Chef Neal Fraser Announced as Chairman of The 2nd Global Cuisine Awards Committee

The American Food Association, the hosting organization for the Global Cuisine Awards (GCA), has announced their Committee Chairman for this year’s award show, Chef Neal Fraser. Chef Fraser began his professional culinary career at the age of 20 and now owns multiple renowned restaurants in Los Angeles with his business partner and wife Amy Knoll Fraser, including Redbird and Fritzi Coop. The 2nd Global Cuisine Awards will be held at Chef Fraser’s high-volume special events and performing arts venue Vibiana located in Downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

Chairman Fraser has been working with the 12 GCA Committee members to narrow down the nominated restaurants list from 7 to 5 in each category. The public can start voting on these 5 nominees on both Global Cuisine Awards website and Yamibuy Website on Monday, October 15th, 2018 for the chance to win luxury raffle prizes including 3 iPhoneXS, 10 Nintendo Switch Gaming Consoles, and free tickets to the Global Cuisine Awards.

The Top 5 Nominees for each category are:

Best American Restaurant: Animal, A.O.C., Rustic Canyon, The Tasting Kitchen, and Otium;

Best Chinese Restaurant: Bistro Na's 那家小馆, Chengdu Taste 滋味成都, Din Tai Fung 鼎泰丰, HaiDiLao Hotpot 海底捞, Shancheng Lameizi 山城辣妹子;

Best French Restaurant: L'Assiette Steak Frites, Marvin, Mélisse, République, Trois Mec;

Best Italian Restaurant: Cal Mare, Osteria La Buca, Scopa Italian Roots, Sotto, Uovo;

Best Japanese Restaurant: Izakaya Gazen, Marugame Monzo, Matsuhisa, Sushi Ginza Onodera, Urasawa;

Best Korean Restaurant: Genwa Korean BBQ, Kang Ho-Dong Baekjeong, Master Ha, Soowon Galbi, Sulga Jinju Gom Tang House of Beef Soup;

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant: Bavel, Farsi Cafe, Kaban Persian Restaurant, Kismet, Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine;

Best Restaurant Design: Catch LA, Commissary at Line Hotel, Herringbone, Rocksugar, Rossoblu;

Best Seafood Restaurant: Bottlefish, Connie & Ted's, Fishing with Dynamite, Son of a Gun, Providence;

Best Southeast Asian Restaurant: Cassia, Little Sister, Nong La Café, Pa ord Noodle, Pho Saigon Pearl;

Best Steakhouse: Baltaire, BOA Steakhouse, Gwen, Mastro's Ocean Club, Nick + Stef's Steakhouse;

Chef of the Year: Antonia Lofaso, Curtis Stone, Josiah Citrin, Marcel Vigneron, Phillip Frankland Lee;

Lifetime Achievement Award: Gordon Ramsay, Nancy Silverton, Niki Nakayama, Nobu Matsuhisa, Wolfgang Puck;

Restaurant of the Moment: A Food Affair, Faith & Flower, Marugame Monzo, Rosaline, Vespertine;

Restaurant of the Year: Broken Spanish, Rustic Canyon, Jon & Vinny's, Perch, Running Goose;

Outstanding Culinary Tradition: Anarkali Indian Restaurant, Little Next Door, Meals by Genet, Musso & Frank, Tara's Himalayan Cuisine

About Chef Neal Fraser and Vibiana

Chef Neal Fraser, owner of multiple restaurant concepts in Los Angeles, started his career in the kitchen at age 20. Fraser touts an impressive resume that includes a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and an honor roll of kitchen credits such as Wolfgang Puck’s Eureka and Spago, Checkers Hotel under Thomas Keller, Joachim Splichal’s Pinot Bistro, Hans Rockenwagner’s Rox, and the highly revered Boxer. Currently, he and his business partner and wife Amy Knoll Fraser own and operate critically acclaimed Redbird; high-volume special events and performing arts venue Vibiana; fast-casual Fritzi Coop in the Farmer’s Market at the Grove. Prior to the success of Redbird and Vibiana, Fraser and Knoll Fraser opened two of Los Angeles’ most loved restaurants – critical darling Grace, and ever-beloved, breakfast, lunch and dinner bistro, BLD. A second location for BLD currently operates inside the Los Angeles International Airport. Outside of the restaurants, Fraser has logged some hours on the small screen, most notably on Bravo TV's 'Top Chef Masters,’ Fox’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ and Food Network's 'Iron Chef America,' on which he won his battle against chef Cat Cora. He also won his battles on Esquire TV's 'Knife Fight,' and Food Network's 'Beat Bobby Flay.’

Originally Los Angeles’ first Archdiocese Catholic cathedral, Vibiana has been beautifully transformed into a stunning full service event facility with a state of the art lighting and sound system, high quality, custom rental equipment, a seasoned and talented event management staff, and an extensive dining and craft libations program.

About The American Food Association

The American Food Association brings together restaurateurs, hoteliers, executive chefs, sommeliers and critics committed to the appreciation and development of both traditional food culture and contemporary trends, through its exclusive private culinary industry club membership. Together the association’s over 700 members promote the sharing and celebration of the world’s diverse culinary tradition. The organization also serves as the hosting and selection committee for the annual Global Cuisine Awards, which honors the best restaurants, culinary trends, regions, wine and chefs from around the world.

The Global Cuisine Awards honor top restaurants from around the world to promote the world’s culinary cultures and the cities that best represent the ever-diversifying food landscape. The committee has decided to focus on Los Angeles for the the 2nd Global Cuisine Awards. The committee members will be evaluating every aspect of Los Angeles’ top restaurants, utilizing the group’s diverse professional and culinary experiences as a foundation.

For more information visit: www.globalcuisineawards.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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