Bryce Gilmore at the original Barley Swine on South Lamar Boulevard. (Laura Skelding AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
“One year ago, we knocked on the door. This year, we beat on the door. Next year, we’re going to kick the son of a bitch in.” Those were the words of Texas native and legendary Houston Oilers coach in 1980 at a pep rally in the Astrodome following an AFC title game loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bryce Gilmore, executive chef of perennial Austin standout Barley Swine, might be feeling the same way, though the mild mannered chef may not say such things out loud. The Austin native today earned his fourth consecutive James Beard Award Best Chef Southwest semifinalist nod. Last year he was named a finalist, along with Austin’s Aaron Franklin, who took home the honor. Let’s hope this year belongs to Gilmore, who closed his original Barley Swine in January and opened a new iteration of the farm-to-table standout on Burnet Road.
For the full list of semifinalists, click here. The finalists will be announced on March 15.
- Related: Barley Swine in the Austin360 Dining Guide: #2 in 2015 | #4 in 2014 | #1 in 2013
