Viet Nguyen, co-founder and executive chef of the hospitality group Kei Concepts, has been named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for his work at Nep Cafe, which has locations in Fountain Valley and Irvine.
Nguyen, who grew up in South Saigon and later moved to California in 2002, is among 26 chefs named as a semifinalist in the “Best Chef: California” category. Nominees will be announced on March 31, with the final winners named on June 15.
Huntington Beach-based Kei Concepts operates a string of locations in Orange County and Los Angeles, including the popular Vox Kitchen in Fountain Valley and South Coast Plaza. When building his portfolio, Nguyen told the Business Journal last year that he chooses the location of the restaurant first, before deciding on the cuisine.
At Nep, the menu is a modern take on Vietnamese cuisine, blending traditional flavors with contemporary culinary techniques.
