Restaurant August 301 Tchoupitoulas Street New Orleans, LA Phone: 504-299-9777 Fax:504-299-1199   WELCOME|MENU|CHEF|RECIPES|MAP Chef John Besh is a seasoned professional with years of intense culinary training around the globe. A native of South Louisiana, John spent his youth hunting and fishing. As a teenager, he began to work in commercial kitchens, where his knowledge of food and dining began to blossom. From an early age he learned the essentials of rich Louisiana culinary traditions. "With the many cultural influences in Louisiana, it is an exciting place to learn about food." John is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of American. His education joined with cooking under wonderful chefs at such notable establishments as Maxim's in New York, The Windsor Court's Grill Room in New Orleans and several throughout Europe gave him a solid fundamental foundation. John attributes much of his success to his tour in the United States Marine Corps, where he led a squad of infantry Marines in combat as a noncommissioned officer in Desert Storm. John's love of classical styles of cooking lead him to a small border town of Germany, France and Switzerland, where he apprenticed at the highly rated, Michelin Starred Romantik Hotel Spielweg, in the Black Forest, under the direction of famed German Chef, Karl-Josef Fuchs. Europe offered John the opportunity to encounter truly localized cuisine, a concept that will remain with John throughout his career. After returning to the United States, John opened Graham's as Kevin Graham's Chef de Cuisine and later became Chef de Cuisine at the renowned La Provence Restaurant, where many accolades were collected under his direction including a four star rating by the Mobil Restaurant Guide, four diamonds by The American automobile Association and Five Beans by Gregory Roberts of the Times Picayune. John has trained brigades abroad in the art of Creole French cooking. His appearances have been so successful that he returns annually to the Chateau de Montcaud in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, France, as a chef consultant. "The correlation between our cuisine of Nouvelle Orleans and that of southern France is very intriguing." says John. "Our Creole food and culture are quite exotic to the French yet familiar enough for them to enjoy." In addition, John's skills have been called upon by Crystal Cruise Lines, The Boca Raton Resort and Club, California Culinary Academy and Delgado Community College where he has prepared tasting menus, cooking classes and seminars on contemporary French and Creole cooking. John has also enjoyed working with the Commercial Offices of the Spanish Embassy, promoting Spanish Culinary Products and for the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Land's End, a popular casual clothing manufacturer, called on John as an established chef and Southerner to model for the Spring of 2000 issue. John also served as Executive Chef of Artesia in Abita Springs. John's vision of "Contemporary French" with an emphasis on indigenous ingredients garnered numerous awards and national acclaim. Chef John Besh has been named one of Food and Wine magazine's "Top 10 Best New Chefs in America of 1999", "Best New Chef 1998" by New Orleans Magazine. As well as being ranked among "Top Restaurants of America" by Gourmet Magazine who deemed John's cuisine as "worth a special journey." Craig La Ban of the Times Picayune rated Artesia "Four Beans" stating, "Artesia has proved itself a much-needed addition to the North shore, and easily the best." Tom Fitzmorris of New Orleans City Business magazine, rated Artesia "Best New Restaurant of 1998". The James Beard Foundation recognized John Besh as "a rising star of American Cuisine" and recently the Mobil Travel Guide has again awarded John's work at Artesia with it's prized "Four Stars" Rating. Zagat's 2001 dining guide again called Artesia, "Heaven in the Country", while the distinguished John Apple of the New York Times raved of John's food, "it's revelatory." WELCOME|MENU|CHEF|RECIPES|MAP © 2004-2007 Feeding Frenzy, Inc™ All Rights Reserved. For a truly unforgettable dining experience, visit Restaurant August and remember to use your American Express Card.