Bestia's Ori Menashe and Taco Maria's Carlos Salgado Named Food & Wine's Best New Chefs

If there's a better indicator for long-term career success in the culinary world, it might just be Food & Wine's Best New Chef, which was awarded to Taco Maria's Carlos Salgado in Orange County, and LA's own Ori Menashe, who helms the stoves at ever-crowded Bestia in the Arts District.

The award comes as no surprise, as both Bestia and Taco Maria are some of the highest regarded, and straight-up busiest, restaurants in the Southland. Salgado earned top nods from the OC Register's critic Brad Johnson, who placed the diminutive tasting menu-focused, modern Mexican establishment at number one on his annual ranking of Orange County restaurants. Meanwhile, Ori Menashe, who's been running Bestia for over two years with extreme success, has continued to gain notoreity for his accomplishments.

In Salgado's profile, he was the clumsiest employee when working at the family restaurant while he was growing up. Menashe, who worked at Angelini Osteria, says he's drawing from Israel, Turkey, and Palestine for his up-and-coming wood-burning grill restaurant in the Arts District.

Here's the full list of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs for 2015:

2015 Food & Wine Best New Chefs
Bryce Shuman, Betony, NYC
Michael Fojtasek & Grae Nonas, Olamaie, Austin
Zoi Antonitsas, Westward, Seattle
Jake Bickelhaupt, 42 Grams, Chicago
Jonathan Brooks, Milktooth, Indianapolis
Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC
Jim Christiansen, Heyday, Minneapolis
Tim Maslow, Ribelle, Brookline, MA
Ori Menashe, Bestia, Los Angeles
Carlos Salgado, Taco Maria, Costa Mesa, CA