Chef of the year: Andrew Carmellini, Locanda Verde

OTHER NOMINEES George Mendes, Aldea; César Ramirez, the Kitchen at Brooklyn Fare; Michael White, Marea

Few chefs are as adept at playing the high and low ends of the New York restaurant spectrum as Andrew Carmellini. This humble star is a veteran of top kitchens both Italian and French (he was the primary toque at Café Boulud for seven years). In 2009, he won over stomachs by tapping into his inner Italian grandma at Locanda Verde, where he conjured up a roster of Old Country dishes so lusty, so rich and with such big flavors that you clamored to taste his cooking. Carmellini, whose fan base has grown exponentially, gave back to his groupies with fried chicken specials and all-you-can-eat pasta dinners that were, for good reason, the hottest tickets in town. Locanda Verde 377 Greenwich Street at North Moore St (212-925-3797)

BACK TO MAIN PAGE Eat Out Awards 2010
NYC's culinary greats of the past year, chosen by critics and readers.