Juneau chef nominated as James Beard semifinalist

In Bocca Al Lupo head chef nominated for best chef northwest category

Beau Schooler has been nominated as a semifinalist for the best chef northwest James Beard Foundation award. (Courtesy photo)

Beau Schooler has been nominated as a semifinalist for the best chef northwest James Beard Foundation award. (Courtesy photo)

A local chef has been nominated for a national food award again.

The James Beard Foundation nominated Beau Schooler, the chef at In Bocca Al Lupo, as a semifinalist for the Best Chef: Northwest category.

“I think it reflects really well on my staff here,” Schooler said. “I mean it has my name attached to it, but it also has the restaurant attached to it. I think that a lot of my employees, both the front and back, have worked really hard so that’s why we’ve gotten the attention.”

This is his third nomination as a semifinalist, but he’s never made it into the top five finalists, he said.

[New Italian restaurant opens in old Silverbow Bakery space]

He said he never knows when the crew shows up to judge the restaurant.

“Their whole selection process is very secretive so people can’t try to game it,” Schooler said.

Right now there are 20 people nominated in the northwest. Then it goes down to five, and previous winners choose one winner from those finalists.

A dish from In Bocca Al Lupo in downtown Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

A dish from In Bocca Al Lupo in downtown Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

“I don’t think I’m ever going to get to (the finalist group),” Schooler said. “I think it’s weird we’re on (the semifinalist list) to begin with. I know a lot of chefs personally in the northwest alone that are a lot more talented than myself.”

When asked if he is being humble or whether he really thinks that, Schooler said, “Maybe both. I’m surprised by the attention that we get even just in the media in general, and then this.”

He said that he isn’t going to try to change up the menu now, knowing that people will be coming to judge again for the finalist round.

“I feel like if we try to change or be different, that’s not why we got where we are in the first place,” Schooler said.

Laura Cole, from 229 Parks Restaurant & Tavern in Denali National Park & Preserve was the only other Alaskan nominated in the Best Chef: Northwest category.

James Beard Foundation will announce the final Restaurant and Chef Award nominees, as well as the nominees for the Media and Restaurant Design Awards, in Houston on Wednesday, March 27.

A pizza from In Bocca Al Lupo in downtown Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

A pizza from In Bocca Al Lupo in downtown Juneau. (Courtesy photo)


• Contact reporter Mollie Barnes at mbarnes@juneauempire.com or 523-2228.


Chef Beau Schooler pulls fresh bread out a wood-fired oven at the new Italian restaurant “In Bocca Al Lupo” downtown in this March 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Chef Beau Schooler pulls fresh bread out a wood-fired oven at the new Italian restaurant “In Bocca Al Lupo” downtown in this March 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

More in News

Bob Girt works with the Alaska Youth Stewards on Prince of Wales Island in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Threads of the Tongass: Building a sustainable future

“These students can look back and say, ‘I helped build that. I was a contributor.’”

KTOO, Juneau's public radio station, is photographed in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Public radio facing cuts as Congress moves to pull back funding

KTOO could lose one-third of its budget if the House passes a bill cutting funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14.
Ships in port for the week of July 19

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, July 17, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire File)
Hiker rescued from gully at Eaglecrest

The woman got stuck in a gully after taking a wrong turn

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Dimond Courthouse in Juneau, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
Juneau man pleads guilty to murder of infant

James White pleaded guilty yesterday to the murder of 5-and-half-week-old Kathy White

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Megan Dean shakes hands with the new Arctic District commander Rear Admiral Bob Little on Friday. Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the Pacific Area, smiles. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
US Coast Guard receives new commander, new name for Alaska

The Arctic District’s new icebreaker will visit Juneau next month

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
Municipal election candidate filing period opens July 18

The filing period runs from July 18 at 8 a.m. to July 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Most Read