James Beard Semifinalist: Sam Greenhalgh of Foret

As of today, January 24, 2024, Downtown Flagstaff is home to yet another James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalist! Congratulations to Sam Greenhalgh and Foret for being a Semifinalist for the Best Chef Award. 

The little French cafe located on Phoenix Ave. in Downtown Flagstaff was opened in the Fall of 2021 by Sam and his mother/business partner Natasha. Foret's menu features breakfast classics like a simple French omelette, a delicious breakfast burrito, avocado toast and more. The cafe is equally known for their coffee and cocktail menu which was curated by Sam's sibling Billy. Since it's opening it has become such a Flagstaff favorite that they opened Petit Marche on the north side of downtown in 2023. 

For more information about Sam and his background as a chef click HERE to check out a feature from Flag Live.

Sam Greenhalgh and Foret are now the fourth Downtown Flagstaff restaurant/chef to be a James Beard Semifinalist! Check out the previous award nominees below!

Atria & Rochelle Daniel: Best Emerging Chef

The mission at Atria is to serve delicious classic dishes that feature a variety of fresh foods grown locally across Northern Arizona. Dishes include house-made pastas, fresh fish and premium steaks paired with craft cocktails and an extensive wine list. In addition to her James Beard award Chef Rochelle has also been a finalist on the Food Network's "Chopped Grill Masters", has been recognized as one of the Valley's "Top 5 Sous Chefs" by the Arizona Republic and as "Best Sous Chef" by AZcentral.com and was inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame for 2017.

Shift & Chef Christian Lowe: Best Emerging Chef

Shift is an American shared plates restaurant where food is meant to be enjoyed in a family style manner. Pastry Chef/Owner, Dara Wong, hopes to challenge locals and travelers alike to look beyond what they might consider typical "mountain town" food. Shift and Chef Christian Lowe aim to focus on bold flavors, a locally driven menu, and artfully composed plates. Chef Christian carefully crafts creative seasonal menus that never disappoint. 

Proper Meats + Provisions: Outstanding Restaurant

The first local, whole animal butcher shop in Arizona, Proper Meats + Provisions is a return to the artfulness of butchery, offering specialty cuts of meats and carefully curated products not commonly found on big-box grocery store shelves. All of the meats offered are humanely and sustainably raised, and can be traced directly back to the source in a throwback to the days when farmers and purveyors monitored every step in the farm-to-table process.