By Joe Crea | Cleveland.com
Downtown Cleveland chef Chris Hodgson is one of 100 nominees for Food & Wine magazine’s annual “The People’s Best New Chef Award” for 2013.
“I’m extremely honored and excited,” says Hodgson, executive chef of Hodges restaurant on Euclid Avenue. “Being recognized by Food & Wine is huge. It means that we’re doing something right, and bringing some more attention and honor to Cleveland – and I couldn’t be happier for that.”
Unlike Food & Wine’s highly regarded annual “Best New Chefs in America” honor, which is conferred by the magazine’s editors, “The People’s New Chef” award is voted on by consumers in 10 regions across the nation.
Voting begins today, and runs through Monday, March 18. Vote at foodandwine.com/peoples-best-new-chef.
Hodgson has already brought his share of attention to Northeast Ohio. As operator of his original venture, Dim and Den Sum food truck, the young chef drew acclaim. In 2011 he and his team landed a spot on Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race” with a second truck, Hodge Podge. Team Hodgson made it all the way to the final round before being defeated by a team from Los Angeles. After joining Driftwood Restaurants and Catering (Washington Place Bistro and Inn; Welshfield Inn) as a partner, Hodgson and operator Scott Kuhn opened Hodges in downtown Cleveland.
As an incentive to vote, Driftwood Restaurants invites fans to take a screen shot of their vote confirmation and show it to their server when they visit Hodges, where they’ll receive a free snack. “In addition, anyone [Northeast Ohioans only] who ‘shares’ the announcement from the Hodges’ Facebook page will be entered into a drawing for dinner for 10 in their home, cooked by Hodgson,” the restaurant said in a media release.
“If Cleveland gets behind us, it means we have a great shot at winning not just the regional competion but the country-wide prize too,” Hodgson says.
American Express Publishing Corporation, which publishes Food & Wine magazine, issues the following voting provision. Voting ends on Monday, March 18, online at foodandwine.com/the-peoples-bnc. One vote per IP address per region. Votes from automated means will be disqualified. Chefs with the highest eligible votes per region will become regional winners. The People’s Best new Chef will be determined based on highest number of eligible votes received during the voting period irrespective of region. All votes are subject to verification.
http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2013/03/cleveland_chef_chris_hodgson_n.html
