Proper Meats + Provisions, a restaurant that took over the former historic Grand Canyon Cafe in downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, recently became a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award for culinary excellence.
Proper Meats, which also doubles as a butcher shop, was a semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurant category of the annual Beard Awards. The Arizona Republic newspaper just a few months ago claimed it served the best pastrami in the state.
The Beard Award winners will be announced in Chicago in June.
Proper Meats + Provisions in 2018 took over the Grand Canyon Cafe along old Route 66 in Flagstaff.
The Wong family operated the old-fashioned Grand Canyon Cafe from the 1940s to 2016. The building underwent some needed renovations, but the rebranding of the restaurant didn’t take, and it closed less than a year later before Proper Meats came along.
A few other Beard Award semifinalists near the Route 66 corridor:
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Michael and Tara Gallina and Aaron Martinez, Take Root Hospitality (Vicia, Winslow’s Table, Bistro La Floraison and others), St. Louis.
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Johnna Hayes and Debra Zinke, 3 Sirens Restaurant Group (Bird & Bottle, Holé Molé, Shakey Jakes and others), Tulsa.
- Outstanding Restaurant: Smyth, Chicago.
- Emerging Chef: Damarr Brown, Virtue, Chicago.
- Emerging Chef: Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti, Los Angeles.
- Emerging Chef: Christian Lowe, Shift Kitchen & Bar, Flagstaff.
- Best New Restaurant: Et Al., Tulsa.
- Best New Restaurant: Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining, Chicago.
- Best New Restaurant: Obélix, Chicago.
- Best New Restaurant: Pijja Palace, Los Angeles.
- Best New Restaurant: Yangban Society, Los Angeles.
- Outstanding Bakery: La Patisserie Chouquette, St. Louis.
- Outstanding Bakery: Friends & Family, Los Angeles.
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles.
- Outstanding Hospitality: Here’s Looking at You, Los Angeles.
- Outstanding Hospitality: Sepia, Chicago.
- Outstanding Hospitality: SMOKE. Woodfire Grill, Tulsa.
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: All Together Now, Chicago.
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: FRIDA Southwest, Oklahoma City.
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: OTOTO, Los Angeles.
- Outstanding Bar: American Solera, Tulsa.
- Outstanding Bar; Esters Wine Shop & Bar, Santa Monica, California.
- Outstanding Bar: The Gin Room, St. Louis.
- Best Chef, California: Gilberto Cetina Jr., Holbox, Los Angeles.
- Best Chef, California: Brandon Hayato Go, Hayato, Los Angeles.
- Best Chef, California: Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, Moo’s Craft Barbecue, Los Angeles.
- Best Chef, California: Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada, Los Angeles.
- Best Chef, Great Lakes: Diana Dávila Boldin, Mi Tocaya Antojería, Chicago.
- Best Chef, Great Lakes: Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago.
- Best Chef, Great Lakes: Paul Fehribach, Big Jones, Chicago.
- Best Chef, Great Lakes: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago.
- Best Chef, Great Lakes: Zubair Mohajir, Wazwan, Chicago.
- Best Chef, Midwest: Nick Bognar, iNDO, St. Louis.
- Best Chef, Midwest: Rob Connoley, Bulrush, St. Louis.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Ben Alexander, Mr. Kims, Tulsa.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Lisa Becklund, FarmBar, Tulsa.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Paul Wilson, Boston Title & Abstract, Tulsa.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Oklahoma City.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Basit Gauba, Tikka Spice, Albuquerque.
- Best Chef, Southwest: Luis and Berenice Medina, El Chile Toreado, Santa Fe.
- Best Chef, Southwest: David Sellers, Horno Restaurant, Santa Fe.
(Excerpt from Google Street View of Proper Meats + Provisions in Flagstaff, Arizona)