I bring good news from the wonderful world of food. The world of food is my very favorite world, after the worlds of drink, depravity and, er, Disney.

The prestigious James Beard Foundation awards were announced recently, and four of the five nominees for Best Northwest Chef hail from these parts: Maria Hines of Tilth, Holly Smith of Café Juanita, Jason Wilson of Crush and Ethan Stowell of Union. (One lone nominee hails from Portland: Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen. In your face, Portland! Four to one! Hah!)

The culinary mastermind of Union, How to Cook a Wolf and Tavolata is on a winning streak: Ethan Stowell was also named one of Food & Wine Magazine's 2008 Best New Chefs in America, and in that instance he has the entire Northwest to himself. My congratulations to him -- even if I'm at a loss to understand the whole small plates thing.

For more on Stowell's wins, and a few words from the man himself, it's my pleasure to direct you to the terrific blog by the Seattle Times' epicurean empress, Nancy Leson. May she forgive my weakness for cheesy alliteration; it's the booze. And the Disney movies.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company