PHOENIX — Phoenix chef Rene Andrade of Bacanora was recently presented with a James Beard Award at a ceremony in Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation announced the recipients of its annual awards this week and Andrade was selected as the top culinary master from the Southwest region representing Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Un chef de Phoenix gana el premio James Beard
Andrade flew back to the Valley to celebrate at his restaurant with his team on Tuesday.
“It's like a real moment where you're like, you work for this every day, you know," Andrade said. "I've been working for this almost 20 years.”
Andrade said he couldn't believe it when his name was announced at the ceremony. He's been a finalist once before but this was his first win of the prestigious award. He had no speech planned so he spoke from the heart. He talked about his family and his grandma who has passed away. She is his biggest inspiration in the kitchen.
“I want to be her. I want to be like her," Andrade said. "And I will be honest, my mom is not a good cook. It's just funny. She's gonna be laughing about it, but she's not a good cook And she's like, 'I don't know how you are a good cook, because I suck at this.' And I was like, it's my grandma.”
Bacanora's menu highlights Andrade's Sonoran roots
Andrade was born in Arizona but he grew up in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. He moved back to Phoenix when he was 17.
Bacanora has become a special place to him and the community. The menu is a nod to his Sonoran roots and everything is cooked over the open flame of a wood-fired grill. He hopes embracing his Mexican roots will inspire other young kids to do the same.
Since opening on Grand Avenue in the location formerly home to Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza's Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva, Bacanora has quickly attracted much attention in the Phoenix food scene due to Andrade's Sonoran cuisine.
In 2021, Bacanora was recognized by Esquire magazine as one of the best new restaurants in the country.
Reservations at Bacanora open up on the first of every month at 9 a.m. Seats at the bar are always first come, first served.
“This community is just like the heat. I think that affects us a little bit because we're very warm. We're, like, very warm people. And I think that's the beauty of Arizona. We are warm people who care for others and want to make sure that everybody wins," Andrade said.
Andrade is soaking in this milestone while also working on a new project. On top of Bacanora and his taqueria Huarachis, another restaurant is coming.
“I'm trying to pay homage to my favorite dishes that I eat through my whole life, right? So that's what I'm trying to do," Andrade said. "I think the community is going to be very happy with it and I think they’re going to be shocked where it is.”
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