John Besh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
John Besh

Besh in 2012
Born	(1968-05-14) May 14, 1968 (age 55) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Education	Culinary Institute of America
Spouse	Jenifer Berrigan Besh

John Besh (born May 14, 1968) is an American chef, TV personality, philanthropist, restaurateur and author. He is known for his efforts in preserving the culinary heritage of New Orleans cuisine.

Background

Besh was born in Meridian, Mississippi, and raised in Slidell. He has been married to Jenifer Berrigan Besh since 1991; together they have four children. The family are practicing Catholics and parishioners of the St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Slidell, Louisiana. Besh is a former US Marine. In 1992, he graduated from The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), but his schooling was cut short owing to his serving in the Gulf War.

In 1999, Food & Wine named Besh among the "Best New Chefs" based on his food at restaurant Artesia.

John Besh was a co-owner with Octavio Mantilla of Besh Restaurant Group (BRG), the group formed after they bought out the original investors of the acclaimed restaurant August.

In 2006, Besh won the James Beard Award for "Best Chef, South". In 2008, he earned Food Arts' Silver Spoon Award for "revitalizing the culinary legacy of New Orleans".

Restaurants

Many of his restaurants have celebrated Louisiana regional cooking, including Restaurant August, Besh Steakhouse, Lüke, La Provence, Domenica, Pizza Domenica, Johnny Sánchez, Shaya and Borgne.

The following active restaurants are associated with Besh:

• August – New Orleans' Central Business District – his flagship restaurant, featuring contemporary French cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients. Featured in Gourmet magazine's "Guide to America's Best Restaurants" and "America's Top 50 Restaurants".
• Borgne – Hyatt Regency – coastal Louisiana cuisine, such as shrimp toast rissoles, oyster spaghetti and seafood stuffed flounder.
• Domenica – Roosevelt Hotel – Italian; name means "Sunday" in Italian.
• Lüke – New Orleans Central Business District – French, German and Creole cuisine.
• Pizza Domenica – Uptown New Orleans – A casual spinoff of Domenica.
• Shaya – New Orleans Uptown – Modern Israeli cuisine.
• Willa Jean – The Paramount at South Market District – bakery and restaurant opened in August 2015.
• The Caribbean Room, Bayou Bar, Hot Tin, Silverwhistle Cafe – All located at the historic Pontchartrain Hotel opened summer of 2016.
• Eunice – "Cajun, Creole brasserie", opening "late Fall 2017" in Houston, Texas

The following restaurants associated with Besh are now closed or no longer feature Besh:

• Artesia – was located in Abita Springs, Louisiana.
• Besh Steak – Harrah's New Orleans Casino – steakhouse. .....
• La Provence – Lacombe, Louisiana – French, Besh sold the restaurant in May 2017; the restaurant closed in 2018.
• Lüke – San Antonio location(closed in 2017)
• Johnny Sánchez Baltimore – Mexican-Inspired fare, co-owned with Aarón Sánchez, closed in 2017.
• Johnny Sánchez – located in New Orleans, Mexican-Inspired fare opened in October 2014, this was co-owned with Aarón Sánchez. But as of February 2019 Besh is no longer involved with this restaurant, he was replaced by long time employees Miles Landrem, and Drew Mire.

Television appearances