Hudson Valley Chefs Named James Beard Semifinalists

In the Hudson Valley, people who love food are fortunate because there are so many great places to eat. But in 2019, there is only one restaurant whose chefs have been selected as a semifinalists for a James Beard Award. Hannah Black and Carla Perez-Gallardo of Lil' Deb's Oasis in Hudson were in a coffee shop in Brooklyn when they got a call from another restaurant owner in Hudson.

"We had no idea," Perez-Gallardo said in a recent interview with Patch. "It came completely out of the blue."

Black added that it was not even something they were thinking about and that they have no idea who might have nominated them.

Perez-Gallardo and Black were nominated in the Best Chef: Northeast category, and will compete with chefs from New York, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

SEE ALSO: Get Ready For Spring 2019 Hudson Valley Restaurant Week

The fact that they are semifinalists was, however, incredibly timely, Perez-Gallardo said.

You see, their restaurant in Hudson has been under construction since the first two weeks in January. Right now, they are looking for a spring reopening.

Until then, Perez-Gallardo and Black have been exercising their culinary muscles by doing pop-up events around the area.

"It's a different kind of hustle," Black said, adding that it's really been a test for them.

"It's hard running a small business in general," she said, "riding those waves the whole time."

They said they've been getting positive reviews from their forays into Italian and French food during the pop-ups.

However, the food quality concept is the same as in their home restaurant.

"We do food that is exciting and has a history with us," Black explained.

Perez-Gallardo said they specialize in tropical comfort food.

"The house specialty is whole fried fish, with citrus-ginger vinaigrette, pea shoots and an herb salad," she said.

Plus there is a ceviche dish that changes daily.

Perez-Gallardo and Black also do events and can be hired to cook for special occasions.

They are transplants to the Hudson Valley. Perez-Gallardo went to Bard and returned to the area after moving to Madrid. She's been here for seven years.

Black lived in New York, but visited the area because she had a best friend up in the area. She moved to Hudson permanently five years ago.

They started their restaurant, amazingly, with no investors, for under $50,000.

Perez-Gallardo and Black will be hosting and cooking for a fundraiser for their restaurant scheduled for Saturday, April 6 at the Hudson Lodge.

According to their website, the chefs said there will be a cocktail hour, silent auction and multi-course VIP dinner, with natural wine pairing. For more information, and to purchase tickets, go here.

The James Beard Foundation celebrates, nurtures, and honors chefs and other culinary leaders, hoping to make America's food culture more delicious, diverse and sustainable for everyone, according to its website.

The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and the first award given out in the following year. The foundation has distributed nearly $8 million in financial aid to culinary, beverage and food system students in need of funds to pursue their education.

Lil' Deb's Oasis is located at 747 Columbia St. in Hudson, Columbia County.

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