It’s only been open for about 18 months, but for head chef Pete Carvelli, owner of the State Street plant-based restaurant Foglia, the accolades keep coming in.

The high-brow vegan eatery was named one of the 2022 best new restaurants in America within a couple months of its summer launch. Now, just weeks into 2024, Chef Pete has been named a 2024 James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best Chef: Northeast.

The James Beard Awards, established in 1990, are considered the Oscars of the culinary world. According to the James Beard Foundation (JBF), “The awards recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.”

There are 22 different categories of awards; for Best Chef: Northeast, Carvelli is competing against top chefs throughout the New England states.
Carvelli was — and when not in the kitchen, still is — a practicing attorney.

A longtime vegan, he’s largely self-taught, with a 6-month online certification the only formal culinary training he has had. Following the successful completion of that course, he began to make connections within the industry, cutting his teeth on pop-ups and collaborations, with a place of his own the ultimate goal.

“I was very surprised last week when a friend of mine sent me a text congratulating me on being a semifinalist — I truly had no idea,” said Carvelli. “When I started cooking for the public, I could never have imagined being on a list with such accomplished chefs and restaurants. It is a true honor.”

The JBF semifinalists will be whittled down to nominees, to be announced on Wednesday, April 3; the final winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Reservations have long been in demand at Foglia, and now with the JBF imprimatur they won’t be getting any easier to come by. For more info visit fogliabristol.com.