Foreign-born chefs nominated for top American award

NEW YORK - Spanish tapas and Vietnamese pho are a world apart in origin and taste. Two chefs who have helped to popularize these dishes in the United States were nominated on Monday as tops in their field.

The James Beard Foundation said Spanish native Jose Andres who owns Minibar in Washington and Charles Phan who was born in Vietnam and operates The Slanted Door in San Francisco were nominated for its outstanding US chef award.

"Our mission is to celebrate our culinary diversity, which reflects our diversity as a nation," said Susan Ungaro, the foundation's president.