Chef Anna Vogel of Italia Trattoria isn’t advancing to next round in James Beard Awards

Chef Anna Vogel of Italia Trattoria in Spokane’s Browne’s Addition isn’t advancing to the next round in the James Beard Foundation awards.

Vogel, who owns and operates Italia Trattoria with Bethe Bowman, was a semifinalist for best chef in the Northwest. Finalists were announced Wednesday.

Five chefs are advancing. They are all either from Seattle or Portland.

This marks the fourth year in a row that one chef from the Inland Northwest has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious culinary awards. Of them, Vogel is the only woman.

Last year, Laurent Zirotti, chef and owner of Fleur de Sel in Post Falls, was a semifinalist. Like Vogel, he didn’t advance to the final round.

In 2016, Adam Hegsted of the Eat Good Group of restaurants was a semifinalist. He also didn’t advance to the final round.

And in 2015, Jeremy Hansen was a semifinalist for the Northwest region. He didn’t make it to the final round, either.

The Northwest region for the James Beard Awards is made up of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

This year’s finalists are: Edouardo Jordan of Salare in Seattle, Katy Millard of Coquine in Portland, Bonnie Morales of Kachka in Portland, Justin Woodward of Castagna in Portland, and Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi of Joule in Seattle.

Vogel was one of 20 semifinalists for best chef in the region. Most of the 2018 semifinalists came from Seattle and Portland, with six from Seattle and nine from Portland. There was one semifinalist each from Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Semifinalists were selected from more than 20,000 entries. Winners will be announced May 7 during the James Beard Foundation Awards Gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Last year, Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton and Greg Denton of Ox in Portland won the Best Chef Northwest category. Renee Erickson of the Whale Wins in Seattle won Best Chef Northwest in 2016. And in 2015, Blaine Wetzel of the Willows Inn on Lummi Island, Washington, won Best Chef Northwest.

Both Vogel and Bowman worked for celebrity chef Tom Douglas in Seattle before coming to Spokane.

Vogel grew up in Switzerland and worked in Sydney, New York City and Boston before becoming Douglas’ corporate chef. Bowman also worked for Douglas, then managed the front of the house at Luna before she and Vogel opened Italia in 2010.

Italia enjoys a fiercely loyal following. Reservations are recommended for dinner. Fare is modern, elegant, scratch-made Italian. Weekend brunch is popular, especially when the weather’s warm and the patio is open.

Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields. For more information, visit jamesbeard.org.

Italia Trattoria is at 144 S. Cannon St. Call (509) 459-6000. On the web: italiatrattoriaspokane.com.