Blackfish’s Chip Roman has been nominated for the sixth time for a James Beard Award, specifically Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Roman was interviewed by the Times Herald’s Gary Puleo regarding the nomination:

“It’s always nice to be recognized by your peers and it’s absolutely an honor,” said Roman, chef-owner of Blackfish in Conshohocken, the restaurant that earned him the acknowledgement. “I don’t get my hopes up anymore though. I’m a little hesitant to get excited about it, but it’s still awesome to be recognized.

“I don’t cook to win a James Beard award; I cook to make my customers happy and feed my kids,” he added.
“That’s just the reality of it. If all I thought about was winning an award I’d go crazy. There are so many great guys winning, that just to be acknowledged is an honor. If not this year, my time will come one day, I’m sure.”

If you are not familiar with the James Beard Awards, according to the James Beard Foundation‘s website, the awards “are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America. The awards are presented each spring at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Nominees and winners are fêted at a weekend of events in New York City that has become the social and gastronomic highlight of the year.”

What does Roman think of the Conshohocken restaurant scene?

“I’m just happy to be here and have other restaurants and competition around,” Roman said. “Food is very subjective, and what I like and what you like are probably totally different. There’s a great bar next door, a great taco place … everyone’s doing their own thing and together we’re making Conshohocken better.”

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