(Above: Tara Monsod, executive chef of Animae, appeared on FOX 5 on Jan. 31, 2025 to speak about being named a semifinalist in the James Beard awards) SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- For the second year in a row, the executive chef of Animae in San Diego has made it to the final round of the James Bear d Foundation's awards competition. The foundation released its list of this year's finalists on Wednesday, naming Tara Monsod of Animae among five nominees for the category, Best Chef: California. PREVIOUS: San Diego chef named a finalist for prestigious James Beard Award Last year, Monsod was the first in San Diego County to make it to the final round in 34 years. The James Beard Foundation announced Monsod as a semifinalist for the category in January along with Robert Alcocer of Valle in Oceanside. While Alcocer did not make the cut, Monsod continued on, cementing her place among the best chefs in San Diego County. Monsod has more than a decade of kitchen experience, using her Filipino heritage as the inspiration of her culinary craft at Animae, an Asian fusion restaurant recommended on the Michelin Guide. Last year, she also took the helm as executive chef at Le Coq, a modern French-influenced steakhouse in La Jolla. Both Animae and Le Coq are owned by the Puffer Malarkey Collective. The four other nominees vying for the title of the best chef in California are Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano, Jon Yao of Kato in Los Angeles, and Richard Lee of Saison and Kosuke Tada of Mijote in San Francisco. ...read more read less