No Arizona chefs or restaurants named 2023 James Beard award finalists

Those included:

• Outstanding Chef: Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café | Phoenix
• Outstanding Bakery: JL Patisserie | Phoenix and Scottsdale
• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Glai Baan | Phoenix

The intrigue: Arizona had the most semifinalists for "Best Chef" in the Southwest region, which includes New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma, but not one local cook made it to the finalist round.

Those semifinalists were:

• Rene Andrade and Roberto Centeno, Bacanora | Phoenix
• Jaren Bates and Brett Vibber, The Table at Junipine | Sedona
• Nephi Craig, Café Gozhóó | Whiteriver
• Wendy Garcia, Tumerico | Tucson
• Fernando Hernández, Testal | Phoenix
• Yotaka and Alex Martin, Lom Wong | Phoenix

Flashback: Last year, Chris Bianco, of Pizzeria Bianco and Tratto, won Outstanding Restaurateur and Don Guerra, of Barrio Bread in Tucson, won Outstanding Baker.

Our thought bubble: Awards are nice, but happy hearts and full tummies — which you get at all of these eateries — are even better.