Two Decatur chefs are listed among the semi-finalists for this year’s James Beard Foundation awards.

• Scott Peacock of Watershed fame is one of 20 semi-finalists in the Outstanding Chefs category.
• Cakes & Ale’s Billy Allin is one of 20 semi-finalists in the “Best Chef: Southeast” category.

Peacock was an “Outstanding Chef” semi-finalist last year as well. This is Allin’s first nomination.

Congrats to both Decatur semi-finalists!

Jump over to CL’s Omnivore (who also gets the hat-tip!) for a wrap-up of all nominated chef’s with kitchens around Atlanta.  And for the full list of semi-finalists across the nation, click here (PDF).

Photos ripped from the restaurants’ respective websites.

The AJC’s Peach Buzz reports…

Who was that enjoying Southern cuisine at Watershed in Decatur? None other than The Boss herself, Diana Ross, sharing butter bean hummus, salmon croquettes and a hot veggie plate with two lunch companions. First V-103’s Ryan Cameron rang us about this, as he and Atlanta Grammy winner Ciara were there. “The Boss shut it down!” he reported. But Buzz confirmed it with sous chef Robbie Kornacki, who gave the Motown legend’s table a complimentary pimento cheese and celery appetizer. “We do have a lot of celebrities here,” Kornacki said. “but I think people were kind of shocked to see her. I was. But yes, she was here —- hair and all.”

What other celebrities have done Watershed in the past?