye out for
this citizen-chef, making a difference by serving his fellow Louisianans,
keeping the nation's positive focus on the city of New Orleans and
continuing to push the boundaries of world-class dining. Make your plans now
to experience the delightful creations of Chef John Besh's.
More on
Besh
Nawlins Review - Horseshoe Tunica
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