Bruce Auden overlooked for Best Chef in the Southwest a sixth time

After six years of nominations, you’d think the James Beard Foundation would give San Antonio chef Bruce Auden a wink. But, no. Best Chef in the Southwest 2011 went elsewhere again this year, though not very far: The award was a split last week between Austin’s Tyson Cole of Uchi and Uchiko and Saipin Chutima of Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas.

But keep your fingers crossed for Patrick James Edwards from Bin 555 and Peter Smith from the Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, who are on the (very short) list of five finalists in the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ Edible Texas Wine and Food Pairing Competition. Two of the judges of the Central Texas contest are Jacques Pépin and John Besh. Congrats to Edwards and Smith for making it this far; we know they’ll represent SA well.

Meanwhile, Godai Sushi & Bistro has closed permanently. The 1604 restaurant closed for remodeling recently, and has now closed for good. In the few months they were open, they went through a couple menu overhauls, and tried to offer a more modern and Americanized version of Japanese cuisine. If you’re craving sushi, the original Godai Sushi Bar on West Avenue is still open.