John Besh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
John Besh

Besh in 2012
Born	(1968-05-14) May 14, 1968 (age 57) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Education	Culinary Institute of America
Spouse	Jenifer Berrigan Besh

John Besh, born on May 14, 1968, is a famous American chef. He is also a TV star, a restaurant owner, and an author. John Besh is well-known for helping to keep the special cooking traditions of New Orleans alive.

About John Besh

Early Life and Training

John Besh was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He grew up in Slidell. He married Jenifer Berrigan Besh in 1991. They have four children together. His family are Catholics. They attend St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Slidell.

Before becoming a chef, John Besh was a US Marine. He went to The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). He graduated in 1992. His schooling was shorter because he served in the Gulf War.

Awards and Recognition

In 1999, Food & Wine magazine named Besh one of the "Best New Chefs." This was for his cooking at a restaurant called Artesia.

In 2006, Besh won a big award. It was the James Beard Award for "Best Chef, South." In 2008, he received the Food Arts' Silver Spoon Award. This award was for "bringing back the cooking history of New Orleans."

John Besh's Restaurants

John Besh has opened many restaurants. They often celebrate the special cooking of Louisiana. Some of his famous restaurants include Restaurant August and Lüke.

Active Restaurants

Here are some restaurants linked to John Besh that are still open:

• August – This is his main restaurant in New Orleans. It serves modern French cuisine. It uses many local ingredients. Gourmet magazine called it one of "America's Best Restaurants."
• Borgne – Located in the Hyatt Regency. It offers food from the Louisiana coast. You can find dishes like shrimp toast and seafood-stuffed flounder.
• Domenica – This Italian restaurant is in the Roosevelt Hotel. Its name means "Sunday" in Italian.
• Lüke – Found in New Orleans' Central Business District. It mixes French, German, and Creole cooking styles.
• Pizza Domenica – A more casual pizza place. It is a spin-off of the Domenica restaurant.
• Shaya – Located in Uptown New Orleans. It serves modern Israeli cuisine.
• Willa Jean – This bakery and restaurant opened in August 2015.
• The Caribbean Room, Bayou Bar, Hot Tin, Silverwhistle Cafe – These are all at the historic Pontchartrain Hotel. They opened in the summer of 2016.
• Eunice – This restaurant is a "Cajun, Creole brasserie." It opened in Houston, Texas, in late 2017.

Past Restaurants

Some restaurants linked to John Besh are now closed. Or, he is no longer involved with them:

• Artesia – This restaurant was in Abita Springs, Louisiana.
• Besh Steak – A steakhouse located at Harrah's New Orleans Casino.
• La Provence – This French restaurant was in Lacombe, Louisiana. Besh sold it in May 2017, and it closed in 2018.
• Lüke – The San Antonio location closed in 2017.
• Johnny Sánchez Baltimore – This Mexican-inspired restaurant closed in 2017. John Besh co-owned it with Aarón Sánchez.
• Johnny Sánchez – The New Orleans location opened in October 2014. John Besh was involved with this restaurant. As of February 2019, he is no longer part of it.

John Besh on TV!

John Besh has appeared on many TV shows. He has been a host, a judge, and even played himself!