Phoenix's Chris Bianco Named Outstanding Restaurateur At Beard Awards

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix chef-restaurateur Chris Bianco picked up a prestigious culinary honor as a winner in the James Beard Foundation’s 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards, presented Monday in Chicago.

Bianco was named "Outstanding Restaurateur," at the awards, which are regarded as the Oscars of the culinary industry.

Bianco is the chef-owner of Pizzeria Bianco, with locations in Phoenix at 623 E Adams St. and 4743 N 20th St., and one location in Los Angeles, along with Pane Bianco, 4404 N Central Ave. in Phoenix, and Tratto, 1505 E Van Buren St. in Phoenix.

Pizzeria Bianco sells artisanal pizzas, Pane Bianco features focaccia sandwiches and Tratto is a white tablecloth restaurant that features handmade pastas and seasonal favorites with mainly local ingredients from artisan farmers.

Opened in 1988, Pizzeria Bianco helped make Chris Bianco "a driving force in the artisanal pizza movement," according to the restaurant's website.

The website continued: "(Bianco) helped spawn a generation of independent and artisanal pizzerias, lending his advice, wisdom, and food philosophies to dozens of fellow chefs and restaurateurs."

In 2003, Bianco won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, becoming the first pizzaiolo (pizza maker) to receive the honor.

In addition to Bianco's honor, Don Guerra, who grew up in the Phoenix area, was named Outstanding Baker at the Restaurant and Chef Awards.

Guerra is the owner and baker at Barrio Bread in Tucson.

Monday's Restaurant and Chef Awards were held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Speaking at the event, Clare Reichenbach, the James Beard Foundation CEO, said the restaurant industry remains in a recovery phase after lost business during the pandemic and “still needs support.”

The awards honor not only individual winners but also “our entire industry — and the incredible resilience, fortitude, talent, and leadership so many have shown over the past two years,” Reichenbach said.

The awards had been on a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. During that time, the awards program “underwent a full audit of its policies and procedures, continuing the work to remove bias, increase transparency and accessibility, and make the program more aligned with the Foundation’s mission and values.”