James Beard Awards: Ken Forkish of Ken's Artisan Leads Portland With Two Nominations

How good a baker is Portland's Ken Forkish? Well, if the James Beard Awards - considered the Oscars of the food world - are any judge, then pretty darn good.

Forkish was named a finalist in not but two categories when the finalists were announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

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He is nominated for Best Single Subject Cookbook for The Elements of Pizza: Unlocking the Secrets to World-Class Pies at Home and he is up for Outstanding Baker.

In the baker category, he is up against bakers from Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Chicago.

In the book category, he's competing against books about breakfast and milk.

Watch Forkish discuss his book.

Also competing on a national level is Clyde Common - named a finalist for Outstanding Bar Program for a second straight year after several years as a semi-finalist.

Clyde Common is up against restaurants in New Orleans, San Francisco, and New York.

Meanwhile, Portland restaurants make up three of the five slots for best Chef: Northwest. They are: Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton of Ox; Katy Millard of Coquine; and Justin Woodward

And Portland Monthly's Karen Brooks is a finalist for the Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award.