Kristen Hall, owner and executive chef of La Fête, is earning national recognition as a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards, highlighting both her French-inspired restaurant and Birmingham’s growing culinary reputation.Hall is nominated for Best Chef in the South Region. Her restaurant, located in the heart of Birmingham, reflects her passion for Paris.“My goal with La Fête is sort of like my love letter to Paris,” she said. “So, a lot of the places that have inspired me while I travel sort of bring back a lot of those ideas.”>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13A self-taught chef, Hall called the recognition a major milestone.“James Beard nominations and awards are like the Oscars of restaurants and culinary. So, it was, it was quite a wonderful nomination.”Hall’s path to the kitchen was unconventional. She began baking with her daughters in 2013, sharing pastries with friends and neighbors. Encouraged by the response, she left her job in the next year to pursue cooking full-time.“I say I sort of accidentally became a pastry chef…,” said Hall. “Things have obviously been an evolution since then.”Hall says that Birmingham’s growing culinary reputation is fueled by both talented chefs and an engaged community.>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free“I think that people who live in Birmingham love food, right? Restaurants aren’t just a place to go to eat a meal. It’s really an experience. I think it’s been the combination of both the guests and the community and then the talent that’s in the town that sort of like really creates this, like kind of magical situation.”She added that her work is about more than just food.“Even though Birmingham is not my hometown, it’s been a really great place to have an impact. Right? So I think one of my goals is to be able to have an impact on the food industry. As an employer, as a chef, as a community member. And so Birmingham is one of those places that you really can make an impact on a lot of people.” Finalists for the James Beard Awards will be announced March 31. Winners are scheduled to be recognized June 15.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Kristen Hall, owner and executive chef of La Fête, is earning national recognition as a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards, highlighting both her French-inspired restaurant and Birmingham’s growing culinary reputation.
Hall is nominated for Best Chef in the South Region. Her restaurant, located in the heart of Birmingham, reflects her passion for Paris.
“My goal with La Fête is sort of like my love letter to Paris,” she said. “So, a lot of the places that have inspired me while I travel sort of bring back a lot of those ideas.”
>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13
A self-taught chef, Hall called the recognition a major milestone.
“James Beard nominations and awards are like the Oscars of restaurants and culinary. So, it was, it was quite a wonderful nomination.”
Hall’s path to the kitchen was unconventional. She began baking with her daughters in 2013, sharing pastries with friends and neighbors. Encouraged by the response, she left her job in the next year to pursue cooking full-time.
“I say I sort of accidentally became a pastry chef…,” said Hall. “Things have obviously been an evolution since then.”
Hall says that Birmingham’s growing culinary reputation is fueled by both talented chefs and an engaged community.
>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free
“I think that people who live in Birmingham love food, right? Restaurants aren’t just a place to go to eat a meal. It’s really an experience. I think it’s been the combination of both the guests and the community and then the talent that’s in the town that sort of like really creates this, like kind of magical situation.”
She added that her work is about more than just food.
“Even though Birmingham is not my hometown, it’s been a really great place to have an impact. Right? So I think one of my goals is to be able to have an impact on the food industry. As an employer, as a chef, as a community member. And so Birmingham is one of those places that you really can make an impact on a lot of people.”
Finalists for the James Beard Awards will be announced March 31. Winners are scheduled to be recognized June 15.
Dining and Cooking