Wilmington chef named semifinalist for national award

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Port City chef has been named as a semifinalist for a prestigious award.

Dean Neff, Chef & Owner of Seabird, is one of 20 chef nationwide included on the list of semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation’s “2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards.”

The official nominees will be announced on April 3.

Neff hopes his inclusion on the list will be an opportunity to bring more recognition to restaurants around the Cape Fear.

“So, it’s hopefully maybe shining a bigger light on the exciting food things, “Neff said, “and, you know, people in this area and in this region to be on the list.”

Established in 1990 with the first awards given in 1991, the James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries, and those in the broader food systems.

Neff is no stranger to success.

In 2023, he was also a semifinalist for “Best Chef: Southeast.”