James Beard Awards nominees 2009

Outstanding Chef: Dan Barber

Barber is the winner of 2006's Best Chef: New York City and was nominated in this category last year, losing to that pesky Grant Achatz. 2008 did elevate the chef-owner's profile with significant airtime on "Top Chef"—with fellow nominee Tom Colicchio—and the continued interest in farm-to-table cooking philosophies, spearheaded at Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

"It's not surprising that, in these current economic times, the five nominees are chef-owners," says Barber. "I feel strongly that the ones who have a vested stake in the business, those who can balance the business with their craftsmanship, are going to succeed." And on the matter of facing "TC" boss Colicchio? "I feel like he's been a mentor to me, not because I had the pleasure of working with him, which I didn't, but because he is one of the chefs that uses a lot of simplicity, directness and focus that comes with maturity."

And where was Barber when he found out about his nomination? "I just completed fixing a sewer pipe at my restaurant. Even with accolades, it's all about minding the store."